All NJ licensed pesticide applicators, as well as dealers, who store pesticides are required by law to send a copy of their storage inventories with an explanatory cover letter to the local fire company by May 1st each year. [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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A Comment About Reflex Herbicide
From Weekly Crop Update
Mark VanGessel, Extension Weed Specialist; mjv@udel.edu
All winter I have been talking about Reflex as a tool for managing Palmer amaranth and other problem weeds. Farm articles from the southern US often discuss this product as well. It is commonly used for snap beans and soybeans. But it is one of those products with unique regional restrictions. On Delmarva, we are limited to one application every two years, and a maximum use of 1.5 pts. South into the Carolinas and Georgia, they can use higher rates and use it every year. North of Delaware (Pennsylvania and New Jersey) it is limited to one application in alternate years with a maximum use rate of 1.25 pts. So be sure to plan your herbicide rotation accordingly.
Source: Weekly Crop Update
Be Sure to Read Those Pesticide Labels
From Weekly Crop Update
Mark VanGessel, Extension Weed Specialist; mjv@udel.edu
Remember that the pesticide label is a legal document. Those who apply or use the products need to read the label. Changes are often made to pesticide labels, and often those changes are not well publicized. Also, not all labels with the same active ingredients have the same wording. So read the label for the specific product you intend to use. Use rates and use restrictions can vary with geography, so information you get off the internet may not be accurate for your farm. You will only know that if you read the label. UD Extension does a great job of highlighting specific points that are on labels, but we might miss a specific point that pertains to your situation. So read the label.
Source: Weekly Crop Update
Is It Too Late to Spray for Weeds in Winter Wheat?
From Weekly Crop Update
Mark VanGessel, Extension Weed Specialist; mjv@udel.edu
A few phone calls have come in about treating weeds in winter wheat. First, a lot of the wheat is getting to a stage where it would be injured with some of the herbicides. Also, many of the weeds are probably too large for effective control. Finally, the wheat is getting large enough that it will intercept a lot of the herbicide spray, so will you get the spray coverage you need. Each field needs to be evaluated on a case by case basis to determine if a spray should be made.
Source: Weekly Crop Update
Crop Insurance Update
By garden state crop insurance education initiative
April 11th is the earliest planting date for corn crop insurance policies
April 21st is the earliest planting date for grain sorghum crop insurance polices
April 30th is the contract change date for forage seeding policies
If you have any questions please contact your crop insurance agent or our office at 1-800-308-2449
Source: NJ Crop Insurance Education
Attention Master Gardener Coordinators:
Any product recommendations published in the Plant and Pest Advisory are made for licensed pesticide applicators, and specifically are NOT directed at homeowners. This information should not be distributed to other Master Gardeners; nor be distributed/recommended to homeowners. There is a statement on the bottom of the Plant and Pest Advisory homepage that directly cautions: “Recommendations on this site are for commercial operators and are NOT for home gardeners”.
If a homeowner wishes to apply restricted use pesticides on their own property, they must become certified and licensed as a “private pesticide applicator” by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Pesticide Control Program. If you have questions on this, please contact me.
Patricia D. Hastings
Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension
93 Lipman Drive
New Brunswick, NJ 08901