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.
 
Subscriptions are available via EMAIL and RSS.

June 12, 2020

Carolina redroot control in cranberry with Callisto® herbicide

Figure 1. Carolina redroot infestation in cranberry bog

Carolina redroot (Lachnanthes caroliniana), a native plant of New Jersey Pine Barrens, has becoming an increasingly troublesome weed for cranberry production across the state (Figure 1). Carolina redroot is a perennial herbaceous weed species belonging to the Haemodoraceae family. It competes for nutritional resources during the cranberry growing season, and its rhizome serve as a feeding resource for wintering waterfowl that can cause severe uprooting damages of cranberry vines when bogs are flooded. Carolina redroot blooms after cranberry and its flower is very attractive to pollinators (Figure 2) at a time when insecticides may be applied to cranberry bogs. Additionally, the desiccated seed head of Carolina redroot can be picked up by harvesting equipment and broken in small pieces that will be difficult to eliminate during fruit processing.

Invasive species

Figure 2. Carolina redroot is very attractive for pollinators… at a time when insecticides may be applied!

 

Studies have been conducted at Rutgers since 2017 to screen various herbicides that can properly control or suppress Carolina redroot without injuring cranberry. In greenhouse screenings, Callisto® 4SC (mesotrione) has provided good control of Carolina redroot while maintaining excellent crop safety. Callisto is a systemic herbicide that will cause bleaching of weed leaves by indirectly inhibiting the biosynthesis of carotenoid that protect chlorophyll from photodegradation. Cranberry is highly tolerant because it is capable of rapidly metabolizing the mesotrione. Callisto will not kill Carolina redroot outright, but will weaken it and stunt it, preventing the formation of the floral stem (Figure 3). We are still evaluating if continued annual use of Callisto for two or three years will completely eliminate Carolina redroot.

Bee pollinating flower

Figure 3. Bleaching and stunting of Carolina redroot floral stem following Callisto applied at 4 fl oz/A

Spot application: ideally, Carolina redroot should be controlled before it starts colonizing large areas of a cranberry bogs. Therefore, scouting and mapping is a crucial and necessary step to detect early infestation that be treated with spot application of Callisto. We obtained in 2019 a 24(c) Special Local Need label for spot application of Callisto at rates that will help controlling perennial weeds such as Carolina redroot. We recommend mixing 3.2 teaspoons of Callisto per gallon of water and add crop oil concentrate (COC) at 1% v:v or 2.5 tablespoon per gallon of water. This rate will allow to spray up to 15 gallons of solution per acre while not exceeding the maximum labeled rate of 8 fl oz per acre and per application.

Stunted plant

Figure 4. Reduction of Carolina redroot biomass with spot application of Callisto at three different rates and two different timings of application

At this rate and if Callisto is applied when Carolina redroot emerge above cranberry canopy in early to mid-June, we observed a reduction of Carolina redroot biomass by 70% at the end of the season. Higher rate will not significantly increase Carolina redroot suppression and later application in mid-July will not be effective (Figure 4). Spot applications will be sprayed with a backpack or hand-held sprayer that needs to be properly calibrated. Calibration of hand sprayers is determined by the walking speed of the applicator and the discharge rate from the nozzle along with the concentration of the material in the tank. Use great care in spot-treating. The difference between an 8-oz application and an 80-oz application is only seconds on the trigger. Spot treatments made to runoff will exceed the maximum application rate.

Stunted plant

Figure 5. Annual sedge control with Callisto applied at 4 fl oz/A

Broadcast application: in bogs where Carolina redroot has colonized large areas, chemigation using irrigation sprinklers or boom application should be considered for broadcasting Callisto.  Callisto can be applied at up to 8 fl oz per acre per application, but we observed bleaching and stunting of Carolina redroot floral stem with Callisto at a 4 fl oz/A rate applied with a regular boom. If chemigating, we recommend Callisto to be applied at 8 fl oz/A. Always use a COC adjuvant at 1% v:v. All application should be made when Carolina redoot leaves emerge from cranberry canopy but before the on-start of bloom because COC adjuvant may injure cranberry flowers and reduce pollination. A second application at 8 fl oz/A can eventually be applied after cranberry bloom to help suppressing Carolina redroot. Callisto will also help controlling sedges or rushes (Figure 5). Callisto applications cannot exceed 2 per acre per year and a maximum of 16 fl oz per acre per year.

 

Filed Under: Cranberry Tagged With: , , ,
June 11, 2020

Webinar Scheduled for Ag Employers – Understanding & Implementing NJ’s COVID-19 Guidance For Migrant & Seasonal Farmworkers, Employers & Housing Providers

Cover 5-20-2020 NJ DOH Interim Guidance for Migrant-Seasonal Farmworkers
Tue June 16, 2020
7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
All NJ agricultural employers are invited to learn directly from NJ Departments of Health, Labor and Agriculture who will discuss expectations for implementation of the “NJ COVID-19 Guidance for Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers, Their Employers & Housing Providers” document in a Webex webinar hosted by Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

This event requires registration and there will be a follow-up survey.

