Archives for September 2022

September 20, 2022 Michelle Infante-Casella

SARE Farmer Grants for 2023 – Webinar on October 4th

Truck spreading fertilizer Multiple Northeast SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) grant recipient Tommye Lou Rafes, of T.L. Fruits and Vegetables in West Virginia, is sharing her experiences to help other farmers experiment with new ideas through the Farmer Grant program.

At noon on October 4th, 2022, Rafes will join Northeast SARE Grant Coordinator Candice Huber for an informational webinar to assist farmers interested in applying for up to $30,000 in funding for projects beginning in March 2023. Registration is required and participants are encouraged to submit questions ahead of the event. The Call for Farmer Grant Proposals is currently available and the online system for submitting applications is opening soon. Applications are due November 15, 2022.

Northeast SARE Farmer Grants are perfect for farmers looking to grow through new practices. Rafes first learned about SARE while attending a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training. One of the professors hosting the meeting was a SARE reviewer who invited the attendees to apply for a grant. Rafes knew sustainable practices like using renewable-powered high tunnels to extend growing seasons could be good for business as well as the planet. “Growing in the winter months is a completely different way than you do in the summer months,” she said. “I decided to test varieties that were successful during the winter months as well as growing conditions that could be improved so that people would be more successful.”

Grant Coordinator Candice Huber says Farmer Grants are an opportunity for farmers to try things that could improve their operations. SARE funds can cover the farmer’s time on the project, any farm workers time spent on the project, supplies that are not capital purchase, technical support, soil testing and other budgeted items. Farmer grant projects generally are for one year.

If you have an idea and you need resources to really explore it, a Farmer Grant can connect you with those resources. This webinar will be a good starting point and participants must pre-register. See below.

To sign up for the October 4th webinar at 12:00PM go to https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6516611235851/WN_RoG_IkMmSDGsduZwmFgKkA

For information about the application for SARE Farmer grants see https://www.sare.org/wp-content/uploads/Northeast-SARE-Farmer-Grant-Call-for-Proposals.pdf

For general information about Northeast SARE go to Northeast SARE Home Page – SARE Northeast

Filed Under: Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, pesticide credits, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: grants, sustainable agriculture

September 16, 2022 Tim Waller

Welcome to the Christmas Tree PPA – Pest Scouting Guide Resources

Over the coming season we will be adding timely posts about pests, diseases, pesticides, and related agriculture updates that may need to be acted upon urgently. Additionally, we will be adding detailed information about particular issues to facilitate a better understanding moving forward. Please reach out to Tim Waller, Bill Errickson, or your local county agent if there are topics you would like to see covered through this system.

Tim Waller – twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu – 856-451-2800 ext.1
Bill Errickson – william.errickson@njaes.rutgers.edu – 732-431-7260 ext. 7273

Pest Scouting

We have been working to develop pest scouting guides that utilize growing degree-days to help you better schedule and implement your IPM, scouting, and spray schedules.

If you are unfamiliar with growing degree-days (aka GDD or GDD50) Refer to this post “Obtaining your local growing degree-days” for additional information (click here!)

Please download or print the Conifer Pest Scouting Guide and supplement below

Thank you all very much for your continued support of Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Filed Under: Christmas Trees Tagged With: Christmas tree, Christmas tree IPM, Insect management, insect pests, IPM, pest scouting guide

September 16, 2022 Meredith Melendez

Hairy Galinsoga: Non-Herbicide Management Options in Specialty Crops

Hairy galinsoga spreads throughout a farm by seeds that germinate quickly once exposed to light, with multiple generations in a growing season. Using knowledge about the life cycle of this weed is important when making management decisions that require time and effort throughout a growing season. Learn more about non-herbicide management methods to control hairy galinsoga populations on your farm by using the hairy galinsoga decision tool fact sheet and a companion presentation. These resources are one of a five-part weed management series created by Extension Specialist Thierry Besancon and County Agricultural Agent Meredith Melendez, funded by USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant AM190100. You can provide feedback through an online survey about these resources.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Vegetable Crops

September 16, 2022 Melissa Bravo

Sept 22 HighPath Avian Webinar for Backyard Producers

USDA Defend the Flock Program

Navigating Avian Influenza: from prevention to recovery

Webinar Registration – Zoom

Learn from USDA and other experts about how to keep your flocks safe from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). This session is for enthusiasts, farmers, educators, and anyone interested in signs and symptoms of HPAI, what to watch out for during fall migration, and how to develop an effective biosecurity and response plan. Hear about one educational farm’s experience managing a potential HPAI outbreak and get tips on how to keep your poultry flocks safe.

Time: Sep 22, 2022 02:30 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Uncategorized

September 16, 2022 Andy Wyenandt

Cucurbit Downy Mildew Alert – 9/16/22 – Pumpkin and Butternut Squash

Cucurbit downy mildew has been confirmed on pumpkin and butternut squash in New Jersey. Cucurbit downy mildew was confirmed on summer squash in southern New Jersey a few weeks ago and cucumber earlier this season. 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. All cucurbit growers should scout on a regular basis and initiate a weekly CDM fungicide program.

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: cucurbit downy mildew

September 15, 2022 Anne Nielsen

SLF: 2022 Management Recommendations in Vineyards

by Katarzyna Madalinska and Anne L. Nielsen

Adult SLF are moving into vineyards from the surrounding landscape. The number of SLF on each vine varies greatly within each vineyard and locations in the state. In most vineyards in NJ and PA there is a strong border effect with numbers highest along the outside rows. However, the orientation and shape of your vineyard influences border effects. SLF are actively feeding on grapevines and will continue to feed for 1-2 months. Most SLF are in the upper canopy and as the grapes start to store carbohydrates for the winter, SLF will move down the vine, eventually feeding at the base of the vine. Research suggests that feeding by adult SLF may harm primary bud formation the following season and reduce winter hardiness. There is not a specific treatment threshold, but a good rule of thumb is 10 SLF per vine. Movement into the vineyards will continue for several weeks so multiple insecticide applications may be needed.

Treatment at this time of year is of course complicated by pre-harvest intervals (PHI) for each insecticide and grape variety. It is important to remember that SLF will feed on vines post-harvest. There are several effective insecticides available with pre-harvest intervals and residual activity (Table 1). When treating vines pre-harvest, dead SLF are commonly observed in the clusters. Post-harvest, insecticides such as Danitol or Brigade/Bifenture/bifenthrin have the longest residual activity and are expected to reduce feeding.

There are several reasons to manage adult SLF in September and October during peak movement.

Adults feed on the canes, cordon, and trunk of grape vines. Excessive feeding has been shown to lower winter hardiness by >1.5°C.
SLF females lay egg masses in October. Killing females prior to egg laying will decrease population growth the following year.

Table 1. Effectiveness of Insecticides Against Spotted Lanternfly Adults. Modified recommendations from Leach et al. Crop Protection 2019 v. 24 DOI:10.1016/j.cropro.2019.05.027

Trade name	Active ingredient	SLF Activity	Rate per acre	Seasonal Allowance	Residual Activity	PHI (days)	REI (hrs)	Labeled for SLF?
Mustang Maxx 0.8EC	cypermethrin	Good	4 oz	24 oz	<3	1	12	Yes, 2(ee)
Scorpion 35SL	dinotefuran	Excellent	5 oz.	20.9 oz	<7	1	12	Yes, 2(ee)
Actara 25WDG	thiamethoxam	Excellent	3.5 oz	7.0 oz	<14	5	12	Yes, 2(ee)
Carbaryl 4L	carbaryl	Excellent	1-2 qt	10 qt	7	7	12	No
Avaunt 30DG	indoxicarb	Fair	6 oz	12 oz	7	7	12	Yes, 2(ee)
Danitol 2.4EC	fenpropathrin	Excellent	16-21.33 oz	42.66 oz	>26	21	24	Yes, 2(ee)
Brigade 2EC	bifenthrin	Excellent	3.2-6.4 oz.	6.4 oz	21	30	12	Yes, 2(ee)