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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February 24, 2023

Last Two Food Safety Trainings Until Fall

March 1, 2023: Advanced Audits Online Training from 9:00-12:00

This online program offers growers a deeper dive into audit standards and on-farm food safety issues they face on their farms. Current hot topics in food safety will be discussed as well as how to foster a food safety culture on your farm, updates to the harmonized audit,  post-harvest sanitizer use and labeling and more! Certificates will be sent out to those who participate in this program.

$15.00 per person

Deadline to Register is February 27, 2023

March 15, 2023: Food Safety Training for Blueberry Growers from 10:00-1:00

Topics included horticulture sanitizer chemistry and how they work, a risk vs. hazard hands-on training, updates to the FSMA Ag Water Rule, an update on Traceability, what the New Jersey Department of agriculture found in 2022 during FSMA inspections and more.  Certificates will be sent out to those who participate in this program.

Where:

Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research

125a Lake Oswego, Chatsworth, NJ 08019

$50.00 per person (lunch included)

Deadline to Register is March 8, 2023

For more information or to sign up for both trainings:  Go to: https://go.rutgers.edu/8bgart4a

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops
February 24, 2023

December Prices Received by Farmers Data

The ‘December Prices Received by Farmers’ section of the USDA NASS Agriculture Prices publication contains useful price-margins-costs of production forecasting information for producers.

The report highlights prices received by farmers for principal crops, livestock and livestock products; indexes of prices received by farmers; feed price ratios; indexes of prices paid by farmers; and parity prices. Historical data covering years 1910-60 reported in 1962 publication.

To access the December report go to: https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/c821gj76b/gx41nx339/2b88rs02s/agpr0123.txt

Future reports will be released on: Upcoming releases:Feb 28 2023 3:00 PM. Mar 31 2023 3:00 PM. Apr 28 2023 3:00 PM. May 31 2023 3:00 PM. Jun 30 2023 3:00 PM. Jul 28 2023 3:00 PM. Aug 31 2023 3:00 PM. Sep 29 2023 3:00 PM. Oct 31 2023 3:00 PM. Nov 30 2023 3:00 PM. Dec 29 2023 3:00 PM.



Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops 
February 22, 2023 
Rutgers Soil Testing Laboratory adds Sulfur to Soil Fertility Analysis


Plant-available sulfur (sulfate) values have been added to Rutgers Soil Testing Laboratory fertility reports in the micronutrient reporting line. There are four interpretive categories: Low, Medium-low, Sufficient, and High. An explanatory paragraph follows near the end of the report to help interpret the reported value.


Photo illustrating sulfur deficiency in sweet corn.
Symptoms of sulfur deficiency include yellowing or light green coloring on youngest tissue, thin stems and petioles, slow growth, and delayed maturity. Photo Credit: G. Brust, University of Maryland.


As the interpretative statements within the reports explain, sulfur analysis/interpretation is very complicated (similar to nitrogen) due to the many factors influencing it. Also, there is not full consensus among soil fertility experts on a best extraction method and critical values. Still, the sulfur value on the revised reports will provide an extra degree of information for understanding the soil & plant health. As with all micronutrient interpretations on the reports, the relevant RCE publication is referenced for further information; in the case of sulfur, RCE bulletin E365.


 [Read more…]


Filed Under: Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , , 
February 22, 2023 
Help PA stop Hipath Avian Influenza spread. Sanitize vehicle tires, boots.


With increasing numbers of positive flock detections in Lancaster County, PA, and circulation of the virus in wild birds, please remember to wash farm truck vehicle tires and implement footwear-vehicle-pedal sanitation steps when driving to/from the feed mills, seed stores, and farm machinery dealers located in this region of Pennsylvania.  Map current as of 2-22-2023.


Map of avian spread


The following link will take you to the control zone maps for current detections in Pennsylvania.


https://padeptag.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=a9066a3d68a443a08043766cb84bf4ae


Additional information on protecting your backyard flock from exposure to Hipath avian influenza can be found in prior Plant Pest Advisory posts, and at the USDA website, ‘Defend the Flock’. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/defend-the-flock-program/defend-the-flock-program


Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops 
February 16, 2023 
National Pesticide Safety Education Month Focuses on Resources and Education to Support Safe Pesticide Handling and Use


Rutgers NJAES celebrates February as National Pesticide Safety Education Month with a selection of opportunities for pesticide applicators to renew their knowledge of pesticide safety and regulations, and earn CORE credits, throughout the month in programs hosted by Rutgers NJAES County Agents and commodity programming, as well as other entities. Enjoy the Weed Science Society […]
Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops 
February 14, 2023 
North Jersey Commercial Vegetable Grower Meeting February 21


NORTH JERSEY COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE GROWERS MEETING


February 21, 2023

8:30 am – 3:00 pm

Hunterdon County Complex

314 State Rt. 12, Building #1

Flemington, NJ


Program Chair

Peter Nitzsche, Agriculture and Resource Management Agent

Cooperative Extension of Morris County


8:30 – Registration

Coffee and pastry compliments of industry sponsors


9:00 – Welcome and Introductions


9:10 – Trends in Diamondback Moth Management in Cole Crops

Kris Holmstrom, Research Project Coordinator, Cooperative Extension


9:40 – Update on Farm Service Programs

Speaker TBA, Farm Service Agency


9:50 – Jersey Fresh Marketing Update

Speaker TBA, Division of Markets, NJ Dept. of Agriculture


10:10 – Update on Farm Labor Issues

Ben Casella, Field Representative, New Jersey Farm Bureau


10:30 – Updates on Diseases of Fresh Market Vegetables and their Control

Andy Wyenandt, Specialist in Vegetable Pathology, Cooperative Extension


11:00 – What is New from Industry


11:10 – Strategies to Protect Farmer Safety and Health as the Field Season Approaches

Kate Brown, Program Associate, Cooperative Extension of Burlington County


11:40 – Update on Weed Management Tools and Strategies for New Jersey Cole Crops

Thierry Besançon, Specialist in Weed Science, Cooperative Extension


12:10 – LUNCHEON (pre-registration required)


1:10 – Protective Equipment for Pesticide Safety

Patricia Hastings, Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator, Cooperative Extension


1:40 – Growing Ginger and Turmeric in NJ

William Errickson, ANR Agent Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County


2:10 – A Tour of the California Strawberry Nursery Industry

Peter Nitzsche, ANR Agent, Cooperative Extension of Morris County


2:40 – Pesticide Recertification Credits and Adjourn




THE FOLLOWING NJDEP PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION CREDITS WILL BE OFFERED


1 CORE   3 CAT 1A   3 CAT 10   3 PP2


All Registration and Lunch Fees (Cash or Check) will be collected at the door

Please make checks payable to: Rutgers The State University of New Jersey


Registration Fees $20.00 per meeting

Additional Registrants $10.00 each per meeting

Lunch Fees $25.00 per person per meeting


RSVP by February 17, 2023

RSVP to Kim Crommelin 908-788-1338

kfrey@co.hunterdon.nj.us


 


Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, pesticide credits, Strawberry, Vegetable Crops