Archives for June 2022

June 13, 2022

Native White Birches & Their Resistance to the Bronze Birch Borer

The Dilemma Regarding Birch Trees

Bronze birch borer adult female laying an egg on the bark surface of a birch tree. (Photo Credit: Ohio State Coop. Ext.)

Bronze Birch Borer (Agrilus anxius) adults (440-800 GDD) are now actively searching landscapes for various species of Betula (Birch) to lay eggs upon. The adult beetles will be attracted to susceptible trees that are genetically defenseless or are compromised from stress (e.g., especially drought stress).

It is well known that the native River Birch (Betula nigra) has a strong resistance against the BBB. As a result, this species has been extensively planted in NJ landscapes during the past few decades to the extent of arguably being over-planted. And it is also widely understood that the non-native Asian & European birch species have virtually no or little resistance to the BBB. Therefore, the planting of these non-natives has rightfully been reduced over the decades. However, what about some of our other native species such as the paper, gray, & yellow birches. Is it best to avoid planting these species as well?       

River birch (Betula nigra) is a native birch that is strongly resistant to the bronze birch borer. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop.Ext.)

Is it best to avoid planting other native birch trees in our landscapes, such as the gray birch shown above? (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Plant Diagnostic Lab
June 11, 2022

Cucurbit Downy Mildew Alert – Cucumber – 6/11/22

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. CDM was last confirmed on June 1 on cucumber in central North Carolina and on watermelon on June 9 in south central Georgia. 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.

Cucurbit downy mildew sporulating on the underside of an infected cucumber leaf.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
June 9, 2022

2022 Cranberry Twilight Meeting

We would like to invite all NJ cranberry growers to the 2022 Cranberry Twilight Meeting to be held at the P.E. Marucci Center (Pole Barn) on Tuesday June 14. Pesticide credits will be available at the end of the meeting.

Agenda

5:30-6:00 PM Dinner

6:00-6:20 PM “Strategies for Early Detection of Crop Loss”
Dr. Peter Oudemans, Professor Blueberry/Cranberry Pathology, Rutgers University

6:20-6:40 PM “Update on Postemergence Weed Control Strategies for Cranberry”
Dr. Thierry Besancon, Assistant Extension Specialist, Weed Science, Rutgers University

6:40-7:00 PM “2022 Insect Pest Management Updates”
Dr. Cesar Rodriguez-Saona, Extension Specialist, Entomology, Rutgers University

7:00-7:20 PM “Systemic Diseases of Cranberry’”
Dr. James Polashock, Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS

7:20-7:40 PM “Updates on the USDA-ARS Cranberry Breeding & Genetics Program”
Dr. Jeffrey Neyhart, Research Geneticist, USDA-ARS

7:40-8:00 PM “Beyond the Application: Precautions for Mixing and Loading the Pesticide Spray Tank”
Kate Brown, Program Associate—Commercial Agriculture, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County

 

Filed Under: Cranberry, Fruit
June 8, 2022

Vegetable IPM Update 6/08/22

Sweet Corn

European corn borerLow numbers of European corn borer (ECB) moths continue to be captured throughout the state.  The highest adult activity is currently from Gloucester through Burlington counties (see map at right).  Whorl corn is the primary target for egg laying, and injury well over the 12% threshold has been found in Hunterdon County this week.  Feeding percentages in many areas have been relatively low, but this pest still poses a threat to plantings now approaching full tassel.  It is typical for feeding percentages to rise as the moth catch declines.  We expect feeding to increase for the next 1-2 weeks before peaking.

Weekly distribution of European corn borerLook 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 European corn borerpyrethroids (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 6/08/22 are as follows:

Medford   3 Centerton   1 New Egypt   1
Cinnaminson   2 Clinton   1 Port Murray   1
Downer   2 Eldora   1 Sergeantsville   1
Blairstown   1 Milford   1

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Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
June 8, 2022

Tree Fruit IPM Report for June 8, 2022

Peach:

Bacterial Spot: Bacterial spot fruit symptoms are increasing statewide. The first infections occurred during the mothers day storm. So far levels of fruit infection are very low however we still have not yet seen the development of symptoms from recent rain events. Leaf symptoms appear after 1 week and fruit symptoms take 3 weeks to appear. Growers should continue to manage aggressively to suppress infections. Fruit will become less susceptible to infection at pit hardening which is occurring now.

