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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May 29, 2020

Efficacy of Old and New Insecticides on Cranberry Insect Pests

Four insecticides have recently been registered in cranberries. There are:
Cormoran. This insecticide from ADAMA is a mix of Rimon (novaluron) and Assail (acetamiprid). The cranberry use rate is 9-12 fl oz/acre and the label lists several insect pests including leafhoppers, blackheaded fireworm, cranberry blossomworm, Sparganothis fruitworm, and spotted fireworm. This insecticide has provided good control on leafhopper nymphs in our research trials (Table 1). This toxicity against leafhoppers is most likely due to Assail since Rimon has no toxic effects on leafhoppers. Rimon is an insect growth regulator (chitin inhibitor) that has potential toxicity on honeybee brood when foraging bees pick up residues from the field and take them back to the hive. Thus, care needs to be taken when using this product pre-bloom.

Exirel (cyantraniliprole). This insecticide from FMC has a use rate of 10-20.5 fl oz/acre and the label lists Sparganothis fruitworm, blackheaded fireworm, and cranberry fruitworm as target pests. In our insecticide trials, this product has provided excellent control of caterpillars (“worms”) (Table 1). Exirel belongs to the same class of insecticide as Altacor (diamides). I recommend using these insecticides in rotation with Intrepid and Delegate for the control of lepidopteran pests.

Table 1. Efficacy of Registered Cranberry Insecticides (New Insecticides in Bold)

Insecticide Sparganothis Fruitworm Spotted Fireworm Blackheaded Fireworm Leafhoppers Toadbugs Bee Toxicity
Altacor +++ +++ +++ — — —
Assail + ++ ++ +++ +++ xx
Exirel +++ +++ +++ — — x
Closer — — — +++ ++ xx
Cormoran + ++ ++ +++ +++ xx
Confirm +++ +++ +++ — — —
Delegate +++ +++ +++ — — xxx
Diazinon +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ xxx
Imidan ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ xxx
Intrepid +++ +++ +++ — — —
Lorsban +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ xxx
Rimon + ++ ++ — — xx
Sevin +++ +++ +++ +++ +++ xxx

+++ Excellent control, ++ Moderate-to-Good control, + Poor control, – No control; x = bee toxicity

Movento (spirotetramat). This insecticide from Bayer Crop Sciences has a use rate of 8-10 fl oz/acre in cranberries. The label lists cranberry tipworm and leafhoppers as targets. In our insecticide trials, this product has provided excellent control against cranberry tipworm. However, cranberry tipworm has not been a pest problem of cranberries in New Jersey. It provides some control against leafhopper nymphs (Movento inhibits lipid metabolism so it works best against immature insects); however, the label says to not apply until after petal fall. Because Movento has limited use in New Jersey cranberries, I did not include it in Table 1.

Closer (sulfoxaflor). This insecticide from Corteva (former DowAgrosciences) has a use rate of 2.75-5.75 fl oz/acre in cranberries. The label lists leafhoppers as target pests. In our insecticide trials, Closer has shown good-to-excellent leafhopper control (Table 1). This product cannot be used when bees are active (between 3 days prior to bloom and until after petal fall).

Filed Under: Cranberry, Fruit
May 28, 2020

Webinar Scheduled – Liability for Transmission of COVID-19 to Customers of Farm & Food Businesses

The Northeast Center for Advancement of Food Safety at the University of Vermont announced an upcoming webinar hosted by Farm Commons that might be of interest.

Liability for Transmission of COVID-19 to Customers of Farm & Food Businesses
Friday, May 29th at 4pm Eastern

If your actions lead to a customer contracting COVID-19, are you legally liable? Join us for a webinar discussing whether, when, and how, this legal risk could befall a farm or food business, including farmers markets and food hubs. Essential steps to minimize the legal risk to the business will also be covered. Insurance always plays a role when it comes to injury, so the role of insurance and important questions to ask one’s insurance provider will be discussed. The legal landscape develops by the day with state and federal government changes also on the agenda. This clear, focused webinar will emphasize what you can do to protect your business.

Register at this link.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , ,
May 27, 2020

Cloth Face Covering Requirements for Customers and Employees

Covid guidelines for small buisnessesAs farms start-up their pick-your-own seasons we are becoming more aware of negative customer feedback on social media sites.  Comments have mostly been specific to the requirement of customers wearing face coverings while outside at a farm retail business.  Your farm is deemed an “essential retail business” allowing you to be open, but requiring you to follow state guidelines.  Customers are required to wear cloth face coverings at all times while at any essential retail business, including farm markets, farm stands, and pick-your-own locations.  Those with health conditions where a face covering would cause a negative impact on their health and children under the age of two are exempted from this requirement.   This season will be unlike any other you have had at the farm, and your customers experience will be different than what they are used to.  This season your farm has the opportunity to provide a safe place to obtain local, healthy food, and hopefully they will make a few good memories while practicing social distancing and using face coverings appropriately.

We have gathered resources to help convey the Governors Executive Orders, and their impacts to your farm operation, below.  The second link is the newly released NJDH printable poster outlining the requirements of all businesses allowed to operate during this time, including the mandate all operating businesses require customers and employees to wear face coverings.

