Archives for March 2024

High Potential for Boxwood Blight in Southern NJ – beginning Tuesday (4/2)

Boxwood Blight Risk Assessment as of 3/31/2024
Region Location CODE 31-Mar 1-Apr 2-Apr 3-Apr 4-Apr 5-Apr
Southern Upper Deerfield NJ50 Low Low Minor Risk Minor Risk Very Low  Very Low 
Southern Bridgeton D4116 Low Low Minor Risk High Risk Very Low  Very Low 
Southern Millville Airport KMIV Low Low Minor Risk High Risk Very Low  Very Low 
Southern Greenwich NJ05 Low Low Minor Risk High Risk Very Low  Very Low 
Central Howell / Freehold NJ10 Very Low  Very Low  Low  Low  Low  Low 
Northern High Point NJ59 Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low  Very Low 
Su M Tu W Th F
 Please check YOUR LOCAL risk (click here)

There is a potential for boxwood blight infections this TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY  throughout much of  SOUTHERN NJ – especially Bridgeton/Upper Deerfield areas. Incoming rains, coupled with consistent temperatures may initiate boxwood blight infections this week.

The rain SHOULD temporarily subside Monday EVENING – with enough time to get a spray on commercial nursery crops. 

  • It is time to begin protective fungicide applications in high value areas if you have not already done so.

  • If BWB is important to your business Use the USPEST – PUSH Alerts – (click here) – to setup weekly email alerts. Create an account, watch the tutorial, and then set up your subscriptions. You select which locations (as many as you like), days you want to receive emails (pick Sunday/Monday), and what you would like to receive alerts about (BWB and a variety of other pests and diseases). Rutgers is not directly affiliated, however this is an incredible tool. 

[Read more…]

How to Prepare a Pesticide Container for Recycling or Reconditioning – What “Empty” Means Legally

Always refer to the current pesticide label “Storage and Disposal” requirements for disposal requirements of pesticide containers. EPA’s pesticide container regulations [40 CFR 156] establish standards for pesticide containers and repackaging. They also now provide standards for label instructions to ensure the safe use, reuse, disposal, and adequate cleaning of the containers. Cleaning the container before […]

USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Dairy Cattle

There has been a recent disease event of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle. These cases were found on dairy farms in Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas, and confirmed by samples submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Testing for HPAI was completed on these farms in response to the presence of deceased wild birds on premises with sick cattle. At this time, it seems to affect older, mid-lactation cows; dry cows and heifers have not displayed clinical signs. Clinical signs include decreased appetite, drop in milk production, thickened milk, abnormal feces, and fever. According to a statement by the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP), cattle appear to recover in two to three weeks with supportive care. As for food safety, milk from impacted animals is being diverted or destroyed so that it does not enter the food supply. AABP states that pasteurized milk and meat that is properly cooked remains safe for human consumption.

No similar cases in cattle have been reported or detected in New Jersey. However, all veterinarians and cattle producers in the state are encouraged to be alert for unusual or unexplained illnesses in their herds. At this time, practicing good personal and onsite biosecurity, as well as monitoring any changes in animal health and milk production, is recommended to minimize the risk of exposure to the virus. Biosecurity protocols should include limiting farm access to essential employees only, implementing strategies for wild bird determent, and the use of footbaths at barn entryways. If cattle present with the clinical signs described above, they should be isolated from the rest of the herd and reported to a veterinarian and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) Division of Animal Health (DAH) at 609-671-6400. Found deceased wild birds should be reported to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), at 1-877-WARN-DEP (877-927-6337), and disposed of appropriately. The 24-hour number to report a foreign animal disease to USDA APHIS VS Area Veterinarian in Charge is 866-536-7593.

For more information about the current HPAI outbreak visit: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/2022-hpai

Memo from Dr. Amar Patil, DVM, MVSc, Ph.D., Diplomate ACVM, Director of the Division of Animal Health/State Veterinarian: HPAI Dairy Cattle Memo March 2024

South Jersey Vegetable Integrated Crop Management Twilight Meeting

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

East Vineland Fire Hall

4931 Landis Ave. across from the Savoy Restaurant

(please park behind the building and enter conference room door in rear)

 

USDA’s SARE Program – Resources and Farmer Grants

  • Michelle Infante-Casella, RCE Gloucester

Pesticide Safety and Compliance Tools for Growers and Applicators

  • Pat Hastings, RCE Pesticide Education Program Coordinator

Management Options for Allium Leaf Miner, Diamondback Moth, & Corn Earworm

  • Kris Holmstrom, RCE Vegetable IPM Program Associate

Implications of EPA’s Herbicide Strategic Plan to Comply with the Endangered Species Act &

Weed Management Strategies for Spring and Summer Vegetable Crops

  • Dr. Thierry Besancon, RCE Specialty Crop Weed Specialist

Unlocking the Power of Social Media Marketing Trends

  • Claudia Gil-Arroyo, RCE Cape May

Disease Control Options for Spring Vegetable Crops

  • Dr. Andy Wyenandt, RCE Vegetable Plant Pathologist

Changes to the New FSMA Water Rule Now in Place, and to the Harmonized Audit

  • Dr. Wes Kline, RCE Cumberland

Pesticide Recertification Credits have been requested for this meeting. We hope you’ll be able to join us.

Locations for NJ Pesticide Recycling Containers – 2024

Below are the locations and dates for recycling pesticide containers in New Jersey. Individuals dropping off containers (triple rinsed, holes drilled in bottom of container or slit with a knife & sans paper booklet on container) may do so during business hours and can pick up the form with a stamped self-addressed envelope to mail NJDA to confirm participation. Completed form must be returned to NJDA. Individuals with a valid NJ DEP Pesticide Applicators Licenses will receive 1 CORE point PER CALENDAR YEAR when confirming participation in this program.

More information can be found at www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/nrc/processingsteps.html

Salem County
Helena Chemical, 440 N. Main St., Woodstown, NJ
Friday, April 19
Friday, May 17
Friday, June 21
Friday, August 23
Friday, September 20
Friday, October 18

Atlantic County
Helena Chemical, 66 Route 206 (North of the Route 30/206 intersection) Hammonton, NJ
Friday, April 12
Friday, May 10
Friday, June 14
Thursday, July 12
Friday, August 16
Friday, September 13
Friday, October 11

Monmouth County
Rutgers Fruit and Ornamental Research Extension Center
283 Route 539, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514-9634
Friday, April 26
Friday, May 24
Friday, June 28
Friday, July 26
Friday, August 30
Friday, September 27
Friday, October 25

Items that Will Not Be Accepted and Will Be Returned to the Participant:
• Pesticide containers with dried formulation on the container, pour spout or the spout threads
• Pesticide containers with any liquid residue
• Pesticide containers where the insides are caked with dried residue
• Mini-bulk, saddle tanks and nurse tanks, which can be made of fiberglass
• Pesticide containers with lids
• Containers that held any type of petroleum oil product or antifreeze

Non-Waxy Cardboard:
Helena Chemical will also be accepting non-waxy cardboard 1 p.m. to 3 p.m and during the scheduled pesticide container collection times. The clean non-waxy cardboard must be broken down and flattened. Cardboard delivered to the Atlantic County site must be tied.

Clean Non-waxy cardboard will also be accepted year-round at the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex’s Convenience Center.

More information can be found at: www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/nrc/processingsteps.html

South Jersey Tree Fruit Twilight Meeting – I

When: April 9th (Tue) @ 5:45 pm
Where: Gloucester County Govt. Services Building: 1200 N. Delsea Drive, Bldg. # A, Clayton, NJ 08312

Pesticide credits requested: CORE (#1), 1A (#3), PP2 (#3), 10 (#3)

5: 45 pm        Light Fare (Pizza, Donuts and Coffee)

6:00 pm         Welcome and Updates.
Hemant Gohil, Extension Agent, RCE of Gloucester County, Rutgers NJAES

6:05 pm        Field Observations from the IPM Program
Dave Schmitt, Fruit IPM Program Associate, Rutgers NJAES

6:35 pm        RIMpro, a New Climate Monitoring Tool to Access Accurate Disease Prediction Models.
Janine Spies, Statewide Fruit IPM Extension Agent, Rutgers NJAES.

7:05 pm        Water Testing Requirements Under the Food Safety Modernization Act for 2024
Wesley Kline, Extension Agent, RCE of Cumberland County.

7:35 pm:        An Udate on the Rutgers Hazelnut Breeding Program and Eastern Fire Blight Resistance.
Thomas Molnar, Professor, Plant Biology, Rutgers University.

8:05 pm        Peach Market Updates
Hemant Gohil, Extension Agent, RCE of Gloucester County.

8:20 pm         Pesticide re-certification credits application.
Meeting Adjourn

Light fare will be provided. If you plan to attend, please call Joan Medany at jmedany@co.gloucester.nj.us or 856-224-8030. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Hemant Gohil at 856-224-8029 before the meeting.