Cold injury to peach flowers and primordial fruit occurred during the evening of April 5-6 as temperatures dropped below freezing. At the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center, air temperatures first dropped below 32ºF at 10 pm Tuesday and remained below freezing until 9 am Wednesday morning. The lowest temperatures of 22 to 23 ºF occurred for four hours between 4 and 7 am. The average low temperature during the entire 12 hour cold period was 25.5 ºF. [Read more…]
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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Grower Survey: Spotted Wing Drosophila Management
Deadline: May 1, 2016
Survey Purpose: To measure the effects of spotted wing drosophila (SWD) on fruit crop production. Results will be used to develop national research and extension projects to minimize future impacts of SWD.
Survey website: https://survey.ncsu.edu/swd/
Growers of blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, and cherry who make pest management decisions are invited to participate in this multi-state survey as part a grant funded effort led by NC State University’s Dr. Hannah Burrack to develop better ways to manage SWD.
Collaborators include Michigan State, Oregon State, Cornell and Rutgers universities, as well as the universities of Maine; Notre Dame; Georgia; California, Davis; and California, Berkeley; and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service.
The survey may be completed online or printed and returned by fax or mail. Grower participation is vital and appreciated.
Weather Alert: Protect Flowering Crops Against Frost
DEP, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TEAM UP TO ALLOW FARMERS TO PROTECT FLOWERING CROPS AGAINST FROST CONDITIONS EXPECTED EARLY NEXT WEEK
(16/17) TRENTON – With temperatures in many parts of the state expected to approach freezing over the weekend into early next week, the Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Agriculture are working cooperatively to allow farmers to do controlled open burning or use specialized torches known as smudge pots to protect flowering crops from frost damage.Forecasts call for near or below freezing conditions overnight Saturday through April 5. The cold temperatures could affect fruit and vegetable crops, as well as flowers in bloom or near bloom. Peaches, blueberries and apples are particularly susceptible. Frost damage now can significantly reduce yields of these crops later in the season.
The DEP and Department of Agriculture are allowing these steps through April 5 to protect farmers’ livelihoods and to ensure that consumers will be able to enjoy an ample supply of Jersey produce later this year.
[Read more…]
New Fungicide for Apple Disease Control
A new fungicide for management of apple diseases, called Aprovia, is now available for use by commercial growers. Due to its recent release, this product was not included in the latest 2016 publication of the New Jersey Commercial Tree Fruit Production Guide. Thus, below is a discussion of its attributes and suggested usage for disease control. [Read more…]
Early Season Tree Fruit Pest Control in 2016
- Dormant season oil sprays
- Dormant season copper sprays
- Dormant season urea sprays
The 2016 New Jersey Commercial Tree Fruit Production Guide: Disease Updates
Each year, the production guide is updated to the latest information based on findings here at Rutgers as well results from other universities. New information and products from agricultural companies is also an important part of the annual update.
Below is a listing of updates made in the 2016 edition that relate to tree fruit disease control. The changes are listed by crop, chapter, or section. [Read more…]