Through today’s announcement, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is extending crop insurance flexibilities for producers amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, relief provided for electronic notifications and signatures is extended through July 15, 2021; organic certification, replant self-certification and assignment of indemnity are extended through June 30, 2021. [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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USDA Extends Crop Insurance Flexibilities Amid Continuing COVID-19 Pandemic
Grower Input Needed for the Spotted-Wing Drosophila Organic Management Project
Dear Fruit Growers and Industry Professionals:
Please take a few minutes to fill out this spotted-wing drosophila (SWD) survey:
https://ugeorgia.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3NVhWTGnleU3bP7
This multi-state survey aims to help us to evaluate our research and educational efforts. Your participation will help us determine how growers and industry professionals have benefited from this project by asking questions regarding best management practices and satisfaction with the team’s efforts to organically combat the SWD pest.
Your answers will help improve our research and educational efforts to address this pest as well as providing accountability to our funder, the United States Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). All responses are anonymous. No personal information will be collected.
Thank you for your time and interest in our efforts.
Dr. Cesar Rodriguez-Saona (Entomology)
On behalf of The SWD Research and Extension Team
Grower Input Needed to Help Understand the Role of Anthracnose Diseases
All growers of tree fruit and small fruit, please take a few minutes to fill out this fruit rot survey!
This multi-state survey aims to help us understand the role of anthracnose (fruit rot) diseases and to prioritize grower concerns and challenges. This short survey, linked below, is a part of a multi-state research collaboration that aims to help us understand the impact and role of anthracnose (fruit rot) diseases caused by the fungal pathogens in the Colletotrichum genus and to prioritize grower concerns and challenges.
The link https://go.rutgers.edu/liiy8uep takes you to the article from Penn State that has the survey link at the end of that article. All responses are anonymous. No personal information will be collected.
Webinar: “A decade of SWD: Lessons for management”
Join the Sustainable SWD Management Team on Tuesday December 8, 2020 at 12 pm (EST)
For a one hour webinar: “A decade of SWD: Lessons for management”
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://ncsu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_r__Q2lCTS2Wkf8UZmq4KlA
We will highlight what we have learned about spotted-wing drosophila populations, crop risk, pesticide efficacy, biological control, cultural & behavioral controls, and how to use this information to improve management.
Food Safety Training 2021
With the need to social distance and restrictions on the number of individuals allowed at a meeting we are holding all our food safety trainings online for the spring. Below is the list of trainings which are limited to 20 participants for each unless noted.
Produce Safety Alliance Training
The Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under the standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration’. This is the only training recognized by the FDA at this time!
Fruit and vegetables growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management of natural resources and food safety should also attend this training.
For the Produce Safety Alliance Training you must follow these requirements. You must have a computer or laptop with audio (microphone) and video (camera) capabilities. Video must be on for the entire course. Before signing up for this training please read the following: (right click on link below to open menu then click open link in new tab or just copy and paste link into your browser) https://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu/training/zoom/. Without these requirements you will not receive a certificate of completion.
What to Expect at the PSA Grower Training Course?
This is approximately a seven-hour course to cover these seven modules:
- Introduction to Produce Safety
- Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
- Soil Amendments
- Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
- Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)
- Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
- How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan
In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module and are included in the grower manual provided. There is time for questions and discussion, so participants are encouraged to share their experiences and produce safety questions.
Benefits of Attending the Course
The course provides a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management information, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and details on how to develop a farm food safety plan. Individuals who participate in this course are expected to gain a basic understanding of:
- Microorganisms relevant to produce safety and where they may be found on the farm
- How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks, and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm
- Parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one
- Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them.
After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course. To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be online for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to the trainers at the end of the course.
Course Dates:
January 12 – 13 registration deadline December 31 (there is one slot available for these dates)
February 11 – 12 registration deadline January 28
March 9 – 10 registration deadline February 23
Third Party Audit Training
Each year we hold third party audit training for the USDA Harmonized Audit. This year it will be January 19. The deadline for registration is January 5 on Eventbrite. This one-day training will cover all aspects of the Harmonized Audit and any changes for 2021. NJDA will also review problems areas found during 2020 audits.
Blueberry Food Safety Training
The annual food safety training for blueberry growers will be held March 16. There are no restrictions on the number of participants, but you must register through Eventbrite since the training will be virtual. The deadline to register is March 2. Look in the January and February newsletters for more details.
How to Register for Courses
All registration are being handle through Eventbrite, go to https://rutgersonfarmfoodsafety.eventbrite.com an signup. If you are unable to register online contact Brandi at (856) 451-2800 x 1 or contact Brandi Williams at BRANDIWI@co.cumberland.nj.us. Each course costs $50.00 to cover the certificate and materials.
Integrated Weed Management Workshops (with functional registration link)
An Integrated Weed Management workshops organized by Virginia Tech, University of Delaware, and University of Maryland will be held virtually via Zoom on Tuesday Dec. 8th (first half of the meeting) and Tuesday Dec. 15th (second half of the meeting). On both days, participants can choose the time that works best for them: 8-10 am OR 6-8 pm. These workshops are free, but participants will need to register.
Session One: Tuesday Dec. 8th from 8-10 am OR 6-8 pm
- Herbicide Resistance- What is It?
- Mechanisms of Action-How to Choose Herbicides
- Creating Effective Herbicide Plans
Session Two: Tuesday Dec. 15th from 8-10 am OR 6-8 pm
- Integrated Management of Palmer Amaranth, Common Ragweed, and Marestail
- Local Farmer Perspectives on Resistance Weed Management
- Putting It All Together: Creating a Weed Management Plan
<a style=”background-color: #ffff00;” href=”https://ume.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_572VSpGgXvPk6e9″>Register here
Flyer available here
Program materials including an IWM guide, factsheets on herbicide resistant weeds, identification guides, and a special “Fight Weeds” facemask will be mailed to each participant prior to the meeting. Please include a valid mailing address.
Pesticide and CCA credits have been requested, but may not be available for all states.
Participants seeking CCA credits will need to confirm that they viewed the material to receive credit. State level programs require participants to correctly answer 4 of 5 webinar specific content questions to receive credits. Links to complete the quiz will be sent to the participants shortly after the scheduled session has been completed. In addition, a QR code (to navigate to the evaluation link) will be shared at the end of each webinar. NOTE: Only registered participants can access the questions and receive credit for attending the webinars. Only one completed quiz will be allowed for each registered email.