Rutgers University | New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station | Pesticide User Responsibility

Andy Wyenandt

This is an archive of Dr. Wyenandt's posts on the Plant and Pest Advisory.

April 24, 2013 and

NJ Farmers Soil Fumigant Compliance Inspection Advisory

During the weeks of May 13-17 and June 3-7, the NJDEP Pesticide Control Compliance and Enforcement will be conducting inspections of NJ farmers who currently or previously reported using soil fumigants, primarily Vapam (metham sodium).

There are about 50 NJ farms reporting fumigant use. These farms will be the targets of the compliance assistance inspections. The inspections are being conducted by NJDEP as non-citation “compliance assistance” in response to changing regulations from US EPA for assuring safety of fumigant application workers by licensed applicator farmers.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Fruit, Vegetable Crops
April 23, 2013

Growers Guide to Protectant Fungicides (FRAC codes M1 – M9)

Protectant (contact) fungicides typically offer broad spectrum control for many different pathogens. Protectant fungicides belong to FRAC groups which have a low chance for fungicide resistance to develop. These include:

  • the inorganics (copper, FRAC code M1) and sulfur (FRAC code M2),
  • the dithiocarbamates (mancozeb, FRAC code M3) and chloronitriles (chlorothalonil, FRAC code M5)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
April 19, 2013

Vegetable Disease Update 4-19-13

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
April 19, 2013

Vegetable Diseases of the Week 4-19-13

Recognize these diseases of Spinach and Strawberry?

White rust on bottom side of infected spinach leaf

White rust
on bottom side of infected spinach leaf.

Anthracnose fruit rot of strawberry

Anthracnose fruit rot
of strawberry.

Botrytis fruit rot of strawberry

Botrytis fruit rot
of strawberry.
Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
April 19, 2013

Early Season Pythium & Phytophthora Control in Pepper and Tomato

With the relatively dry spring we’ve had thus far, it’s easy to forget about Pythium and Phytophthora! The same question always comes up about this time of year when growers begin to start thinking about transplanting their tomato and pepper crops. “What should I do to help prevent Pythium and Phytophthora?”

In years past, the answer was simple, apply mefenoxam (Ridomil Gold SL, Ultra Flourish, 4) or metalaxyl (MetaStar, 4). Problem solved, right? In the past, that answer was right, but with resistance development in Phytophthora (P. capsici) to both mefenoxam and metalaxyl, the correct answer isn’t so simple anymore. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
April 11, 2013

Vegetable Disease Update: 4/11/2013

  • Asparagus: Phytophthora crown and spear rot
  • Cabbage: Damping-off
  • Cole crops: Downy Mildew and Alternaria
  • Leeks (overwintered, spring transplanted): Purple blotch
  • Lettuce: Bottom Rot/Drop
  • Parsley: Septoria Blight/Bacterial (blight) leaf spot
  • Strawberry: Anthracnose fruit rot; Botrytis (Gray Mold) and Blossom blight

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops