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 8, 2022

Herbicide Plant-Back Restrictions Explained: Purpose and Application

Are you crystal clear on the purpose of plant-back restrictions and on the length of time required between a herbicide application and the planting of your next crop or cover crop? If not, the guidance below should help. It was developed based on a poster presentation made during the 2022 annual meeting of the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA). For further information regarding the plant-back restrictions for vegetable crops, please refer to Pest Management section (p. 110-118) of the 2022/2023 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations.

  • What is a plant-back interval?
    A plant-back interval is the minimum period of time between a pesticide treatment and the planting of your next crop. The EPA establishes plant-back intervals as label requirements for herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, plant growth regulators and other types of pesticides.
  • What’s the purpose of a plant-back interval?
    EPA’s primary focus in setting plant-back intervals is to protect human health by preventing over exposure to pesticide residues in crops – including fruits and vegetables. Regulatory experts include all residue sources when assessing human dietary exposure.
  • Do plant-back intervals also address crop phytotoxicity concerns?
    While pesticide registrants may choose to add label instructions to address potential crop injury or phytotoxicity concerns, these instructions are independent of EPA-mandated plant-back restrictions that focus on limiting human exposure to pesticide residues. If your crop is intended to be harvested for human or animal consumption, you must still comply with the minimum residue-based plant-back intervals, regardless of whether phytotoxicity guidance is given.
  • How are plant-back intervals established?
    EPA requires that pesticide registrants submit residue studies to document pesticide levels and related metabolites. Study data is then used to develop appropriate plant-back interval guidance based on allowed tolerance levels in the plant-back crop. All residue sources from pesticides applied within the current and previous growing seasons are included when assessing human dietary exposure. It is important to note that the plant-back intervals specified by EPA are crop specific. The interval specified for tomato, for example, might vary from that established for cole crops.
  • What should I do if I’m planting a crop that isn’t specified on the label?
    Crops that are not specifically addressed on the label fall into the “other crops” category and require the maximum plant-back interval indicated on the label.
  • Do plant-back intervals apply to both my rotational crop and my cover crop?
    If the crop is harvested for human consumption or is grazed by or fed to livestock that will be consumed by humans, the crop is considered a “rotational crop” and requires an appropriate plant-back interval to protect human health.
    Seasonal plantings that will not be consumed directly by humans or by livestock that will then be consumed by humans are considered “cover crops.” Cover crops such as ryegrass or hairy vetch are grown to improve soil quality, reduce erosion or manage weeds. Since there is no risk of dietary exposure, plant-back restrictions do not apply when planting cover crops.
  • How do I calculate the plant-back interval?
    To comply with the mandated plant-back interval, use the date of the last pesticide application as a starting point. If, for example, the crop selected has a 365-day plant-back interval, the 365-day window begins on the day after the last pesticide application to the previous crop. You can plant that next crop 365 days later.
Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
July 7, 2022

Resources for New Jersey Licensed Private Pesticide Applicators & Growers – 2022 Meetings Tools for Regulatory Compliance

In 2022 Rutgers provided growers with regulatory updates in presentations at NJACTS, the Blueberry Open house and South Jersey Vegetable and Field Crop, North & South Jersey Tree Fruit, and Blueberry Twilights.  Thanks to all host farms. Laminated WPS Pesticide Safety Posters and other WPS Resources were distributed at all Twilight meetings. Specific tools for […]
Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops
July 2, 2022

Sparganothis Fruitworm Degree-Day Update: as of July 02, 2022

Based on our degree-day (DD) model for Sparganothis fruitworm, first eggs hatched at about 895 DD (see chart). As of July 02, Sparganothis has accumulated 1101.5 DD (using April 15 as biofix). This indicates that eggs have started to hatch, and fruit will become susceptible to infestation since larval injury to fruit usually begins after the eggs hatch. According to our model, peak flight should have occurred about a week ago (on the week of June 20). Insecticide applications are usually recommended 10-14 days after peak flight (i.e., week of July 4). Most beds should be close to the end of bloom. If trap counts have been high, growers should consider treatment by next week (depending on the variety and time of winter flood removal) to prevent damage to berries. If spraying when bees are present, your option is to use an insect growth regulator (IGR), such as Intrepid, or the diamide Altacor. Our “standard” recommendation has been, however, to wait until bees are removed to apply an insecticide. Your post-bloom options include the organophosphate Diazinon, the diamides Altacor, Verdepryn, or Exirel, the spinosyn Delegate, or the IGR Intrepid. Timing of insecticide application is critical; so, if needed, do not wait too long to manage this pest.

Degree-day model for Sparganothis fruitworm

Filed Under: Cranberry, Fruit
June 30, 2022

Tree Fruit IPM Report for June 30, 2022

Peach:

Oriental Fruit Moth: A biofix point for OFM was set on 4/11 in southern counties, and on 4/14 in northern counties. The second generation timings are updated below.

Insecticide Type
County/Region Degree Days by  6/30 base 45 Conventional

1150-1200 1450-1500

 Diamide

1075-1150 1375-1450
Gloucester – Southern 1522 1st –past

2nd –past

 1st –past

2nd –past
Middlesex – Northern 1447 1st –past

2nd –6/30-7/2

 1st –past

2nd –6/29-6/30

 

Japanese Beetles: Japanese beetles have emerged and have been observed in some orchards. Products containing imidacloprid (Admire Pro, etc.) are effective and have a short preharvest interval. See the Tree Fruit Production guide for more information.

Tarnished Plant Bugs; and Other Catfacing Insects: Catfacing insect activity is increasing with the arrival of hot weather and is present at moderate to high levels in some orchards. Brown Marmorated Stink bugs are present at low to moderate levels in orchards statewide.

Lesser Peach Tree Borer and Peach Tree Borer: Lesser Borer adults are flying in all growing regions. Greater Peach tree borers are now flying in southern counties.

Apples and Pears:

Diseases: Summer scab, rots and sooty blotch and fly speck are the main targets at this stage. Where scab is present rely primarily on protectant fungicides. Last year Captan plus a phosphorous acid like Prophyt was observed to slow scab development as well as provide good summer disease control.

Codling Moth (CM): The Second CM flight will be starting soon. If trap captures are above 5 moths/trap continue using effective materials. A biofix was set for CM on April 25th in southern counties, and May 6 in Northern counties (Middlesex County). Estimated timings for the second generation are updated below.

Codling Moth Degree Day Timing
Application and Insecticide Type
County Area Biofix Intrepid; Diamides – Altacor, Voliam mixes:

1150-1200 +

1450-1500 DD

 

 Cyd-X, Madex

1250 DD + every 7-9 days during brood hatch (later if first spray is an IGR)

 Standard Insecticides –  Delegate, Avaunt, OP’s, carbamates, pyrethroids

1250 DD +

1550-1600 DD

 
DD 1150-1200 1450-1500 1250 1250 1550-1600
Southern April 25 7/3-7/5 too far off 7/7 7/7 too far off
Northern May 6 7/6-7/7 too far off 7/9 7/9 too far off

Grapes:

Diseases: Grape diseases active at this growth stage are powdery mildew, downy mildew, and black rot.

Phomopsis on grape leaves and cane. (Photo – D. Schmitt)

Black rot leaf lesion on grape (Photo – D. Schmitt)

Phomopsis and downy mildew symptoms are present in southern counties. Black rot symptoms have not yet been observed but should appear any time now. Disease infection periods can be monitored using the NEWA models. Choose the weather station closest to your vineyard.

Insects: Leafhoppers have been seen in a few spots. This complex is generally not of concern. Potato leafhoppers, which arrive sometime in June, can cause some minor damage. Spotted Lantern Fly nymphs are present in high numbers on many vineyards. These nymphs do little damage and generally don’t need special treatments when present. Even so, vineyards should be monitored for SLF presence and if they are found use an insecticide effective for SLF when treating for Grape Berry Moth. More information for SLF can be found at the Penn State SLF website.

Downy Mildew on grape Leaves. (Photo – D. Schmitt)

Grape Berry Moth (GBM): The biofix in southern counties for GBM was  5/25. Timing for the second generation treatments using Diamides or Intrepid is set at 810 degree days base 470F. Other materials may be applied a few days later. Given the current weather patterns, this should be about the late June/early July in southern counties. Insecticides that will control both GBM and SLF include pyrethroids and premixes such as Leverage and Voliam Flexi. Voliam Flexi is a diamide premix and should be applied at the 810 degree day timing.

 

 

 

Tree  Fruit Trap Counts – Southern Counties

Weekending STLM TABM-A CM BMSB OFM-A DWB OFM-P TABM-P LPTB PTB
4/9/2022 2 0 0
4/16/2022 0 2 3
4/23/2022 11 0 0 28 5 0 0
4/30/2022 5 0 1 31 4 0 0
5/7/2022 5 1 3 50 4 0 0
5/14/2022 8 5 3 19 2 0 0
5/21/2022 3 5 5 20 2 7 3
5/28/2022 0 19 3 13 0 11 36
6/4/2022 0 10 3 5 1 13 49 0
6/11/2022 0 9 2 6 36 0 8 47 3
6/18/2022 0 4 1 0 62 0 3 13 1
6/25/2022 16 0 0 6 3 16 0 0 18 4

 

Tree  Fruit Trap Counts – Northern Counties

Weekending STLM TABM-A CM BMSB OFM-A DWB OFM-P TABM-P LPTB PTB
4/9/2022
4/16/2022 0 0 1
4/23/2022 0 0 2 0
4/30/2022 0 0 2.5 0
5/7/2022 0 1 4 0
5/14/2022 1 2 0 5 0.5 0 0
5/21/2022 6 8 4 27 2 5 6 5 0
5/28/2022 34 19 3 6 13 1 23 15 0
6/4/2022 17 21 4 4 11 1 27 17 0
6/11/2022 22 25 2 1 4 0 30 9 0
6/18/2022 66 20 2 2 2 5 2 27 7 0
6/25/2022 58 21 1 8 8 2 4 22 4 0

 

Pest Event or Growth Stage Approximate Date 2022 Observed Date
 Bud Swell (Redhaven)  March 23 +/- 15 Days March 20
1/4″ Green Tip Red Delicious March 31 +/- 13 Days March 21
Pink Peach (Redhaven) April 4 +/- 15 Days March 31
Tight Cluster Red Delicious April 9 +/- 13 Days March 31
Full Bloom Peach (Redhaven) April 9 +/- 14 Days April 10
Pink Apple (Red Delicious) April 14 +/- 12 Days April 14
Full Bloom Apple (Red Delicious) April 22 +/- 11 Days April 21
Petal Fall (Redhaven) April 22 +/- 10 Days April 14
Petal Fall (Red Delicious) April 27 +/- 13 Days May 3
Shuck Split (Redhaven) April 30 +/- 11 Days April 26
Pit Hardening June 15 +/- 9 Days June 10

 

Filed Under: Tree Fruit, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
June 22, 2022

Tree Fruit IPM Report for June 21, 2022

Peach:

Oriental Fruit Moth: A biofix point for OFM was set on 4/11 in southern counties, and on 4/14 in northern counties. The second generation timings are updated below.

Insecticide Type
County/Region Degree Days by  6/8 base 45 Conventional

1150-1200 1450-1500

 Diamide

1075-1150 1375-1450
Gloucester – Southern 1281 1st –6/14-6/16

2nd –6/27-6/28

 1st –6/12-6/15

2nd –6/24-6/27
Middlesex – Northern 1201 1st –6/18-6/21

2nd –6/30-6/31

 1st –6/15-6/18

2nd –6/29-6/30

 

Tarnished Plant Bugs; and Other Catfacing Insects: Catfacing insect activity is increasing with the arrival of hot weather and is present at moderate to high levels in some orchards. Brown Marmorated Stink bugs are present at low to moderate levels in orchards statewide.

Lesser Peach Tree Borer and Peach Tree Borer: Lesser Borer adults are flying in all growing regions. Greater Peach tree borers are now flying in southern counties.

Apples and Pears:

Diseases: Fire blight and Scab are present at low levels in a few orchards. Fire Blight is increasing. It should be cut out using the ugly stub method. Potato leafhoppers can spread it so they should not be tolerated. Summer scab, rots and sooty blotch and fly speck are the main targets at this stage. Where scab is present rely primarily on protectant fungicides. Last year Captan plus a phosphorous acid like Prophyt was observed to slow scab development as well as provide good summer disease control.

Codling Moth (CM): The Second CM flight will be starting soon. If trap captures are above 5 moths/trap continue using effective materials. A biofix was set for CM on April 25th in southern counties, and May 6 in Northern counties (Middlesex County). estimated timings for the second generation are updated below.

Codling Moth Degree Day Timing
Application and Insecticide Type
County Area Biofix Intrepid; Diamides – Altacor, Voliam mixes:

1150-1200 +

1450-1500 DD

 

 Cyd-X, Madex

1250 DD + every 7-9 days during brood hatch (later if first spray is an IGR)

 Standard Insecticides –  Delegate, Avaunt, OP’s, carbamates, pyrethroids

1250 DD +

1550-1600 DD

 
DD 1150-1200 1450-1500 1250 1250 1550-1600
Southern April 25 7/3-7/5 too far off 7/7 7/7 too far off
Northern May 6 7/5-7/7 too far off 7/9 7/9 too far off

Grapes:

Diseases: Grape diseases active at this growth stage are phomopsis, powdery mildew, downy mildew, ripe rot, and black rot.

Phomopsis on grape leaves and cane. (Photo – D. Schmitt)

Black rot leaf lesion on grape (Photo – D. Schmitt)

Phomopsis and downy mildew symptoms are present in southern counties. Black rot symptoms have not yet been observed but should appear any time now. Disease infection periods can be monitored using the NEWA models. Choose the weather station closest to your vineyard.

Insects: Leafhoppers have been seen in a few spots. This complex is generally not of concern. Potato leafhoppers, which arrive sometime in June, can cause some minor damage. Spotted Lantern Fly nymphs are present in high numbers on many vineyards. These nymphs do little damage and generally don’t need special treatments when present. Even so, vineyards should be monitored for SLF presence and if they are found use an insecticide effective for SLF when treating for Grape Berry Moth. More information for SLF can be found at the Penn State SLF website.

Downy Mildew on grape Leaves. (Photo – D. Schmitt)

Grape Berry Moth (GBM): The biofix in southern counties for GBM was  5/25. Model timing will predict IGR and diamide materials for the second generation. The first generation is not really important in cultivated grapes. Timing for the second generation treatments using Diamides or Intrepid is set at 810 degree days base 470F. Other materials may be applied a few days later. Given the current weather patterns, this should be about the late June/early July in southern counties. Insecticides that will control both GBM and SLF include pyrethroids and premixes such as Leverage and Voliam Flexi. Voliam Flexi is a diamide premix and should be applied at the 810 degree day timing.

Tree  Fruit Trap Counts – Southern Counties

Weekending STLM TABM-A CM BMSB OFM-A DWB OFM-P TABM-P LPTB PTB
4/9/2022 2 0 0
4/16/2022 0 2 3
4/23/2022 11 0 0 28 5 0 0
4/30/2022 5 0 1 31 4 0 0
5/7/2022 5 1 3 50 4 0 0
5/14/2022 8 5 3 19 2 0 0
5/21/2022 3 5 5 20 2 7 3
5/28/2022 0 19 3 13 0 11 36
6/4/2022 0 10 3 5 1 13 49 0
6/11/2022 0 9 2 6 36 0 8 47 3
6/18/2022 0 4 1 0 62 0 3 13 1

 

Tree  Fruit Trap Counts – Northern Counties

Weekending STLM TABM-A CM BMSB OFM-A DWB OFM-P TABM-P LPTB PTB
4/9/2022
4/16/2022 0 0 1
4/23/2022 0 0 2 0
4/30/2022 0 0 2.5 0
5/7/2022 0 1 4 0
5/14/2022 1 2 0 5 0.5 0 0
5/21/2022 6 8 4 27 2 5 6 5 0
5/28/2022 34 19 3 6 13 1 23 15 0
6/4/2022 17 21 4 4 11 1 27 17 0
6/11/2022 22 25 2 1 4 0 30 9 0
6/18/2022 66 20 2 2 2 5 2 27 7 0

 

Pest Event or Growth Stage Approximate Date 2022 Observed Date
 Bud Swell (Redhaven)  March 23 +/- 15 Days March 20
1/4″ Green Tip Red Delicious March 31 +/- 13 Days March 21
Pink Peach (Redhaven) April 4 +/- 15 Days March 31
Tight Cluster Red Delicious April 9 +/- 13 Days March 31
Full Bloom Peach (Redhaven) April 9 +/- 14 Days April 10
Pink Apple (Red Delicious) April 14 +/- 12 Days April 14
Full Bloom Apple (Red Delicious) April 22 +/- 11 Days April 21
Petal Fall (Redhaven) April 22 +/- 10 Days April 14
Petal Fall (Red Delicious) April 27 +/- 13 Days May 3
Shuck Split (Redhaven) April 30 +/- 11 Days April 26
Pit Hardening June 15 +/- 9 Days June 10

 

Filed Under: Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
June 21, 2022

USDA Announces Assistance for On-Farm Food Safety Expenses for Specialty Crop Growers

Program Details

The Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC) will assist specialty crop operations that incurred eligible on-farm food safety certification and related expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in calendar years 2022 and 2023. For each year, FSCSC covers a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing their certification, as well as a portion of their related expenses.

To be eligible for FSCSC, the applicant must be a specialty crop operation; meet the definition of a small business or very small business; and have paid eligible expenses related to the 2022 (issued on or after June 21, 2022) or 2023 certification.

Specialty crop operations may receive assistance for the following costs:

  • Developing a food safety plan for first-time food safety certification.
  • Maintaining or updating an existing food safety plan.
  • Food safety certification.
  • Certification upload fees.
  • Microbiological testing for products, soil amendments and water.
  • Training

FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each category of eligible costs. A higher payment rate has been set for socially disadvantaged, limited resource, beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers. Details about the payment rates and limitations can be found at farmers.gov/food-safety.

Very small ($250,000) and small farms (less than 500,000) average monetary value of specialty crops sold during the 3-year period preceding the program are eligible.

Payment Amount of Eligible Costs
Category of Eligible Expenses Historically Underserved Farmer or Rancher All Other Applicants
Development of a food safety plan for first-time certification 75 percent (no maximum)

 

 50 percent (no maximum)

 
Maintaining or updating a food safety plan

 

 75 percent, up to a maximum of $375

 

 50 percent, up to a maximum of $250

 
Food safety certification

 

 75 percent, up to a maximum of $2,000

 

 50 percent, up to a maximum of $2,000

 
Certification upload fees

 

 75 percent, up to a maximum of $375

 

 50 percent, up to a maximum of $250

 
Microbiological testing – products

 

 75 percent, up to 5 tests

 

 50 percent, up to 5 tests

 
Microbiological testing – soil amendments

 

 75 percent, up to 5 tests

 

 50 percent, up to 5 tests

 
Microbiological testing – water

 

 75 percent, up to 5 tests

 

 50 percent, up to 5 tests

 
Training

 

 100 percent, up to a maximum of $300

 

 100 percent, up to a maximum of $200

 

 

Applying for Assistance

The FSCSC application period for 2022 is June 27, 2022, through January 31, 2023, and the application period for 2023 will be announced at a later date. FSA will issue payments at the time of application approval for 2022 and after the application period ends for 2023. If calculated payments exceed the amount of available funding, payments will be prorated.

Interested specialty crop producers can apply by completing the FSA-888, Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program (FSCSC) application. The application, along with other required documents, can be submitted to the FSA office at any USDA Service Center nationwide by mail, fax, hand delivery or via electronic means. Producers can visit farmers.gov/service-locator to find their local FSA office. Specialty crop producers can also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to assist.

Producers can visit farmers.gov/food-safety for additional program details, eligibility information and forms needed to apply.

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