NJ Executive Order 122 – Full length (see page 6, letter K for specifics)
“Require workers and customers to wear cloth face coverings while on the premises, except where doing so would inhibit that individuals health or where the individual is under two years of age.”

NJDH Guidance for Retail Businesses – Requirements for all Businesses Continuing to Operate (printable poster)
“Require workers and customers to wear cloth face coverings, and require workers to wear gloves.”

NJDH/NJDA/DOL Guidance for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers, Their Employers, and Housing Providers
“Workers must wear face coverings at all times, including during transportation, while working, and while in the presence of others.”

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , ,
May 27, 2020

Specialty Crops Producers Can Now Apply for Financial Assistance Through USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service sent this bulletin at 05/26/2020 03:31 PM EDT

Agriculture marketing serviceWASHINGTON, May 26, 2020-–Specialty crops producers can now apply for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which provides direct payments to offset impacts from the coronavirus pandemic. The application and a payment calculator are now available online and USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff members are available via phone, fax and online tools to help producers complete applications. The agency set up a call center in order to simplify how they serve new customers across the nation. Applications will be accepted through August 28, 2020.

Through CFAP, USDA is making available $16 billion for vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a five-percent-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19 and face additional significant marketing costs as a result of lower demand, surplus production, and disruptions to shipping patterns and the orderly marketing of commodities.

We also want to remind producers that the program is structured to ensure the availability of funding for all eligible producers who apply. In order to do this, producers will receive 80 percent of their maximum total payment upon approval of the application. The remaining portion of the payment, not to exceed the payment limit, will be paid at a later date nationwide, as funds remain available.

Producers can download the CFAP application and other eligibility forms from farmers.gov/cfap. Also, on that webpage, producers can find a payment calculator to help identify sales and inventory records needed to apply and calculate potential payments.

Additionally, producers in search of one-on-one support with the CFAP application process can call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance. This is a good first step before a producer engages the team at the FSA county office at their local USDA Service Center.

Applying for Assistance

Producers of all eligible commodities will apply through their local FSA office. Those who use the online calculator tool will be able to print off a pre-filled CFAP application to sign and submit to your local FSA office either electronically or via hand delivery. Please contact your local office to determine the preferred method. Producers can find contact information for their FSA county office by visiting farmers.gov/CFAP and using the Find Your Local Service Center tool at the bottom of the page.

Documentation to support the producer’s application and certification may be requested after the application is filed. FSA has streamlined the signup process to not require an acreage report at the time of application and a USDA farm number may not be immediately needed.

 Additional Commodities

USDA is also establishing a process for the public to identify additional commodities for potential inclusion in CFAP. Specifically, USDA is looking for data on agricultural commodities, that are not currently eligible for CFAP, that the public believes to have either:

  1. suffered a five percent-or-greater price decline between mid-January and mid-April as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,
  2. shipped but subsequently spoiled due to loss of marketing channel, or
  3. not left the farm or remained unharvested as mature crops.

More information about this process is available on farmers.gov/cfap.

 More Information

To find the latest information on CFAP, visit farmers.gov/cfap or call 877-508-8364.

USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only, and field work will continue with appropriate social distancing. While program delivery staff will continue to come into the office, they will be working with producers by phone and using online tools whenever possible. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with the FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency are required to call their Service Center to schedule a phone appointment. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

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Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , ,
May 26, 2020

Fruit IPM For 5/26/20

Peach:

Plum Curculio (PC): PC oviposition continues in all areas of the state. We have accumulated about 253 DD since petal fall (apple) in southern counties. The Cornell model calls for insecticides applied up to the 340 DD50 mark. The current prediction is for southern counties to hit 340 on or about 5/30. This allows for the last of the PC activity to be covered by the residual from the last insecticide application. Therefore applications made this week in southern counties should control this generation of PC. In northern counties PC is still a primary target and needs to be controlled during the next couple of applications. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit
May 26, 2020

Last “Ask the Ag Agent” Webinar Tonight at 7:00PM

The last springtime Rutgers Cooperative Extension, “Ask the Ag Agent” weekly 1-hour sessions for farmers will take place tonight 5/27/20 at 7:00PM. We realize the season is well underway and most farmers are out in the fields. With the regular sessions ending for now, please reach out to your local County Agricultural Agent at anytime for assistance. We are open for business, and as times have changed we have changed with them.

This last online webinar/call in event will begin promptly at 7:00PM with an open forum to discuss ag-related questions about production, marketing, regulations and any other topics farmers wish to discuss.

Thank you to all who joined each week over the past two months and thank you to the Ag Agents and Extension Specialists who have participated. Bill Bamka, Stephen Komar, Meredith Melendez and Michelle Infante-Casella created and hosted this forum one week after the State of NJ went into lockdown and it has been quite the journey. Please join us for one last session for spring. All are welcome.

To access via WebEx on a computer go to https://go.rutgers.edu/rc9n3kxt

Join by phone
+1-650-429-3300 USA Toll
Access code: 799 743 872 # and then # again to join

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: