Tree Fruit Edition

Seasonal updates on insects, diseases, weeds, maturity dates and cultural practices impacting only tree fruit.
 
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March 23, 2021

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

Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Fruit, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape
March 23, 2021

Start Early for Pear Psylla Control

Pear psylla adults are among the earliest pests to appear in tree fruit crops, and indeed adults are already active in southern counties. The first eggs have been observed in southern counties over the past two weeks and oviposition will continue through bloom. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Tree Fruit Tagged With:
March 17, 2021

Attention Tree Fruit Growers

Ask the Expert Series Orchard Edition

Please Join us for an Interactive Discussion on Tree Fruit Diseases to Prepare for in 2021

March 24     9AM-10AM

Zoom Link: https://go.rutgers.edu/ywve4sbu

QR code

Meeting ID: 978 2658 5787

Password: 381884

Join by Phone: 1 646 558 8656

 

Expert Panelists Norm Lalancette PhD Rutgers U. Tree Fruit Pathologist

and

Kari Peter PhD Penn State U. Tree Fruit Pathologist

will be discussing tree fruit disease management

 

Remember this is intended to be an INTERACTIVE discussion.

Prior to Wednesday March 24 Please E-mail ALL of your Tree Fruit Disease Questions to:

Megan Muehlbauer muehlbauer@njaes.rutgers.edu

Or

Hemant Gohil gohil@njaes.rutgers.edu

Prepare to have a lively interactive discussion between the experts and your fellow New Jersey tree fruit growers!

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized
March 17, 2021

Upcoming Schedule for ‘Ask the Expert Series Orchard Edition’ Discussions

Attention Tree Fruit Growers

The Rutgers University Tree Fruit Extension Team is looking forward to the 2021 growing season however, given the current restrictions  we will be altering the meeting format this year.  Since we are all suffering from Zoom Webex Skype fatigue, we are going to put a pause on our yearly (day long) North and South Jersey Tree Fruit meetings and instead,  hold one Hour ‘Ask the Expert Series Orchard Edition’ talk/discussions.

Beginning March 24 we will be hosting  one-hour virtual discussions,   on timely topics where YOU the growers are encouraged to ask the experts questions on all things tree fruit.

Where: Online

            Zoom meeting links will be posted to the Plant and Pest Advisory AND E-mailed to Tree Fruit Growers on Rutgers List Serves 1 week prior to each meeting.

When: 9 AM-10 AM (dates below)

Note that we plan to offer CORE and PP2 credits for some of the sessions.

If you are interested in additional session topics and/or expert please let us know!  These sessions are meant to specifically address your needs/interests.

Meeting/Discussion Dates, and Topics

Meeting Date Topic
March 24 Tree Fruit Diseases to Prepare For in 2021
April 7 Apple Thinning using Plant Growth Regulators
April 21 2021 Tree Fruit Insect Pests What’s that Buzz in the Orchard?
May 5 Orchard Soil Fertility From the Ground Up
May 19 Pesticide Safety Talk CORE pesticide credits will be offered
June 2 Timely discussions on issues that arise as the season progresses.
July 14 Timely discussions on issues that arise as the season progresses.
August 4 Timely discussions on issues that arise as the season progresses.

 

Help us to help you!  Please submit questions and discussion topics

 in advance of sessions to

Megan Muehlbauer muehlbauer@njaes.rutgers.edu or

Hemant Gohil gohil@njaes.rutgers.edu

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized
March 5, 2021

Value-Added Producer Grants in New Jersey

Grant.gov applications are due by April 29, 2021 and
paper applications must be postmarked by May 4, 2021

The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program administered by the USDA’s Rural Development Agency (RD), helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , ,
March 5, 2021

Comparing the Efficacy of Various Integrated Weed Management Tactics

Efficacy of Weed Management Tactics

Integrated weed management (IWM) combines various methods to reduce or eliminate the effect of weeds on crop production over time, using a combination of practices that are most effective for solving specific weed issues. These weed management techniques form a “toolbox” in which each “tool” can be integrated into a weed management plan catered to the particular farm and problem. The toolbox includes preventative, biological, chemical, cultural, and mechanical strategies. IWM also considers the weed species present and tailors strategies for these species.

A collaborative effort led by Dr. Michael Flessner with Virginia Tec has been developed to compare the efficacy of various integrated weed management tactics before and after planting at reducing the impact of common troublesome weed species. Other universities of the Mid-Atlantic Region (Rutgers, West Virginia University, Penn State, University of Delaware, and University of Maryland) have also participated to this project.

A poster providing relative effectiveness of various integrated weed management tactics for summer annual crops is now available (https://agweedsci.spes.vt.edu/extension/publications/iwm.html) and will help growers identify the most effective tactics to manage weeds.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: ,