The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine & Health/Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing based in Cooperstown, NY is conducting a farm worker health needs assessment to help them better address worker health and safety needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. [Read more…]
Archives for July 2020
Vegetable IPM Update 7/22/20
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) adults continue to be very low, and no map will appear in this edition.
The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 7/22/20 are as follows:
Allamuchy 1 | Crosswicks 1 |
Denville 1 | |
Cinnaminson 1 | Downer 1 |
Fall armyworm (FAW) larval infestations are light and widely scattered. This is the time of the summer when FAW can show up, resulting in significant injury to whorl and even seedling stage corn. Injury from newly hatched larvae shows up as “window panes” or areas where leaf tissue has been eaten down the the lower epidermis (see photo at left). This injury leads down into the whorl. As larvae gain size, they begin to consume leaf tissue in its’ entirety, creating ragged holes and lots of droppings (see photo at right). FAW can be tough to manage because it is resistant to synthetic pyrethroid insecticides (IRAC 3A) and because larvae are often covered by their own droppings, making contact with the insecticide more difficult. Treat when 12% or more plants exhibit FAW injury alone, or in combination with ECB injury.
Corn earworm (CEW) moth captures increased in blacklight traps this past week. Although the increased numbers do not represent a large influx, they do pose an elevated risk to silking corn. Blacklight catches were highest overall along the Delaware Bay (see map at left), with blue areas on this map representing a 4-5 day spray schedule.
The highest nightly trap catches of CEW in black light traps for the week ending 7/22/20 are as follows:
Centerton 2 | Cinnaminson 1 | New Egypt 1 |
Allamuchy 1 | East Vineland 1 | Old Bridge 1 |
Bellemeade 1 | Elm 1 | Pedricktown 1 |
Cedarville 1 | Jones Island 1 | Springdale 1 |
Fruit IPM for 7/22/20
Peach:
Stink Bugs Apples and Peaches: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) increasing in spotty locations. BMSB has many alternate hosts, and orchard populations always seem to be ‘local’. In some cases BMSB counts are up to 7-10 per trap in Gloucester County and 19 per trap in Morris County. Most of our traps in northern counties have been placed near apples, and these types of populations can be very problematic. Most, but not all of the pyrethroid and pyrethroid premixes have good activity for BMSB. See the 2020 NJ Tree Fruit Production Guide for a list of effective materials. Where growers are using OFM mating disruption in peaches, then weekly border sprays for BMSB will help. In apples a 7 day program may be needed as trap captures increase.
Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): We are at the treatment timing for the third generation, but populations are so low that most growers can either stretch their insecticide timings or target other pests such as BMSB if stinkbugs are present.
OFM 3rd Generation Degree Day (DD) Timing | ||||
Insecticide Type | ||||
County/Region | Biofix | DD by 7/21 base 45 | Conventional
2100-2200, 2450-2500 |
Diamide
2025-2150, 2375-2450 |
Gloucester –Southern | 4/3 | 2207 | 1st – 7/19-21
2nd – 7/30-8/1 |
1st – 7/17-19
2nd – 7/28-30 |
Hunterdon – Northern | 4/9 | 1896 | 1st – 7/27-30
2nd – too far out |
1st – 7/25-27
2nd – too far out |
Apple:
Spotted Lanternfly (SLF): SLF nymphs are present in several orchards in northern Hunterdon and Warren Counties, but not yet seen directly on the trees; rather in sticky traps placed for BMSB. There are no treatment thresholds for either nymphs or adults on peaches or apples. Any insecticides used for BMSB should also kill SLF nymphs and adults, although it is unknown at this point, if these are going to be problematic in apples. High populations of adults just prior to harvest, may secrete enough honeydew to cause a sooty mold on fair to light skinned varieties.
Codling Moth (CM): Trap captures are very low statewide. However, control of the first generation has been problematic, with infested fruit present in a number of orchards. Growers should pay close attention to their CM trap captures. When male moths start to be captured, and especially when over 5 moths per trap, then insecticides need to be applied. We expect to see the second generation flight very soon.
Rots : Various rots, mostly bitter rot are appearing in a number of orchards. Special attention should be given to susceptible varieties like Honeycrisp and Empire where bitterroot has been a problem in previous years. Bitter rot infections will continue during wetting periods for the rest of the summer. The QoIl premixes Merivon and Pristine are good rot materials with Merivon being the better of the two. Luna Sensation and Luna Tranquility are also rated as effective. Alternate with a Captan/Prophyt mix or Captan/Topsin. Topsin has some efficacy for white and black rots but is not effective against bitter rot.
Grapes:
Disease control has been very good so far in the vineyards we are scouting. We have seen some sunburn which can be confused with diseases. Low levels of downy mildew have been noted. In vineyards with Phomopsis present on leaves some fruit rot is appearing. Fruit symptoms are hard brown berries that eventually develop black fruiting bodies on the skin.
Grape Berry Moth: The next timing for GBM will be on or about 7/28 if using Altacor or Intrepid in southern counties. Growers using other insecticides can wait a few days longer.
Scouting Calendar Tree Fruit Southern Counties
The following table is intended as an aid for orchard scouting. It should not be used to time pesticide applications. Median dates for pest events and crop phenology are displayed. These dates are compiled from observations made since 1995 in Gloucester County. Events in northern New Jersey should occur 7-10 days later.
Pest Event or Growth Stage | Approximate Date | 2020 Observed Date |
Bud Swell (Redhaven) | March 23 +/- 15 Days | March 9 |
1/4″ Green Tip Red Delicious | March 31 +/- 13 Days | March 18 |
Pink Peach (Redhaven) | April 4 +/- 15 Days | March 18 |
Tight Cluster Red Delicious | April 9 +/- 13 Days | March 29 |
Oriental Fruit Moth Biofix | April 9 +/- 13 Days | April 3 |
Full Bloom Peach (Redhaven) | April 9 +/- 14 Days | March 29 |
Pink Apple (Red Delicious) | April 14 +/- 12 Days | March 12 |
Codling Moth Biofix | April 27 +/- 13 Days | May 4 |
Full Bloom Apple (Red Delicious) | April 22 +/- 11 Days | April 25 |
Petal Fall (Redhaven) | April 22 +/- 10 Days | April 14 |
Petal Fall (Red Delicious) | April 27 +/- 14 Days | May 4 |
Shuck Split (Redhaven) | April 30+/- 11 Days | May 1 |
Tufted Apple Bud Moth Biofix | May 4 +/- 10 Days | May 6 |
Pit Hardening Peach | June 16 +/- 8 Days | June 16 |
Tree Fruit Trap Counts – Southern Counties
Week ending | STLM | TABM-A | CM | BMSB | OFM-A | DWB | OFM-P | TABM-P | LPTB | PTB |
4/11 | 1 | 7 | 0 | |||||||
4/18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 2 | |||||
4/25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | ||||
5/2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||
5/9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 12 | |||
5/16 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | ||
5/23 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | ||
5/30 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | ||
6/6 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 13 | ||
6/13 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | |
6/20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
6/27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
7/4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
7/11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
7/18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Tree Fruit Trap Counts – Northern Counties
Weekending | STLM | TABM-A | CM | BMSB | OFM-A | DWB | OBLR | OFM-P | TABM-P | LPTB | PTB |
4/11 | 0 | 0.7 | |||||||||
4/18 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | |||||||
4/25 | 2 | 0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | |||||||
5/2 | 5 | 0 | 1.8 | 1.2 | |||||||
5/9 | 5 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 36.7 | 10.1 | 0 | |||||
5/16 | 17 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 19.2 | 0 | 2.7 | 1 | 1.8 | 0 | ||
5/23 | 18 | 5.7 | 2.1 | 36 | 1 | 6.3 | 10.3 | 1.5 | 0 | ||
5/30 | 5 | 7.2 | 1.9 | 57 | 1 | 2.6 | 6.7 | 9.1 | 0 | ||
6/6 | 4 | 15.8 | 4.1 | 25.8 | 0 | 4.6 | 18 | 13 | 0.3 | ||
6/13 | 15 | 17.4 | 4.3 | 8 | 1.3 | 9.5 | 3.4 | 20.6 | 21.8 | 0 | |
6/20 | 16 | 33.8 | 4.8 | 9.8 | 0 | 9 | 1.2 | 34.1 | 8.3 | 0 | |
6/27 | 20 | 10.9 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 9.8 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 12.7 | 5.8 | 0.3 |
7/4 | 18 | 5.8 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 9.4 | 0 | 0 | 1.5 | 9.3 | 3.8 | 2.5 |
7/11 | 14 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 1.9 | 14.3 | 0 | 0 | 2.4 | 4.3 | 5.1 | 1.5 |
7/18 | 11 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 1 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 3.8 |
Blueberry:
Tailing Down…But Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) is still the main pest of concern. Bluecrop is being machine picked and Elliott has started full swing. Late season varieties still must be protected since SWD continues to build higher populations.
