Field trip to Clover Valley Farm
Saturday, April 11, 10am
Register at: https://go.rutgers.edu/stf3j6x6
Christmas Trees Edition
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Seasonal pest alerts and news about insects, diseases, and weeds impacting Christmas Tree production including Commercial Ag Updates (meetings and marketing); and Pesticide Program updates from the Rutgers Pest Management Office News Blog.
Companion Website Links:
Rutgers Weather Forecasting - Meteorological Information important to commercial agriculture.
March 6, 2026 Tim Waller
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] | |||||||||
February 13, 2026 Kate Brown
Farm Safety Needs Assessment
The Rutgers Farm Health and Safety Working Group is conducting a survey to evaluate the priority needs of New Jersey farmers for training and resource development related to safety and health. As a New Jersey farmer, you are invited to complete this survey. Click here to access the survey and learn more. [Read more…]
January 18, 2026 Michelle Infante-Casella
NE Agriculture Expo and Rutgers Educational Sessions Start Tuesday 1/20/26 to Thursday 1/22/26 in Atlantic City
The NE Agriculture Expo and Rutgers Educational Sessions Start Tuesday 1/20/26 at Harrah’s in Atlantic City, 777 Harrahs Boulevard. The final day of educational sessions and trade show ends on Thursday at 5pm.
The weather may be cold, but no rain or no snow in the forecast, and warm times inside the conference center to network with others in the industry. An afternoon Hospitality Room will be available 12-5pm on Wednesday and Thursday to relax and unwind in the trade show area. Come for the social aspects, education and gain pesticide recertification credits. Check out the Rutgers Educational Program to see what topics you would like to learn about. go.rutgers.edu/2026rutgerseduprog
What’s Happening
January 20 (Tuesday)
- Pre–trade show workshops and sessions
January 21 (Wednesday)
- Full day of educational sessions for all commodity groups • Year of the Women Farmer Luncheon
- Packed trade show with vendor booths sold out
- Live charity auction with FREE food
January 22 (Thursday)
- More sessions
- Another day packed trade show with vendor booths sold out
- Special appearance by Temple Grandin book signing /meet and greet, then her special session (additional cost)
Registration Options On-Site at the Regitration Counter (hallway of conference center) or On-line https://vganj.com/convention-tickets“>https://vganj.com/convention-tickets
✔️ VGANJ Membership – $100
Includes 2 Expo passes
Additional passes just $25 each
✔️ One-Day Pass – $60
Access to sessions + trade show
Register On-Line to
- Save time at registration
- Walk in, grab your badge
- Enjoy FREE breakfast (8am-10am Wednesday and Thursday in Trade Show)
- Head straight to learning, growing, and catching up with friends
This event under one roof, packed with education and energy, and celebrating New Jersey agriculture at its best.
Plus, buy your tee shirt or hoodie at the registration desk to “Support New Jersey Farmers” and tout “No Farmers No Food” – new this year.
January 8, 2026 Michelle Infante-Casella
NEED PESTCIDE RECERTIFICATION CREDITS? REGISTER TODAY
4 CORE Credits – Pesticide Safety Workshop
A Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Workshop for Pesticide Applicators to gain CORE Credits towards their license will be held at the NE Agriculture Expo at Harrah’s in Atlantic City to start of this year’s event. This workshop will take place from 10:00AM to 12:00PM. Licensed applicators must accumulate 8 CORE Credits over a 5-year period to maintain their NJDEP Pesticide Applicators License. This workshop will offer 4 CORE Credits. Pre-registration is requested and can be found on the VGANJ website at https://vganj.com“>https://vganj.com. Registration cost is $25 per person and non-refundable. Registration for this workshop is separate from the convention registration and attendees must also register for the expo at https://vganj.com/convention-tickets. The topics include: Pesticide Safety – Personal Protection Equipment for the Pesticide Applicator; Update on US EPA Worker Protection Standards; Storage, Tank Mixing, Tank Cleaning, and Disposal; Pesticide Record Keeping and Notification. For more information contact Bill Bamka (bamka@njaes.rutgers.edu) or Michelle Infante-Casella (minfante@njaes.rutgers.edu).
For the full program (January 20-22nd) of Rutgers Educational Workshops and Sessions that offer more credits and diverse topics, see https://go.rutgers.edu/2026rutgerseduprog
January 5, 2026 Michelle Infante-Casella
2 “Stop the Bleed” Trainings North and South Jersey
2 STOP THE BLEED TRAININGS SCHEDULED
FOR FARMERS AND THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY
REGISTRATION REQUIRED – NO COST
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10TH IN SUSSEX COUNTY STARTING AT 10:00AM
&
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY STARTING AT 9:00AM
FOR SUSSEX COUNTY ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 10TH AT 10:00AM – CALL TO REGISTER: 973-948-3040
LOCATION: RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OF SUSSEX COUNTY, 130 MORRIS TNPK, NEWTON, NJ
-OR-
FOR GLOUCESTER COUNTY ON FEBRUARY 2ND AT 9:00AM – REGISTER USING THIS LINK OR QR CODE:
https://go.rutgers.edu/stopthebleed
LOCATION: GLOUCESTER COUNTY OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES
1200 N. DELSEA DR., CLAYTON, NJ
Rutgers Cooperative Extension’ Farm Health and Safety Team has 2 scheduled events for “Stop the Bleed” training for the farming community.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn the life-saving skills of pressure application, wound packing, and use of tourniquets. The first 25 registrants at each location, will also receive a complementary bleeding control kit.
Space is limited, register today.
If you have questions contact Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Sussex County (973-948-3040) or Gloucester County (856-224-8040 ext. 1)
Rutgers Farm Health and Safety Team:
Agricultural Agents: Kate Brown, Michelle Infante-Casella, William Bamka, and Stephen Komar
