The second ‘CORE Extravaganza’ meeting hosted by Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County will be held Thursday, July 14, 2022. This is an in-person opportunity for licensed pesticide applicators to earn CORE and recertification credits. The July meeting also offers one (1) category credit for 1A, 10, and PP2. See details below. [Read more…]
Commercial Ag Updates + Farm Food Safety
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Ag Agents provide updates on what they see in the field, upcoming events, and other important news that affects your operation, such as developments in on-farm Food Safety. Subscribe if you wish to be notified about workshops, meetings, and upcoming commercial ag events.
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June 30, 2022
Tree Fruit IPM Report for June 30, 2022
Peach:
Oriental Fruit Moth: A biofix point for OFM was set on 4/11 in southern counties, and on 4/14 in northern counties. The second generation timings are updated below.
| Insecticide Type | |||
| County/Region | Degree Days by 6/30 base 45 | Conventional
1150-1200 1450-1500 |
Diamide
1075-1150 1375-1450 |
| Gloucester – Southern | 1522 | 1st –past
2nd –past |
1st –past
2nd –past |
| Middlesex – Northern | 1447 | 1st –past
2nd –6/30-7/2 |
1st –past
2nd –6/29-6/30 |
Japanese Beetles: Japanese beetles have emerged and have been observed in some orchards. Products containing imidacloprid (Admire Pro, etc.) are effective and have a short preharvest interval. See the Tree Fruit Production guide for more information.
Tarnished Plant Bugs; and Other Catfacing Insects: Catfacing insect activity is increasing with the arrival of hot weather and is present at moderate to high levels in some orchards. Brown Marmorated Stink bugs are present at low to moderate levels in orchards statewide.
Lesser Peach Tree Borer and Peach Tree Borer: Lesser Borer adults are flying in all growing regions. Greater Peach tree borers are now flying in southern counties.
Apples and Pears:
Diseases: Summer scab, rots and sooty blotch and fly speck are the main targets at this stage. Where scab is present rely primarily on protectant fungicides. Last year Captan plus a phosphorous acid like Prophyt was observed to slow scab development as well as provide good summer disease control.
Codling Moth (CM): The Second CM flight will be starting soon. If trap captures are above 5 moths/trap continue using effective materials. A biofix was set for CM on April 25th in southern counties, and May 6 in Northern counties (Middlesex County). Estimated timings for the second generation are updated below.
| Codling Moth Degree Day Timing | ||||||
| Application and Insecticide Type | ||||||
| County Area | Biofix | Intrepid; Diamides – Altacor, Voliam mixes:
1150-1200 + 1450-1500 DD
|
Cyd-X, Madex
1250 DD + every 7-9 days during brood hatch (later if first spray is an IGR) |
Standard Insecticides – Delegate, Avaunt, OP’s, carbamates, pyrethroids
1250 DD + 1550-1600 DD
|
||
| DD | 1150-1200 | 1450-1500 | 1250 | 1250 | 1550-1600 | |
| Southern | April 25 | 7/3-7/5 | too far off | 7/7 | 7/7 | too far off |
| Northern | May 6 | 7/6-7/7 | too far off | 7/9 | 7/9 | too far off |
Grapes:
Diseases: Grape diseases active at this growth stage are powdery mildew, downy mildew, and black rot.
Phomopsis on grape leaves and cane. (Photo – D. Schmitt)
Black rot leaf lesion on grape (Photo – D. Schmitt)
Phomopsis and downy mildew symptoms are present in southern counties. Black rot symptoms have not yet been observed but should appear any time now. Disease infection periods can be monitored using the NEWA models. Choose the weather station closest to your vineyard.
Insects: Leafhoppers have been seen in a few spots. This complex is generally not of concern. Potato leafhoppers, which arrive sometime in June, can cause some minor damage. Spotted Lantern Fly nymphs are present in high numbers on many vineyards. These nymphs do little damage and generally don’t need special treatments when present. Even so, vineyards should be monitored for SLF presence and if they are found use an insecticide effective for SLF when treating for Grape Berry Moth. More information for SLF can be found at the Penn State SLF website.
Downy Mildew on grape Leaves. (Photo – D. Schmitt)
Grape Berry Moth (GBM): The biofix in southern counties for GBM was 5/25. Timing for the second generation treatments using Diamides or Intrepid is set at 810 degree days base 470F. Other materials may be applied a few days later. Given the current weather patterns, this should be about the late June/early July in southern counties. Insecticides that will control both GBM and SLF include pyrethroids and premixes such as Leverage and Voliam Flexi. Voliam Flexi is a diamide premix and should be applied at the 810 degree day timing.
