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.

Field Guide List

April 6, 2021

Allium leaf miner update: 04/06/21

Allium Leaf Miner

Allium leaf miner (ALM) feeding/egg laying scars were detected in a large chive planting near Milford, Hunterdon County on Tuesday of this week.  Feeding was very low (<0.5% of chive clusters), but several adults were observed in the planting.  This indicates that the first (spring) flight of these flies has now begun and damage will increase.  No injury or adults were found in a similar inspection of a commercial chive planting near Lawrenceville (Mercer Co.) on the same day.  Yellow sticky cards were deployed in both locations and will be checked weekly.  We look to identify the peak of the flight in central and northern NJ, as well as the period when the adult population is in decline.  Growers in southern counties should assume there is egg laying activity in their area currently.

Photo: Sabrina Tirpak. Allium leafminer oviposition scars on onion

The Milford and Princeton NJ weather stations that are closest to these farms both surpassed 250 growing degree days (GDD) base 39˚F on Monday (4/5).  This GDD base is close to that (38.3˚ F) which our colleagues at Penn State recommend for predicting the first emergence of ALM adults.

Growers should consider initiating the control method of their choice at this time.  Affected crops include chives, scallions, garlic, onions and leeks.  Look for neat rows of white spots descending from the upper tips of allium leaves (see photo at left).  Initial injury often occurs on the tallest leaves.  Under warmer, less breezy conditions, adults may be seen near the tips of leaves (see photo of adult at lower right).

Floating row covers, kept on until this flight ends will help minimize access to plants.  Insecticide applications targeting adults may be helpful as well, although frequency of applications is uncertain.  Spinosyn materials (Radiant, Entrust (OMRI approved)), pyrethroids (Mustang Maxx, Warrior), neonicotinoids (Scorpion, Venom) and the insect growth regulator Trigard are labeled for miner control.

Adult activity and observations of feeding will be reported on in the IPM Update as they occur.  At this time, all growers should respond to the first adult generation.  We will attempt to identify the end of the first flight so that growers know when the risk of infestation has abated.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
March 26, 2021

What water test do you need and how often do you need to do it?

FSMA Produce Safety Rule compliance, third party audit standards, and general best practices all include the need for irrigation, harvest, cleaning, sanitation, handwashing, pesticide application, drinking and postharvest water testing.  Not all tests are the same, but all cost money, so make sure what your paying for meets your needs.  
Pond

Here are the questions we commonly get from produce growers and answers that we hope you find helpful:

What water test do I need for a water source that is used only for irrigation of crops and/or pesticide applications?
– This water should be tested for generic E. coli, acceptable results give you a number answer of 126 CFU (colony forming units) or MPN (most probable number) or less. You do not want a presence/absence (P/A) test.  A P/A test would not be sufficient for a third-party audit requirement or the FSMA PSR.
-Most water testing labs on the NJ Water Testing Lab Map (link below) offer the EPA 1603 analysis, which satisfies both the FSMA PSR anticipated requirements and third-party audit requirements.
-Other acceptable analysis methods are described on the
Produce Safety Alliance Water Analysis Method Requirement fact sheet.
-Well water sources used for irrigation should be tested once a year.
-Surface water sources should be tested at least three times during their period of use, ideally when starting irrigation, mid-season, and close to harvest.  Surface water sources include irrigation ponds (spring fed, well fed, or other ponds), streams, rivers, and other bodies of water that are exposed to the surface.
-Municipal water sources used for irrigation should have a copy of the water testing record on file.  These testing records are often found online or are available upon request.  Made sure that generic E. coli is listed on the report.

What water test do I need for a water source that is used during the harvest process? Handwashing water? Cleaning and sanitizing use? Postharvest washing and cooling water? 
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops
March 5, 2021

Assistance Needed: Sweet Corn Bird Damage Survey

This applies to all sweet corn producers. Researchers at the University of Rhode Island are currently distributing an online survey about fresh market sweet corn. If you grow fresh market sweet corn you are eligible to take this short 5-minute online survey.

