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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September 28, 2020

Webinar Tomorrow: “Ask the Ag Agent” Fall Series, Every Other Wednesday at 7:00PM

Farmers and others are welcome to join this bi-weekly teleconference every-other Wednesday night from 7:00pm-8:00pm in September and October. Events are hosted by Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents working with the farming industry.

This call-in or WebEx webinar event features updates on farm management, crop conditions, farm industry observations, agricultural agency programs and other topics discussed by farmers, agricultural agents and other agricultural service providers.

Some topics for this Wednesday include:
1. Debate on the New Jersey Law on eliminating plastic bags and other containers
2. Public perception of agriculture with the pandemic
3. Update on the hemp industry and Rutgers hemp research
4. Discussions on winter educational programs with Rutgers Cooperative Extension
5. NJ DEP Pesticide License Testing to be handled by Rutgers OCEP in the future
6. Obtaining pesticide recertification credits next year

Hosted by Agricultural Agents Bill Bamka, Stephen Komar, Michelle Infante-Casella and Meredith Melendez, this bi-weekly communication provides a forum for discussion for farmers and all involved in NJ agriculture, including agricultural agency personnel, non-profit organizations and others.

To join the “Ask the Ag Agent” forum each week on a computer/tablet/smartphone via the WebEx Videoconference

Click Here to Join or use the link https://go.rutgers.edu/g4v4gy0x

To Join by phone call:
+1-650-429-3300 passcode 1202639477##

For this event and other Rutgers Cooperative Extension events see the NJAES Calendar.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , ,
September 24, 2020

Whole-Farm Revenue Protection Program Improvements For Direct Marketers

Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced modifications to the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP) program to decrease paperwork and recordkeeping burdens for direct marketers beginning with the 2021 crop year.

“These changes will allow more direct marketers who previously could not meet reporting requirements a way to participate in the Whole-Farm program and provide better and more affordable coverage to these diversified growers,” RMA Administrator Martin Barbre said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Organic Production, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , ,
September 22, 2020

Farm Worker Housing Simulator Shows How To Help Reduce COVID-19 Spread

Partnering with the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety (NEC), the Vessel Dynamics Laboratory at George Mason University created an online app that shows how various practices aimed to slow the spread of COVID-19 among farm workers in shared housing can work.

Room for Improvement:  An Online Tool for Reducing the Spread of COVID-19 in Farmworker Housing allows you to put in information about your on-farm housing and it will show how coronavirus can spread through farmworker housing. You can change the size of the room, type of beds, number of workers housed, and a variety of preventative practices to see the impact on spread of the disease.

The simulator is available at https://vesseldynamics.com/research/farmworker-housing-simulator/. (Note that the simulator works best in Google Chrome.)

More information about farmworker safety programs from the NEC are available at https://www.necenter.org/.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
September 21, 2020

Climate Adaptation Fellowship Program Seeks Farmer and Advisor Applicants

 

Climate change is bringing challenges for vegetable and small fruit growers. For farmers to reduce their risk, they need to adapt. To address this increasing need, the Climate Adaptation Fellowship was created. The 1-year program provides a peer-to-peer curriculum for farmers and advisors. Its framework is designed to integrate climate science with a land manager’s knowledge that builds climate resilience within specific commodity areas.

The first full Climate Adaptation Fellowship program with northeast vegetable / small fruit growers and agricultural advisors will be offered in 2021-2022 and is now accepting applications through October 1. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Fruit, Organic Production, Strawberry, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , , ,
September 17, 2020

Every Farmer Counts! 76th National Farm Safety & Health Week – Sept. 20-26, 2020.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension Ag and Natural Resources Dept Chair Nick Polanin has announced the good news that RCE has been able to hire Ms. Kate Brown as Program Associate II to work on commercial crop production in the RCE-Burlington County office. We welcome Kate to the job. In continuing some of the programs of retired County Agent Ray Samulis, Kate is now the Rutgers liaison to the NE Ag Safety and Health Coalition and has shared this news about next week’s celebration of National Farm Safety & Health Week (NFSHW). — Rick VanVranken [Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
September 16, 2020

Virtual Statewide Commercial Tree Fruit Growers Twilight Meeting IV Harvest Season Update

Virtual Statewide Commercial Tree Fruit Growers Twilight Meeting IV

Harvest Season Update

Wednesday September 23, 2020

Online 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Statewide Tree Fruit Twilight Meeting IVClick here to register for the twilight meeting.

Password: fallfruit

NJDEP PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION CREDITS ARE ANTICIPATED

If you wish to receive pesticide credits for this meeting, DEP regulations require you to upload a copy of a government issued photo ID and a copy of your pesticide applicator license prior to the meeting.

Click here to upload a government issued photo ID and pesticide license

Upload directions: If you click on the photo ID upload link using a smart phone/tablet you will have the option of simply taking a photo of your ID and uploading it directly into the system.  If you are using a computer you will need to scan or take a photo of your photo ID and upload the file using the directions at the upload link. If you need assistance uploading your documentation contact; Kimberley Crommelin kfrey@co.hunterdon.nj or Megan Muehlbauer muehlbauer@njaes.rutgers.edu to assist you in verifying your identity for NJDEP recertification credit purposes.

Please note: The files are uploaded into a secure Rutgers University digital folder that no one other than the session hosts (Megan Muehlbauer and Kimberley Crommelin) can view or access.

 

To Enter the Meeting: Click the link in the registration confirmation E-mail and select “join by browser-New” BE SURE TO KEEP VIDEO ON IF YOU WISH TO OBTAIN PESTICIDE CREDITS.

 

If you do not wish to receive pesticide credits, and would like to call into the meeting, dial USA Toll: +1-650-429-3300 Access code: 120 185 4274

PLEASE BE IN THE MEETING BY 6 PM AS IT WILL BEGIN PROMPTLY AT 6 PM!

 

Thank you very much for your willingness to cooperate!

 

 

Program

Hosted by: Megan Muehlbauer PhD. County Agent III Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) Cooperative Extension of Hunterdon County

Hemant Gohil PhD. County Agent III Rutgers (NJAES) Cooperative Extension of Gloucester County

 

6:00 PM – 6:20 PM Peach Tree Borer and Spotted Lanternfly Management

Anne Nielsen, PhD. Extension Specialist, Fruit Entomology, Rutgers University

Dean Polk, Fruit IPM Agent Rutgers NJAES

 

6:20 PM – 6:40 PM Herbicide Decisions for Fall Weed Management

Thierry Besancon, PhD. Extension Specialist, Weed Science, Rutgers NJAES

 

6:40 PM – 7:00 PM Peach Leaf Curl and Apple Scab Management in High Inoculum Orchards.

Norm Lalancette PhD, Extension Specialist Tree Fruit Pathology, Rutgers NJAES

 

7:00 PM – 7:30 PM New Jersey Pesticide Regulation and Safety Update

Patricia Hastings, Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator, Rutgers NJAES

Filed Under: Fruit, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops