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 1, 2022

Weed Science Webinar Series

Weed Science Webinar Series

USDA – ARS and the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) are co-hosting 10 webinars on weed science and research. Beginning April 5, presentations will be given by ARS weed science research experts.

The webinars will occur every Tuesday from 2-3p.m. Eastern Time (ET) and include an interactive Q&A session.

Register Here Today!

Two people conducting research in a field

Weed Science Webinar Series Schedule

April 5
ARS Weed Science: Past, Present, and Future: Steve Duke, Principal Scientist at the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi, Steve Young, National Program Leader – Weeds and Invasive Pests, WSSA Representatives and ARS Administrators

Meeting Information:

Zoom Meeting Link

Webinar ID: 831 3320 1055

Passcode: 825921

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Theme I: Tactics

April 12
Integrated Weed Management in Cropping Systems: Marty Williams, Ecologist at the Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit in Urbana, IL

April 19
Non-Crop Systems: Advancements in Weed Biocontrol Tools: Melissa Smith, Research Ecologist at the Invasive Plant Research Laboratory in Fort Lauderdale, FL

April 26
New Technology for Weed Identification and Control: Steven Mirsky, Research Ecologist at the Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory in Beltsville, MD

Theme II: Mechanisms

May 3
Role of Plant Physiology in Weed-Crop Competition: Dave Horvath, Research Plant Physiologist at the Sunflower and Plant Biology Research Unit in Fargo, ND

May 10
Molecular Basis for Controlling Invasive Plants: Matt Tancos, Research Plant Pathologist at the Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit in Fort Detrick, MD

May 17
Addressing Herbicide Resistance with Alternative Chemistries: Scott Baerson, Molecular Biologist at the Natural Products Utilization Research Unit in Oxford, MS

Theme III: Impacts

May 24
Spread and Distribution of Invasive Plants: John Madsen, Research Biologist at the Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Unit in Albany, CA

May 31
Climate Change Effects on Weeds and Management: Dana Blumenthal, Ecologist at the Rangeland Resources & Systems Research Unit in Fort Collins, CO

June 7
Restoration for Managing Invasive Plants: Roger Sheley, Ecologist at the Range and Meadow Forage Management Research Unit in Burns, OR

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , , ,
March 28, 2022

Are you familiar with the federal soil quarantine map, associated pests of concern

During soil testing season, we often get calls about what laboratory to send samples to and what to test for. You may not know that under certain circumstances USDA-APHIS may have a quarantine for a particular plant or animal pest that can be carried in soil, and movement of soil from that region is restricted and requires a permit. This includes all territories of the United States such as Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. APHIS also restricts the movement of domestic soil from areas within the continental United States that are under quarantine for specific plant pests and adjoining countries. For example, currently soil cannot enter the U.S.  from Canada if from the following areas of Alberta: A farm unit and associated land located near the municipality of Fort Saskatchewan; and a farm unit and associated land located near the municipality of Spruce Grove; British Colombia: That portion of the municipality of Central Saanich on Vancouver Island, ease of the west Saanich Road; Newfoundland and Labrador: The entire Island of Newfoundland; and Quebec: The municipality of Saint- Amble.

The Federal Domestic Soil Quarantines Map provides an overview of the plant pest quarantines that affect the movement of soil. USDA recently updated their Federal Domestic Soil Quarantine Map on February 10, 2022 which is available as a pdf at:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/stakeholder-messages/plant-health-news/federal-domestic-soil-quarantine-map-2-10-22

This map contains a lot of information that is useful for producers, growers and consumers who are purchasing plant materials that may contain soil to be mindful of the presence of significant plant pests of concern that have not yet made it to New Jersey, and to do their part to not bring them here. While many are limited to infestations along the west coast and gulf coast, others are closer to home. For example, the golden nematode is a potato nematode that is quarantined in some parts of western New York State. The pale cyst nematode is another potato nematode of concern that is quarantined from a small area of Idaho and the island of Newfoundland, Canada.

Others like the imported fire ant continue to spread and are now found in hot spots in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Puerto Rico. Quarantine efforts thus far have been able to limit the spread of witchweed to locations in South and North Carolina.

If you have specific questions about bringing in soil from any of these areas denoted in this USDA soil quarantine map or about these quarantine pests, contact the USDA-APHIS NJ state office, state plant health director at (609) 259-5244 or for more contact information see https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/ppq-program-overview/sphd/new+jersey

 

Filed Under: Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops
March 28, 2022

Tree Fruit IPM Report for March 28, 2022

Tree Fruit Phenology:

Tree fruit phenology is advanced based on historical observations. In southern counties some early blooming varieties are at pink to about 20% bloom. Redhaven was at bud swell on March 20, about 3 days earlier than the median observation date. Red Delicious was at 1/4″ green tip on March 21, about 10 days earlier than the median observation date. Plums are in bloom and Pears are at green cluster. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Tree Fruit Tagged With: , , , , , ,
March 25, 2022

NJ Department of Agriculture Issues Burn Permit for Frost Protection – Thru April 5

New Jersey Department of Agriculture has issued a notice concerning open burning due to colder spring overnight temperatures presently forecasted for areas of New Jersey from March 22 through April 5th, 2022, which could adversely affect fruit, vegetable, and floriculture crops in bloom or near bloom around the state. For details read below the links.

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…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Fruit, Nursery, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , , , , ,
March 23, 2022

North Jersey Tree Fruit Twilight Meeting I FULL PROGRAM

North Jersey Tree Fruit Twilight Meeting I

March 29, 2022
4:30 PM-7:30 PM

Rutgers University Snyder Research and Extension Farm Pittstown, NJ

4:30 PM – Registration / Light Refreshments

5:00 PM – Pesticide Safety, Compliance and the Proper Use of Personal Protective Equipment
Patricia Hastings, Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator for Rutgers NJAES

5:30 PM – Begin to load into wagons for the farm tour and educational talks
Farm tour lead by Megan Muehlbauer PhD, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent III,
Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension of Hunterdon County

5:40 PM – Mating Disruption and Management for Internal Fruit Worms
Anne Nielsen PhD, Associate Extension Specialist in Entomology Rutgers NJAES

6:10 PM – Management of Early Season Disease on Apple and Peach
Norm Lalancette PhD, Associate Specialist in Tree Fruit Plant Pathology Rutgers NJAES

6:40 PM – New Jersey Tree Fruit Pest Updates and Observations
Dean Polk, State Wide Fruit IPM Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Dave Schmitt, South Jersey Fruit IPM Program Associate, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of
Gloucester County

Light refreshments will be served.

The following NJ Pesticide Recertification Credits will be awarded
1 Unit CORE,    4 Units 1A,    3 Units 10,    4 Units PP2

Please RSVP for the meetings with a call to Kim Crommelin at 908.788.1338 or
kfrey@co.hunterdon.nj.us

Filed Under: Fruit, Tree Fruit
March 21, 2022

NJ Pesticide Credits. March 24th Weed Management Webinar

For NJ applicators in 10, 1A and PP2

4 category credits.

A virtual workshop will be held on March 24 from 8 am to 11 am for farmers interested in learning how to use integrated weed management (IWM)) techniques to control  troublesome weeds in their fields. This is the fifth year for the workshop series, which is a collaborative effort between the University of Maryland, Virginia Tech, and the University of Delaware.

Education regarding weed identification and integrated management strategies continues to be critically important to enable early intervention and effective management options.  2022 is shaping up to be especially challenging with anticipated shortages of many commonly used herbicides. The 2022 workshop series will provide tactics to manage important weeds given limited herbicide availability and increased input prices. Material covered will target row-crop production systems, but tactics learned may be applicable to other systems. These workshops are free, but participants will need to register at https://go.umd.edu/IWM.

Pesticide credits will be available for MD, DE, NJ and WV. Two hours of CCA continuing  education credits will be offered for each session.

For more information, contact Kurt Vollmer at (443) 446-4260 or Ben Beale at (301) 475- 4481.

If you are attending from NJ, contact Melissa Bravo to upload your pesticide license and photo i.d. at 856-340-6582. This meeting counts as an ‘in person’ meeting as long as you stay on camera. If you cannot stay on camera the entire time, no credits will be awarded. 

NJ Applicators remember, attendees of online courses can earn 25% of their credits for each category from online sources.  Only those whose 5-year recertification period is ending 10/31/2022 are eligible to earn 100% of their credits online.  Attendees can check their eligibility online at www.pcpnj.org.

—

Kurt M. Vollmer, Ph.D.

Extension Specialist-Weed Management
University of Maryland
Wye Research and Education Center
124 Wye Narrows Drive
Queenstown, MD 21658
(443) 446-4260
Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops