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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EPA Issues Emergency Order to Stop Use of Pesticide Dacthal to Address Serious Health Risk
Tree Fruit IPM Report August 6, 2024
Peach:
Oriental Fruit Moth: A biofix point for OFM was set on 4/10 in both northern and southern counties. All timed treatments OFM this season have past. Monitor traps and treat for counts over 6 adult moths/trap.
Tarnished Plant Bugs; and Other Catfacing Insects: Catfacing insects remain very active. Some recent fruit feeding has been observed.
Scale Insects: Second generation san jose scale and white peach scale crawlers began emergence in late July. Late season treatments include Actara (14 day PHI); Esteem (14 day PHI), Centaur (14 day PHI), Diazinon (postharvest as per label), and Venerate (2 applications 0 day PHI).
Apples and Pears:
Diseases: Summer diseases such as fruit rots (esp. Bitter rot), and sooty blotch and fly speck are the key pests at this point. Bitter rot control has been difficult at best in recent years even where management programs have been rigorous. Summer and late season fungicides for summer diseases include: Merivon, Luna Sensation, Inspire Super, Topsin-M, captan and ziram. Experience has suggested that the addition of phosphorous acid products such as Prophyt or Rampart to captan sprays may improve control. Observations are that these phosphite products improve control of other summer diseases such as sooty blotch and flyspeck, and may help suppress scab infections where present. Bitter rot symptoms have been appearing for several weeks in southern counties. Symptoms continue to increase in sensitive varieties.
Scale Insects: San jose scale crawlers are emerging. Actara has a 35 Day PHI at rates effective for scale on pome fruit. Belay has a 7 day phi on pome fruit. Esteem has a 45 day PHI on Pome fruit. Centaur has a 14 day PHI. Diazinon has a 21 day PHI with a 96 hour reentry.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: BMSB nymphs have been seen feeding in some apple and pear blocks. Effective materials include Brigade, Actara (35 Day PHI), Belay, Leverage, Mustang Max and Venerate at 2 qts.
Codling Moth (CM): The first generation codling moth timings have ended. Trap captures Continue and increased in some southern county orchards this week. A biofix was set for CM on April 17th in both northern and southern counties. All timed treatments for CM have past. Trap Captures in some southern county orchards remain above threshold. Growers with trap captures above 5 moths/trap should still use effective materials within label restrictions.
Wine Grape:
Diseases: Continue fungicides and hedging for downy mildew and powdery mildew. At veraison apply fungicides effective for bunch rots.
Spotted Wing Drosophila: SWD are now being caught on sticky traps in vineyards. Include insecticides effective for control from now until harvest.
Spotted Lantern Fly: Adult Forms are now appearing and will be moving into vineyards to feed over the next few week. No treatments are needed unless significant adult presence (> 5/vine) is seen.
Phenology Table: Based on annual observations made in Gloucester County.
| Pest Event or Growth Stage | Approximate Date | 2024 Observed Date |
| Bud Swell (Redhaven/PF-17) | March 23 +/- 15 Days | March 13 |
| 1/4″ Green Tip Red Delicious | March 31 +/- 13 Days | March 18 |
| Pink Peach (Redhaven/PF-17) | April 4 +/- 15 Days | March 18 |
| Tight Cluster Red Delicious | April 9 +/- 13 Days | March 30 |
| Full Bloom Peach (Redhaven/PF-17) | April 9 +/- 14 Days | April 5 |
| Pink Apple (Red Delicious) | April 14 +/- 12 Days | April 9 |
| Full Bloom Apple (Red Delicious) | April 22 +/- 11 Days | April 20 |
| Petal Fall (Redhaven) | April 22 +/- 10 Days | April 15 |
| Petal Fall (Red Delicious) | April 27 +/- 13 Days | May 3 |
| Shuck Split (Redhaven) | April 30 +/- 11 Days | April 22 |
| Pit Hardening | June 15 +/- 9 Days | June 10 |
Tree Fruit Trap Captures – Southern Counties
| STLM | TABM-A | CM | BMSB | OFM-A | DWB | OFM-P | TABM-P | LPTB | PTB | |
| 3/23/2024 | 70 | 0 | ||||||||
| 3/30/2024 | 29 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 4/6/2024 | 421 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 4/13/2024 | 415 | 7 | 1 | |||||||
| 4/20/2024 | 900 | 7 | 0 | |||||||
| 4/27/2024 | 312 | 2 | 22 | 1 | ||||||
| 5/4/2024 | 137 | 2 | 8 | 27 | 1 | 5 | ||||
| 5/11/2024 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 42 | |||
| 5/18/2024 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 41 | ||
| 5/25/2014 | 33 | 29 | 7 | 4 | 25 | 0 | 44 | 37 | ||
| 6/1/2024 | 719 | 12 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 57 | ||
| 6/8/2024 | 163 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 35 | 52 | 3 | |
| 6/15/2024 | 252 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 4 | 54 | 4 |
| 6/22/2024 | 252 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 4 | 54 | 4 |
| 6/29/2024 | 500 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 10 | 35 | 4 |
| 7/6/2024 | 245 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| 7/13/2024 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 34 | 1 |
| 7/20/2024 | 152 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 0 |
| 7/27/2024 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 5 |
| 8/03/2024 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 21 | 0 |
Tree Fruit Trap Captures – Northern Counties
| STLM | TABM-A | CM | BMSB | OFM-A | DWB | OFM-P | TABM-P | LPTB | PTB | AMBROSIA BEETLE | |
| 3/23/2024 | |||||||||||
| 3/30/2024 | |||||||||||
| 4/6/2024 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 4/13/2024 | 3.25 | 37.6 | |||||||||
| 4/20/2024 | 11.75 | 93 | |||||||||
| 4/27/2024 | 0 | 19 | 50 | ||||||||
| 5/4/2024 | 1 | 16 | 19 | 124 | |||||||
| 5/11/2024 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 112 | |||||||
| 5/18/2024 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 83 | ||||
| 5/25/2024 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 8 | 23 | 55 | ||||
| 6/1/2024 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 28 | 7 | 21 | 37 | ||||
| 6/8/2024 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 16 | 2 | 12 | |||
| 6/15/2024 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 21 | 27 | 1 | 12 | |||
| 6/22/2024 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 13 | 16 | 1 | 3 | |||
| 6/29/2024 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 13 | 17 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 7/06/2024 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 9 | 19 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 7/13/2024 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 18 | 18 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 7/20/2024 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 7/27/2024 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
Managing Cranberry Toad Bugs – August 2024
The cranberry toad bug, Phylloscelis rubra (Figure 1), is a pest of concern to cranberry growers in New Jersey. A recent study demonstrated that even relatively low densities of this insect can cause significant injury to cranberries (Rodriguez-Saona et al., 2020. “Characterizing the Feeding Injury Caused by Phylloscelis rubra (Hemiptera: Dictyopharidae) to Cranberries,” Journal of Insect Science, 20(6), 37, https://doi.org/10.1093/jisesa/ieaa143). Thus, monitoring for this insect from now through mid-August is critical.
Cranberry toad bug
Life cycle. Cranberry toad bugs feed exclusively on cranberries. This insect has a single generation per year and overwinters as eggs. Nymphs appear from the end of June through early September, while adults are present from the end of July through October (harvest). Eggs are laid from the end of August through October.
Damage. Feeding damage can be noticed in two stages. First-stage feeding damage on vines causes the leaves on new growth to close in towards the branch. Second-stage feeding results in a color change in the new growth, turning it from reddish to brown. This damage can be seen from July until harvest and will cause the branches to die and the berries to shrivel up. Heavy infestations will result in dwarfed berries.
Management. To determine infestation, lightly sweep problematic beds; the bugs should be easy to catch in sweep nets as they are very active. Currently, no threshold has been established for this pest. Therefore, insecticide applications should be based on the relative number of bugs per sweep compared with other sites and the previous history of infestation. If needed, growers can use the following control options: Sevin (broad-spectrum carbamate), Diazinon (broad-spectrum organophosphate), Danitol or Fanfare (pyrethroids), and Actara or Assail (neonicotinoid insecticides, effective against piercing-sucking insects). If infestation is high, treatments should be applied now (early through mid-August) for best control.
Autonomous straddling robot for vineyard – Public demo on August 2, 2024, in Landisville
Tree Fruit IPM Report July 24, 2024
Peach:
Oriental Fruit Moth: A biofix point for OFM was set on 4/10 in both northern and southern counties. All Treatments OFM this season have past. Monitor traps and treat for counts over 6 adult moths/trap.
| OFM 2nd Generation Timing | ||||
| Insecticide Type | ||||
| County/Region | Degree Days by 7/24 base 45 | Conventional
2100-2200 2450-2500 |
Intrepid/Rimon
2000-2100 2350-2450 |
Diamides/Virus
2025-2150 2375-2450 |
| Gloucester – Southern | 2595 | 1st –past
2nd – past |
1st –past
2nd – past |
1st –past
2nd – past |
| Hunterdon – Northern | 2539 | 1st – past
2nd – past |
1st – past
2nd – past |
1st – past
2nd – past |
Tarnished Plant Bugs; and Other Catfacing Insects: Catfacing insects remain very active. Some recent fruit feeding has been observed.
Scale Insects: Second generation san jose scale and white peach scale crawlers have begun emergence. Late season treatments include Actara (14 day PHI); Esteem (14 day PHI), Centaur (14 day PHI), Diazinon (postharvest as per label), and Venerate (2 applications 0 day PHI).
Apples and Pears:
Diseases: Now that primary scab is nearing the end, or has ended, the focus turns toward summer diseases such as fruit rots (esp. Bitter rot), and sooty blotch and fly speck. Bitter rot control has been difficult at best in recent years even where management programs have been rigorous. Research has suggested Products such as Merivon, Luna Sensation, Inspire Super, and Aprovia may be effective, and longtime reliable broad spectrum fungicides such as omega, captan and ziram should provide control. Experience has suggested that the addition of phosphorous acid products such as Prophyt or Rampart to captan sprays may improve control. Observations are that these products improve control of other summer diseases such as sooty blotch and flyspeck, and may help suppress scab infections where present. Bitter rot symptoms have been appearing for several weeks in southern counties. Symptoms continue to increase in sensitive varieties over the past week.
Scale Insects: San jose scale crawlers are emerging. Actara has a 35 Day PHI at rates effective for scale on pome fruit. Esteem has a 45 day PHI on Pome fruit. Centaur has a 14 day PHI. Diazinon has a 21 day PHI with a 96 hour reentry.
Brwon Marmorated Stink Bug: BMSB nymphs have been seen feeding in some pear blocks. Effective materials include Brigade, Mustang Max and Venerate at 2 qts.
Codling Moth (CM): The first generation codling moth timings have ended. Trap captures Continue and increased in some southern county orchards this week. A biofix was set for CM on April 17th in both northern and southern counties. Second generation timings are updated below. Rimon is not recommended for this and later generations. Trap Captures in some southern county orchards remain above threshold. Growers with trap captures above 5 moths/trap should still use effective materials within label restrictions.
| Codling Moth Degree Day Timing – Second Generation | ||||||||
| Application and Insecticide Type | ||||||||
| County Area | Biofix | Rimon:
75-100DD + 14-17 days later
|
Intrepid
1150 + 1450 DD Diamides – Altacor, Voliam mixes: (150-200 DD) |
Madex
1250 DD + every 7-9 days during brood hatch (later if first spray is an IGR) |
Standard Insecticides – Delegate, Avaunt, OP’s, carbamates, pyrethroids
1250 DD + 1550 DD
|
|||
| DD | 1150 | 1450 | 1250 | 1250 | 1550 | |||
| Southern | April 22 | N/A | N/A | past | past | past | past | past |
| Northern | May 1 | N/A | N/A | past | past | past | past | past |
Wine Grape:
Diseases: Powdery mildew symptoms are now appearing on clusters in some southern vineyards. Downy Mildew has been on leaves seen in some vineyards.
Grape Berry Moth: Damage from second generation berry moth is higher than normal in some southern county vineyards. Growers should check their timing using the NEWA model for the next generation. The next timing for GBM using Intrepid or diamides should be this week for southern counties.
Spotted Lantern Fly: Adult Forms are now appearing and will be moving into vineyards to feed over the next few week. No treatments are needed unless significant adult presence (> 5/vine) is seen.
Phenology Table: Based on annual observations made in Gloucester County.
| Pest Event or Growth Stage | Approximate Date | 2024 Observed Date |
| Bud Swell (Redhaven/PF-17) | March 23 +/- 15 Days | March 13 |
| 1/4″ Green Tip Red Delicious | March 31 +/- 13 Days | March 18 |
| Pink Peach (Redhaven/PF-17) | April 4 +/- 15 Days | March 18 |
| Tight Cluster Red Delicious | April 9 +/- 13 Days | March 30 |
| Full Bloom Peach (Redhaven/PF-17) | April 9 +/- 14 Days | April 5 |
| Pink Apple (Red Delicious) | April 14 +/- 12 Days | April 9 |
| Full Bloom Apple (Red Delicious) | April 22 +/- 11 Days | April 20 |
| Petal Fall (Redhaven) | April 22 +/- 10 Days | April 15 |
| Petal Fall (Red Delicious) | April 27 +/- 13 Days | May 3 |
| Shuck Split (Redhaven) | April 30 +/- 11 Days | April 22 |
| Pit Hardening | June 15 +/- 9 Days | June 10 |
Tree Fruit Trap Captures – Southern Counties
| STLM | TABM-A | CM | BMSB | OFM-A | DWB | OFM-P | TABM-P | LPTB | PTB | |
| 3/23/2024 | 70 | 0 | ||||||||
| 3/30/2024 | 29 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 4/6/2024 | 421 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| 4/13/2024 | 415 | 7 | 1 | |||||||
| 4/20/2024 | 900 | 7 | 0 | |||||||
| 4/27/2024 | 312 | 2 | 22 | 1 | ||||||
| 5/4/2024 | 137 | 2 | 8 | 27 | 1 | 5 | ||||
| 5/11/2024 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 42 | |||
| 5/18/2024 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 41 | ||
| 5/25/2014 | 33 | 29 | 7 | 4 | 25 | 0 | 44 | 37 | ||
| 6/1/2024 | 719 | 12 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 57 | ||
| 6/8/2024 | 163 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 35 | 52 | 3 | |
| 6/15/2024 | 252 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 4 | 54 | 4 |
| 6/22/2024 | 252 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 4 | 54 | 4 |
| 6/29/2024 | 500 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 10 | 35 | 4 |
| 7/6/2024 | 245 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| 7/13/2024 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 34 | 1 |
| 7/20/2024 | 152 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 0 |
Tree Fruit Trap Captures – Northern Counties
| STLM | TABM-A | CM | BMSB | OFM-A | DWB | OFM-P | TABM-P | LPTB | PTB | AMBROSIA BEETLE | |
| 3/23/2024 | |||||||||||
| 3/30/2024 | |||||||||||
| 4/6/2024 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 4/13/2024 | 3.25 | 37.6 | |||||||||
| 4/20/2024 | 11.75 | 93 | |||||||||
| 4/27/2024 | 0 | 19 | 50 | ||||||||
| 5/4/2024 | 1 | 16 | 19 | 124 | |||||||
| 5/11/2024 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 112 | |||||||
| 5/18/2024 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 83 | ||||
| 5/25/2024 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 8 | 23 | 55 | ||||
| 6/1/2024 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 28 | 7 | 21 | 37 | ||||
| 6/8/2024 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 16 | 2 | 12 | |||
| 6/15/2024 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 21 | 27 | 1 | 12 | |||
| 6/22/2024 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 13 | 16 | 1 | 3 | |||
| 6/29/2024 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 13 | 17 | 1 | 0 | |||
| 7/06/2024 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 9 | 19 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 7/13/2024 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 38 | 18 | 18 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 7/20/2024 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
Pre-Harvest Water Requirements Under the Produce Safety Rule
Note: The following is a brief description of the pre-harvest water requirements (Section 112.3-112.161) under the Food Safety Modernization Act/Produce Safety Rule (FSMA/PSR). The pre-harvest water requirements are complicated and this summary is intended to be a starting point while we wait for guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For those who have already taken the FSMA/PSR grower training we will host an update webinar in the fall. For those who have not taken the FSMA/PSR grower training our course will be updated this year to reflect the latest information.
