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…]
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.
Subscription is through the general Fruit feed available via EMAIL and RSS.
July 8, 2016 Cesar Rodriguez-Saona
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).
July 7, 2016 Cesar Rodriguez-Saona
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).
June 28, 2016 Cesar Rodriguez-Saona
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.
June 22, 2016 Cesar Rodriguez-Saona
Sparganothis Fruitworm Degree-Day Update: as of June 21, 2016
Based on our degree-day model for Sparganothis fruitworm, flight initiation was predicted around 595
Life history benchmarks for Sparganothis fruitworm and associated degree-day estimates (credit: Elissa Chasen and Shawn Steffan, USDA-ARS and UW Entomology).
DD, and indeed, Sparganothis flight begun in Chatsworth, NJ, the week of June 6. As of June 21, Sparganothis has accumulated 839 DD. Based on the DD model, Sparganothis peak flight is predicted by the end of this week (884 DD). Although moths should have begun laying eggs, these eggs should not be hatching until early next week (895 DD). 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.
Sparganothis fruitworm Adult
June 17, 2016 Cesar Rodriguez-Saona
Bee Safety Should Come First
There are several actions that growers can implement in their farms to help protect bees against exposure to pesticides. Here I list a few:
- Use insecticides only when needed. Cranberries growers are very proactive and practice integrated pest management (IPM). Using insecticides only when pest populations exceed an economic threshold will help reduce exposure of bees to these chemicals.
- Always consult with beekeepers. Growers need to communicate with their beekeepers on any insecticides being use during bloom.
- Avoid tank mixes. In particular, do not mix insecticides with fungicides. At this moment, the interactive effects of insecticides and fungicides on bees are largely unknown, particularly those used in cranberries. Future research is much needed. But, in the meantime, growers are encouraged to avoid mixing pesticides.
- Intrepid (methoxyfenozide) is an insecticide recommended for use during bloom in cranberries against lepidopteran pests. This insecticide, an insect growth regulator (IGR), has very low toxicity on bees and, as far as I know, there is no conclusive data showing the opposite. As indicated above, Intrepid should be used only if needed, i.e., applied only to areas that exceed an economic threshold.
- It is worth noting that not all IGRs are equal and some IGRs like Intrepid have not been linked to any adverse effects on bees.
