Did you know that according to the 2019 State Agriculture Overview for NJ, 3,900 acres of peaches yielded 5/tons per acre at a value of over $25.6 million dollars? Or that 3,500 acres of peppers were harvested in 2019, with a value of $45.8 million dollars? Or that 9,300 acres of harvested blueberries were valued at $85.3 million dollars in 2019? And in 2018, NJ ranked 4th nationwide in cranberry and peach production, and third in bell peppers?
Archives for July 2020
July 20, 2020 Hemant Gohil
Statewide Wine Grape Twilight Meeting – II (online)
Dear Wine Grape Growers,
The Statewide Wine Grape Twilight Meeting – II will be held on August 5th from 6 pm – 7:30 pm. This will be a Webex meeting. No registration is required. We will follow the Summer Grape Camp format, however there will be no pesticide re-certification credit for this program.
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Vineyard Observations from Rutgers Extension
7:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Grower’s Questions and Answers and Discussions
Growers are encouraged to discuss or send questions or vineyard problems, in advance to Hemant Gohil gohil@njaes.rutgers.edu or Megan Muehlbauer muelhbauer@njaes.rutgers.edu [Read more…]
July 17, 2020 Tim Waller
Participants Wanted for a Redheaded Flea Beetle Survey
The Southern Nursery Flea Beetle Working-Group has put out a survey under the auspices of University of Georgia. The Universities of Maryland and Delaware recently joined forces with that working group with the goal of gathering information aimed at suppressing this continually destructive pest. If you have seen redheaded flea beetle in your containerized nursery stock please take this short survey. Ultimately the goal is to gather as much information as possible about this pest in an effort to come up with better recommendations for all of us in the industry.
Please contact Tim Waller (twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu) with any questions, severely damaged plant varieties, or personal observations pertaining to pest control and biology.
Thank you
July 17, 2020 Andy Wyenandt
Vegetable Disease Update – 7/17/20
- Cucurbit downy mildew has been reported on cucumber in southern New Jersey. This is the first report in the state this growing season. There have been no reports of CDM in other cucurbit crops in the region to date. 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.
- Cucurbit powdery mildew (CPM) season is here. For a review of CPM control strategies please click here.
- All cucurbit plantings that are no longer in production should be destroyed immediately after the last harvest by mowing or with herbicide to reduce the risk of harboring of CDM, CPM, and virus.
- Virus has been reported in summer squash plantings.
- Pepper anthracnose has been reported in southern New Jersey and is a serious problem in all bell and non-bell peppers, especially in fields with a history of the disease. For more information on controlling pepper anthracnose please click here.
- No reports of Late blight in region. To track the progress of Late blight in the US please click here.
- Collar rot caused by Alternaria has been reported again in tomato this week in New Jersey. It is the same pathogen that causes Early blight in tomato. Tomato growers who have not switched to more specific fungicides for Early blight and anthracnose fruit rot control should consider doing so. For more information from NCSU please click here.
- Heavy infections of Angular leaf spot have been reported in summer squash this week. Look for angular lesions delimited by leaf veins and ‘shotholes’ in infected leaves that develop after periods of hot, dry weather.
- Aerial stem rot has been reported on potato in southern New Jersey. The pathogen is an opportunistic bacterium in the field which infects vines that have been damaged by wind and heavy rains.
- There have been a few reports of Southern blight (Sclerotinia rolfsii) on tomato and pepper. Southern blight is much more common in vegetable areas south of the state where summer temperatures remain hotter (above 90°F) for longer periods of time. Like white mold, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, it can survive in the soil for many years. Symptoms of Southern blight include infection at the base of the stem at the soil-line. The resulting infection will girdle the plant causing wilt and death. The fungus will produce white, cottony mycelium and very small, spherical sclerotia which are often have a white to tannish, brown color as they mature. For more information on Southern blight from NCSU please click here.
- Rhizoctonia root and crown rot has been reported on sugar beet in southern New Jersey. For more information from the University of Idaho please click here.
- Bacterial leaf spot has been reported in pepper. For more information on BLS and copper resistance please click here.
- Phytophthora blight has been reported in pepper and cucurbit crops. For more information please click here.
- Basil downy mildew (BDM) has been reported in southern New Jersey on BDM susceptible sweet basil. All growers are encouraged to initiate preventative fungicide programs on DMR and non-DMR basil. For control options and to follow the progress of BDM in the US on your phone or PC please click here.
- Downy mildew has been reported in kale seedlings in a hydroponic greenhouse in PA. As a note, kale and related crops should be scouted on a regular basis. For more information on downy mildew in brassica crops from UMASS-Amherst please click here.
- Bacterial canker has been reported in fresh-market tomato. For a review of bacterial canker in tomato please see report by Dr. Sally Miller at The Ohio State University by clicking here.
- Diplodia leaf streak, a fungal disease, was identified in sweet corn this past week. Symptoms include the development of numerous pycnidia which produce conidia within the lesions on infected corn leaves. For nice reviews, please see report by Dr. Kiersten Wise and colleagues from the University of Kentucky and report by Dr. Steve Johnson at the University of Maine.
- White mold, caused by Stromatina cepivorum, has been reported in garlic. For more information, please see report by Crystal Stewart and Frank Hay from Cornell University.
- Bacterial leaf spot has been reported in sweet basil. BLS of sweet basil is a relatively new disease of basil in the US. The bacterium has a large host range and can survive and overwinter in the soil on infested plant debris. Disease development is favored by hot, humid, rainy weather. Periods of hot, dry weather will help mitigate disease development.
- With the on and off again heavy rains we have been getting, along with warmer weather, all growers should consider applying at-transplanting fungicides for root rot control. Please click here to see these articles.
- For a quick review on managing fungicide resistance development using tank mixes and fungicide rotations, and information on FRAC group 4, FRAC group 7, and FRAC group 3 and FRAC group 11 fungicides please click on hyperlinks.
- For more information on the control of the diseases mentioned above please see The 2020/2021 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide which is available for free online! With many county offices running reduced hours or being closed this is the easiest way to obtain the newest recommendations.
July 17, 2020 Michael Westendorf
Hackettstown Livestock Auction Results for July 14, 2020
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 for auction results:
Hackettstown Livestock Auction Results for July 14, 2020
July 17, 2020 Rick VanVranken
NJ Ag & Health Urge Use of Free COVID-19 Testing For Farm Workers
Earlier this week, NJ Secretary of Ag Douglas Fisher released this attached letter, co-signed by Dept of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, urging all growers with farm labor to take advantage of opportunities to help protect your employees from COVID-19.
As the letter states,
“One program that is being implemented FREE OF CHARGE for all farms is a COVID-19 testing and education program through Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and local health departments. Along with free testing, the program provides education and other related support services. [Read more…]
