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

October 2, 2019

Vegetable IPM Update 10/02/19

Note:  This is the last regular edition of the Vegetable IPM Update for the season.  We will provide additional updates on specific pest/disease issues as they arise.

Sweet Corn

Corn earworm (CEW) moth catches remain at moderate levels.  Overall, CEW numbers represent a normal early fall population.  Moth counts will decline with cool night temperatures (especially those forecast for the upcoming weekend), but look for rebounds when nighttime temperatures exceed 60F.   Economically damaging populations of this pest are present throughout the state, and all remaining silk stage plantings are at risk of crop injury if strict spray schedules are not observed.

 

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Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
September 20, 2019

Allium leaf miner update: 09/20/19

Allium Leaf Miner

Allium leaf miner (ALM) feeding/egglaying scars were detected in chives and scallions near Princeton (Mercer Co.), NJ on Friday of this week.  This indicates that the second (fall) flight of these flies is now underway, and damage is occurring.

Allium leafminer oviposition scars on onion

Photo: Sabrina Tirpak. Allium leafminer oviposition scars on onion

Growers should consider initiating the control method of their choice at this time.  Affected crops include chives, scallions, garlic, onions and leeks.

Floating row covers, kept on until the second flight ends will help minimize access to plants.  Insecticide applications targeting adults may be helpful as well, although frequency of applications is uncertain.  Spinosyn materials (Radiant, Entrust (OMRI approved)), pyrethroids (Mustang Maxx, Warrior), and pyrethrin materials (Pyganic (OMRI approved)), neonicotinoids (Scorpion, Venom) and the insect growth regulator Trigard are labeled for miner control.

Adult activity and observations of feeding will be reported on in the IPM Update as they occur.  At this time, all growers should respond to the second adult generation.  We will attempt to identify the end of the second flight so that growers know when the risk of infestation has abated.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
June 26, 2019

IPM Update 6/26/19

Sweet Corn

The first European corn borer (ECB) flight is over, and no map will appear in this edition.  Feeding percentages are now declining as affected plantings get treated and pass to the silk stage.  No new feeding should occur until the second flight arrives.

Growers should continue to scout whorl and pre-tassel stage plantings weekly and consider treating when infested plants exceed 12% in a 50 plant sample.  As plantings proceed to the pre-tassel stage, ECB larvae may be found in emerging tassels.  It is a good idea to treat individual plantings as they move into the full tassel/first silk stage one time.  This eliminates any ECB larvae that have emerged with the tassels as they begin to move down the stalk to re-enter near developing ears.

Useful insecticides for this particular application include synthetic pyrethroids (IRAC Grp 3), spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen (IRAC Grp 28) or materials such as Besiege which include the active ingredient in Coragen.  Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn.  Control with these materials is very inconsistent.

The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 6/26/19 are as follows:

Cedarville   1
Denville   1
Hillsborough   1

 

Corn earworm (CEW) moth catches in both trap types have decline dramatically over the past week (see blacklight map at left, and pheromone trap map below at right).  We are entering the time of the season when CEW activity is at its’ lowest.  Despite this, low numbers continue in southern NJ blacklights and in the much more sensitive pheromone traps.   The overwhelming majority of activity is below Mercer County, with only scattered individuals in northern areas.  Green areas on the pheromone trap map indicates a 4-5 day silk spray schedule. Blue areas represent a 5-6 day schedule, and white areas are 6-7 day.  There are far fewer CEW pheromone traps than blacklights, and the resulting map has much broader color bands as a result.  It should also be noted that the pheromone traps are much more sensitive than blacklights.  Therefore, the number of moths caught in pheromone traps required to generate a specific spray interval is much higher than the number caught in blacklight traps.   It must be stressed that there is high variability in these catches, and growers should consult with their IPM practitioner on recommended spray schedules.

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Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
July 17, 2017

Cucurbit Downy Mildew ALERT – 7/17/17

Cucurbit downy mildew was confirmed on cucumber in northern New Jersey (Hunterdon County) today in the cucurbit downy mildew sentinel plot at the Snyder Research and Extension Farm in Pittstown. This is the fourth report of CDM  on cucumber in New Jersey this growing season. No other cucurbit crops were affected.  All cucumber growers in NJ are encouraged to add downy mildew specific fungicides to their weekly maintenance spray programs. All growers should scout cucumber plantings as well as all other cucurbit crops for symptoms. CDM has also been reported on cucumber in MD, DE, and PA. To track the progress of cucurbit downy mildew in the US through the CDMpipe website through NCSU please click here.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
May 3, 2016

Veg IPM Update: Week Ending 5/3/16

Note: The black light trap network has been deployed and is being monitored by IPM Program personnel. The corn earworm (CEW) pheromone trap network is not yet deployed. As adult European corn borer (ECB) and CEW begin to arrive in traps, population maps of these pests will be published in the Plant and Pest Advisory on a weekly basis. Additionally, maps of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) will also appear in this publication. As the CEW pheromone traps in southern NJ begin to register catches, maps of these pest captures will also be published.

Cole Crops

Last week’s warm, sunny days, resulted in some infestations of crucifer flea beetle. Current cold, wet conditions are less favorable for flea beetle activity. These beetles can build to high populations quickly, especially where wild mustard and related cruciferous weeds are common. Mustard greens, radishes, arugula and Tuscan kale are favored hosts. Extreme feeding on small transplants can cause irreversible damage if not controlled promptly.

While flea beetles may be controlled with foliar applied insecticides, it is possible to get 2-3 weeks of protection by using a soil applied systemic insecticide at planting. This insures good establishment of the transplants without significant flea beetle injury.

Soil applied materials include [active ingredient – trade name (IRAC* code)]:
Clothianidin – Belay (4A)
Cyantranilaprole – Verimark (28)
Dinotefuran – Scorpion/Venom (4A)
Imidacloprid – Admire Pro (4A)

 
As yet, no imported cabbage worm or diamondback moth larvae have been detected in new field plantings. As these pests appear, identification, scouting procedures and control measures will be outlined in the update.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
May 7, 2014

Understanding Combination Insecticide Products

When using blended products:

  • Know the pest that you need to control.
  • Use an appropriate insecticide that will do the job with as little negative impact as possible.
  • Avoid broad spectrum insecticides when possible.
  • Avoid using redundant materials.

Over the past decade, the number of vegetable insecticides (both commercial products and insecticide classes) has increased significantly.  Included in these are a number of materials with novel modes of action (MOA), and high degrees of pest specificity. For example, some newer materials have efficacy against caterpillars only, while others may control caterpillars and some fly larvae. Other examples are detailed in the chart, Combination Insecticide Products for Commercial Vegetable Crops. This article clarifies the options in the Commercial Vegetable Recommendations so that growers may make more informed choices as to the most useful product for specific pests. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops