Fruit Crops Edition - Cranberry 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.
 
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Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Dates

The NJ Dept. of Ag, Rutgers NJAES, Allied Recycling, and the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex are offering October dates for free plastic pesticide container recycling disposal. These are offered to agricultural, professional, and commercial applicators holding a NJDEP Pesticide Applicators License. State, county and municipal government agencies may also participate.

Dates and locations are listed below. Questions? Contact:
Roberta C. Lang, New Jersey Department of Agriculture
Div. of Ag and Natural Resources, Phone: 609.292.2242
[Read more…]

The Cranberry Toad Bug – An Emerging Pest of Cranberries

We are seeing nymphs of toad bugs in cranberry beds. Growers need to be aware of this insect and treat if numbers reach high levels (there is no current threshold). We are currently conducting studies to estimate the density of toad bugs that can cause economic injury to cranberries.

Life cycle. Toad bugs, Phylloscelis atra, feed only on cranberries. This insect has a single generation per year. It overwinters as eggs. The nymphs appear by the end of June through August, and the adults from August through October. Eggs are laid from September through October. [Read more…]

Size Peaches with Supplemental Irrigation

NJ peach orchards demand supplemental irrigation when drought weather patterns persist. Peaches gain up to 70% of their final volume during the last 30 days on the tree, so sizing fruit to their full potential requires supplemental irrigation. July and August are critical months for fruit sizing for most varieties. Inadequate irrigation during critical stages of fruit development results in smaller fruits and irreversible size/marketing losses. Irrigating closer to harvest will not increase fruit size. [Read more…]

Sparganothis Fruitworm Degree-Day Update: as of July 6, 2016

As of July 6, Sparganothis has accumulated 1,175 DD. Based on the DD model, Sparganothis has passed peak flight, and is laying eggs. Reminder that a single insecticide application, i.e., post-bloom application with Delegate, Altacor, Diazinon, or Intrepid, aimed at Sparganothis larvae will likely have the greatest effect if it is timed for peak egg-hatch/larval-emergence, which is approximately 1,400 DD and should coincide with early next week. I will keep you updated on these predictions as the season progresses.

Life history benchmarks for Sparganothis fruitworm and associated degree-day estimates (credit: Elissa Chasen and Shawn Steffan, USDA-ARS and UW Entomology).

Life history benchmarks for Sparganothis fruitworm and associated degree-day estimates (credit: Elissa Chasen and Shawn Steffan, USDA-ARS and UW Entomology).

 

Sparganothis Fruitworm Degree-Day Update: as of July 6, 2016

As of July 6, Sparganothis has accumulated 1,175 DD. Based on the DD model, Sparganothis has passed peak flight, and is laying eggs. Reminder that a single insecticide application, i.e., post-bloom application with Delegate, Altacor, Diazinon, or Intrepid, aimed at Sparganothis larvae will likely have the greatest effect if it is timed for peak egg-hatch/larval-emergence, which is approximately 1,400 DD and should coincide with early next week. I will keep you updated on these predictions as the season progresses.

Life history benchmarks for Sparganothis fruitworm and associated degree-day estimates (credit: Elissa Chasen and Shawn Steffan, USDA-ARS and UW Entomology).

Life history benchmarks for Sparganothis fruitworm and associated degree-day estimates (credit: Elissa Chasen and Shawn Steffan, USDA-ARS and UW Entomology).

 

Sparganothis Fruitworm Degree-Day Update: as of June 27, 2016

As of June 27, Sparganothis has accumulated 968 DD. Based on the DD model, Sparganothis has reached peak flight, and should have started egg laying. Reminder that a single insecticide application, i.e., post-bloom application with Delegate, Altacor, Diazinon, or Intrepid, aimed at Sparganothis larvae will likely have the greatest effect if it is timed for peak egg-hatch/larval-emergence, which is approximately 1,400 DD. I will keep you updated on these predictions as the season progresses.