Did you know that according to the 2019 State Agriculture Overview for NJ, 3,900 acres of peaches yielded 5/tons per acre at a value of over $25.6 million dollars? Or that 3,500 acres of peppers were harvested in 2019, with a value of $45.8 million dollars? Or that 9,300 acres of harvested blueberries were valued at $85.3 million dollars in 2019? And in 2018, NJ ranked 4th nationwide in cranberry and peach production, and third in bell peppers?
Fruit Crops Edition
Seasonal updates on diseases, insects, weeds impacting tree fruit and small fruit (blueberry, cranberry, and wine grape). Fruit Pest Alerts are also available via this category feed.
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July 20, 2020 Hemant Gohil
Statewide Wine Grape Twilight Meeting – II (online)
Dear Wine Grape Growers,
The Statewide Wine Grape Twilight Meeting – II will be held on August 5th from 6 pm – 7:30 pm. This will be a Webex meeting. No registration is required. We will follow the Summer Grape Camp format, however there will be no pesticide re-certification credit for this program.
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Vineyard Observations from Rutgers Extension
7:00 pm – 7:30 pm: Grower’s Questions and Answers and Discussions
Growers are encouraged to discuss or send questions or vineyard problems, in advance to Hemant Gohil gohil@njaes.rutgers.edu or Megan Muehlbauer muelhbauer@njaes.rutgers.edu [Read more…]
July 17, 2020 Rick VanVranken
NJ Ag & Health Urge Use of Free COVID-19 Testing For Farm Workers
Earlier this week, NJ Secretary of Ag Douglas Fisher released this attached letter, co-signed by Dept of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, urging all growers with farm labor to take advantage of opportunities to help protect your employees from COVID-19.
As the letter states,
“One program that is being implemented FREE OF CHARGE for all farms is a COVID-19 testing and education program through Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and local health departments. Along with free testing, the program provides education and other related support services. [Read more…]
July 15, 2020 Pat Hastings
Worker Protection Standard: Videos for Annual Training of Workers and Handlers
Use Rutgers NJAES Worker Protection website loaded with “Quick-Connect” With EPA’s short term WPS training exemptions for COVID-19, provide your workers and handlers access to videos they can watch without being disturbed as an alternative to large group training, These videos can be viewed on a computer or even a cell phone. Make sure that […]
July 15, 2020 Pat Hastings
EPA Releases Guidance on Pesticide Safety Training Requirements During COVID-19
Agricultural workers and pesticide handlers directly support the nation’s agricultural production and food supply and EPA is committed to ensuring they are protected from workplace hazards. EPA has released guidance regarding the annual pesticide safety training requirements outlined in the Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS) that offers flexibility during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The […]
July 14, 2020 Dean Polk, Dave Schmitt, Atanas Atanassov, Carrie Mansue
Fruit IPM for 7/15/20
Stink Bugs Apples and Peaches: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) activity is starting to increase in spotty locations. [Read more…]