The pre-harvest water (irrigation, spray water, frost protection, fertigation, dust abatement, etc.) requirements for the FSMA/PSR became effective on July 5, 2024, however this does not mean a grower needed to start complying on that date. Compliance dates are staggered over the next three years depending on the size of the operation. Farms having an inspection in 2024 should expect Subpart E to be discussed by inspectors to prepare them for compliance in 2025 and beyond.:
| Size of Operation | Compliance Dates |
| Operations over $500,000 | April 7, 2025 |
| Small operations (> $250,000-500,000) | April 6, 2026 |
| Very Small operations (> $25,000-250,000) | April 5, 2027 |
It is important to understand what is considered Agricultural Water. Water that is intended to or will likely touch produce is considered agricultural water. In the context of pre-harvest water that means any water you are using for irrigation, frost protection etc. that touches the crop. If you are using drip irrigation for staked tomatoes this is NOT agricultural water as the water is not touching the fruit. If you are using drip irrigation on carrots, this IS agricultural water, as the water is touching the crop. A grower needs to think about how each water source is used before they decide whether it is agricultural water or not. If you have specific questions with regards to whether or not your water is agricultural water, please reach out to us.
Water testing is not a requirement for pre-harvest water but can be part of the agricultural water assessment of the whole water system. This means an inspector will ask the grower to explain their system and how they minimize risks to the covered crops.
Requirements for Inspecting and Maintaining Agricultural Water Systems
As part of the rule, growers must inspect the whole water system (pre-harvest, harvest and post-harvest) at the beginning of the season that is under the farms control. This includes:
- The water source (well and surface); the extent of the grower’s control and how each source is protected.
- Use of adjacent and nearby land (e.g., horse or cattle farm next door; runoff from roads)
- If surface water (e.g., stream, lake, or pond)- what is the chance a food safety hazard could enter the water before it got to your farm? (e.g., dairy farm upstream where cows get in the stream).
An inspection report must be written as to the findings of the inspection!
Requirements for Agricultural Water Assessment
The rule requires that a pre-harvest water assessment must be completed at the beginning of the season, the assessment is different than an inspection!
- The assessment only applies to the pre-harvest water.
- Must be a written assessment dated and signed at the beginning of the season, annually or anytime major changes are made to the system or water source. The inspection report can be incorporated into the assessment.
- Parts of the assessment
- Location and nature of water source (e.g., ground water/wells, surface water/pond, stream, etc.)
- How water is distributed (e.g., underground main, lay flat, canals, etc.)
- How system is protected from contamination (animals, manure applications, etc.)
- Agricultural water practices
- How water is applied and time between last irrigation and harvest
- Crop characteristics (e.g., waxy surface-cabbage, netted surface-muskmelons, etc.)
- Environmental conditions (Damage from frost, hail, blowing sand, etc.)
- Other factors
- Water testing, but the assessment can not be based just on water testing. It is only part of the assessment.
- If the operation meets any of the following, they can be exempt from performing a water assessment.
- No untreated surface water applied.
- Untreated groundwater is tested following the protocol for harvest and post-harvest water (four samples the first year for generic E. coli and one sample every year after if no generic E. coli is found).
- Public water system water use.
- Water is treated, monitored and to be of a safe and adequate sanitary quality.
Outcome from the assessment
- If the water source is not safe or is not of adequate sanitary quality, you must stop use immediately and take corrective measures before use.
- If the problem is related to biological soil amendments of animal or human origin on adjacent or nearby land, mitigation measures to stop and prevent the contamination must be implemented the same growing season (e.g., building a berm around the field to avoid runoff from a horse pasture).
- Any other conditions not related to animal activity impacting the quality of the water must be remediated as soon as practical and no later than the following year. The other option is to test the water source as part of the assessment and implement changes if needed.
Corrective measures are activities that must be done before using the water source. Such as re-inspecting the water system and making any changes or treating the water following FSMA/PSR standards.
Mitigation measures can take many forms including making a repair, increasing the time from the last irrigation to harvest, changing the water application method or source, etc.
Once we receive guidance from the FDA giving us greater details on how Subpart E impacts specific farm scenarios, we will share that information via the Plant and Pest Advisory.
