Tree Fruit Phenology: Tree Fruit Phenology remains advanced in peach, but development is slowing. In southern counties all peach orchards are late bloom to petal fall. Redhaven was at approximately full bloom on April 4. Plums are at shuck off. Pears are at petal fall. Red Delicious is just past full bloom. Sweet cherries are at about late bloom depending on variety. [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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April 13, 2023 Pat Hastings
EPA Establishes First Pesticide Tolerance for Hemp
[EPA Pesticide Update posted April 13, 2023]. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established the first pesticide tolerance for hemp. This tolerance is for the pesticide ethalfluralin. After a robust human health risk assessment, on April 10th, EPA issued a final tolerance rule that established the maximum amount of ethalfluralin residues allowed to remain in or on hemp […]
April 12, 2023 Cesar Rodriguez-Saona
National Survey on Spotted-Wing Drosophila
Dear Berry Growers:
You have been identified as a berry grower whose perspectives matter in helping to shape the future of the industry. We request your participation to complete an online survey to determine the impact of USDA funded projects conducted by land-grant university faculty on the sustainable management of Spotted-Wing Drosophila (SWD).
Over the past 15 years, SWD has negatively impacted the U.S. berry and cherry industry, which has led to rejection of crops and significant losses on the farm. A group of highly committed researchers has been engaged in a multi-state initiative to develop and test different control practices for SWD. Some of the products are commercially available, while others are awaiting approval.
This survey seeks to determine your level of awareness and adoption of these new techniques, and to capture your experiences with the new technologies introduced by the research team.
To complete the survey, please click on the link Online Survey Software | Qualtrics Survey Solutions
https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9B5kHcjLIRgW9gO
Also, please forward this letter to others in your community who have mitigated SWD to increase our data pool.
This study is being conducted by a professional evaluation team from the University of Florida, Mr. Damilola Ajayi and Dr. Kay Kelsey, on behalf of Drs. Ashfaq Sial, Cesar Rodriguez-Saona, Hannah Burrack, Hannah Levenson, Vaughn Walton, Frank Zalom, Elizabeth Beers, Greg Loeb, Kent Daane, Philip Fanning, and Kim Hoelmer representing University of Georgia, Rutgers University, Michigan State University, North Carolina State University, Oregon State University, University of California-Davis, Washington State University, Cornell University, University of California Berkeley, University of Maine, and the United States Department of Agriculture.
This study was reviewed and approved by the University of Florida Institutional Review Board for the protection of human subjects (IRB# 202300289). In case you have any questions, please contact Damilola Ajayi, 706-588-2697, d.ajayi@ufl.edu or Kay Kelsey, 706-247-2492, kathleen.kelsey@ufl.edu
Sincerely,
Damilola Ajayi, Graduate Assistant, UF|IFAS.
Kay Kelsey, Professor, UF|IFAS.
April 11, 2023 Dave Schmitt
Tree Fruit IPM Update Addendum 4/11/23
Oriental Fruit Moth: A biofix point for OFM has was set on 4/10 in southern counties. No biofix has been set for northern counties. The first insecticides for first generation Oriental Fruit Moth control should be applied at 170-200 degree days base 45 after biofix with conventional materials, and at 100-150 degree days base 45 for diamides. Timings are updated in the table below. This timing generally coincides with 100% petal fall in peaches. Do not apply insecticides until all bloom is off. No Insecticides for OFM are needed where Mating Disruption is implemented.
| OFM 1st Generation Timing | |||
| Insecticide Type | |||
| County/Region | Degree Days by 4/11 base 45 | Conventional
170-200, 350-375 |
Diamide
100-150, 300-350 |
| Gloucester – Southern | 10 | 1st –4/18-4/20
2nd – |
1st –4/15-4/17
2nd – |
| Middlesex – Northern | 0 | 1st –
2nd – |
1st –
2nd – |
April 10, 2023 Dave Schmitt
Tree Fruit IPM Report for April 11, 2023
Tree Fruit Phenology: Tree Fruit Phenology remains advanced in peach, but development is slowing. In southern counties all peach orchards are late bloom to petal fall. Redhaven was at approximately full bloom on April 4. Plums are at shuck off. Pears are at petal fall. Red Delicious is just past full bloom. Sweet cherries are at late bloom depending on variety. [Read more…]
April 10, 2023 Hemant Gohil
NJ Department of Environmental Protection Issues Burn Permit for Frost Protection – Through April 14
(TRENTON) – With the state expected to experience colder spring temperatures, the Department of Environmental Protection has agreed with NJ Dept of Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher’s request to allow farmers to do controlled open burning or use specialized torches known as smudge pots to protect crops from damage beginning Friday, April 7, through Friday, April 14.
These cold events could adversely affect some of the fruit, vegetable, and floriculture crops.
Note: The NJDEP and New Jersey Forest Fire Service caution all farmers and agriculture businesses with respect to the use of open burning in high wind velocity conditions. Please take note that farmers are encouraged to utilize smudge pots is warming as necessary during higher wind conditions. Use of open burning when wind velocity is greater than 5mph is strictly prohibited, may contribute to wildfire risk, and can carry significant penalties. [Read more…]