Your participation and feedback are extremely valuable to the success of this research. The survey will gather information on growers’ bird damage levels to sweet corn and prevention methods used to deter bird damage.

To take this survey, please click here or paste the following link into your URL, https://uri.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8qBBeU2HAIwcKYl.

We thank you in advance for taking this survey. If you have further questions or interested in this study please see the contact information bQR codeelow.

For More Information contact:

Dr. Rebecca Brown at brownreb@uri.edu
Department of Plant Science and Entomology

Natalie Meyer at natalie_meyer@uri.edu
Department of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics

Filed Under: Organic Production, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops 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: ,
March 4, 2021

Cultivating a Farm State of Mind About Mental Health

American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2021 Ag Safety Awareness Program (ASAP) Week, which is taking place from February 28 to March 6, was created to bring awareness to safety and health issues facing the agriculture industry.

For farmers and ranchers, stress is a way of life. They depend on many factors that are out of their control, like weather, commodity prices, availability of labor, trade markets and a lot more. With the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, their stress levels have gone even higher and in many cases are reaching the breaking point.AG Safety Awareness

A new survey from the American Farm Bureau found that more than half of rural adults and farmers/farmworkers say they are personally experiencing more mental health challenges than they were a year ago. Two in three farmers/farmworkers say the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their mental health, and two in three have experienced feeling nervous, anxious or on edge during the pandemic. The percentage of farmers/farmworkers who say social isolation impacts farmers’ mental health increased 22% since April 2019, a significant finding given the long hours many farmers work alone.

This should be a wake-up call for everyone in the agriculture community, and we should all be doing our part to help.

As part of Agricultural Safety Awareness Week (Feb. 28 – March 6), Farm Bureau encourages everyone to learn to recognize the warning signs of chronic stress, engage in conversations and lend a helping hand.

When loved ones, neighbors or others we care about are experiencing mental health challenges, they may not even realize it, so it’s important to look for signs that they may be at risk. These include things like changes in routines or social activities, decline in appearance of
the farm or the care of domestic animals, increase in farm accidents, increase in illnesses or other chronic conditions, or decreased interest in activities or events.

If you see any of these signs, it’s time to show you care. It may feel like it’s out of your comfort zone, but there are simple ways to start a conversation. Remind them of something they’ve said about what’s concerning them, and express interest. Acknowledge what they’re going through. Share a habit you’ve seen change. And if you’re concerned, don’t wait for them to ask for help. Offer to help connect them to the many resources that are available for support. What matters most is showing genuine care and empathy, and listening.

It’s time we all took a stand to help those around us who may be experiencing the effects of chronic stress. Visit the Farm State of Mind website for more information about the warning signs of stress, tips for helping someone in emotional pain, ways to start a conversation, crisis hotlines, treatment locators and additional resources for managing stress, anxiety or depression. If we all do our part to help, we can strengthen our rural and farming communities and shine a ray of hope on those we care about.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
March 2, 2021

Register for a Free Asparagus Webinar – March 17th 10:00AM

Asparagus

Penn State announced an upcoming free Zoom Meeting on Asparagus Production, Management, and Marketing. The presentation will be given by Carl Cantaluppi, Retired Area Extension Agent, North Carolina Cooperative Extension. Registration required to obtain Zoom link. 

The Meeting will be on Wednesday, March 17 from 10 A.M. to 12 Noon. It will be free and open to all that are interested. The publication entitled, “Growing Asparagus from A to Z” will be available for sale but is not required to attend the meeting.

Click on the link below to register for the meeting:

https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fextension.psu.edu%2Fasparagus-production-management-and-marketing&data=04%7C01%7Cminfante%40njaes.rutgers.edu%7C6c4ad96b99884d60da8308d8d424f5e0%7Cb92d2b234d35447093ff69aca6632ffe%7C1%7C0%7C637492602501485088%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=dwjiC0F1OFulJPA2AXvCRZEzpwmxht7JYQWtnGHnsNk%3D&reserved=0

Filed Under: Food Safety, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,