Learn more about the weed nutsedge and appropriate management strategies based on the plants growth preferences and dislikes. These resources can be used to develop a short and long term management plan for nutsedge control. Visit the NJAES Weed Management YouTube playlist for a video presentation or download our nutsedge decision tool fact sheet. These resources are one of a five-part weed management series funded by USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant AM190100.
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.
Subscriptions are available via EMAIL and RSS.
Non-Herbicide Nutsedge Management Resources for Specialty Crop Growers
Upcoming Webinars on Sun Protective Products
On these hot and dry days we are reminded that farmers, farm workers, landscapers, and gardeners are at a high risk for UV exposure and skin cancer. Effective sunscreen and ultraviolet protective clothing are important tools to help you stay safe while working outdoors, as we shared in a recent Plant & Pest Advisory article.
To learn more about sun protection products and The Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) Seal of Recommendation, check out the upcoming educational webinar series to be hosted by SCF. Details and registration information for these 30-minute, once monthly webinars can be found at https://webinar.skincancer.org/.
Skin Cancer and Farmers
Skin cancer is the single most common cancer in the United States and the rising number of incidents is staggering: 5.4 cases in 3.3 million people in 2012, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation. More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year than all other cancers combined.
Farmers, livestock producers and agriculture industry personnel are part of core skin cancer statistics related to outdoor work, consistently ranking highest in overall sun exposure. Farmers are in one of the most high-risk skin cancer categories. Most farmers work in direct sun often for seven days per week and at the sunniest times of the year.
Types of Skin Cancer
The three most typical skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Of the three, basal cell is the most common and often found on the face, neck, ears, scalp, nose, and shoulders. Caught early, the cure rate is almost 100%. Basal rarely spreads and the risk of metastasis is less than 0.5%.
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common type of skin cancer, and although relatively simple to cure when caught early, can be highly aggressive if unchecked. Over 1,000,000 SCC cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S., resulting in approximately 15,000 deaths. SCC can look like psoriasis and is an underestimated tumor. If left unchecked SCC can get into lymph nodes or other organs and cause death. SCC can be more aggressive than commonly thought. SCC is more common in persons with dark pigment skin, like those who tan easily, but darker skin doesn’t mean you’re protected.
Melanoma ranks as the rarest, but most serious form of skin cancer, causing 9,000 deaths per year. It is typically highly aggressive and can pop up anywhere on the body, even on areas with no sun exposure: palms, soles, genitalia, eyes, navel, or inside the mouth.
As with any cancer, early detection increases survival rate. The earlier you catch melanoma, the shallower it will be on the skin’s surface. Generally, a thin melanoma kills 2% to 5% of people, but the numbers go to 80% of people dying for a deep melanoma.
What does melanoma skin cancer typically look like? It may look like an asymmetrical dark spot, usually larger than 6 mm diameter with jagged borders, color variation, and changes in appearance. A five-letter (A-E) framework provides a general melanoma description. A = asymmetry; B = border irregularity; C = color variation; D = diameter over 6mm; and E = evolution or change.
Keep in mind, there are melanoma that don’t fit that pattern. You can have spots that don’t correspond to the chart and still be melanoma. If you’ve got a new mole that’s changing and catches your eye, just get it checked.
Preventative Measures:
Wear Light-Colored Clothing
Since farmers spend a great deal of time working outdoors, it’s important for them to understand the many ways to protect their skin so that they can reduce their chances of developing skin cancer. Clothing protection is most important in protecting the skin.
Hats can protect the most vulnerable head and neck areas from the sun’s rays. While baseball-type caps will protect the top of the head, they don’t protect other important areas including the ears, nose, and neck. Farmers should wear wide-brimmed hats. The recommendation is to wear a hat that has at least a 4-inch brim. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants can help to protect the arms and legs.
Wearing tightly woven lightweight and light-colored fabric can keep the body cooler in the sun and will protect against cancer-causing rays. There are many companies that manufacture high-quality sun-protective clothing.
Choose Waterproof Sunscreen – Even on Cloudy Days
Applying sunscreen every day to exposed skin can help prevent skin cancer. Don’t reserve the use of sunscreen only for sunny days. Even on a cloudy day, up to 80 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays can pass through the clouds. Sunscreen should be applied to dry skin 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors.
When using sunscreen, be sure to apply it to all exposed areas, and pay particular attention to the face, ears, hands and arms. Coat the skin liberally and rub it in thoroughly – most people apply only 25% to 50% of the recommended amount of sunscreen. One ounce, enough to fill the palm of your hand, is considered a good amount needed to cover the exposed areas of the body properly. Don’t forget that lips get sunburned, too. Apply a lip balm that contains sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.
Be sure to dispose of outdated sunscreen, as it will have lost its effectiveness. Reapply sunscreen frequently during the day and at least every two hours. There are so many types of sunscreen that selecting the right one can be confusing. Sunscreens are available in many forms, including ointments, creams, gels, lotions, sprays and wax sticks. The type of sunscreen you choose is a matter of personal choice. Creams are best for individuals with dry skin, but gels are preferable in hairy areas, such as the scalp or male chest. Roll on or rub on Sticks are good around the eyes and other facial areas. Creams typically yield a thicker application than lotions and are best for the face. Spray-on sunscreen should be rubbed on the skin immediately after spraying to coat the skin evenly.
Ideally, sunscreens should be water-resistant, so they cannot be easily removed by sweating or when in the water, and should have a high SPF number (at least SPF 30) that provides broad-spectrum coverage against both UVA and UVB light.
Scheduling Daily Tasks and Shade
Although working outdoors when the sun is less intense, before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m., may not be feasible, sometimes rescheduling chores where exposure is lessened can be achieved. Even though the sun may be less intense in the morning and late afternoon, damage to the skin is still possible and sunscreen is recommended. Seeking shade may have obstacles but creating shade where you work with an umbrella or pop-up tent is a great idea. We often see more non-cab tractors with a canopy or umbrella to protect the operator from exposure to the elements.
Conclusion:
It’s never too late to protect yourself from the sun and minimize your future risk of skin cancer. Understanding how to best protect your skin from the sun can help prevent melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer as well as other skin cancers. Early detection is key – so get checked at least annually by a doctor and especially if you see something suspicious on your skin.
Resources:
The Skin Cancer Foundation https://www.skincancer.org/
Pesticide Applicators Seminar – Credits Available
Over the past two years in-person trainings for pesticide applicators to obtain recertification credits have been a challenge. To educate licensed pesticide applicators and help them to receive credits, a 3-hour seminar will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 from 9:00AM to 12:00PM at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension office in Gloucester County, 254 County House Rd, Clarksboro, NJ 08020. The meeting will be in the Sullivan Room auditorium. Attendees can enter through the ramp on the far right side of the main building.
Presenter: Michelle Infante-Casella, Agricultural Agent
Schedule:
9:00 AM……………..Pesticide Storage Facilities and Pesticide Disposal
10:00 AM……………Pesticide Record Keeping, Notification, and Posting
10:30 AM……………Insect Identification and Life Cycles for Proper Control Strategies in Landscapes, Turf, and Farm Fields
11:00 AM…………….Weed Identification: Annuals and Perennials: Know Your Weeds in Landscapes, Turf and Farm Fields
11:30 AM…………….Common Plant Diseases of Major Crop/Plant Groups
12:00 PM …………….Pesticide Credits and Adjourn
The following credits have been assigned by NJ DEP:
3 – CORE Credits
3 – PP2 Credits
3 – 3A Credits
3 – 3B Credits
3 – 1A Credits
Call 856-224-8040 ext. 1 or email jmedany@co.gloucester.nj.us to pre-register or for more information.
There is a $50.00 fee per participant. Only checks or cash will be accepted. Please make checks payable to “Rutgers the State Univ. of NJ”
Pre-registration is appreciated, and walk-in participants are welcome and can pay at the door. To find more information see: https://go.rutgers.edu/Oct18PesticideSeminar
Quick Tips to Beat the Heat
Daily high temperatures over the next 10 days will soar above 90 degrees each day, with the real feel exceeding 100 degrees at times. It’s important to take precautions to keep you and your workers safe from heat stress and other heat-related illnesses. Check out these 5 quick tips you can implement today to safeguard everyone on your farm during this extreme heat.
![worker harvesting zucchini](https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/10463058393_94b22d4750_o-scaled.jpg)
USDA photo by Lance Cheung.
- Stay hydrated. The CDC recommends drinking at least 1 cup of water every 15-20 minutes during moderate activity. For more on hydration, see this factsheet from NIOSH.
- Dress appropriately. Choose light-colored, loose-fitting clothing made of cotton or linen. Protect yourself from the sun with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
- Acclimatize employees to working in the heat. Gradual exposure to work in a hot environment is critical for both new and experienced employees. To learn more about acclimatization, check out this factsheet from NIOSH.
- Adjust workload. Plan strenuous tasks for cooler parts of the day, increase the number of workers per task to lighten workload, and shorten work periods to allow for breaks in the shade (at least) hourly. NIOSH offers recommendations for work/rest schedules to decrease risk of heat illness in this factsheet.
- Train employees to recognize signs of heat stress. Heat-related illnesses can range from heat rash to heat stroke. Review this NIOSH web page on heat-related illnesses to inform employees about symptoms and first aid response to each illness.
FDA Proposes Compliance Date Extension for Pre-Harvest Agricultural Water Requirements
On July 18, 2022 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to extend the compliance dates for the pre-harvest agricultural water provisions as outlined in the recent 2021 agricultural water proposed rule.
The 2021 agricultural water proposed rule, if finalized, will require farms to conduct annual systems-based agricultural water assessments to determine and guide appropriate measures to minimize potential risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water. The FDA is now proposing extended compliance dates for those proposed pre-harvest requirements and is also providing clarifying information about the enforcement discretion policy for the harvest and post-harvest agricultural water requirements.
The supplemental rulemaking proposes to establish the following compliance dates for the pre-harvest agricultural water requirements for covered produce other than sprouts:
- 2 years and 9 months after the effective date of a final rule for very small businesses;
- 1 year and 9 months after the effective date of a final rule for small businesses; and
- 9 months after the effective date of a final rule for all other businesses.
Note: These compliance dates only go into effect when the rule is finalized which we have no information when that will occur!
Compliance Dates for Harvest and Post-Harvest Agricultural Water Requirements
The 2021 pre-harvest agricultural water proposed rule did not propose substantive changes to the harvest and post-harvest agricultural water requirements in the Produce Safety Rule; however, the FDA recognizes that prior to the proposal, stakeholders did not have clarity on whether FDA might propose to change the harvest and post-harvest agricultural water requirements. In addition, the FDA recognizes that adequate training and technical assistance are needed to fully recognize the benefits of the harvest and post-harvest requirements. Therefore, we intend to continue enforcement discretion for the harvest and post-harvest agricultural water requirements of the Produce Safety regulation until the following dates:
- January 26, 2025, for very small businesses;
- January 26, 2024, for small businesses; and
- January 26, 2023, for all other businesses.
We are reopening the comment period only with respect to the proposed compliance dates for the pre-harvest agricultural water provisions until September 19, 2022. Comments should be submitted to docket FDA-2021-N-0471 on Regulations.gov.
As has been done with other FSMA rules, the FDA plans to take an “educate before and while we regulate” posture as we begin implementing the harvest and post-harvest requirements. For the first year of compliance, the FDA intends to work closely with state, other regulatory, and industry partners to advance training, technical assistance, educational visits and on-farm readiness reviews to prepare both growers and state regulators for implementing these provisions prior to initiating routine inspections verifying compliance. The FDA will provide further communications as additional resources become available.
Additional Information
- FSMA Proposed Rule on Agricultural Water
- La FDA propone ampliar la fecha de cumplimiento de los requisitos de agua de uso agrícola utilizada antes de la cosecha