Archives for August 2024

August 18, 2024

Cucurbit Downy Mildew Update 8/18/24

Cucurbit Downy Mildew Update

Cucurbit downy mildew (CDM) was discovered by IPM technician Chris Cloutier in Morris County, just south of Morristown on Friday.  Suspect leaves from pumpkin plants were incubated and ultimately produced spores on Sunday.   All NJ growers of pumpkins and winter squash should treat fields accordingly.  Look for chlorotic areas bordered by veins on the upper leaf surface (photo at lower right).  If conditions are moist, dark sporulation may be found on the lower leaf surface (photo at lower left).

Cucurbit downy mildew Cucurbit downy mildewUseful materials for CDM may be found in the Pumpkin and Winter Squash Section of the 2024/25 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations.  Downy mildew specific fungicides should be added to the existing powdery mildew fungicide program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
August 14, 2024

Vegetable IPM Update 8/14/24

Sweet Corn

Fall armyworm (FAW)  infestations remain present, although they have become lighter and more sporadic in most scouted locations in central and northern NJ counties.  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 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 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).  Infected plant

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 penetrate the layer of droppings that may have formed above the caterpillar.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
August 14, 2024

Call for Comments for Potential Mancozeb Registration Changes

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released their proposed interim registration review decision for mancozeb in July 2024. The proposed changes include a cancelation of all uses in grape (table, wine, juice, and raisin) along with other label changes to address spray drift and soil erosion/surface water runoff risks. Mancozeb is a multisite mode of action fungicide used for the prevention and control of fungal pathogens in fruit and vegetable crops, ornamental plants, and turf grass. In 2018, mancozeb used by the agricultural industry in New Jersey totaled more than 41,000 lbs. active ingredient. A summary of the EPA’s proposed mancozeb risk mitigation measures is provided below. There is an open comment period for the public to provide responses to the proposed mitigation revisions and how they could impact production. The comment period ends on September 16, 2024. To view the amended proposed interim registration review in its entirety, see Docket No. EPA-HQ-OPP-2015-0291 at www.regulations.gov. For instruction on how to submit comments, visit https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/07/17/2024-15650/pesticide-registration-review-proposed-decisions-for-several-pesticides-notice-of-availability-and.

Proposed risk mitigation measures for mancozeb:

1. Use terminations for

  • residential turf and ornamental uses;
  • golf course uses except for tees, greens, and fairways;
  • on-farm seed treatment of peanut and potato;
  • all commercial seed treatment uses; seed treatment uses for barley, oat, rye, triticale, and wheat;
  • mechanically pressurized handgun applications of wettable powder, liquid, and dry flowable formulations to typical-acreage field and orchard crops;
  • aerial applications of all formulations to sod and wettable powder formulations to high-acreage field crops; and
  • all grape (table, wine, juice, and raisin) uses.

2. Spray drift reduction measures for non-occupational bystanders when using aerial equipment to apply mancozeb products to orchard and typical-acreage field crops adjacent to residential areas a 25-foot buffer from the edge of the treated field is required.

3. Personal protective equipment requirements and engineering controls including

  • double layering clothing and gloves for all mixing, loading, and application scenarios;
  • APF10 respirators for several scenarios;
  • Closed-loading systems for several formulations, applications, and crops; and
  • Enclosed cab requirement for certain handlers including airblast applications to orchard/vineyards and nurseries.

4. Changes to Restricted-Entry Intervals (REIs) including

  • Pome fruits to 4 days for all activities and the prohibition of hand-thinning fruit
  • Broccoli, Cabbage to 6 days
  • Cranberry to 4 days
  • Pepper, Tomato, & Cucurbit Vegetables to 3 days
  • Sod to 7 days
  • Christmas Trees to 29 days

NOTE: Current mancozeb labels require a 12 to 48-hour REI depending on the crop or use site.

5. Spray drift management measures

  • No applications during temperature inversions and >10 mph wind speeds;
  • Swath displacement or reduced boom length if wind speed is 10 mph;
  • More directed airblast applications to treated row and canopy foliage; and
  • Restrictions on droplet size.
Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape
August 9, 2024

Agrivoltaic farmer trainings in New Jersey!

The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program and the American Farmland Trust are excited to host our inaugural agrivoltaics farmer trainings in New Jersey! This Technical Assistance Program for Agrivoltaics (TAPAS) will introduce the dual-use of land for both agricultural and solar energy production, and explore the opportunities it may present for greater farm viability in New Jersey.

There are three training events, but due to limited capacity, we are encouraging participants to only register for one training session so we may train as many producers as possible. The in-person events have a capacity of 20 participants. Register today to secure your spot as soon as possible! While these trainings are exclusively held for farmers and ranchers, we will have other opportunities in the future for non-farmer participants to learn from our team of experts.

Training Opportunities

Session 1: Full-day training intended for specialty crop farmers on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 121 Northville Rd, Bridgeton, NJ 08302

Session 2: Half-day training intended for livestock producers or those who focus on grazing and forage on Tuesday, August 27 at the Round House next to 65 Sheepfold Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Session 3: A virtual training for all types of producers on Tuesday, September 10 from 5-7:30 pm ET

For more information and to sign up for one of these training sessions please click here.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Organic Production, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape, work shop Tagged With: ,
August 7, 2024

Vegetable IPM Update 8/07/24

Sweet Corn

Fall armyworm (FAW)  infestations remain present, although in fields where growers responded with appropriate insecticides, control has been good.   Re-infestation is occurring rapidly in Cape May County fields, and is likely happening elsewhere in the southern part of the state.  Because FAW moths are highly mobile, it is important to monitor fields at least weekly for signs of infestation.   Whorl 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 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).  Infected plant

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 penetrate the layer of droppings that may have formed above the caterpillar.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
August 7, 2024

EPA Issues Final Cancellation and Termination of Uses Order for Several Chlorpyrifos Products

[EPA. August 7, 2024]. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a final order terminating food processing plant (food and non-food area) uses for Chemstarr’s chlorpyrifos product “Chlorpyrifos 61.5% MUP” and food uses for Tide International’s chlorpyrifos product “Chlorpyrifos 4 EC.” EPA is also cancelling two Central Garden & Pet chlorpyrifos products “Equil Chlorpyrifos […]
Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops