Phytophthora blight typically develops in low-lying areas after a heavy rain and can spread quickly throughout the entire field. Fortunately, New Jersey has been really dry this summer, but that does not need you don’t need to prepare for potential Phytophthora issues down the road. This is particularly important if are in fields with a known history of Phytophthora blight. Although the extended period of dry weather works against Phytophthora development, it does not mean it will not show up eventually. [Read more…]
Archives for June 2022
Vegetable IPM Update 6/22/22
Sweet Corn
Low numbers of European corn borer (ECB) moths continue to be captured at levels similar to last week, and feeding in whorl and pre-tassel stage corn more common. The highest adult activity remains in Hunterdon County (see map below at right). ECB injury over the threshold of 12% of plants infested has been found in many areas this week. It is typical for feeding percentages to rise as the moth catch declines. We expect feeding to increase for the next week or so before peaking.
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 or Vantacor (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 6/22/22 are as follows:
Sergeantsville 2 | Califon 1 | Old Bridge 1 |
Allentown 1 | Clinton 1 | Pedricktown 1 |
Asbury 1 | Dayton 1 | Princeton 1 |
Bellemeade 1 | Hillsborough 1 | South Branch 1 |
Tree Fruit IPM Report for June 21, 2022
Peach:
Oriental Fruit Moth: A biofix point for OFM was set on 4/11 in southern counties, and on 4/14 in northern counties. The second generation timings are updated below.
Insecticide Type | |||
County/Region | Degree Days by 6/8 base 45 | Conventional
1150-1200 1450-1500 |
Diamide
1075-1150 1375-1450 |
Gloucester – Southern | 1281 | 1st –6/14-6/16
2nd –6/27-6/28 |
1st –6/12-6/15
2nd –6/24-6/27 |
Middlesex – Northern | 1201 | 1st –6/18-6/21
2nd –6/30-6/31 |
1st –6/15-6/18
2nd –6/29-6/30 |
Tarnished Plant Bugs; and Other Catfacing Insects: Catfacing insect activity is increasing with the arrival of hot weather and is present at moderate to high levels in some orchards. Brown Marmorated Stink bugs are present at low to moderate levels in orchards statewide.
Lesser Peach Tree Borer and Peach Tree Borer: Lesser Borer adults are flying in all growing regions. Greater Peach tree borers are now flying in southern counties.
Apples and Pears:
Diseases: Fire blight and Scab are present at low levels in a few orchards. Fire Blight is increasing. It should be cut out using the ugly stub method. Potato leafhoppers can spread it so they should not be tolerated. Summer scab, rots and sooty blotch and fly speck are the main targets at this stage. Where scab is present rely primarily on protectant fungicides. Last year Captan plus a phosphorous acid like Prophyt was observed to slow scab development as well as provide good summer disease control.
Codling Moth (CM): The Second CM flight will be starting soon. If trap captures are above 5 moths/trap continue using effective materials. A biofix was set for CM on April 25th in southern counties, and May 6 in Northern counties (Middlesex County). estimated timings for the second generation are updated below.
Codling Moth Degree Day Timing | ||||||
Application and Insecticide Type | ||||||
County Area | Biofix | Intrepid; Diamides – Altacor, Voliam mixes:
1150-1200 + 1450-1500 DD
|
Cyd-X, Madex
1250 DD + every 7-9 days during brood hatch (later if first spray is an IGR) |
Standard Insecticides – Delegate, Avaunt, OP’s, carbamates, pyrethroids
1250 DD + 1550-1600 DD
|
||
DD | 1150-1200 | 1450-1500 | 1250 | 1250 | 1550-1600 | |
Southern | April 25 | 7/3-7/5 | too far off | 7/7 | 7/7 | too far off |
Northern | May 6 | 7/5-7/7 | too far off | 7/9 | 7/9 | too far off |
Grapes:
Diseases: Grape diseases active at this growth stage are phomopsis, powdery mildew, downy mildew, ripe rot, and black rot.
Phomopsis and downy mildew symptoms are present in southern counties. Black rot symptoms have not yet been observed but should appear any time now. Disease infection periods can be monitored using the NEWA models. Choose the weather station closest to your vineyard.
Insects: Leafhoppers have been seen in a few spots. This complex is generally not of concern. Potato leafhoppers, which arrive sometime in June, can cause some minor damage. Spotted Lantern Fly nymphs are present in high numbers on many vineyards. These nymphs do little damage and generally don’t need special treatments when present. Even so, vineyards should be monitored for SLF presence and if they are found use an insecticide effective for SLF when treating for Grape Berry Moth. More information for SLF can be found at the Penn State SLF website.
Grape Berry Moth (GBM): The biofix in southern counties for GBM was 5/25. Model timing will predict IGR and diamide materials for the second generation. The first generation is not really important in cultivated grapes. Timing for the second generation treatments using Diamides or Intrepid is set at 810 degree days base 470F. Other materials may be applied a few days later. Given the current weather patterns, this should be about the late June/early July in southern counties. Insecticides that will control both GBM and SLF include pyrethroids and premixes such as Leverage and Voliam Flexi. Voliam Flexi is a diamide premix and should be applied at the 810 degree day timing.
