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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November 27, 2024

Get Ready for the 2025 NJ Ag Convention – February 3-6

It is that time of year again to sign up for the annual NJ Agricultural Convention, co-sponsored by the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. Visit the VGANJ website at https://vganj.com/convention-tickets to register.

For 2025 there are new and exciting opportunities to learn about all aspects of the agricultural industry at the educational sessions and from vendors at the trade show. If you came last year, you also saw many new improvements to the convention – more vendors, more educational sessions, a complimentary lunch (limited free tickets) on Tuesday highlighting “what’s new from industry”, a complimentary hot buffet at the Tuesday happy hour/charity auction, youth programs for FFA, and co-convention events with the NJ Department of Agriculture. These offerings and more are coming for 2025. New events like Monday afternoon workshops, a livestock session, an agricultural policy session, an environmental session, and others are confirmed for this coming year. Licensed pesticide applicators will see an increase in recertification credits on the program for 2025. 

To check out the educational programming and NJDEP recertification credits for pesticide applicators see https://go.rutgers.edu/ConvProgram2025 – this is a draft program. Also, note that some events need special sign-up so read the program carefully to see what events need pre-registration.

NJ State Board of Agriculture information for the convention is coming soon. Check out their website at Department of Agriculture | Conventions.

If you have any questions about the VGANJ registration, go to https://vganj.com/#contact. If you need more information about the educational programs please contact the Rutgers Co-Chairs for the convention – bamka@njaes.rutgers.edu Bill Bamka, Agricultural Agent in Burlington County, or minfante@njaes.rutgers.edu Michelle Infante-Casella, Agricultural Agent in Gloucester County.

Filed Under: Agrivoltaics, Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, pesticide credits, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, vegetable, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape, work shop Tagged With: ,
November 25, 2024

Ag Irrigation Water Log Template Simplifies Annual Water Use Reporting To NJ DEP

 

https://go.rutgers.edu/IrrigationLog

 

As 2024 winds down and irrigation pumps are finally being shut off after a very long, dry season, thinking about calculating how much water was used to be able to fill out that NJ DEP report form in a couple of months is likely the furthest thing on your mind. However, the RCE Ag Water Use Log Excel Template <https://go.rutgers.edu/IrrigationLog> can make that process much easier, whether you have used it all season, or just need an easier way rather than tabulating all those hours of pumping by hand. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
November 15, 2024 and

Irrigation for late season perennial fruit crops during drought conditions

As New Jersey continues to experience record low precipitation levels since September, the state Department of Environmental Protection has declared a drought warning throughout the state. It is important to note that the drought warning does not call for any mandatory water use restrictions or bans. However, if the drought conditions worsen, the state may implement stricter measures to prevent further losses.

We have received many questions from growers, most who have completed harvesting for the season, on whether plants should still be receiving irrigation. Our recommendation is to continue to irrigate plants until they defoliate. For perennial fruit crops, in the fall months flower buds are forming for the next year’s crop. The leaves that remain on the tree are actively working to photosynthesize, converting light into energy the plant needs to grow.

Once leaves begin to turn yellow, brown, and drop off, you can stop supplemental watering. However, if you are in a prolonged drought, as we are currently, there are some factors to consider. For perennial crops that overwinter, severe drought can compromise their ability to store sufficient reserves, which can lead to reduced vigor and potential losses during the winter. It can be the case that during periods of drought, plants may invest more energy into developing deeper root systems; however, over a prolonged period of time, persistent stresses can hinder root development, which can negatively impact water intake and nutrient availability. Additionally, whereas hydrated soils can buffer the penetration of freezing temperatures through the soil surface, dry soils do not offer the same protection, and freezing temperatures can penetrate deeper.

There are several strategies that can be adopted to mitigate the impact of drought on fruit crops.

  • A proper irrigation schedule that includes supplemental watering during growth stages can help alleviate drought impacts and stress. When possible irrigate trees through leaf drop, and avoid irrigation on warm days (60°F and higher).
  • Mulch can be applied around plants to help conserve soil moisture and reduce evaporation.
  • Soil sensors equipped with data loggers can be deployed in the field to measure soil moisture and water stress and report measurements to a computer or mobile device.
  • Regularly monitoring your crop for signs of drought stress including wilting, leaf curling and discoloration, and reduced growth, is critical for timely intervention and applying appropriate measures.
Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape Tagged With: ,
November 14, 2024

Does your farm, ranch or ag business host visitors?

Be counted! If your farm, ranch, or agricultural business is open to visitors, please take 5 minutes to complete a short survey from our colleagues at the University of Vermont.

Click here to take the survey or copy and paste this link into your browser: http://go.uvm.edu/agt24 

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
November 6, 2024 and

Produce Safety Rule Training

The registration deadline is fast approaching for our December 5 and 6, 2024 Remote Food Safety Modernization Act: Produce Safety Rule Training. This training fulfills the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration that at least one person from each farm that produces fresh fruits and vegetables needs to receive a standardized curriculum recognized by the FDA. This class runs from 9:00-1:00 EST and both days are required to receive the certificate. The deadline to register is Sunday, November 17, 2024, exceptions to this deadline cannot be made due to the nature of the remote program and the need for participants to have a copy of the Growers Training Manual prior to the training.  Without the manual at the time of training participants will not receive a certificate.  Manual will be mailed to all registered participants.  For more information and to sign up for the class go to https://onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu/trainings.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Organic Production, vegetable, Vegetable Crops
October 17, 2024 , and

Financial Assistance for Food Safety Certification and Training

This is the chance for eligible fresh fruit and vegetable growers to recover some of their expenses for implementing food safety practices on their farms.

For 2024:

  • Applications are due between July 1, 2024 and January 31, 2025
  • Eligible expenses must be between June 26, 2024 and December 31, 2024

For 2025:

  • Application is due between January 1, 2025 and January 1, 2026
  • Eligible expenses must be between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025

Eligible specialty crop operations can apply for Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) by working directly with the Farm Service Agency offices at your local FSA office for details. Applications will be accepted via mail, fax, hand delivery, or electronic means.

How the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program Works

The FSCSC program provides financial assistance for specialty crop operations that incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in years 2024 and 2025. This program helps offset costs to comply with regulatory requirements and market-driven food safety certification requirements.  FSCSC will cover a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing their certification, as well as a percentage of their related expenses.

Program Eligibility

Eligibility requirements for FSCSC applicants are outlined below. We recommend you review these requirements before initiating your FSCSC application.

To be eligible for FSCSC, an applicant must:

Have obtained or renewed:

  • 2024 food safety certification issued between June 26, 2024, and December 31, 2024
  • 2025 food safety certification issued during calendar year 2025.
  • Be a specialty crop operation (growing fresh fruits and vegetables); and meet the definition of a small business or medium size business.
  • A small (farm) business means an applicant that had an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the 3-year period preceding the program year of not more than $500,000.
  • A medium (farm) business means an applicant that had an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the 3-year period preceding the program year of at least $500,001 but no more than $1,000,000.
Category of Eligible Expenses Payment Amount of Eligible Costs
Developing a Food Safety Plan for First Time Certification ·                     75% (no maximum)
Maintaining or Updating a Food Safety Plan ·                     75% up to $675
Food Safety Certification ·                     75% up to $2,000
Certification Upload Fees ·                     75% up to $375
Microbiological Testing of Produce ·                     75% up to 5 tests
Microbiological Testing of Soil Amendments ·                     75% up to 5 tests
Microbiological Testing of Water ·                     75% up to 5 tests
Training Expenses ·                     100% up to $500

FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each category of eligible costs based on the percentages and maximum payment amounts.  The FSCSC application and associated forms are available online at  farmers.gov/food-safety.

You are encouraged to contact the Farm Service Agency office about FSCSC, program eligibility, or the application process. You may also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to provide one-on-one assistance.

For our current trainings please go to: Our Trainings – Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety

 

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, training, vegetable, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,