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.

September 29, 2015

Update on Ag Worker Protection Standard

A pre-publication version of the Ag Worker Protection Standard Revisions has been posted on the EPA’s website. In addition, a document comparing new protections to existing protections is available. Per Nancy Fitz, US EPA – Office of Pesticide Programs, compliance with most of the new standards will be required in mid-December 2016. Thanks to Pat Hastings, Rutgers NJAES Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator, for the heads-up.

Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Revisions (314pp, 880K)

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape
August 31, 2015

Audit Ready: Sanitizing Surfaces in Post Harvest

sanitation product contact surfacesSanitizing product contact surfaces is important in reducing cross contamination risks.  “Product contact surfaces” means anything that comes in contact with the product such as equipment, belts, rollers, brushes, tables, bins, sinks, tools, and reusable totes.  Writing a standard operating procedure describing the specific steps of your cleaning process will help ensure that the surfaces are properly cleaned.

Proper cleaning and sanitizing of contact surfaces includes these steps:

  1. Surface is rinsed to remove any visible debris
  2. Appropriate detergent is applied and the surface is scrubbed
  3. The surface is rinsed with water that is potable (drinkable)
  4. Appropriate sanitizer is applied, following the directions
  5. Let the surface air dry

An appropriate sanitizer for use in post harvest surface cleaning is one that has an EPA registration number, states that it is food grade, and gives specific instructions for the products use as a surface cleaner.  Remember the label is the law.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Food Safety, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops
August 26, 2015

Fruit IPM Report 8-26-2015

Peach

Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): A fourth flight is now being seen as trap captures start to increase (in apples). Since most peaches are off, this is not a concern in most blocks. However if you have very late varieties, especially if close to apple plantings, then treatments are needed.

Tufted Apple Budmoth (TABM): All treatment timings are over for this pest statewide. The only exceptions would be in northern counties where there may be visible injury, and growers want to continue the use of B.t. products.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape
August 19, 2015

Fruit IPM Report 8-18-2015

Peach

Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): The third flight and all required treatment timings are now over throughout the state. Additional treatments will only be required on very late varieties, and only if trap counts exceed 6 moths per trap. We are seeing some high trap captures in some orchards.

Tufted Apple Budmoth (TABM): We are in the middle of the second flight, but pest pressure is very low. On most farms treatments are not needed. If you did have feeding injury from the first generation or have high trap counts, then you may wish to observe the following TABM timings.

Conventional, Diamides Conventional, Diamides Intrepid, Rimon Bt
County Area AM – 4 Middles EM – 2 Completes EM – 2 Completes EM – 3 Completes
Southern 1st – Past
2nd – Past
3rd – Past
4th – 8/17-18		 1st – Past
2nd – 8/13-16		 1st – Past
2nd – 8/13-16		 1st – Past
2nd – 8/10-13
3rd – 8/18-20
Northern 1st – Past
2nd – 8/15-16
3rd – 8/21-23
4th – 8/27-28		 1st – 8/10-11
2nd – 8/23-27		 1st – 8/13-16
2nd – 8/23-27		 1st – 8/13-16
2nd – 8/21-23
3rd – 9/1-3

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape
August 13, 2015

Fruit IPM Report 8-13-2015

Peach

Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): The third flight and all required treatment timings are now over throughout the state. Additional treatments will only be required on very late varieties, and only if trap counts exceed 6 moths per trap.

Tufted Apple Budmoth (TABM): We are in the middle of the second flight, but pest pressure is very low. On most farms treatments are not needed. If you did have feeding injury from the first generation or have high trap counts, then you may wish to observe the following TABM timings.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape
August 6, 2015

Fruit IPM Report 8-6-2015

Peach

Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): While overall pest pressure in peaches is very low for oriental fruit moth, we are at the proper time to treat if your farm has trap captures above 6 males per trap. Timing for third brood OFM applications are as follows:

OFM Third Generation Timing
Insecticide Type
County/Region Degree Days by 8/6
base 45		 Conventional
Complete		 Intrepid/IGRs
Complete		 Diamides
Complete
Gloucester-Southern 2803 All 3rd brood sprays completed. Treat if trap counts exceed 6 moths per trap. All 3rd brood sprays completed. Treat if trap counts exceed 6 moths per trap. All 3rd brood sprays completed. Treat if trap counts exceed 6 moths per trap.
Hunterdon-Northern 2511 1st – Past
2nd – 8/4-6 (Past)		 1st – Past
2nd – 8/3-5 (Past)		 1st – Past
2nd – 8/2-4 (Past)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape