Archives for June 2021

June 16, 2021

Cucurbit Downy Mildew Alert – 6/16/21

Cucurbit downy mildew has been confirmed on cucumber in southern New Jersey. This is the first report of CDM in the state and region this growing season. All cucumber and cantaloupe growers should scout on a daily basis and initiate a preventative fungicide program. Remember, some CDM isolates fall into Clade I which predominately infect watermelon, pumpkin, and squash, where other CDM isolates in Clade II predominately infect cucumber and cantaloupe.

For more information on CDM, the clades, and CDM control please click here.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
June 14, 2021

Vegetable Disease Update – 6/14/21

  • Cucurbit downy mildew has been reported as far north as South Carolina on cucumber and cantaloupe in Georgia. To track the progress of CDM please visit the CDM forecasting website.
  • No reports of Late blight in the region. To track the progress of Late blight in the US please click here.
  • Basil downy mildew has been reported from multiple locations in southern New Jersey. All basil growers are encouraged to scout their plantings on a daily basis. For more information on controlling BDM please click here. To follow the progress of BDM in the US please click here.
  • Rhizoctonia and Pythium root rot have been reported in pepper. For a review of identifying and controlling root rots please click here.
  • 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.
  • The 2020/2021 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide 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.
  • 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.
Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
June 11, 2021

Montclair State Univ Seeking Participants for Survey on Farm Marketing Distribution Channels

Renata Blumberg, PhD, Associate Professor in the Dept of Nutrition & Food Studies at Montclair State University is conducting a survey of farmers who engage in direct-to-consumer marketing (farmers’ markets, CSA, etc.) about their distribution practices and any changes that have occurred since the start of the pandemic. [The survey also implies she wants to know if you’ve switched from wholesale to direct marketing methods over the past year as well.] The survey should take only about 20 minutes of your time.

To participate in the survey, please click here.

Please note that you must be 18 years of age or older to participate in the survey. There is also an incentive gift card if you participate.

This study has been approved by the Montclair State University Institutional Review Board (IRB- IRB-FY20-21-1996).

Dr. Blumberg thanks you in advance for your participation! 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
June 11, 2021

Gleanings from SM – CA Virtual Strawberry Field Day; Robots in the Field

From LinkedIn.com:

  • Surendra Dara, Entomology & Biologicals Advisor at UC Cooperative Extension, San Luis Obispo County, California, announced that registration is now open for the Virtual Strawberry Field Day on July 14. Please see the agenda at https://ucanr.edu/sites/PSU/files/352199.pdf and register at https://ucanr.edu/survey/survey.cfm?surveynumber=35066
  • TTS BV, a company from the Netherlands, posts videos of their TTS automatic transplanters on their website and shares on LinkedIn.com:  At TTS we care a lot about technology and innovation! ⁠Our robotsystem makes sure that you can plant several lines at once, up to at your own preferred distances and depth. ⁠⁠The can be combined with nearly all planting trays or even with your own existing toolbar, so no need for a lot of changes. See www.automatictransplanting.com for videos and photos highlighting their technologies, including a transplant ‘grabber’ similar to one invented right here by a Rutgers agriculture engineer 30+ years ago.
  • Back to CA, PlantTape Inc. <https://www.planttape.com/> also shares videos and stories on LinkedIn.com about their planting system that speeds up semi-automatic transplanting using paper-tape connected planting cells that slip into the ground at amazing speeds.

 

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Strawberry, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , ,
June 10, 2021

Be Proactive, Keep Youth Safe on the Farm

How often do you say this: “do as I say, not as I do”?

The farm can be a fun, engaging, and nostalgic place to raise children; however, life on the farm comes with inherent risks that require certain precautions to make the farm a safe place for kids. The curious nature of children makes this especially difficult, as they often exhibit a lack of fear or a clear understanding of danger. According to the Children’s Safety Network, 42% of fatal injuries to youth on U.S. farms involve machinery and motor vehicles (e.g. tractors, ATVs, etc.) while another 16% of fatal injuries are due to drowning. As the school year comes to a close and your own children and grandchildren spend more time on the farm, use your actions and attitude to establish safety as a priority.

In addition to being a positive role model, make time to identify hazards around the farm and implement changes to improve safety. We have included some of these hazardous “hot spots” in the table below, along with recommendations for injury prevention.

Hazards for Children Recommendations to Prevent Injury
Workshops, chemical and grain storage areas Install gates, doors, or other locking systems to keep children out

Explain the meaning of warning signs around the farm

Clean and dispose of empty chemical containers

Establish designated safe play areas
Machinery and equipment Equipment should be turned off, disengaged, and inaccessible

Leave front end loaders and similar equipment in the down position

Lock vehicle cabs after use

Keep vehicle keys out of reach of children

Never allow children to play around machinery

Never allow children (or anyone) to be an extra rider on a tractor
Livestock Pens Only allow children to work with livestock under adult supervision

Secure livestock pens so children cannot wander into the area

 

If you’re looking for fun ways to talk with children about farm safety, check out this farm safety activity book created by the National Child Safety Council. The book includes games, puzzles, crafts, and more on a wide array of topics from livestock and tractor safety to first aid.

For more details on age-specific hazards, protective measures, and appropriate tasks for youth check out our NJAES factsheet titled “Farm Safety Tips for Children”.

Source: Brennan, M.F. and Brumfield, R.B. “FS937: Farm Safety Tips for Children.” Rutgers University, March 1999. https://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.php?pid=FS937. Accessed on 10 June 2021.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , ,
June 10, 2021

Organic Production: Suppressing Soil-borne Pathogens

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…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,