Aphids: Aphid populations have decreased to an average of 2.5% of terminals infested with a high of 25% last week. However with the heat wave, actual numbers as of this writing are even less. While we originally thought we might need some post-harvest applications to control this pest, the recent heat is cooking them in the fields. The combination of aphids not being able to take the heat, and the plant tissue starting to harden off will take care of this pest for the remainder of the season.
Putnam Scale: Scale infested fruit is very low at .02% infested fruit. Growers who have had any of this first generation damage should be prepared to treat those fields when second generation crawlers become active in 2-3 weeks.
By the Numbers:
% Injured Fruit | ||||||||
Week Ending | % LEPS Injured Fruit | % PC Injury Fruit | % Scale | % CBFW | ||||
Avg | Max | Avg | Max | Avg | Max | Avg | Max | |
5/11 | 0.05 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | ||||
5/18 | 0.06 | 0.8 | 0.13 | 1.4 | ||||
5/25 | 0.122 | 1.1 | 0.43 | 3.8 | ||||
5/30 | 0.17 | 1.4 | 0.70 | 5.6 | ||||
6/6 | 0.122 | 1.1 | 0.43 | 3.8 | ||||
6/13 | 0.01 | 0.4 | 0.001 | 0.4 | 0.005 | 0.1 | ||
6/19 | 0.003 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0.02 | 0.5 | ||
6/27 | 0.001 | 0.3 | 0.001 | 0.2 | 0.03 | 0.6 | 0.005 | 0.1 |
7/4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.03 | 0.5 | 0.0005 | 0.1 |
7/11 | 0.005 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.02 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
7/18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.02 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 |
Trap Counts | ||||||||||||
Week Ending | CBFW-
AC |
CBFW-BC | SWD-
AC |
SWD-
BC |
OB-BC | OB-AC | ||||||
Avg | Max | Avg | Max | Avg | Max | Avg | Max | Avg | Max | Avg | Max | |
5/11 | 0.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
5/18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
5/25 | 0.1 | 1 | 0.25 | 1 | 0.8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | ||||
5/30 | 0 | 0 | 0.25 | 1 | .75 | 5 | .55 | 1 | ||||
6/6 | 5.5 | 34 | 0.75 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 2.1 | 5 | ||||
6/13 | 5.6 | 22 | 3.5 | 8 | 4 | 14 | 7.7 | 20 | 3.2 | 11 | 18 | 340 |
6/19 | 7.2 | 48 | 6.5 | 18 | 4.64 | 30 | 4.9 | 16 | 71.75 | 675 | 21.4 | 68 |
6/27 | 0 | 0 | 3.5 | 8 | 2.8 | 12 | 4.3 | 25 | 1834 | 13750 | 462 | 2025 |
7/4 | 0.22 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4.17 | 16 | 11.3 | 46 | 2421 | 8775 | 976 | 5062 |
7/11 | 0.11 | 1 | 0.25 | 1 | 5.8 | 27 | 6.6 | 22 | 1093 | 5000 | 1997 | 6075 |
7/18 | 0.11 | 1 | 0.5 | 2 | 5.3 | 19 | 4.6 | 14 | 769 | 5000 | 1575 | 6750 |
Week Ending | SNLH – AC | SNLH-BC | BBM-AC | BBM-BC | ||||||||
Avg | Max | Avg | Max | Avg | Max | Avg | Max | Avg | Max | Avg | Max | |
6/27 | 0.14 | 3 | 0.8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
7/4 | 0.08 | 1 | 0.8 | 5 | 0.009 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||
7/11 | 0.12 | 1 | 1.82 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
7/18 | 0.11 | 2 | 1.16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
Key: PC=plum curculio, Scale=Putnam scale, CBFW=cranberry fruitworm, SWD=spotted wing drosophila, OB=oriental beetle, SNLH-sharpnosed leafhopper, BBM=blueberry maggot, BC=Burlington County, AC=Atlantic County |
Don’t Let Your Guard Down With Farm Worker Health
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical, indeed essential, role of farm labor in getting food from farm to plate. However, health concerns should not stop with a negative COVID test, especially if an employee or family member is exhibiting any of the ‘flu-like’ symptoms that are associated with corona virus.
A recent farm call was a reminder that working outside, especially during this July heat wave, exposes workers to a number of potential health risks that may present very similar symptoms and can be equally health, and even life, threatening. Recently published studies from the Rutgers Institute of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences suggest growing numbers of people worldwide are at risk of heat stress and related complications, including farmers and ag laborers working in high heat and humid conditions.
