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

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.

April 1, 2024

EPA Warns Farmworkers about Risks of Dacthal – Agency developing next steps to address risks

WASHINGTON — Today, April 1, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing its next steps to protect people from the herbicide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA, or Dacthal). EPA is warning people of the significant health risks to pregnant individuals and their developing babies exposed to DCPA and will be pursuing action to address the serious, permanent, […]
Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops
March 29, 2024

How to Prepare a Pesticide Container for Recycling or Reconditioning – What “Empty” Means Legally

Always refer to the current pesticide label “Storage and Disposal” requirements for disposal requirements of pesticide containers. EPA’s pesticide container regulations [40 CFR 156] establish standards for pesticide containers and repackaging. They also now provide standards for label instructions to ensure the safe use, reuse, disposal, and adequate cleaning of the containers. Cleaning the container before […]
Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
March 28, 2024

South Jersey Vegetable Integrated Crop Management Twilight Meeting

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

East Vineland Fire Hall

4931 Landis Ave. across from the Savoy Restaurant

(please park behind the building and enter conference room door in rear)

 

USDA’s SARE Program – Resources and Farmer Grants

  • Michelle Infante-Casella, RCE Gloucester

Pesticide Safety and Compliance Tools for Growers and Applicators

  • Pat Hastings, RCE Pesticide Education Program Coordinator

Management Options for Allium Leaf Miner, Diamondback Moth, & Corn Earworm

  • Kris Holmstrom, RCE Vegetable IPM Program Associate

Implications of EPA’s Herbicide Strategic Plan to Comply with the Endangered Species Act &

Weed Management Strategies for Spring and Summer Vegetable Crops

  • Dr. Thierry Besancon, RCE Specialty Crop Weed Specialist

Unlocking the Power of Social Media Marketing Trends

  • Claudia Gil-Arroyo, RCE Cape May

Disease Control Options for Spring Vegetable Crops

  • Dr. Andy Wyenandt, RCE Vegetable Plant Pathologist

Changes to the New FSMA Water Rule Now in Place, and to the Harmonized Audit

  • Dr. Wes Kline, RCE Cumberland

Pesticide Recertification Credits have been requested for this meeting. We hope you’ll be able to join us.

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
March 28, 2024

Locations for NJ Pesticide Recycling Containers – 2024

Below are the locations and dates for recycling pesticide containers in New Jersey. Individuals dropping off containers (triple rinsed, holes drilled in bottom of container or slit with a knife & sans paper booklet on container) may do so during business hours and can pick up the form with a stamped self-addressed envelope to mail NJDA to confirm participation. Completed form must be returned to NJDA. Individuals with a valid NJ DEP Pesticide Applicators Licenses will receive 1 CORE point PER CALENDAR YEAR when confirming participation in this program.

More information can be found at www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/nrc/processingsteps.html

Salem County
Helena Chemical, 440 N. Main St., Woodstown, NJ
Friday, April 19
Friday, May 17
Friday, June 21
Friday, August 23
Friday, September 20
Friday, October 18

Atlantic County
Helena Chemical, 66 Route 206 (North of the Route 30/206 intersection) Hammonton, NJ
Friday, April 12
Friday, May 10
Friday, June 14
Thursday, July 12
Friday, August 16
Friday, September 13
Friday, October 11

Monmouth County
Rutgers Fruit and Ornamental Research Extension Center
283 Route 539, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514-9634
Friday, April 26
Friday, May 24
Friday, June 28
Friday, July 26
Friday, August 30
Friday, September 27
Friday, October 25

Items that Will Not Be Accepted and Will Be Returned to the Participant:
• Pesticide containers with dried formulation on the container, pour spout or the spout threads
• Pesticide containers with any liquid residue
• Pesticide containers where the insides are caked with dried residue
• Mini-bulk, saddle tanks and nurse tanks, which can be made of fiberglass
• Pesticide containers with lids
• Containers that held any type of petroleum oil product or antifreeze

Non-Waxy Cardboard:
Helena Chemical will also be accepting non-waxy cardboard 1 p.m. to 3 p.m and during the scheduled pesticide container collection times. The clean non-waxy cardboard must be broken down and flattened. Cardboard delivered to the Atlantic County site must be tied.

Clean Non-waxy cardboard will also be accepted year-round at the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex’s Convenience Center.

More information can be found at: www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/nrc/processingsteps.html

Filed Under: Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, pesticide credits, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , ,
March 25, 2024

2024 National Agritourism Survey

The 2024 National Agritourism Survey is now collecting responses, and you are invited to participate! All agricultural operations that welcome visitors – whether for on-farm education, direct sales, entertainment, recreation, special events, and more – are invited to complete the survey.  So, if you offer education or rent event space on your farm, have a farm stand, a petting zoo, offer pick-your-own, farm stays, or other on-farm experiences, your insights are crucial.

By participating in this survey, you’ll help us pinpoint the types of support farmers like you require – whether it’s business assistance, developing networks, applying for grants, or navigating zoning and liability issues. Our goal is to help build the resources you need, improve your access to critical information and opportunities, and shape policy decisions that impact your industry.

This survey is part of a collaborative project led by Penn State with the University of Vermont, Oklahoma State University, the University of Maine, Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, and other partners across the country.

We recognize that your time is valuable, which is why the survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Your insights are invaluable to us, and we sincerely appreciate your willingness to participate.

To take part in the survey, please visit: National Agritourism Support System Survey | Qualtrics Survey |

If you have questions about the survey, please contact Claudia Schmidt from Penn State Extension at cschmidt@psu.edu

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
March 21, 2024

USDA Memorandum to U.S. Growers on Use of Chlorpyrifos Insecticide Products in Food Crops for 2024

Courtesy of Dr. Anne Nielsen SEE ORIGINAL USDA EMAIL Memorandum to U.S. Growers on Use of Chlorpyrifos Insecticide Products in Food Crops for 2024 Background: On February 2, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published an “Update on the Use of the Pesticide Chlorpyrifos on Food.” This EPA update referenced a Federal Register Notice […]
Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops