Pathogens such as Fusarium, Pythium, Phytophthora, Thielaviopsis and Rhizoctonia that cause pre- and post-emergent damping-off can cause serious problems in organic (and conventional) production.
The key to controlling and/or suppressing damping-off pathogens with biological controls is keeping the biological populations high and continually present on root surfaces of the host, and by following good cultural practices. [Read more…]
Organic Farm Advisory
The Plant & Pest Advisory serves NJ growers by reporting on important pests and recommending responses that are grounded in reproducible trials.
Articles in this section contain information helpful to the NJ commercial organic grower.
Sharing organic practice trial results between land-grant universities is a cost effective way to create a common knowledge base built on the strengths of individual programs. In the sidebar, find institutions with programs in organic agriculture which augment knowledge developed at the Rutgers New Jersey Ag Experiment Station.
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Field Guides: These concise guides help with decision making from pre-planting to harvest. For each crop listed, learn what pests to proactively look for as the season progresses, how to look for them, and when to take action.
June 27, 2022 Andy Wyenandt
Organic Production: Suppressing Soil-borne Pathogens in 2022
June 22, 2022 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 6/22/22
Sweet Corn
Low numbers of European corn borer (ECB) moths continue to be captured at levels similar to last week, and feeding in whorl and pre-tassel stage corn more common. The highest adult activity remains in Hunterdon County (see map below at right). ECB injury over the threshold of 12% of plants infested has been found in many areas this week. It is typical for feeding percentages to rise as the moth catch declines. We expect feeding to increase for the next week or so before peaking.
Look for the characteristic “shot-hole” type of feeding (photo below at right) and consider treating when infested plants exceed 12% in a 50 plant sample. As plantings proceed to the pre-tassel stage, ECB larvae may be found in emerging tassels (see photo at left). It is a good idea to treat individual plantings as they move into the full tassel/first silk stage one time. This eliminates any ECB larvae that have emerged with the tassels as they begin to move down the stalk to re-enter near developing ears.
Useful insecticides for this particular application include synthetic 
pyrethroids (IRAC Grp 3), spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen or Vantacor (IRAC Grp 28) or materials such as Besiege which include the active ingredient in Coragen. Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn. Control with these materials is very inconsistent.
The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 6/22/22 are as follows:
| Sergeantsville 2 | Califon 1 | Old Bridge 1 |
| Allentown 1 | Clinton 1 | Pedricktown 1 |
| Asbury 1 | Dayton 1 | Princeton 1 |
| Bellemeade 1 | Hillsborough 1 | South Branch 1 |
June 15, 2022 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 6/15/22
Sweet Corn
Low numbers of European corn borer (ECB) moths continue to be captured, and feeding in whorl stage corn is rising. The highest adult activity is currently Hunterdon County (see map below at right). ECB injury over 60% of plants infested has been found in southern Hunterdon County this week. While this level of feeding is unusually high, ECB has become something of a local phenomenon in NJ, and growers should not assume that feeding is below economic levels in their area. It is typical for feeding percentages to rise as the moth catch declines. We expect feeding to increase for the next 1-2 weeks before peaking.
Look for the characteristic “shot-hole” type of feeding (photo below at right) and consider treating when infested plants exceed 12% in a 50 plant sample. As plantings proceed to the pre-tassel stage, ECB larvae may be found in emerging tassels (see photo at left). It is a good idea to treat individual plantings as they move into the full tassel/first silk stage one time. This eliminates any ECB larvae that have emerged with the tassels as they begin to move down the stalk to re-enter near developing ears.
Useful insecticides for this particular application include synthetic pyrethroids (IRAC Grp 3), spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen or Vantacor (IRAC Grp 28) or materials such as Besiege which include the active ingredient in Coragen. Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn. Control with these materials is very inconsistent.
The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 6/15/22 are as follows:
| Sergeantsville 2 | Dayton 1 | Pedricktown 1 |
| Bellemeade 1 | Downer 1 | Pennington 1 |
| Califon 1 | Folsom 1 | Port Murray 1 |
| Crosswicks 1 | Milltown 1 | South Branch 1 |
June 8, 2022 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 6/08/22
Sweet Corn
Low numbers of European corn borer (ECB) moths continue to be captured throughout the state. The highest adult activity is currently from Gloucester through Burlington counties (see map at right). Whorl corn is the primary target for egg laying, and injury well over the 12% threshold has been found in Hunterdon County this week. Feeding percentages in many areas have been relatively low, but this pest still poses a threat to plantings now approaching full tassel. It is typical for feeding percentages to rise as the moth catch declines. We expect feeding to increase for the next 1-2 weeks before peaking.
Look for the characteristic “shot-hole” type of feeding (photo below at right) and consider treating when infested plants exceed 12% in a 50 plant sample. As plantings proceed to the pre-tassel stage, ECB larvae may be found in emerging tassels (see photo at left). It is a good idea to treat individual plantings as they move into the full tassel/first silk stage one time. This eliminates any ECB larvae that have emerged with the tassels as they begin to move down the stalk to re-enter near developing ears.
Useful insecticides for this particular application include synthetic pyrethroids (IRAC Grp 3), spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen or Vantacor (IRAC Grp 28) or materials such as Besiege which include the active ingredient in Coragen. Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn. Control with these materials is very inconsistent.
The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 6/08/22 are as follows:
| Medford 3 | Centerton 1 | New Egypt 1 |
| Cinnaminson 2 | Clinton 1 | Port Murray 1 |
| Downer 2 | Eldora 1 | Sergeantsville 1 |
| Blairstown 1 | Milford 1 |
June 1, 2022 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 5/31/22
Sweet Corn
Low numbers of European corn borer (ECB) moths have been captured in parts of the state. Overall, this flight has been weak, but consistently warmer weather may result in somewhat higher numbers over the next week. The highest adult activity is currently in Burlington and Gloucester counties, although even there it is low. Whorl corn is the primary target for egg laying, and injury as high as 4% of plants infested has been found in northern Burlington County this week. Feeding levels could be somewhat higher in the southern counties, and should rise over the next 3 weeks.
Look for the characteristic “shot-hole” type of feeding (photo below at right) and consider treating when infested plants exceed 12% in a 50 plant sample. As plantings proceed to the pre-tassel stage, ECB larvae may be found in emerging tassels (see photo at left). It is a good idea to treat individual plantings as they move into the full tassel/first silk stage one time. This eliminates any ECB larvae that have emerged with the tassels as they begin to move down the stalk to re-enter near developing ears.
Useful insecticides for this particular application include synthetic pyrethroids (IRAC Grp 3), spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen or Vantacor (IRAC Grp 28) or materials such as Besiege which include the active ingredient in Coragen. Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn. Control with these materials is very inconsistent.
The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 5/31/22 are as follows:
| Downer 2 | Cinnaminson 1 | Hillsborough 1 |
| Milltown 2 | Clinton 1 | Jones Island 1 |
| Pedricktown 2 | Crosswicks 1 | Medford 1 |
| Bellemeade 1 | Georgetown 1 | Woodstown 1 |
May 25, 2022 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 5/25/22
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moths are now being captured in parts of the state. Numbers are low, and no map will appear in this edition. It remains to be seen whether this first flight will amount to much, but recent years’ catches give no reason to suspect that a large population will develop. Whorl corn is the primary target for egg laying, but as yet, scouts have reported no signs of feeding injury. In northern and central counties, corn plants are not large enough to support ECB larvae. We expect to encounter some level of feeding over the next 2 weeks.
Look for the characteristic “shot-hole” type of feeding (photo below at right) and consider treating when infested plants exceed 12% in a 50 plant sample. As plantings proceed to the pre-tassel stage, ECB larvae may be found in emerging tassels (see photo at left). It is a good idea to treat individual plantings as they move into the full tassel/first silk stage one time. This eliminates any ECB larvae that have emerged with the tassels as they begin to move down the stalk to re-enter near developing ears.
Useful insecticides for this particular application include synthetic pyrethroids (IRAC Grp 3), spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen or Vantacor (IRAC Grp 28) or materials such as Besiege which include the active ingredient in Coragen. Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn. Control with these materials is very inconsistent.
The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 5/25/22 are as follows:
| Califon 1 | Georgetown 1 | Pedricktown 1 |
| Crosswicks 1 | Hillsborough 1 | Sergeantsville 1 |
| Dayton 1 | Medford 1 | South Branch 1 |
| Downer 1 | Milltown 1 | Woodstown 1 |
