Rutgers Cooperative Extension
North Jersey Commercial Vegetable Grower Meeting – Wednesday, February 26, 2020 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
North Jersey Commercial Fruit Grower Meeting – Wednesday, March 4, 2020 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Hunterdon County Complex
314 State Route 12, Bldg #1
Flemington, NJ 08822
Detailed program and registration coming soon.
Contact Kim Crommelin (Rutgers Cooperative Extension – Hunterdon County) at 908-788-1338 or kfrey@co.hunterdon.nj.us
It’s not too late to register online or at the door for the 2020 NJ Agriculture Convention & Trade Show. If you haven’t already received a direct mailing from the Vegetable Growers Association of NJ with information about the event, find it on their website at njveggies.org under the convention tab. Membership in the VGA gives you access to 3 days of educational programming, or there is an optional daily pass. The educational program is a collaborative effort of the NJAES/RCE vegetable working group, the blueberry and small fruit working groups, and the new hemp working group. Input and support from NJDA and VGANJ allow us to bring internationally recognized speakers from both our Rutgers faculty and staff, and beyond NJ’s borders to share insights and research on current topics important to NJ agriculture. Thanks to all who have worked to put this program together. We hope to see you in AC.
Plectosporium blight, also known as Microdochium blight or White speck, caused significant problems in some pumpkin fields last summer in New Jersey. The soil-borne fungal pathogen, although somewhat uncommon, can unexpectedly show up in some years and cause significant losses if left uncontrolled. The fungus survives in the soil on decaying plant debris where it can remain saphrophytic by surviving off organic matter. Infection is characterized by the production of numerous light tan to “bleached” spindle shaped lesions that develop on vines and the undersides of infected leaves. Heavily infected vines and leaves can die leading to premature defoliation and subsequent sunscald on fruit. In cases of heavy disease pressure, spores that are produced on the bottom sides of leaves fall and infect the topsides of fruit laying beneath the canopy. Infection of stems leads to premature browning and drying reduce their longevity. Fruit infection, in most cases, remain mostly cosmetic in nature reducing fruit quality and may predispose fruit to other opportunistic fruit rots. Plectosporium blight often shows up during periods of prolonged wet weather where the soil remains wet for extended periods. “Hot spots” typically appear in fields before the pathogen is further spread by driving rains and wind.
From a production standpoint, stay away from fields with known history of the disease for as long as possible; provide adequate spacing between plants in- and between rows (i.e., avoid the overcrowding of plants); avoid over (preplant) fertilization that can lead to thick, dense canopies; avoid overhead irrigation (if possible); avoid planting in area of a field that remains heavily shaded where soils tend to dry too slow.
Controlling Plectosporium blight begins with regular scouting, recognizing symptoms, and identifying “hot spots” in the field. Protectant fungicides, such as chlorothalonil, as well as those used in weekly maintenance spray programs for cucurbit powdery mildew control will help control Plectosporium blight as long they applied on a weekly schedule with a high volume of water with thorough coverage. To help improve control on the undersides of leaves, a FRAC code 11 fungicide such as Quadris Top or Pristine, can be added to the tank mix. Remember, FRAC code 11 fungicides have translaminar activity and will move from the top surface of the leaf to the bottom. Growers who grow powdery mildew resistant varieties need to remember to scout their fields regularly even if cucurbit powdery mildew has not been detected on the farm or if regular maintenance sprays haven’t begun.
White speck lesions covering the surface of immature and mature pumpkin fruit. White speck will only cause cosmetic injury to fruit.
White speck on vine and stem of infected pumpkin plant. Note the numerous small, white diamond shaped lesions.
Determining the adequacy of diets fed to livestock animals is more complicated than just knowing animal requirements or the nutrient and chemical analyses of feed. So then, what do we look for on a farm to evaluate the nutrition program? A proper understanding of how to approach this will be of help to farm advisors, extension agents, consultants, and, of course, all livestock farmers.
Climate or weather will always influence an animal’s nutrient requirements. In fact, many computerized nutrition programs currently make adjustments for weather or environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, or wind speed. An animal, for example, just like you and I, has a thermal comfort zone. For a cow, this comfort zone goes from about 40° Fahrenheit to around 75° Fahrenheit. High humidity will intensify the effects of heat or cold. Above or below this zone animals will have to expend extra energy to regulate body temperature. During hot summer months dairy cows will experience heat stress and feed intake and milk production may both decline. Whenever this happens, it is essential that diets be formulated to increase energy and nutrient intake, and to employ some means, such as fans or sprinklers, to cool off the cows. The same is true when the ambient temperature drops below the comfort zone. Cows will need extra nutrients just to maintain condition and may also require shelter or other protection from the elements. Breed of cow will also influence the response to heat or cold. Belted Galloways or Scotch Highlanders will tolerate much colder temperatures and cows with Zebu influence such as Brahman, Brangus, or Santa Gertrudis will tolerate hotter temperatures. The upshot is this, when animals, not just dairy cows, don’t receive extra nutrients in response to extremes of heat or cold, they will adjust by using stored reserves of fat, protein, and other nutrients.
What else should be considered? Water quality and availability are essential if animals are expected to produce. When feed intake and animal production decline, the culprit may often be water intake. Waterers need to be clean and water should always be in abundance. A small waterer for 50 cows is insufficient. Waterers must provide plenty of space for all animals to drink. Quality is also essential. Water can be tested for nitrates, minerals, and/or microbial populations. Contact your local Cooperative Extension Office if you suspect a water problem. Of course, when extremes in weather are experienced (heat or cold) water becomes doubly important and special measures should be taken to guarantee water intake is maintained.
General farm sanitation should also be considered. An animal that is in an unsanitary environment, particularly one that also provides inadequate facilities for movement, resting comfortably, and socializing may also have depressed feed intake and performance. Unsanitary conditions can be a general disease risk for animals. When facilities, particularly waterers or milking parlors, have poor electrical grounds, there may be a stray electrical flow which is uncomfortable to animals. This can affect feed and water intake and ultimately production. Farm sanitation and animal comfort should always be given high priority if animals are to reach maximum feed intake and production.
Feed availability also needs to be considered. Are the feed troughs full? Is there plenty of space for all animals to eat? Not all animals need unlimited access to feed as do high producing animals in various stages of growth, lactation, exercise, or egg production. Some animals, such as gestating beef cows or gestating sows, or dry dairy cows, need to be maintained and should have adequate but not unlimited access to feed. In general, the feed troughs of highly productive animals should always be full and there should always be available space for all animals.
The consistency of manure can reveal either dietary or animal problems. Manure that is very loose or scoured could represent disease, parasites, or some other ailment. Manure that is too dry or hard could mean too much fiber in the diet or not enough water. In the case of a dairy cow, very loose manure almost always indicates that too much concentrate and not enough fiber is present in the diet.
All the factors discussed here will influence how we feed animals. Others could be mentioned as well. As described above, all of these are only indirectly related to animal requirements or dietary nutrient content, but can influence how we feed animals and/or help us to detect problems that should be corrected.
Taken from the New Jersey Farmer, December 15, 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 with the last sale at 5:30 pm. Hay, straw, grain, and firewood are also for sale.
Hackettstown Livestock Auction
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 January 21, 2020 sale results:
Pathogens such as Fusarium, Pythium, Phytophthora, Thielaviopsis and Rhizoctonia that cause pre- and post-emergent damping-off can cause serious problems in organic (and conventional) transplant production. The key to controlling and/or suppressing damping-off pathogens with biological controls is keeping the biological populations high and continually present on root surfaces of the host, and by following good cultural practices. [Read more…]
