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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September 6, 2021

Cranberry Update: EPA Bans Use of Chlorpyrifos (Lorsban) On Food Crops

After years of debate, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on August 18, 2021 that this year will be the last that the insecticide chlorpyrifos (the active ingredient in Lorsban) will be allowed for use on food crops, including cranberries. This means that use of chlorpyrifos will no longer be allowed on cranberries in 2022 and thereafter. For more information, please see the press release here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-takes-action-address-risk-chlorpyrifos-and-protect-childrens-health.

In New Jersey, cranberry growers have mainly used chlorpyrifos early in the season to manage blunt-nosed leafhoppers as well as other insect pests such as Sparganothis fruitworm, blackheaded fireworm, and spotted fireworm. Growers can find alternative insecticide options for managing these pests in the Commercial Cranberry Pest Control Recommendations for New Jersey https://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.php?pid=E308.

Filed Under: Cranberry, Fruit
September 3, 2021

Disease management recommendation for fall planted strawberry plugs

Kathy Demchak, Senior Extension Associate, from Penn State University and Dr. Mengjun Hu, Small Fruit Pathologist, from the University of Maryland have published an excellent article on disease management recommendations for fall planted strawberry plugs. Please click here for more information.

Filed Under: Strawberry, Vegetable Crops
September 2, 2021

National Farm Safety and Health Week: September 19-25, 2021

Flyer for NFSHW 2021 Webinars

NFSHW webinars to be held 9/20-9/24/2021. Click here to register.

September precedes one of the busiest and most dangerous seasons of the year in agriculture – fall harvest time. For this reason, National Farm Safety and Health Week (NFSHW) is recognized annually during the third week of September. The theme this year is “Farm Safety Yields Real Results”.

AgriSafe will host two FREE webinars each day during NFSHW to highlight new technology, discuss incident prevention, and inform your decision-making and conversations. The webinars will feature discussion on each of the daily topics. Visit The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety website to register (scroll down to ‘Webinars’). Note that the webinar times are posted for Central Daylight Time.

Take an active role in keeping yourself and others safe this harvest season. Plan to join in on a webinar, encourage others to do the same, and take to social media to spread the message: “Farm Safety Yields Real Results”. Stay tuned to the Rutgers Agriculture and Natural Resources Facebook page for content to share each day during NFSHW!

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
September 2, 2021

Grower and Winemaker Town Hall: Questions from the Field and Cellar

Eastern Viticulture and Enology Forum has planned a virtual meeting on September 7th @ 3:00 PM ET. Here, regional viticulture and enology specialists will present a Grower and Winemaker Town Hall virtual meeting series to give seasonal updates and answer pre-submitted and live questions from grape and wine industry stakeholders.

The structure of these meetings depends on pre-submitted questions. Please email Hemant Gohil at gohil@njaes.rutgers.edu if you have any question. Please see below for the topic area suggestions for the September 7th meeting. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Fruit, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , ,
September 2, 2021

Food Safety for Flooded Farms

Flood waters can carry microbial and chemical contaminants that can be harmful to humans.  Food crops should be assessed to determine if they have been affected by flooding surface water sources including rivers, lakes, or streams.  These waters are the highest risk for contaminants.  The biggest question to ask is has the edible portion of the crop been exposed to these waters?  There is no way to ensure that food crops that have come in contact with contaminated flood waters are safe to eat.  Food crops that have been exposed to flood waters should be destroyed so they do not enter market channels.  For more information and guidance on how to handle crops and fields that have been flooded visit the Produce Safety Alliance Food Safety for Flooded Farms resource.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops
September 1, 2021

New Jersey Department of Agriculture Expands Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine Zone

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher announced the Department has added five counties to the spotted lanternfly quarantine zone. The counties new to the list are Morris, Monmouth, Middlesex, Essex, and Union. They join the previously announced quarantine counties of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Salem, Somerset, and Warren.

Business entities that routinely travel in and out of the quarantine area are required to take, and pass, free training regarding the spotted lanternfly at https://bit.ly/3mDGv2d. Those businesses that interact exclusively in New Jersey’s quarantine zone must comply with the details outlined in the quarantine order. The quarantine also allows access to property for Department, USDA, or USDA contracted agents where the spotted lanternfly is suspected or confirmed so that the property can be evaluated and treated, if necessary.

The full press release from NJDA can be found at: https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/news/press/2021/approved/press210830.html

For additional information on spotted lanternfly, visit:

Rutgers NJAES Spotted Lanternfly Website https://njaes.rutgers.edu/spotted-lanternfly/

NJDA Spotted Lanternfly Business Resources Website: https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/pi/prog/pests-diseases/spotted-lanternfly/business-resources/

 

 

 

Filed Under: Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops