Archives for June 2019

June 19, 2019

Hackettstown Livestock Auction Results for June 18, 2019

This auction sells: lambs, sheep, goats, calves, beef cattle, pigs, rabbits, and all types of heavy fowl. Auctions are held every Tuesday with the first sale beginning at 10:30 am and ending at the last sale 5:30 pm. Hay, straw, grain, and firewood are also for sale.

Farm Fresh Eggs available for purchase by the case (30 doz.) or by the flat (2&1/2 doz.) in the main office Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday. Also available some Monday’s and Friday’s but please call office first (908)-852-0444.

Click on link for June 18 sale results:
Hackettstown June 18, 2019

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock
June 13, 2019

Fruit IPM for 6/14/19

Recent Rain Patterns and Insecticide Use:

Given our recent periods of rainy weather, many growers are questioning the need for repeated applications, and the weatherability of the materials already applied. Dr. John Wise at MSU has been studying the residual properties of insecticides for a number of years. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape
June 13, 2019

USDA Secretary Perdue Issues Statement on Disaster & Trade-Related Assistance

(June 10, 2019 – Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement on disaster and trade-related assistance:

“Whether it’s because of natural disasters or unfair retaliatory tariffs, farmers across the country are facing significant challenges and tough decisions on their farms and ranches. Last month, immediately upon China reneging on commitments made during the trade talks, President Trump committed USDA to provide up to $16 billion to support farmers as they absorb some of the negative impact of unjustified retaliation and trade disruption. In addition, President Trump immediately signed into law the long-awaited disaster legislation that provides a lifeline to farmers, ranchers, and producers dealing with extensive damage to their operations caused by natural disasters in 2018 and 2019.

“Given the size and scope of these many disasters, as well as the uncertainty of the final size and scope of this year’s prevented planting acreage, we will use up to $16 billion in support for farmers and the $3 billion in disaster aid to provide as much help as possible to all our affected producers.

“I have been out in the country this spring and visited with many farmers. I know they’re discouraged, and many are facing difficult decisions about what to do this planting season or if they’ve got the capital to stay in business, but they shouldn’t wait for an announcement to make their decisions. I urge farmers to plant for the market and plant what works best on their farm, regardless of what type of assistance programs USDA is able to provide.

“In the coming weeks, USDA will provide information on the Market Facilitation Program payment rates and details of the various components of the disaster relief legislation. USDA is not legally authorized to make Market Facilitation Program payments to producers for acreage that is not planted. However, we are exploring legal flexibilities to provide a minimal per acre market facilitation payment to folks who filed prevent plant and chose to plant an MFP-eligible cover crop, with the potential to be harvested and for subsequent use of those cover crops for forage.”

Background: For frequently asked questions regarding the USDA Risk Management Agency’s prevented planting policy and losses resulting from floods, please visit, here. For several frequently asked questions regarding how USDA will treat prevented planting acres with regard to the recently announced 2019 Market Facilitation Program and 2018/2019 disaster relief legislation, see below.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Vegetable Crops
June 13, 2019

Basil downy mildew confirmed in southern New Jersey – ALERT 6/30/20

Basil downy mildew has been confirmed in field-grown basil and sweet basil being sold in ‘box store’ retail establishments in southern New Jersey. All basil growers are encouraged to scout their fields on a daily basis and begin preventative fungicide programs in BDM-susceptible and DMR varieties.

For more information on controlling BDM in the field-grown basil please click here.

For more information on controlling BDM in the greenhouse please click here.

To track the progress of BDM in the US please click here.

Basil Downy Mildew

Basil downy mildew sporulating on the underside of an infected leaf.

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
June 12, 2019

IPM Update 6/12/19

Sweet Corn

European corn borer (ECB) moths catches have declined to nearly nothing over the past week (see map at left).  Feeding percentages have increased, and should peak over the next 5-7 days.  As of the weekend, feeding percentages as high as 24% in Cape May and 60% were found in whorl corn in Somerset County, but these numbers seem to be outliers. The majority of feeding is in the 2-14% range throughout much of the state.

 

 

ECB Tassel

Sweet corn emerging tassel with ECB droppings.
Photo: Kris Holmstrom

Growers should scout whorl and pre-tassel stage plantings weekly.  Look for the characteristic “shot-hole” type of feeding (photo below at right) and consider treating when infested plants exceed 12% in a 50 plant sample.  As plantings proceed to the pre-tassel stage, ECB larvae may be found in emerging tassels (see photo at left).  It is a good idea to treat individual plantings as they move into the full tassel/first silk stage one time.  This eliminates any ECB larvae that have emerged with the tassels as they begin to move down the stalk to re-enter near developing ears.

Useful insecticides for this particular application include synthetic pyrethroids (IRAC Grp 3), spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen (IRAC Grp 28) or materials such as Besiege which include the active ingredient in Coragen.  Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn.  Control with these materials is very inconsistent.

 

 

The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 6/12/19 are as follows:

Califon   1 Milford   1
Hillsborough   1 Pedricktown   1
Medford   1 South Branch   1

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
June 12, 2019

Tomato Fruit Worm Found in Southern New Jersey

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Tomato fruitworm was confirmed in a tomato field in Gloucester County on June 12th. Tomato growers should be applying insecticides to control this pest when monitoring for eggs and small larvae result in seeing any signs of worm activity. There is no economic threshold for tomato fruitworm. When control is needed, it is essential to treat before large numbers of larvae enter fruit, where they are protected from sprays.

When there is fruit present, the tomato fruitworm will complete its larval development inside fruit. Early stage larvae enter the stem end of fruit when it is between 0.75 to 2 inches in diameter. During development, caterpillars may emerge from one fruit and enter another. Their feeding results in a messy, watery, internal cavity filled with cast skins and feces. Damaged fruit will ripen prematurely. Small larvae are difficult to detect and, thus, may be a problem to find. Any amount of feeding results in unmarketable fruit that will need to be culled at harvest or in the packing shed.

For insecticide recommendations see the 2019 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations: https://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/commercial-veg-rec/tomatoes.pdf

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops