Date: Thursday, January 23, 2020
Location: Rutgers EcoComplex, Bordentown, NJ

Agenda

8:00-8:30 Registration and Coffee

8:30-8:50 Welcoming remarks– Shawn Cutts, President, ACGA
Treasurer’s report – Shawn Cutts

8:50-9:10 Cranberry statistics
Bruce Eklund, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Trenton, NJ

9:10-9:35 Traits we have found in cranberry
Nicholi Vorsa, Professor, Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers University; Jennifer Johnson-Cicalese, P.E. Marucci Center, Chatsworth, NJ; and James Polashock, Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS

9:35-10:00 Progress towards managing fruit quality in 2020
Peter Oudemans, Professor, P.E. Marucci Center for Blueberry & Cranberry Research & Extension, Rutgers University, Chatsworth, NJ

10:00-10:25 How weeds impact cranberry yield and fruit quality
Thierry Besancon, ‎Weed Science Extension Specialist, Rutgers University, P.E. Marucci Center, Chatsworth, NJ

10:25-10:40 Break

10:40-10:50 VacciniumCAP: Leveraging genetic and genomic resources to enable development of blueberry and cranberry cultivars with improved fruit quality attributes
James Polashock, Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, P.E. Marucci Center, Chatsworth, NJ; Nicholi Vorsa, Professor, Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers University; Jennifer Johnson-Cicalese, P.E. Marucci Center, Chatsworth, NJ

10:50-11:15 Can we exploit cranberry’s own defenses to fight against phytoplasma infection?
Cesar Rodriguez-Saona, Professor, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ; James Polashock, Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS; and Vera Kyryczenko-Roth, P.E. Marucci Center, Chatsworth, NJ

11:15-11:40 Machine learning assists cranberry fruit rot resistance breeding
Joe Kawash, P.E. Marucci Center, Chatsworth, NJ; James Polashock, Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS, P.E. Marucci Center, Chatsworth, NJ; Nicholi Vorsa, Professor, Department of Plant Biology, Rutgers University; Jennifer Johnson-Cicalese, P.E. Marucci Center, Chatsworth, NJ

11:40-12:05 Important farm health and safety concerns related to machinery operation and pesticides application
Bill Bamka, Agriculture & Natural Resources County Agent II, County Extension Dept. Head, RCE of Burlington County, Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station

12:05-1:00 Lunch

1:00-1:20 Cranberry institute – An update
John Wilson, Cranberry Institute, Carver, MA

1:20-1:50 Managing moss in cranberries
Katherine Ghantous, Research Associate, Cranberry IPM, Cranberry Station, East Wareham, MA

1:50 Adjournment- ACGA Board of Directors Meeting

Date: Thursday August 15, 2019
Location: Rutgers University, P.E. Marucci Center for Blueberry & Cranberry Research & Extension, Chatsworth, NJ

AGENDA

CRANBERRY BOGS

8:00–8:30 Refreshments

8:30–8:45 Opening Remarks
Shawn Cutts, President, American Cranberry Growers Association

8:45–9:10 Weed Control in Newly Planted Cranberry Beds (Lower Bogs)
Thierry Besancon and Baylee L. Carr, P.E. Marucci Center, Chatsworth, NJ

9:10–9:25 Cranberry Germplasm Collection: Fuel for Breeding Future Varieties (Bog 1)
Nicholi Vorsa, Jennifer Johnson-Cicalese, and Susan Vancho, P.E. Marucci Center, Chatsworth, NJ

9:25–9:40 Liming to Mitigate pH Lowering Properties of Liquid Fertilizer Applications (Bog 5)
Nicholi Vorsa and Jennifer Johnson-Cicalese, P.E. Marucci Center, Chatsworth, NJ

9:40–10:05 Managing Fruit Quality (Bog 6)
Peter Oudemans, P.E. Marucci Center, Chatsworth, NJ

10:05–10:20 Effects of Reduced Winter Flooding (Bog 9)
Nicholi Vorsa and Jennifer Johnson-Cicalese, P.E. Marucci Center, Chatsworth, NJ

10:20–10:35 2018 Haines Planting: Buggy Sanding to Aid Establishment (Bog 19)
Nicholi Vorsa and Jennifer Johnson-Cicalese, P.E. Marucci Center, Chatsworth, NJ

10:35–11:00 On-going Research on Sucking Insect Pests (Bog 19)
Cesar Rodriguez-Saona, Vera Kyryczenko-Roth, and Robert Holdcraft, P.E. Marucci Center, Chatsworth, NJ

CONFERENCE ROOM

11:20–11:30 Cranberry Statistics
Bruce A Eklund, State Statistician, U.S. Department of Agriculture | National Agricultural Statistics Service

11:30–11:55 Markers for Disease Resistance
James Polashock, Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS

12:00–1:00 LUNCH

Toad bugs, Phylloscelis atra, are an occasional pest of cranberries in New Jersey that can cause economic injury. This insect feeds only on

Fig. 1. Seasonal number of toad bug nymphs and adults per sweep net sample

cranberries and has a single generation per year. It overwinters as eggs. The nymphs appear by the end of June through early September, and the adults from end of July through October (harvest) (see Figure 1). Eggs are laid from end of August through October.

Damage. Feeding damage can be noticed in two stages. First stage feeding damage on vines causes closing in (towards the branch) of the leaves on the new growth. Second stage feeding causes changed in color (reddish to brown) of new growth. The damage can be seen from July until harvest. This damage will cause dying of the branch and the berries to shrivel up. Heavy infestation will result in dwarfed berries.

Management. To determine infestation, lightly sweep problematic beds (bugs should be easy to catch in sweep nets as they are very active). Because this is a new pest there is no threshold established yet. Thus, insecticide applications should be based on the relative number of bugs per sweep compared with other sites and previous history of infestation. Currently, growers can use the following control options: Sevin 4F (broad-spectrum carbamate), Diazinon (broad-spectrum organophosphate), or Actara or Assail 30SG (neonicotinoid insecticides, effective against piercing-sucking insects) (see Figure 2). If infestation is high, treatments should be applied when the nymphs are present (i.e., mid- to late-July; see Figure 1).

Fig. 2. Chemical control options for toad bugs

For more information, please see “The Cranberry Toad-Bug” by F.A. Sirrine and B.B. Fulton. 1914. New York Agricultural Experiment Station. Bulletin No. 377. Department of Agriculture, Geneva, NY.

If your beds have damage caused by root-feeding insects, you should consider treatment with Imidacloprid (e.g. Admire Pro, Alias 4F, Alias

Damage caused by root-feeding insects

2F) after bees are removed. Occurrence of root-feeding insects will manifest by the presence of dead patches (see picture). Pull dead vines and search through the root zone and soil for grubs and worms. Admire Pro (imidacloprid) is labeled for the control of cranberry rootworm, white grubs (Phyllophaga spp.), and other scarabs in cranberries.

White grubs, Phyllophaga spp. There are several species of white grubs that infest cranberries in New Jersey, the most abundant being P. georgiana. Grubs are C-shaped and often found near bog margins. Adults are reddish brown and nocturnal. Grubs attack the cranberry roots; adults have not been reported to feed on cranberries. See pictures of grubs and grub damage in cranberries. The life cycles and abundance of white grub species in New Jersey is not well known. Most likely, Phyllophaga grubs have a 3-year life cycle (based on previous reports and our own observations). Eggs are laid in late-June and July, and will hatch in July. First instars can be found in late-July and August and turn into second instars by the end of August-September. The second instar grubs will overwinter. These grubs will feed the following year until June and molt to third instars, which will overwinter. The following year, the third instars will feed for some time and then begin to pupate in June. Pupation will take place in July-August. Adults will appear in the soil in August-September. Adults will remain in the soil and overwinter. They will emerge in June, mate, and begin to lay eggs, completing the cycle.

Phyllophaga life cycle

Cranberry rootworm (Chrysomelidae). Pupation starts in late May and beetles emerge in early June. Adults are nocturnal and hide in leaf litter. Adults can be easily picked up in a sweep net. Females feed on foliage before laying eggs. Young larvae will feed on roots, and feeding continues until October. The mature larvae move down the soil in the fall to overwinter. Holding of the water will delay onset of pupation. Rootworm has a 1-year life cycle. Entomopathogenic nematodes (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora) can be used to control cranberry rootworm.

Use of Imidacloprid. If treatment is needed, use imidacloprid (Admire Pro or other generic insecticides such as Alias 4F) to control white grubs and rootworms. Imidacloprid works best against early- (1st-2nd) instar grubs. Imidacloprid should be used after bees are taken out of beds. Because of the 3-year life cycle, treatment should be continued for 2-3 consecutive years to ensure control. Imidacloprid (active ingredient) is a neonicotinoid insecticide registered for use in cranberries against cranberry rootworm and scarab grubs. This insecticide is a contact and stomach poison that affects the insect nervous system. It is highly systemic and toxic to honey bees; therefore, can be used only as a post-pollination insecticide. Imidacloprid can be applied by ground or by chemigation. Aerial application of this product is prohibited. Imidacloprid has a long residual activity (> 100 days) as long as the insecticide is not directly exposed to the sun. Admire Pro can be used at 7-14 fl oz/acre. A maximum of 14 fl oz of Admire Pro can be used per acre per season. The PHI is 30 days.

As we approach the end of bloom, growers should consider the need for any post-bloom applications. The main pest targets for these applications are mainly Sparganothis fruitworm and spotted fireworm.

Sparganothis fruitworm (SPARG) – If your farm has high pheromone trap counts, you should consider managing this pest as soon as bees are removed. The timing for this 1st post-pollination spray is at 2 weeks after peak pheromone trap catches, which usually coincides with this time of the year.

Spotted fireworm (SFW) – SFW is one of the most important pests in New Jersey. Male SFW moth catches typically peak in the second through third week in June. Although trap catches give an indication of population size, these numbers not always correlate with numbers of egg masses. This insect becomes a problem in “weedy” beds because female moths lay their eggs predominantly on weeds. Thus, growers need to monitor for the presence of SFW egg masses on weeds (broadleaf species and grasses). Keeping beds clean from weeds will keep this insect under control. Egg masses should be hatching by now. SFW larvae from this generation feed on foliage as well as fruit.

Control Options – Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) (e.g. Intrepid and Confirm) are effective against SPARG. Alternatively, if you have used IGRs intensively (e.g. last year and this year as a pre-bloom or bloom spray), and would like to rotate with other chemistries, you may want to use Altacor, Delegate, Exirel, or the broad-spectrum insecticides Diazinon or Lorsban. Broad-spectrum insecticides are also a choice if you have high blunt-nosed leafhopper populations because Intrepid, Delegate, and Altacor will have no effect against this insect. If you are an Ocean Spray (OS) grower please check restrictions on the use of these insecticides. Lorsban in particular can’t be used by OS growers after bloom due to MRLs for exporting cranberries. If you are an OS grower and want to use a post-bloom application to control SPARG then Delegate, Altacor, or Diazinon (no aerial application allowed) would be your options.

Blunt-nosed leafhoppers – The best timing for controlling blunt-nosed leafhoppers is before bloom when they are immatures. At this time

Table 1. Leafhopper control options

of the year, most of the population are adults and already laying eggs. If you did not spray before bloom and have a high leafhopper population, you may consider a post-bloom application to prevent from an increase in population size. You may also consider spraying next year to control for those immatures that will emerge from the already laid eggs. See Table for control options. Please check, especially for Ocean Spray growers, the restrictions based on maximum residue limits (MRLs).