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 796 1st –6/14-6/16

2nd –too far off

 1st –6/12-6/15

2nd –too far off
Middlesex – Northern 882 1st –6/19-6/21

2nd –too far off

 1st –6/18-6/21

2nd –too far off

 

Plum Curculio; Tarnished Plant Bugs; and Other Catfacing Insects: Plum Curculio start to move into orchards at about 88-100 degree days base 50 after January 1. Applications for PC should be initiated once all petals are off, with a second application made with ovicidal materials at 379-402 DD. Growers can monitor degree day development at their site by finding the nearest weather station and using the degree day development tool at NEWA. PC activity should be past peak and decreasing except in high pressure orchards. Catfacing insect activity is increasing with the arrival of hot weather and are present at moderate to high levels in some orchards.

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 should be cut out using the ugly stub method. 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 phosphite like Prophyt was observed to slow scab development as well as provide good summer disease control.

Codling Moth (CM): The first codling moth flight has started. A biofix was set for CM on April 25th in southern counties, and May 6 in Northern counties (Middlesex County). No biofix has yet been set for northern counties. Timings are updated below.

Codling Moth Degree Day Timing
Application and Insecticide Type
County Area Biofix Rimon:

75-100DD + 14-17 days later

 

 Intrepid

150 + 450 DD

Diamides – Altacor, Voliam mixes: (150-200 DD) + 14-21 days later

 Cyd-X, Madex

250 DD + every 7-9 days during brood hatch (later if first spray is an IGR)

 Standard Insecticides –  Delegate, Avaunt, OP’s, carbamates, pyrethroids

250 DD + 550 DD

 
DD 75 100 150 450 250 250 550
Southern April 25 past past past past past past past
Northern May 6 past past past past past past 6/9

Tufted Apple Budmoth (TABM): Tufted Apple Budmoth (TABM): A biofix was set statewide on May 6. The first alternate middle applications for TABM will be on or about June 1 in all counties. This has been considered a minor pest in recent years. With the exception of Assail and and granulosis virus formulations (e.g. Madex), most materials used for Codling Moth will control TABM.

Grapes:

Diseases: Grape diseases active at this growth stage are phomopsis, powdery mildew, downy mildew, and black rot.

Phomopsis on grape leaves and cane. (Photo – D. Schmitt)

Black rot leaf lesion on grape (Photo – D. Schmitt)

Phomopsis symptoms are present in southern counties. Black rot symtpoms 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 in late June.

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, but is starting now in wild grapes, with some adults starting to come into vineyards. 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 last week of June in southern counties.

Tree  Fruit Trap Counts – Southern Counties

Weekending STLM TABM-A CM AM 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

 

Tree  Fruit Trap Counts – Northern Counties

Weekending STLM TABM-A CM AM 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

 

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

 

Filed Under: Tree Fruit, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
June 8, 2022

Crop Progress and Hessian Fly Sightings

Hessian Fly From Dough Stage Wheat

June 8, 2022 Salem County, NJ

Salem County has experienced nearly two weeks of ideal temperatures in the mid 80’s to low 90’s allowing for a considerable amount of soybean acreage to be planted, and hay acreage harvested. Rye for grain harvest is nearly complete and barley will soon follow. With a 72-hour forecast of one inch to one and a half inch expected, many producers have switched back to planting as the window to make dry hay closes.

Corn: Early planted corn is near canopy and in very good condition. Surface moisture is adequate but at this stage of rapid stem elongation, rain is needed to replenish the two inches of rain received at the end of May but less than a tenth of an inch in the last week. Overall, most of Salem County received in excess of 12 inches of rain in the last 90 days ending June 6, which is over an inch and a half more than the average for this period of the growing season and substantially more than the drought stressed crops in Cape May County that are experiencing a 75% deficit in moisture for the last seven days. Corn planted into standing rye and other late terminated cover crops is lagging behind tilled fields due to moisture competition and carbon sink, but overall flushes of seedling broadleaves are not present indicating preemergence programs are working effectively.

Soybeans: Full season soybean planting is nearly complete. Emerged beans are ahead of seedling flushes of pigweeds but behind giant ragweed in areas where ragweed is present. Expect amaranth species weed pressure to increase significantly after this weekend’s forecasted rain.

Wheat:  Wheat is drying down rapidly and in overall good to excellent condition. In areas where irrigated wheat is already yellow and evidence of wind damage is visible, Hessian Fly is the most likely culprit as seen in this photograph taken in a dough stage field. Flowering canada thistle seen in wheat that will be double cropped with soybeans should be de-headed to prevent seed dispersal prior to harvesting. In enlarging patches, consider a spot-treatment (sacrificing soybean) of a growth regulator herbicide if prior treatments of glyphosate products have not limited spread. 

About Hessian Fly: Mayetiola destructor (Say) is a grain pest in the Cecidomyiidae family. It is a major cause of wheat yield reduction around the world. The fly forms galls on the underside of wheat leaves that protect the feeding larva from efficacious applications of insecticides. In addition to wheat, Hessian fly can be found in rye, barley and in brome grasses (and reedscanary). Bromes are a major composition of the grasses in this area. Egg hatched occurred when temperatures were above 50 degrees earlier this season.

Seven Day Precipitation Departure From Normal

https://www.weather.gov/marfc/Precipitation_Departures

If producer’s noticed patches of dark green areas of wheat (barley) in the same fields now infested with flies or where lodging is increasingly evident, these are an indicator of where the larva were pupating.

Larval feeding after stem elongation causes lodging. Feeding damage can also cause failure to produce a seed head, and a reduce seeds per spike and light test weight. – Journal of Integrated Pest Management, September 2018 article.

The adult swarm seen today are emerging after fourteen days of ideal weather above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Now that flies are present, they will lay eggs over the course of the next week.

 

Due to climate change, it is possible that there could be three emergences of Hessian Fly this year. Southern states see as many as six generations. Generally, in northern states past recommendations have suggested the fly has an emergence in the spring and again in the fall. But in southern states emergences occur in multiples of one, two three in spring, and again in fall. Which is where management strategies come into play. Knowing the number of emergences in our area can help producers calculate if delayed planting will assist with controlling a two brood a year emergence or if it is unlikely to help with multiples of brood emergences. Wind plays a major role in dispersal from infected fields to non-infected fields. Due to cover crop program planting dates for small grains, producers with Hessian Fly issues should talk to their local NRCS office to make sure program planting dates take into account the local Hessian Fly Free dates for fall of 2022.

What to do now: Producers can identify Hessian Fly by looking for swirling clouds of insects that look like white smoke coming out of the wheat canopy. Swatting the swarm will trap flies on the palm of the hand for easier identification. The female fly has a distinctive orange striping to her abdomen. Hessian flies are orange and black banded compared to the overall all orange appearance of wheat midges.  At this stage, the flies have already pupated through the larval stage, which already damaged the wheat crop by tunneling into the stems. Most likely lodging is evident nearby.

What producers can do to plan for next year: Hessian fly was most likely introduced to North America in infected straw bedding. Straw from infested fields may still contain larva. The fly and larva are not considered a pest of stored grain. The larva pupate in the axis of the leaf stem. Cutting straw stubble below the leaf nodes and removing it from the field may help in management as the Hessian Fly larva overwinter inside a flax-seed like cocoon (puparia) at the base of infected plants. Plant resistant cultivars, delay planting dates if this year’s infestation is associated with an earlier planting date, destroy volunteer wheat, and manage brome grasses in field edges and within field when possible.

Hessian Fly Free Planting Dates in Southern New Jersey: “In Maryland, plant wheat following the Hessian fly-free date for your area. This date is approximately September 30 for the Hagerstown area and becomes progressively later as you move from the south and east in the state. The fly-free date is October 13 on the Lower Eastern Shore.” – Read more in 10 STEPS TO PROFITABLE WHEAT PRODUCTION in the Maryland Agronomy News.

Additional considerations for producers planting winter wheat – double crop soybeans-winterwheat: “Growers should avoid planting wheat into last season’s wheat stubble. Continuous no-tillage, wheat-double-cropped-soybeans may result in severe problems and should be avoided in Hessian fly problem areas.” – https://www.farmprogress.com/grains/hessian-fly-resistance-threat-southeast-wheat

Source information. For a detailed publication on Hessian Fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Biology and Management in Wheat visit Journal of Integrated Pest Management, (2018) 9(1): 14; 1–12 issue.

Salem County Producers, if you are seeing signs of Hessian Fly lodging, contact Melissa Bravo at the Salem County Extension Office so fields can be monitored in the fall to determine the Hessian Fly Free dates for this area. 

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops