Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Neopestalotiopsis, a new disease on strawberry is back in the news. Please see the excellent article by Dr. Phil Brannen from the University of Georgia by clicking below.
Dramatic Neopestalotiopsis Disease in Strawberry Tips and Plug Plant Production Nurseries
Sweet Corn
Fall armyworm (FAW) infestations continue in most scouted locations in central and northern NJ counties. There are pockets of heavier pressure, such as on the Burlington/Camden County border area. Re-infestations following treatment can and have occurred. Because FAW moths are highly mobile, it is important to monitor fields at least weekly for signs of infestation. Whorl, and even seedling stage plants are prime targets for egg laying. Delays in treating whorl stage infestations can lead to stunted plants and poor ear size.
Newly hatched FAW larvae cause holes and scratches on leaves that are similar to ECB feeding, except that they tend to be more concentrated and always lead down into the whorl (see photo at upper left). As the larvae grow, the feeding becomes more destructive, with large ragged holes and obvious droppings deposited in the whorl (see photo at right). 
We will provide updates on new FAW appearances and severity as reports come in. FAW are resistant to synthetic pyrethroids. Effective sprays should include IRAC grp. 5 (spinosyns) or IRAC grp. 28 (diamides). The carbamate (IRAC grp. 1A) Lannate is also still effective. Sufficient water should be used 
in the applications to allow the solution to reach larvae that are partially protected while feeding on the immature tassel (photo at lower left), and to penetrate the layer of droppings that may have formed above the caterpillars.
Cucurbit downy mildew (CDM) has been reported on pumpkin in central New Jersey (8/18) and on yellow summer squash and zucchini in southern New Jersey. These are the first reports of CDM on pumpkin and summer squash in the state and region this growing season. All cucurbit growers should scout on a daily basis and initiate a preventative CDM fungicide program immediately. CDM was confirmed on cucumber in New Jersey on 6/19/24. Remember, some CDM isolates fall into Clade I which predominately infect watermelon, pumpkin, and squash, where CDM isolates in Clade II predominately infect cucumber and cantaloupe.
For more information on CDM, the clades, and CDM control please click here.
Farmers in the Northeast can apply for up to $30,000 in funding for sustainable agriculture projects starting in 2025. These projects can range from experiments to on-farm events and demonstrations or other educational activities.
The Call for 2025 Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Farmer Grants is now available. Approximately $850,000 has been allocated to fund projects. Awards of up to $30,000 are available. Proposals are due no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on November 12,2024.
Q&A Sessions are taking place alternating Tuesdays and Wednesdays in October. Register once to attend any of the sessions.
Sessions will take place on: Oct 8, 16, 22, 30. from 12 to 1 EST
To register see https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlcO-qrjguGtSNrOemAOP7pZWbUCcl5GqN#/registration
To see the call for proposals https://www.sare.org/wp-content/uploads/Northeast-SARE-Farmer-Grant-Call-for-Proposals.pdf
To learn more about the SARE Farmer Grants https://northeast.sare.org/grants/get-a-grant/farmer-grant-program
For More Information contact USDA NESARE or your State Coordinator: Stephen Komar at komar@njaes.rutgers.edu
Peach:
Tarnished Plant Bugs; and Other Catfacing Insects: BMSB and native catfacing insects remain very active. Some recent fruit feeding has been observed.
Scale Insects: Second generation san jose scale and white peach scale crawlers began emergence in late July and will continue through August. Late season treatments include Actara (14 day PHI); Esteem (14 day PHI), Centaur (14 day PHI), Diazinon (postharvest as per label), and Venerate (2 applications 0 day PHI).
Apples and Pears:
Diseases: Summer diseases such as fruit rots (esp. Bitter rot), and sooty blotch and fly speck are the key pests at this point. Bitter rot control has been difficult at best in recent years even where management programs have been rigorous. Summer and late season fungicides for summer diseases include: Merivon, Luna Sensation, Inspire Super, Topsin-M, captan and ziram. Experience has suggested that the addition of phosphorous acid products such as Prophyt or Rampart to captan sprays may improve control. Observations are that these phosphite products improve control of other summer diseases such as sooty blotch and flyspeck, and may help suppress scab infections where present. Bitter rot symptoms have been appearing for several weeks in southern counties. Symptoms continue to increase in sensitive varieties.
Scale Insects: San jose scale crawlers continue emergence. Actara (suppression) has a 35 Day PHI at rates effective for scale on pome fruit. Belay (suppression) has a 7 day PHI. Esteem has a 45 day PHI on Pome fruit. Centaur has a 14 day PHI. Diazinon (suppression) has a 21 day PHI with a 96 hour reentry.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: BMSB nymphs have been seen feeding in some apple and pear blocks. Trap captures have increased in some orchards. Effective materials include Brigade, Belay, Leverage, Mustang Max and Venerate at 2 qts.
Codling Moth (CM): The first generation codling moth timings have ended. Trap captures continue at low levels in southern county orchards. Growers with trap captures above 5 moths/trap should still use effective materials within label restrictions.
Phenology Table: Based on annual observations made in Gloucester County.
| Pest Event or Growth Stage | Approximate Date | 2024 Observed Date |
| Bud Swell (Redhaven/PF-17) | March 23 +/- 15 Days | March 13 |
| 1/4″ Green Tip Red Delicious | March 31 +/- 13 Days | March 18 |
| Pink Peach (Redhaven/PF-17) | April 4 +/- 15 Days | March 18 |
| Tight Cluster Red Delicious | April 9 +/- 13 Days | March 30 |
| Full Bloom Peach (Redhaven/PF-17) | April 9 +/- 14 Days | April 5 |
| Pink Apple (Red Delicious) | April 14 +/- 12 Days | April 9 |
| Full Bloom Apple (Red Delicious) | April 22 +/- 11 Days | April 20 |
| Petal Fall (Redhaven) | April 22 +/- 10 Days | April 15 |
| Petal Fall (Red Delicious) | April 27 +/- 13 Days | May 3 |
| Shuck Split (Redhaven) | April 30 +/- 11 Days | April 22 |
| Pit Hardening | June 15 +/- 9 Days | June 10 |
Tree Fruit Trap Captures – Southern Counties
| STLM | TABM-A | CM | BMSB | OFM-A | DWB | OFM-P | TABM-P | LPTB | PTB | |
| 3/23/2024 | 70 | 0 | ||||||||
| 3/30/2024 | 29 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 4/6/2024 | 421 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 4/13/2024 | 415 | 7 | 1 | |||||||
| 4/20/2024 | 900 | 7 | 0 | |||||||
| 4/27/2024 | 312 | 2 | 22 | 1 | ||||||
| 5/4/2024 | 137 | 2 | 8 | 27 | 1 | 5 | ||||
| 5/11/2024 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 42 | |||
| 5/18/2024 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 41 | ||
| 5/25/2014 | 33 | 29 | 7 | 4 | 25 | 0 | 44 | 37 | ||
| 6/1/2024 | 719 | 12 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 57 | ||
| 6/8/2024 | 163 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 35 | 52 | 3 | |
| 6/15/2024 | 252 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 4 | 54 | 4 |
| 6/22/2024 | 252 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 4 | 54 | 4 |
| 6/29/2024 | 500 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 10 | 35 | 4 |
| 7/6/2024 | 245 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| 7/13/2024 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 34 | 1 |
| 7/20/2024 | 152 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 0 |
| 7/27/2024 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 5 |
| 8/03/2024 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 0 |
| 8/10/2024 | 514 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 35 | 1 |
| 8/17/2024 | 141 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 1 |
Tree Fruit Trap Captures – Northern Counties
| STLM | TABM-A | CM | BMSB | OFM-A | DWB | OFM-P | TABM-P | LPTB | PTB | AMBROSIA BEETLE | |
| 3/23/2024 | |||||||||||
| 3/30/2024 | |||||||||||
| 4/6/2024 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 4/13/2024 | 3.25 | 37.6 | |||||||||
| 4/20/2024 | 11.75 | 93 | |||||||||
| 4/27/2024 | 0 | 19 | 50 | ||||||||
| 5/4/2024 | 1 | 16 | 19 | 124 | |||||||
| 5/11/2024 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 112 | |||||||
| 5/18/2024 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 83 | ||||
| 5/25/2024 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 8 | 23 | 55 | ||||
| 6/1/2024 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 28 | 7 | 21 | 37 | ||||
| 6/8/2024 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 16 | 2 | 12 | |||
| 6/15/2024 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 21 | 27 | 1 | 12 | |||
| 6/22/2024 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 13 | 16 | 1 | 3 | |||
| 6/29/2024 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 13 | 17 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 7/06/2024 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 9 | 19 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 7/13/2024 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 18 | 18 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 7/20/2024 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 7/27/2024 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 0 | ||