Harvesting and other activities along field edges, including going into the woods instead of using a portable bathroom facilities, also lead to a high risk of tick bites, which can also carry a number of diseases, many as or more debilitating than Lyme disease that most are now aware of. A recent story at Today.com suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic might lead to more tick-borne disease this year, quoting Rutgers entomologist and assistant professor Alvaro Toledo at the Center for Vector Biology with suggestions how to prevent tick bites.
It is critical for your employees’ health and well-being to get proper diagnosis and treatment for all of these ailments. This table illustrates how many tick-born diseases, as well as heat stress, all have potential symptoms very similar to those of COVID-19. Each is linked to additional resources at the CDC. In many cases, it may be the ‘other symptoms’ that may be unique to each disease and assist a medical practitioner with correct identification and lead to better verification with further testing.
Disease > Symptoms v |
COVID-19 | Heat Stress | Lyme Disease | Ehrlichiosis | Babe- biosis | Powas-san | Rocky Mtn Spotted Fever |
Vector* | Human | Black-legged Tick (a.k.a. Deer Tick) (I. scapularis) | Lone Star Tick (A. americanum) & Black-legged | Black-legged Tick | Ground hog(I. cookei), Squirrel (I. marxi) & Black-legged Ticks | American Dog Tick (D. variabilis) | |
Fever or chills | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Cough | X | X | |||||
Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing | X | ||||||
Fatigue | X | X | X | X | |||
Muscle/body aches | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
Headache | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
New loss of taste or smell | X | ||||||
Sore throat | X | ||||||
Congestion or runny nose | X | ||||||
Nausea/vomiting | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Diarrhea | X | X | |||||
Rash | X | X | X | ||||
Other symptoms | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
Potentially Deadly/Disabling |
X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
*NOTE – main vector listed, but many tick born diseases may be vectored by other species of ticks, or different species causing same disease may be carried by different tick species.
Managing Heat Stress in Nursery and Landscape Plants
With temperatures approaching or exceeding 95oF for many areas of the state, there is potential for heat stress to negatively impact nursery and landscape plants both in the ground and in containers. Most trees and shrubs in our area can begin to experience some degree of heat stress when temperatures exceed 85oF. Several factors can influence the extent of heat stress injury, including the severity and duration of high temperatures, relative humidity, wind, soil moisture status, the age and condition of the plant, and how well the particular species of plant is adapted to dealing with these conditions.
Heat stress can cause damage to the leaves, resulting in dried or curled edges, as well as reddish or pale coloration as the green chlorophyll pigment begins to break down. This damage may only be superficial, but in some cases it could cause serious injury and death of the leaf tissue. One factor that greatly affects the severity of tissue damage caused by heat stress is the hydration status of the plant before the onset of extreme temperatures.
Plants will naturally dissipate heat through the process of transpiration, provided there is adequate moisture in the soil to support this function. During periods of extreme temperatures, the roots will struggle to draw enough water from the soil to keep up with the rate of water vapor that is exiting the leaves through transpiration. This leads to symptoms such as leaf scorch, curled leaves, discoloration, defoliation, die-back, and temporary wilting. Because the plant is experiencing stress and a disruption in its normal physiological functions, it becomes more susceptible to insect and disease problems.
There are several preventative measures that can be taken to reduce the impacts of heat stress in nursery and landscape plants.
- Thoroughly water plants either in the evening or in the early morning before extreme temperatures occur. Water the plants deeply and use irrigation methods that minimize leaf wetness to reduce the potential for foliar diseases.
- Properly mulch plants to conserve water in the soil and help lower soil temperatures. Bark mulch, leaf mulch, straw, and other organic mulches will help to lower the temperature in the root zone, while gravel mulches can actually increase root zone temperatures. Be sure to provide additional water to newly mulched plants to prevent dry mulch from taking moisture away from the roots.
- Avoid fertilization during periods of heat stress because this can absorb moisture in the root zone and further contribute to dehydration of the plant.
- Avoid applying herbicides that can volatilize in high temperatures and drift, causing damage to non-target species.
- Pay special attention to plantings that are located next to driveways, concrete patios, or other structures that can absorb and radiate additional heat to the plants. These areas will likely require additional irrigation.
Additional Resources:
How to Protect Trees and Other Landscape Plants from Heat Stress
Destroying cucurbit plantings after harvesting is a must to help mitigate downy mildew
It’s a little early in the season but now is a good time to start thinking about ways to help mitigate cucurbit downy mildew pressure later on. All cucurbit fields, especially cucumber and other summer squash fields should be destroyed immediately after the last harvest to help limit potential inoculum sources for cucurbit downy mildew. For a review of CDM control please click here. To track the progress of CDM on your phone or PC please visit the CDM forecasting website.