Blunt-nosed leafhopper is an important concern for cranberry, not because the insect causes that much feeding damage, but because it can transmit cranberry false blossom disease. False blossom is characterized by a malformation of the flowers. The flower pedicels become erect and there is no production of fruit, with devastating effects for cranberry yield. Blunt-nosed leafhopper nymphs start to occur in the bogs by the end of May, and adults reach their peak numbers in July. Relatively little is known about the way the insects transmit false blossom disease, and at the Cranberry & Blueberry Research Center, we soon hope to change that. [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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July 14, 2014 Lawrence Coia and Daniel Ward
Cluster Thinning Effects on Cabernet Sauvignon and C. Franc Yield and Wine Quality
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Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc can produce excellent wine grapes and wine in New Jersey, but the effect of cluster thinning on optimal yields has not been established. This study suggests that high quality grapes and wines can be made from these varieties under various climatic conditions and without the necessity of economically unsustainably low yields that can result from cluster thinning.
Grant support: USDA NESARE and from Coia Vineyards, the Outer Coastal Plain Vineyard Association, and Rutgers NJAES.
July 10, 2014 Dean Polk, Dave Schmitt, and Atanas Atanassov
Fruit IPM Report July 10, 2014
Syrphid Fly Larvae Attack Woolly Apple Aphids
Photo: Good Fruit GrowerThis week in Fruit IPM
- Peach
- Apple
- Grape
- Blueberry
- Tree Fruit Trap Counts
New Blueberry Fruit IPM Program Associate Amy Raudenbush
Welcome Amy Raudenbush! Amy is now the Fruit IPM Program Associate working in blueberries. A native of New Jersey, Amy joined the Fruit IPM Program this past Tuesday, July 8. After getting a Bachelors degree from Rutgers and working in the Entomology Department, she received an MS in Entomology from Kansas State University, and worked as a research associate in IPM programming.Amy is now visiting with growers and assessing SWD populations, along with other pests. Amy is stationed in the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Offices of Atlantic County, and will be able to be reached at (609)625-0056 or by her cell number at (609)313-2406.
July 4, 2014 Cesar Rodriguez-Saona
Post-bloom Insect Pest Control Recommendations
Sparganothis fruitworm adult (photo by Elvira de Lange)
Sparganothis fruitworm (SPARG) – If your farm has high pheromone trap counts, you should consider managing this pest as soon as bees are removed. The timing for this 1st post-pollination spray is at 2 weeks after peak pheromone trap catches, which usually coincides with the second week in July. [Read more…]
July 3, 2014 Wes Kline and Meredith Melendez
Farm Food Safety: Irrigation Water Sampling
Testing irrigation water for generic E. coli is something that every farm should do. Timing and frequency of this testing varies depending on your water source. Here is a cheat sheet: [Read more…]
July 2, 2014 Wes Kline and Meredith Melendez
Audit Ready:
Who Can Accompany You During A Third Party Audit?
Recently, a number of growers have asked:
“Who can accompany me during a third party food safety audit?”
Perhaps you had someone write your farm food safety plan for you or, you have a food safety consultant and you would like them to participate in or attend the audit.
The USDA weighed in on this question and stated:
” There are no written requirements restricting the number of individuals on an audit. We allow the auditor to make that decision as far as how many people they wish to accompany them. A consultant can accompany the auditor and act as an observer but may not act as a participant in the audit.”
If you would like someone to accompany with you during the audit be sure to ask the inspector where they stand on who may attend the audit with you.