Agenda
Welcome
  • Rick VanVranken & Wes Kline, Agricultural Agents, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Introductory Remarks
  • Secretary of Agriculture Doug Fisher, NJ Dept. of Agriculture
Introduction of Speakers
  • Asst. Secretary of Agriculture Monique Purcell, NJDA
Overview and Expectations for Implementing COVID-19 Guidance for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers, Agriculture Employers and Housing Providers.
  • Amanda Medina-Forrester, MA, MPH, Executive Director, Office of Minority & Multicultural Health, NJ Dept. of Health
  • Christine Blumauer, Policy Advisor, Office of the Commissioner, NJ Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development
Moderated Questions & Discusson
Reaction & Summary
  • Pete Furey, Exec. Director & Ben Cassella, Field Representative, NJ Farm Bureau
The webinar will end with a quick follow-up survey to assess your understanding and implementation of these guidelines. It will be completely anonymous.

The NJDOH partnered with the NJDA and the NJDOL to create this guidance for agricultural employers focusing on precautions to help protect farm employees from COVID-19 on New Jersey farms and in farm labor housing. This webinar will review these guidelines. Questions from participants will be taken and addressed during the webinar.

Register

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
June 10, 2020

Important Update on Registration of Low-Volatility Dicamba Herbicides

On June 3, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling that vacates current U.S. registrations of of three dicamba herbicides, XtendiMax (Bayer), Engenia (BASF) and FeXapan (Corteva). The Court ruled in favor of a petition challenging the EPA’s 2018 registration decision. The ruling comes after a group of environmental organizations filed a petition with the Court challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s . Other dicamba-containing products are not concerned by this ruling.

The subsequent action by the EPA provides, among other things, that “growers and commercial applicators may use existing stocks that were in their possession on June 3, 2020, the effective date of the Court decision. Such use must be consistent with the product’s previously-approved label, and may not continue after July 31, 2020.”

Click here for the EPA’s full order – see page 11 for key details.

The EPA’s order addresses the use, sale, and distribution of existing stocks of  low-volatility dicamba products impacted by the Court’s ruling.

 

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , ,
June 10, 2020

On-Farm Readiness Reviews to Resume

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has lifted the restrictions on carrying out On-Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRR).  The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) in cooperation with Rutgers Cooperative Extension will start offering OFRR’s in the next couple of weeks.

The objectives of the On-Farm Readiness Review program are to:

  • Offer a voluntary, non-regulatory, pre-inspectional “readiness” review primarily for covered farms and discuss whether the farm is covered by Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule or whether the farm may be exempt from parts of FSMA
  • Promote coordination between farmers, regulators & educators
  • Educate regulators about on-farm practices and conditions
  • Familiarize non-qualified farms with the regulations

 

This is a confidential review of individual farm operations.  Usually there are two individuals on the team, one each from NJDA and Extension.  This is not a records review, but an overall assessment of the farm operation and how the farming practices conform to the Produce Safety Rule.  The team walks around the operation with the grower and discusses the different aspects of the farm.  Once the review is over the group sits together and reviews the findings and makes suggestions for possible changes to meet the rule.  Any notes that are taken during the review are left with the grower.

Any fruit or vegetable operation with sales over $25,000 are eligible for the review.  It is encouraged that someone on the farm has gone through the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) training prior to the review.  The PSA training meets the requirement for training under the Product Safety Rule that someone on the operation must receive training recognized by FDA.

The OFRR is a good way to help a grower understand what is required under the Rule.  How do you schedule for a review?  Contact Chris Kleinguenther, NJDA, at  Christian.Kleinguenther@ag.nj.gov.  Chris will contact the grower and schedule a date and time for the review.

Filed Under: Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops
June 10, 2020

Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule Inspections to Resume

The Food and Drug Administration has announced that FSMA inspections can resume when the state is ready.  The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) will be starting inspections of fruit and vegetable operations in the next couple of weeks.  NJDA will contact individual growers to schedule the inspection.  These will be educational inspections covering operations with sales of $250,000 and above.  If the farm thinks they are qualified exempt they will need to show some type of financial records for the last three years proving they meet the qualified exemption standard.

To be eligible for a qualified exemption, the farm must meet two requirements:

  1. The farm must have food sales averaging less than $500,000 per year adjusted for inflation during the previous three years.
  2. The farm’s direct sales to qualified end-users must exceed sales to all other buyers combined during the previous three years. A qualified end-user is either (a) the consumer of the food or (b) a restaurant or retail food establishment that is located in the same state or not more than 275 miles away.

If the operation is qualified exempt the requirement other than the financial records is to label either individual containers or have a roadside stand/farmers market sign prominently and conspicuously displayed that has the name and complete business address of the farm where the produce was grown.

For additional information contact Chris Kleinguenther, at Christian.Kleinguenther@ag.nj.gov

Filed Under: Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops
June 10, 2020

Insect Pest Management During Bloom

Cranberries are starting to bloom. If insects have been effectively managed prior to bloom, we recommend no sprays at this time. A reminder: when bees are present your only choices of insecticides are insect growth regulators (IGRs) such as Intrepid 2F or Bt products such as DiPel.

During bloom we recommend monitoring insect populations using pheromone traps. Pheromone traps should be used particularly to monitor activity of Sparganothis fruitworm and blackheaded fireworm, two key pests in New Jersey.

Degree-day model for Sparganothis fruitworm

Figure 1 shows life history benchmarks of interest for Sparganothis fruitworm and associated degree-day (DD) estimates from March 1(Shawn Steffan, USDA-ARS/University of Wisconsin-Madison). Flight initiation is predicted around 595 DD, at a lower temperature threshold of 50°F. Based on this model, Sparganothis has accumulated (starting April 15) 521 DD, meaning that flight should start in about 3 days in our region.

Sparganothis fruitworm degree-day model

Fig. 1. Sparganothis fruitworm degree-day model

Filed Under: Cranberry, Fruit