Archives for March 2026

March 15, 2026

SOUTH JERSEY CALIBRATION GROWERS MEETING

March 25, 2026
2:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Rutgers Agricultural Research & Extension Center
121 Northville Road
Bridgeton, NJ

Program

Program Chair
Janine Spies, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Statewide Program Leader in Fruit IPM

2:30 – Registration

3:00 – Welcome and Introductions

3:15 – Airblast Sprayer Calibration Techniques
Chris Lovenduski, Central Jersey Equipment

4:15 – Early season management in peaches
Anne Nielsen PhD, Professor & Extension Specialist in Entomology

4:45 – Light fare & refreshments (Pre-registration required)

5:00 – Coverage Counts: How to make the most of a pesticide application
Karly Regan PhD, Certis Biologicals

5:30 – Pesticide Safety and Regulations for Specialty Crops
Janine Spies PhD, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

6:00 – Pesticide Recertification Credits and Adjourn. Attendees must be present for the entire program in order to apply for NJDEP credits.

THE FOLLOWING NJDEP PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION CREDITS WILL BE AWARDED

4 CAT-10     4 CAT-1A     3 CAT-3A     4 CORE     4 PP2

Click here to register: South Jersey Calibration Event Registration – Fill out form

PRE-REGISTRATION BY March 18, 2026

Registration cost per person is $10. Cash or check (made payable to Rutgers The State University) will be collected at the door.

If you have any questions please contact Janine Spies: (352)-231-6330, janine.spies@rutgers.edu

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, pesticide credits, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, vegetable, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape
March 15, 2026

NORTH JERSEY CALIBRATION GROWERS MEETING

March 24, 2026
2:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Snyder Research & Extension Farm
140 Locust Grove Road
Pittstown, NJ

Program

Program Chair
Janine Spies, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Statewide Program Leader in Fruit IPM

2:30 – Registration

3:00 – Welcome and Introductions

3:15 – Airblast Sprayer Calibration Techniques
Chris Lovenduski, Central Jersey Equipment

4:15 – Importance of Calibration for Optimal Pest Control and Resistance Management
Kaitlin Quinn, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

4:45 – Light fare & refreshments (Pre-registration required)

5:00 – Coverage Counts: How to make the most of a pesticide application
Karly Regan PhD, Certis Biologicals

5:30 – Pesticide Safety and Regulations for Specialty Crops
Janine Spies PhD, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

6:00 – Pesticide Recertification Credits and Adjourn. Attendees must be present for the entire program in order to apply for NJDEP credits.

THE FOLLOWING NJDEP PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION CREDITS WILL BE AWARDED

4 CAT-10     4 CAT-1A     4 CAT-3A     5 CORE     4 PP2

Click here to register: North Jersey Calibration Event Registration – Fill out form

PRE-REGISTRATION BY March 18, 2026

Registration cost per person is $10. Cash or check (made payable to Rutgers The State University) will be collected at the door.

If you have any questions please contact Kim Crommelin: (908)-788-1338, kfrey@co.hunterdon.nj.us

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, pesticide credits, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape
March 12, 2026

Caneberry Production Webinar April 8th

Filed Under: Fruit, pesticide credits, Uncategorized
March 10, 2026

Networks to Reduce Risk Field Trip – April 11

Field trip to Clover Valley Farm

Saturday, April 11, 10am

Register at: https://go.rutgers.edu/stf3j6x6

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , ,
March 9, 2026

Bird Damage and Laser-Based Deterrents for Eastern Fruit Growers

Bird damage continues to be a significant challenge for many fruit growers across the eastern United States. A multi-state team of researchers, including Rutgers Cooperative Extension, is preparing a grant proposal to evaluate the use of laser-based bird deterrent systems as a tool to reduce bird damage in fruit crops.

The goal of this project is to better understand how lasers can safely deter birds from feeding and roosting in crop fields, while also developing practical guidelines and cost analyses to help growers determine whether this technology could work for their operations.

To help shape this project, we are asking fruit growers to complete a short survey (six questions) about bird damage and current management practices. Your input will help strengthen the grant proposal and ensure the research focuses on real challenges faced by growers. Growers who complete the survey may also indicate interest in participating in future on-farm field trials.

Grower participation is essential.

If you are willing to help, please complete the survey here: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4It65is1tUeuSFw

If you have any questions, please contact Matthew Milburn at matthew.milburn@rutgers.edu.

QR code if needed:

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Wine Grape
March 6, 2026

ALERT: Be prepared to manage White Pine Weevil in conifers early next week

With increasing temperatures, it is plausible that a critical treatment window for controlling White Pine Weevil (WPW) will be present early next week, throughout many areas of NJ. Factors leading to this post include increased air temperatures and climbing growing degree-days (WPW adult movement and egg laying is around 7-58 growing degree-days (GDD50)), and most importantly rising soil temperatures as this pest typically begins movement with soils hovering around 50F. All of these factors lead to the possibility of WPW movement early next week and growers may wish to utilize a preventative, long lasting residual spray (pyrethroids) to target adults before they begin egg laying.

So we have: 

  • NJ will be within the GDD window for adult movement and approaching egg laying (7-58 GDD50)
  • Soil temperatures in some areas may be close to 50F.
  • Increased air temperatures and insect mobility
White Pine Weevil (Pissodes strobi) – potential for emergence as of 3/6/2026 
Region Location CODE METRIC FRI SAT SUN MON TUES WEDS
6-Mar 7-Mar 8-Mar 9-Mar 10-Mar 11-Mar
Southern Upper Deerfield NJ50 GDD50 0 0 9 13 18 31
High Temp [ºF]  (Average) 49 (43.5) 52 (50.5) 63 (52) 67 (45) 71 (62) 71 (60.5)
24hr Average –       Soil TEMP [ºF] 47.1 <- (This will change over time / no prediction available)
Central Freehold / Howell NJ50 GDD50 0 0 4 6 9 17
High Temp [ºF]  (Average) 42(39) 49(48) 62(51.5) 69(56.5) 74(63) 70(59)
24hr Average –       Soil TEMP [ºF] 40.7 <- (This will change over time / no prediction available)
Northern HACKETTSTOWN G5633 GDD50 0 0 3 3 6 17
High Temp [ºF]  (Average) 41(37.5) 47(45.5) 61(49.5) 69(55) 76(63) 68(55)
24hr Average –       Soil TEMP [ºF] 34.1 <- (This will change over time / no prediction available)
USPEST.ORG – Model: simple average/growing degree-day, Min: 50F – Max: 95F, NMME forecast
Forecast:  7-month NMME based seasonal climate forecast (USPEST.ORG) – Subject to change regularly = Check Often
Air temperatures: Weather Underground (https://www.wunderground.com/) and NEWA: (https://newa.cornell.edu/)
Soil temperatures (10cm): https://www.greencastonline.com/tools/soil-temperature
Compiled by Waller. T. 3/6/2026 [twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu]

 

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Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf Tagged With: , , , , , , ,