Fruit Crops Edition - Blueberry Section

Seasonal updates on diseases, insects, weeds impacting small fruit (blueberry, cranberry, and wine grape). Fruit Pest Alerts are also available via this category feed.
 
Subscription is through the general Fruit feed available via EMAIL and RSS.

April 10, 2016

Grower Survey: Spotted Wing Drosophila Management

Spotted Wing Drosophila

Spotted Wing Drosophila
Photo: Matt Bertone

Deadline: May 1, 2016

Survey Purpose: To measure the effects of spotted wing drosophila (SWD) on fruit crop production. Results will be used to develop national research and extension projects to minimize future impacts of SWD.

Survey website: https://survey.ncsu.edu/swd/

Growers of blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, and cherry who make pest management decisions are invited to participate in this multi-state survey as part a grant funded effort led by NC State University’s Dr. Hannah Burrack to develop better ways to manage SWD.

Collaborators include Michigan State, Oregon State, Cornell and Rutgers universities, as well as the universities of Maine; Notre Dame; Georgia; California, Davis; and California, Berkeley; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service.

The survey may be completed online or printed and returned by fax or mail. Grower participation is vital and appreciated.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit
March 31, 2016

Weather Alert: Protect Flowering Crops Against Frost

News Release from NJDEP

DEP, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TEAM UP TO ALLOW FARMERS TO PROTECT FLOWERING CROPS AGAINST FROST CONDITIONS EXPECTED EARLY NEXT WEEK
(16/17) TRENTON – With temperatures in many parts of the state expected to approach freezing over the weekend into early next week, the Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Agriculture are working cooperatively to allow farmers to do controlled open burning or use specialized torches known as smudge pots to protect flowering crops from frost damage.

Forecasts call for near or below freezing conditions overnight Saturday through April 5. The cold temperatures could affect fruit and vegetable crops, as well as flowers in bloom or near bloom. Peaches, blueberries and apples are particularly susceptible. Frost damage now can significantly reduce yields of these crops later in the season.

The DEP and Department of Agriculture are allowing these steps through April 5 to protect farmers’ livelihoods and to ensure that consumers will be able to enjoy an ample supply of Jersey produce later this year.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops
November 24, 2015

FSMA Produce Safety Rule Now Final

CompostThe FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety rule is now final, and the earliest compliance dates for some farms begin one year after the effective date of the final rule (see “Compliance Dates” below). The rule establishes, for the first time, science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption. The FDA has created a factsheet highlighting the produce safety rule.

This rule was first proposed in January 2013. In response to input received during the comment period and during numerous public engagements that included public meetings, webinars, listening sessions, and visits to farms across the country, the FDA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking in September 2014. The proposed revisions were designed to make the originally proposed rule more practical, flexible, and effective.

The final rule is a combination of the original proposal and revisions outlined in the supplemental proposal, with additional changes as appropriate. The definition of “farm” and related terms were revised in the final Preventive Controls for Human Food rule, and the same definitions of those terms are used in this rule to establish produce safety standards. Operations whose only activities are within the farm definition are not required to register with FDA as food facilities and thus are not subject to the preventive controls regulations.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops
November 16, 2015

On Farm Food Safety Winter Trainings Announced

Flier

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On-farm food safety trainings will be held this winter throughout the state.  Certificate based third party audit trainings will be offered in Rosenhayn and Chatsworth.   Three additional trainings, located in Atlantic City, Trenton and Pittstown, will offer the required curriculum for compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act.  More information on who will need to comply with FSMA to be published soon, as the final rule was just released and we are working to understand its implications for NJ produce growers.

Registration is required for attendance at these trainings!

Filed Under: Blueberry, Food Safety, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops
October 15, 2015

Food Safety Modernization Act Update:
Farm Definition & Exemptions

FDA FSMAThe Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food final rule was published in the Federal Registry September 17, 2015. This is the first of two which may directly impact fruit and vegetable growers. To review the complete rule go to https://federalregister.gov/2015-21920.

This rule updates good manufacturing practices related to processing and clarifies the farm definition and exemptions. Under the original proposed rule there were several activities on farms in our region that would have had to comply with this rule. However, with the revised definition most activities are exempt or fall under the Produce Rule which will be published at the end of October.

Under the final definition there are two ways to be considered as a farm: as a “Primary Production Farm” or as a “Secondary Activities Farm.”
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Food Safety, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape
October 1, 2015

Alert: Disaster Preparedness for Production Agriculture

Governor Chris Christie today declared a state of emergency throughout the state as a result of severe weather conditions expected in the coming days. The National Weather Service is forecasting a dangerous nor’easter weather pattern impacting New Jersey beginning on October 1, 2015, including high winds, very heavy rain, inland river flooding, as well as major coastal flooding with heavy surf and beach erosion. The National Hurricane Center currently has forecasted the track for the impending weather event Joaquin, now a major hurricane, showing it moving northward off the mid-Atlantic coast late on or about October 4, 2015, which may cause significant flooding, dangerous storm surges between eight and ten feet, substantial wind damage, and stream and river flooding threatening homes and other structures, and endangering lives in the State.

Office of the Governor

ReadyAG Can Help Plan and Prepare

ReadyAG Workbook
ReadyAGJust as we’ve finished National Preparedness Month, Governor Christie has declared a state of emergency. In case Hurricane Joaquin takes a turn toward the Jersey Shore this weekend, there are many resources and tools to help get your families and homes prepared. Make sure your farm business is ready too.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape