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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April 7, 2014

Annual Weed Control in Vineyards

The program for the control of annual weeds in the vineyard should consider the weed free strip under the trellis and the sod middles between the rows separately.

Good weed control eliminates competition, improves air circulation, and fungicide and insecticide coverage.

Good weed control eliminates weed competition, improves air circulation, and fungicide and insecticide spray coverage.


The “Weed Control Season” starts in late fall, after harvest.  The program implemented in the spring depends on what herbicides were applied the previous fall.  If herbicides were applied in late fall, applications can be delayed until later in the spring.  Residual herbicides should be applied in late winter or early spring after the soil is no longer frozen, if no late fall treatment was applied. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Wine Grape
April 3, 2014

Fungicides for Peach Blossom Blight Management

There was a time when a grower only needed to consider the efficacy and price when deciding what fungicide to employ for disease control. However, as companies sought to discover fungicides that were more effective and less toxic to the environment and non-target organisms, the fungicides also became more site-specific. As a result, these newer fungicides were much more prone to resistance development by the pathogen. So, now growers must also consider resistance management along with efficacy and price when deciding what fungicide to apply.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Tree Fruit
April 2, 2014

Orchard Sod Weed Control

Managed sod row middles have many advantages, and have been adopted by many tree fruit growers. They provide a firm drive path for spring spraying of insecticides and fungicides, prevent or reduce soil erosion, and improve soil tilth by increasing soil organic matter. Broadleaf weeds in the sod should be controlled. Weeds are alternate hosts for insects diseases, and nematodes, and weeds in bloom can attract natural pollinators into the orchard throughout the spring and summer. Many insecticides warn against use when bloom is present in the orchard.

Control dandelions and other weeds in orchard sod.

Control dandelions and other weeds in orchard sod.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Tree Fruit
March 20, 2014

Stinger Labeled for Apple Orchards

Stinger has been labeled for weed control stone fruit orchards for years, and is now labeled for use in apple orchards. The weeds controlled fall into two botanical plant families, composites and legumes.

Use Stinger to control susceptible weeds in the tree row and sod row middles.

Use Stinger to control susceptible weeds
in the tree row and sod row middles.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Tree Fruit
March 13, 2014

Tree Fruit March Checklist

  • Oil for Pear Psylla and Scale Control
  • Scout While Pruning
  • Dormant Season Copper Sprays
  • Dormant Season Urea Sprays

Oil for Pear Psylla and Scale Control: During the recent warm up pear psylla adults were active, however no egg laying has yet been observed. Growers with pears should be thinking about oil applications to deter egg laying.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Tree Fruit
March 11, 2014 and

2014 Food Safety Workshops

There are two remaining farm food safety workshops scheduled for the 2014 growing season.

Wednesday March 19, 9:00 – 4:00
Introduction to Food Safety and Third Party Audits
Rutgers Snyder Research Farm, Pittstown
$40.00 includes materials and lunch
RSVP with 3/19/14 registration form

Wednesday March 26, 9:00 – 4:00
GAPs and Farm Food Safety Writing Workshop
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County
$40.00 includes materials and lunch
RSVP with 3/26/14 registration form

Filed Under: Food Safety, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops