The 2017 South Jersey Commercial Tree Fruit Meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, February 16th. The meeting will be held at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC), 121 Northville Road, Bridgeton, NJ. [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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2017 South Jersey Commercial Tree Fruit Grower Meeting and Stakeholder Survey
Vole Management in the Orchard
There has been growing concerns about vole damage in apple and peach orchards throughout northern and southern New Jersey counties. Vole populations are often cyclic, and can reach high populations every 2-4 years. This, combined with poor weed control in orchards, can lead to disastrous effects on trees.
Identification and Habitat
Meadow voles and pine voles are two common types of voles. Pine voles have small eyes and small, almost inconspicuous ears, while meadow voles have larger eyes and ears. Meadow voles primarily feed in open vegetation, while pine voles prefer underground burrow systems just below the ground surface. Vole diets include many primary food sources in addition to tree bark. However, they can attack fruit trees during fall and winter months when other food sources are scarce.
[Read more…]
Credits! Get Your Credits!
Looking at the October calendar, many NJ licensed pesticide applicators finally realize that their 5-year license is almost at an end, and there’s hardly enough time or programs available to make their credit recertification requirements. Panic starts to set in and hurried calls are made across the state to find any source of recertification credits, whether CORE or in a specific category.
But wait – there’s the internet! Back in 2002, Rutgers Cooperative Extension launched an interactive web site, www.recert.rutgers.edu, to provide training and online licensure recertification opportunities in the CORE area of pesticide safety and storage. Two CORE credits have been made available from two separate online modules for commercial applicators in NJ, NY, PA, and MD. The web site features written and narrated script along with digital imagery designed for the general public (non-credit) and licensed professional audiences. Pre- and Post- questions are also imbedded online to assess user knowledge prior to using the site, knowledge gained following completion, and the overall learning value of the site beyond the licensure credit.
Since 2002, nearly 500 individual licensed applicators have attained nearly 700 CORE credits through this web site for their state recertification needs. In addition, nearly 4,800 general use (non-credit) public views of the web site occur annually.
The NJDEP also hosts a list of approved online providers of CORE and category credits for NJ licensed applicators at www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/pcp/bpo-recert.htm. NJ licensed applicators should have received their annual statement in the mail recently, so you know where you stand and how many (more) credits you need for recertification, whether it expires this October 31 or in the near future.
So get on your computer and spend some quality time online adding to your knowledge of pesticide safety and category expertise (from turf to mosquitoes to trees, etc.), follow each site’s instructions, and avoid missing your recertification deadline. You’ll be glad you did, and so will the NJDEP!
Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Dates
The NJ Dept. of Ag, Rutgers NJAES, Allied Recycling, and the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex are offering October dates for free plastic pesticide container recycling disposal. These are offered to agricultural, professional, and commercial applicators holding a NJDEP Pesticide Applicators License. State, county and municipal government agencies may also participate.
Dates and locations are listed below. Questions? Contact:
Roberta C. Lang, New Jersey Department of Agriculture
Div. of Ag and Natural Resources, Phone: 609.292.2242
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Ultra-Niche Crop Educational Sessions Offered
Rutgers Cooperative Extension is offering a series of workshops for new and beginning farmers. The series, sponsored by a grant from the USDA-NIFA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, is part of the Rutgers Ultra-Niche Crops Project. Ultra-Niche Crops are exceptionally high value crops that can be grown on small acreage. The program is geared towards anyone who is interested in making more money off less land. If you are a new or beginning farmer, or an experienced farmer interested in learning about niche crops, then join the mailing list for more information.
The first class on growing and marketing Plasticulture Strawberries will be held on September 28th. More details and registration are now available. To speak with the project director, contact County Agricultural and Resource Management Agent Jenny Carleo by email (ko at rutgers dot edu) or by phone at 609-465-5115 x607.
Plasticulture Strawberries – Ultra Niche Crop Series
Learn how to grow, market and sell plasticulture strawberries. Production basics, food safety considerations, post harvest handling specifics, budgeting and buyer preferences.
September 28, 2016 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. at three locations:
– RCE of Somerset County, Bridgewater
– RCE of Cape May County, Cape May Court House
– Rutgers EcoComplex, Columbus
For more information call Jenny Carleo, Agricultural Agent at (609) 465-5115 or email Jennifer
Matthews at jmatthews@aesop.rutgers.edu
To register go to Eventbrite link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ultra-niche-crops-plasticulture-strawberries-tickets-26609094518
To join the mailing list for future classes go to The Ultra-Niche Crop Project