Tree Fruit Trap Counts – Southern Counties
| Weekending | STLM | TABM-A | CM | BMSB | OFM-A | DWB | OFM-P | TABM-P | LPTB | PTB |
| 4/9/2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 4/16/2022 | 0 | 2 | 3 | |||||||
| 4/23/2022 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 4/30/2022 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 5/7/2022 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 50 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 5/14/2022 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 5/21/2022 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 2 | 7 | 3 | |||
| 5/28/2022 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 36 | |||
| 6/4/2022 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 49 | 0 | ||
| 6/11/2022 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 36 | 0 | 8 | 47 | 3 | |
| 6/18/2022 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 62 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 1 | |
| 6/25/2022 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 4 |
Tree Fruit Trap Counts – Northern Counties
| Weekending | STLM | TABM-A | CM | BMSB | OFM-A | DWB | OFM-P | TABM-P | LPTB | PTB |
| 4/9/2022 | ||||||||||
| 4/16/2022 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
| 4/23/2022 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| 4/30/2022 | 0 | 0 | 2.5 | 0 | ||||||
| 5/7/2022 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | ||||||
| 5/14/2022 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 5/21/2022 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 27 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 0 | |
| 5/28/2022 | 34 | 19 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 23 | 15 | 0 | |
| 6/4/2022 | 17 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 27 | 17 | 0 | |
| 6/11/2022 | 22 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 30 | 9 | 0 | |
| 6/18/2022 | 66 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 27 | 7 | 0 |
| 6/25/2022 | 58 | 21 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 22 | 4 | 0 |
| Pest Event or Growth Stage | Approximate Date | 2022 Observed Date |
| Bud Swell (Redhaven) | March 23 +/- 15 Days | March 20 |
| 1/4″ Green Tip Red Delicious | March 31 +/- 13 Days | March 21 |
| Pink Peach (Redhaven) | April 4 +/- 15 Days | March 31 |
| Tight Cluster Red Delicious | April 9 +/- 13 Days | March 31 |
| Full Bloom Peach (Redhaven) | April 9 +/- 14 Days | April 10 |
| Pink Apple (Red Delicious) | April 14 +/- 12 Days | April 14 |
| Full Bloom Apple (Red Delicious) | April 22 +/- 11 Days | April 21 |
| Petal Fall (Redhaven) | April 22 +/- 10 Days | April 14 |
| Petal Fall (Red Delicious) | April 27 +/- 13 Days | May 3 |
| Shuck Split (Redhaven) | April 30 +/- 11 Days | April 26 |
| Pit Hardening | June 15 +/- 9 Days | June 10 |
June 22, 2022
Tree Fruit IPM Report for June 21, 2022
Peach:
Oriental Fruit Moth: A biofix point for OFM was set on 4/11 in southern counties, and on 4/14 in northern counties. The second generation timings are updated below.
| Insecticide Type | |||
| County/Region | Degree Days by 6/8 base 45 | Conventional
1150-1200 1450-1500 |
Diamide
1075-1150 1375-1450 |
| Gloucester – Southern | 1281 | 1st –6/14-6/16
2nd –6/27-6/28 |
1st –6/12-6/15
2nd –6/24-6/27 |
| Middlesex – Northern | 1201 | 1st –6/18-6/21
2nd –6/30-6/31 |
1st –6/15-6/18
2nd –6/29-6/30 |
Tarnished Plant Bugs; and Other Catfacing Insects: Catfacing insect activity is increasing with the arrival of hot weather and is present at moderate to high levels in some orchards. Brown Marmorated Stink bugs are present at low to moderate levels in orchards statewide.
Lesser Peach Tree Borer and Peach Tree Borer: Lesser Borer adults are flying in all growing regions. Greater Peach tree borers are now flying in southern counties.
Apples and Pears:
Diseases: Fire blight and Scab are present at low levels in a few orchards. Fire Blight is increasing. It should be cut out using the ugly stub method. Potato leafhoppers can spread it so they should not be tolerated. Summer scab, rots and sooty blotch and fly speck are the main targets at this stage. Where scab is present rely primarily on protectant fungicides. Last year Captan plus a phosphorous acid like Prophyt was observed to slow scab development as well as provide good summer disease control.
Codling Moth (CM): The Second CM flight will be starting soon. If trap captures are above 5 moths/trap continue using effective materials. A biofix was set for CM on April 25th in southern counties, and May 6 in Northern counties (Middlesex County). estimated timings for the second generation are updated below.
| Codling Moth Degree Day Timing | ||||||
| Application and Insecticide Type | ||||||
| County Area | Biofix | Intrepid; Diamides – Altacor, Voliam mixes:
1150-1200 + 1450-1500 DD
|
Cyd-X, Madex
1250 DD + every 7-9 days during brood hatch (later if first spray is an IGR) |
Standard Insecticides – Delegate, Avaunt, OP’s, carbamates, pyrethroids
1250 DD + 1550-1600 DD
|
||
| DD | 1150-1200 | 1450-1500 | 1250 | 1250 | 1550-1600 | |
| Southern | April 25 | 7/3-7/5 | too far off | 7/7 | 7/7 | too far off |
| Northern | May 6 | 7/5-7/7 | too far off | 7/9 | 7/9 | too far off |
Grapes:
Diseases: Grape diseases active at this growth stage are phomopsis, powdery mildew, downy mildew, ripe rot, and black rot.
Phomopsis on grape leaves and cane. (Photo – D. Schmitt)
Black rot leaf lesion on grape (Photo – D. Schmitt)
Phomopsis and downy mildew symptoms are present in southern counties. Black rot symptoms have not yet been observed but should appear any time now. Disease infection periods can be monitored using the NEWA models. Choose the weather station closest to your vineyard.
Insects: Leafhoppers have been seen in a few spots. This complex is generally not of concern. Potato leafhoppers, which arrive sometime in June, can cause some minor damage. Spotted Lantern Fly nymphs are present in high numbers on many vineyards. These nymphs do little damage and generally don’t need special treatments when present. Even so, vineyards should be monitored for SLF presence and if they are found use an insecticide effective for SLF when treating for Grape Berry Moth. More information for SLF can be found at the Penn State SLF website.
Downy Mildew on grape Leaves. (Photo – D. Schmitt)
Grape Berry Moth (GBM): The biofix in southern counties for GBM was 5/25. Model timing will predict IGR and diamide materials for the second generation. The first generation is not really important in cultivated grapes. Timing for the second generation treatments using Diamides or Intrepid is set at 810 degree days base 470F. Other materials may be applied a few days later. Given the current weather patterns, this should be about the late June/early July in southern counties. Insecticides that will control both GBM and SLF include pyrethroids and premixes such as Leverage and Voliam Flexi. Voliam Flexi is a diamide premix and should be applied at the 810 degree day timing.
Tree Fruit Trap Counts – Southern Counties
| Weekending | STLM | TABM-A | CM | BMSB | OFM-A | DWB | OFM-P | TABM-P | LPTB | PTB |
| 4/9/2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 4/16/2022 | 0 | 2 | 3 | |||||||
| 4/23/2022 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 5 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 4/30/2022 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 31 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 5/7/2022 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 50 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 5/14/2022 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 5/21/2022 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 2 | 7 | 3 | |||
| 5/28/2022 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 36 | |||
| 6/4/2022 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 49 | 0 | ||
| 6/11/2022 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 36 | 0 | 8 | 47 | 3 | |
| 6/18/2022 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 62 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 1 |
Tree Fruit Trap Counts – Northern Counties
| Weekending | STLM | TABM-A | CM | BMSB | OFM-A | DWB | OFM-P | TABM-P | LPTB | PTB |
| 4/9/2022 | ||||||||||
| 4/16/2022 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |||||||
| 4/23/2022 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| 4/30/2022 | 0 | 0 | 2.5 | 0 | ||||||
| 5/7/2022 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | ||||||
| 5/14/2022 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 5/21/2022 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 27 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 0 | |
| 5/28/2022 | 34 | 19 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 23 | 15 | 0 | |
| 6/4/2022 | 17 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 27 | 17 | 0 | |
| 6/11/2022 | 22 | 25 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 30 | 9 | 0 | |
| 6/18/2022 | 66 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 27 | 7 | 0 |
| Pest Event or Growth Stage | Approximate Date | 2022 Observed Date |
| Bud Swell (Redhaven) | March 23 +/- 15 Days | March 20 |
| 1/4″ Green Tip Red Delicious | March 31 +/- 13 Days | March 21 |
| Pink Peach (Redhaven) | April 4 +/- 15 Days | March 31 |
| Tight Cluster Red Delicious | April 9 +/- 13 Days | March 31 |
| Full Bloom Peach (Redhaven) | April 9 +/- 14 Days | April 10 |
| Pink Apple (Red Delicious) | April 14 +/- 12 Days | April 14 |
| Full Bloom Apple (Red Delicious) | April 22 +/- 11 Days | April 21 |
| Petal Fall (Redhaven) | April 22 +/- 10 Days | April 14 |
| Petal Fall (Red Delicious) | April 27 +/- 13 Days | May 3 |
| Shuck Split (Redhaven) | April 30 +/- 11 Days | April 26 |
| Pit Hardening | June 15 +/- 9 Days | June 10 |
June 21, 2022
USDA Announces Assistance for On-Farm Food Safety Expenses for Specialty Crop Growers
Program Details
The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC) will assist specialty crop operations that incurred eligible on-farm food safety certification and related expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in calendar years 2022 and 2023. For each year, FSCSC covers a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing their certification, as well as a portion of their related expenses.
To be eligible for FSCSC, the applicant must be a specialty crop operation; meet the definition of a small business or very small business; and have paid eligible expenses related to the 2022 (issued on or after June 21, 2022) or 2023 certification.
Specialty crop operations may receive assistance for the following costs:
- Developing a food safety plan for first-time food safety certification.
- Maintaining or updating an existing food safety plan.
- Food safety certification.
- Certification upload fees.
- Microbiological testing for products, soil amendments and water.
- Training
FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each category of eligible costs. A higher payment rate has been set for socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers. Details about the payment rates and limitations can be found at farmers.gov/food-safety.
Very small ($250,000) and small farms (less than 500,000) average monetary value of specialty crops sold during the 3-year period preceding the program are eligible.
| Payment Amount of Eligible Costs | ||
| Category of Eligible Expenses | Historically Underserved Farmer or Rancher | All Other Applicants |
| Development of a food safety plan for first-time certification | 75 percent (no maximum)
|
50 percent (no maximum)
|
| Maintaining or updating a food safety plan
|
75 percent, up to a maximum of $375
|
50 percent, up to a maximum of $250
|
| Food safety certification
|
75 percent, up to a maximum of $2,000
|
50 percent, up to a maximum of $2,000
|
| Certification upload fees
|
75 percent, up to a maximum of $375
|
50 percent, up to a maximum of $250
|
| Microbiological testing – products
|
75 percent, up to 5 tests
|
50 percent, up to 5 tests
|
| Microbiological testing – soil amendments
|
75 percent, up to 5 tests
|
50 percent, up to 5 tests
|
| Microbiological testing – water
|
75 percent, up to 5 tests
|
50 percent, up to 5 tests
|
| Training
|
100 percent, up to a maximum of $300
|
100 percent, up to a maximum of $200
|
Applying for Assistance
The FSCSC application period for 2022 is June 27, 2022, through January 31, 2023, and the application period for 2023 will be announced at a later date. FSA will issue payments at the time of application approval for 2022 and after the application period ends for 2023. If calculated payments exceed the amount of available funding, payments will be prorated.
Interested specialty crop producers can apply by completing the FSA-888, Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC) application. The application, along with other required documents, can be submitted to the FSA office at any USDA Service Center nationwide by mail, fax, hand delivery or via electronic means. Producers can visit farmers.gov/service-locator to find their local FSA office. Specialty crop producers can also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to assist.
Producers can visit farmers.gov/food-safety for additional program details, eligibility information and forms needed to apply.
June 20, 2022
Sign Up By June 30 to Receive the 2022 Census of Agriculture
Agricultural producers who did not receive the 2017 Census of Agriculture and do not receive other USDA surveys or censuses have until June 30 to sign up to receive the 2022 Census of Agriculture. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will mail ag census survey codes for responding securely online to every known U.S. producer this November. Hard copy questionnaires will follow in December.
The ag census, conducted for over 180 years, remains the only source of comprehensive and impartial agricultural data for every state and county in the nation. It includes every operation – large or small, urban or rural – from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products are produced and sold, or would normally be produced and sold, in the ag census year.
“The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them,” said Bruce Eklund, state statistician of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), New Jersey Field Office. “Every response is important. The Census of Agriculture is only taken once every five years and documents the value of America’s rural and urban farmers and ranchers. When it comes to Agriculture, people seek information about the local level. Help us document the importance of agriculture in your area.”
On the NASS webpage, producers can also access frequently asked questions, explore past and current ag census data, access tools to help spread the word about the upcoming ag census, learn about ag census special studies, and more.
NASS builds its distribution list for every Census of Agriculture between and during ag census through the official sign-up webpage and multiple National Agricultural Classification Surveys. To learn more about the 2022 Census of Agriculture, visit their website or call the NASS New Jersey Field Office at 503-308-0404.
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NASS is the federal statistical agency responsible for producing official data about U.S. agriculture and is committed to providing timely, accurate and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
June 16, 2022
NJ Bag Ban Update Impacting Direct Market Farms
We have continued to receive questions and comments about the NJ Bag Ban and its impact on farm markets. These questions and comments have been specifically focused on the fact that the ban does not clearly state what types of plastic bags can be used to bag exempted items, including produce. We have received mixed communication about the use of t-shirt style bags for exempted items. The original PPA post on the ban has been updated to reflect this lack of clarity about the enforcement of the bag ban on exempted items. We encourage farms using t-shirt style bags to communicate with their municipality or county, depending on who will be enforcing this ban at their sales locations, to find out how enforcement personnel plan to interpret the law. The law states that those who are out of compliance with the ban will be given a warning for a first offence, a $1000 per day fine for a second offence, and a $5000 a day fine per day for third and subsequent offences. We hope official guidance from DEP will be forthcoming to clarify the law section pertaining to plastic bags for exempted items. Information on the bag ban from the state can be found online.