Tree Fruit Trap Counts – Southern Counties
Weekending | STLM | TABM-A | CM | BMSB | OFM-A | DWB | OFM-P | TABM-P | LPTB | PTB |
4/9/2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
4/16/2022 | 0 | 2 | 3 | |||||||
4/23/2022 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |||
4/30/2022 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |||
5/7/2022 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 50 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |||
5/14/2022 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||
5/21/2022 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 2 | 7 | 3 | |||
5/28/2022 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 36 | |||
6/4/2022 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 49 | 0 | ||
6/11/2022 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 36 | 0 | 8 | 47 | 3 | |
6/18/2022 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 62 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 1 |
Tree Fruit Trap Counts – Northern Counties
Weekending | STLM | TABM-A | CM | BMSB | OFM-A | DWB | OFM-P | TABM-P | LPTB | PTB |
4/9/2022 | ||||||||||
4/16/2022 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
4/23/2022 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
4/30/2022 | 0 | 0 | 2.5 | 0 | ||||||
5/7/2022 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | ||||||
5/14/2022 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | |||
5/21/2022 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 27 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 0 | |
5/28/2022 | 34 | 19 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 23 | 15 | 0 | |
6/4/2022 | 17 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 27 | 17 | 0 | |
6/11/2022 | 22 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 30 | 9 | 0 | |
6/18/2022 | 66 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 27 | 7 | 0 |
Pest Event or Growth Stage | Approximate Date | 2022 Observed Date |
Bud Swell (Redhaven) | March 23 +/- 15 Days | March 20 |
1/4″ Green Tip Red Delicious | March 31 +/- 13 Days | March 21 |
Pink Peach (Redhaven) | April 4 +/- 15 Days | March 31 |
Tight Cluster Red Delicious | April 9 +/- 13 Days | March 31 |
Full Bloom Peach (Redhaven) | April 9 +/- 14 Days | April 10 |
Pink Apple (Red Delicious) | April 14 +/- 12 Days | April 14 |
Full Bloom Apple (Red Delicious) | April 22 +/- 11 Days | April 21 |
Petal Fall (Redhaven) | April 22 +/- 10 Days | April 14 |
Petal Fall (Red Delicious) | April 27 +/- 13 Days | May 3 |
Shuck Split (Redhaven) | April 30 +/- 11 Days | April 26 |
Pit Hardening | June 15 +/- 9 Days | June 10 |
Identifying and controlling common leaf spot in strawberry
Strawberry leaf spot, caused by the soil-borne fungal pathogen, Mycosphaerella fragariae, can infect leaves, petioles, runners, fruit stalks (pedicels), and berry caps or calyxes. Small, dark purple to reddish-purple, round spots, 1/8 to 1/4 inch in diameter (3 to 6 millimeters), appear on the upper leaf surfaces. The center of the spots soon become tan or gray and eventually almost white, while the broad margins remain dark purple. Later in the season, dark specks (sclerotia and/or perithecia) may be seen in the older lesions. Tannish areas form on the undersides of infected leaves. The symptoms on the other plant parts, except the fruit, are almost identical to those that develop on the upper leaf surface. [Read more…]
USDA Announces Assistance for On-Farm Food Safety Expenses for Specialty Crop Growers
Program Details
The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC) will assist specialty crop operations that incurred eligible on-farm food safety certification and related expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in calendar years 2022 and 2023. For each year, FSCSC covers a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing their certification, as well as a portion of their related expenses.
To be eligible for FSCSC, the applicant must be a specialty crop operation; meet the definition of a small business or very small business; and have paid eligible expenses related to the 2022 (issued on or after June 21, 2022) or 2023 certification.
Specialty crop operations may receive assistance for the following costs:
- Developing a food safety plan for first-time food safety certification.
- Maintaining or updating an existing food safety plan.
- Food safety certification.
- Certification upload fees.
- Microbiological testing for products, soil amendments and water.
- Training
FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each category of eligible costs. A higher payment rate has been set for socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers. Details about the payment rates and limitations can be found at farmers.gov/food-safety.
Very small ($250,000) and small farms (less than 500,000) average monetary value of specialty crops sold during the 3-year period preceding the program are eligible.
Payment Amount of Eligible Costs | ||
Category of Eligible Expenses | Historically Underserved Farmer or Rancher | All Other Applicants |
Development of a food safety plan for first-time certification | 75 percent (no maximum)
|
50 percent (no maximum)
|
Maintaining or updating a food safety plan
|
75 percent, up to a maximum of $375
|
50 percent, up to a maximum of $250
|
Food safety certification
|
75 percent, up to a maximum of $2,000
|
50 percent, up to a maximum of $2,000
|
Certification upload fees
|
75 percent, up to a maximum of $375
|
50 percent, up to a maximum of $250
|
Microbiological testing – products
|
75 percent, up to 5 tests
|
50 percent, up to 5 tests
|
Microbiological testing – soil amendments
|
75 percent, up to 5 tests
|
50 percent, up to 5 tests
|
Microbiological testing – water
|
75 percent, up to 5 tests
|
50 percent, up to 5 tests
|
Training
|
100 percent, up to a maximum of $300
|
100 percent, up to a maximum of $200
|
Applying for Assistance
The FSCSC application period for 2022 is June 27, 2022, through January 31, 2023, and the application period for 2023 will be announced at a later date. FSA will issue payments at the time of application approval for 2022 and after the application period ends for 2023. If calculated payments exceed the amount of available funding, payments will be prorated.
Interested specialty crop producers can apply by completing the FSA-888, Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC) application. The application, along with other required documents, can be submitted to the FSA office at any USDA Service Center nationwide by mail, fax, hand delivery or via electronic means. Producers can visit farmers.gov/service-locator to find their local FSA office. Specialty crop producers can also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to assist.
Producers can visit farmers.gov/food-safety for additional program details, eligibility information and forms needed to apply.
Controlling Cercospora leaf spot and in beets in 2023
Cercospora leaf spot (CLS), caused by Cercospora beticola, is an important and emerging disease in beet and swiss chard production in New Jersey. Efforts to control this disease has become more difficult in the past few years in some areas of southern New Jersey. [Read more…]