Join us at the Rutgers Snyder Research Farm to discuss the cleaning and sanitizing of produce grading equipment.
October 10, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
This event is free but please register through Eventbrite or call Brandi at 856-451-2800
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.
September 25, 2019 Meredith Melendez
Twilight Meeting 10/10: Cleaning and Sanitizing Grading Equipment
September 20, 2019 Kris Holmstrom
Allium leaf miner update: 09/20/19
Allium Leaf Miner
Allium leaf miner (ALM) feeding/egglaying scars were detected in chives and scallions near Princeton (Mercer Co.), NJ on Friday of this week. This indicates that the second (fall) flight of these flies is now underway, and damage is occurring.
Photo: Sabrina Tirpak. Allium leafminer oviposition scars on onion
Growers should consider initiating the control method of their choice at this time. Affected crops include chives, scallions, garlic, onions and leeks.
Floating row covers, kept on until the second 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), and pyrethrin materials (Pyganic (OMRI approved)), 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 second adult generation. We will attempt to identify the end of the second flight so that growers know when the risk of infestation has abated.
September 18, 2019 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 9/18/19
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moth captures remain scattered and very low, and no map will appear in this addition. There are very few plantings not yet silking. Silk sprays for corn earworm (CEW) control will serve to manage ECB larvae as well. Reminder: Useful insecticides for worm control in the silk stage include spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen (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.
Corn earworm (CEW) moth catches have changed little in NJ this past week. Overall, CEW numbers represent a normal late summer population. While moth counts will decline somewhat with cool night temperatures, look for strong rebounds when nighttime temperatures exceed 60F. The green area on the blacklight map (left) represents a 3-day silk spray schedule zone. Blue and white areas within the overall green zone are outliers, and corn growers in or near those areas should also adhere to 3-day silk spray schedules. Economically damaging populations of this pest are present throughout the state, and all areas are at extreme risk of crop injury if strict silk spray schedules are not observed. Red areas on the on the pheromone trap map (below at right) indicate a 3-day silk 
spray schedule, while green indicates a 4-5 day silk spray schedule. Currently, the black light network is indicating a more conservative spray regime statewide, than is the pheromone network. Taken together, blacklight and pheromone traps are indicating 3-day silk spray schedules throughout the state. There are far fewer CEW pheromone traps than blacklights, and the resulting map has much broader color bands as a result. It should also be noted that the pheromone traps are much more sensitive than blacklights. Therefore, the number of moths caught in pheromone traps required to generate a specific spray interval is much higher than the number caught in blacklight traps. It must be stressed that there is high variability in these catches, and growers should consult with their IPM practitioner on recommended spray schedules.
September 11, 2019 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 9/11/19
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moth captures remain scattered and very low, and no map will appear in this addition. Feeding in late season pre-tassel corn in northern NJ continues, with some plantings exceeding the 12% threshold. In combination with fall armyworm (FAW) feeding, action thresholds have been exceeded in all areas of the state.
Growers should continue to scout whorl and pre-tassel stage plantings weekly 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. 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 (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 black light trap catches of ECB for the week ending 9/11/19 are as follows:
| Allamuchy 1 | Jones Island 1 |
| Chester 1 | Monroeville 1 |
| Elm 1 | Oldwick 1 |
Corn earworm (CEW) moth catches have remained fairly stable in NJ this past week. Blacklight catches are steady, while there was a slight decline in pheromone trap catches. However, the effect on spray schedules is unchanged. Overall, CEW numbers now represent a sizeable late summer migratory influx. While moth counts will decline somewhat with cool night temperatures, look for strong rebounds when nighttime temperatures exceed 60F. The green area on the blacklight map (left) represents a 3-day silk spray schedule zone. Blue and white areas within the overall green zone are outliers, and corn growers in or near those areas should also adhere to 3-day silk spray schedules. Economically damaging populations of this pest are present throughout the state, and all areas are at extreme risk of crop injury if strict silk spray schedules are not observed. Red areas on the on the pheromone trap map (below at right) indicate a 3-day silk 
spray schedule, while green indicates a 4-5 day silk spray schedule. Currently, the black light network is indicating a more conservative spray regime statewide, than is the pheromone network. Taken together, blacklight and pheromone traps are indicating 3-day silk spray schedules throughout the state. There are far fewer CEW pheromone traps than blacklights, and the resulting map has much broader color bands as a result. It should also be noted that the pheromone traps are much more sensitive than blacklights. Therefore, the number of moths caught in pheromone traps required to generate a specific spray interval is much higher than the number caught in blacklight traps. It must be stressed that there is high variability in these catches, and growers should consult with their IPM practitioner on recommended spray schedules.
September 4, 2019 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 9/04/19
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moth captures remain very low, and no map will appear in this addition. Feeding in late season pre-tassel corn in northern NJ continues, with some plantings exceeding the 12% threshold. In combination with fall armyworm (FAW) feeding, action thresholds have been exceeded in all areas of the state.
Growers should continue to scout whorl and pre-tassel stage plantings weekly 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. 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 (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 black light trap catches of ECB for the week ending 9/04/19 are as follows:
| Medford 2 | Jobstown 1 |
| Califon 1 | Jones Island 1 |
| Cinnaminson 1 |
Corn earworm (CEW) moth catches increased in southern NJ this past week, while remaining stable in northern counties. Overall, CEW numbers now represent a sizeable late summer migratory influx. While moth counts will decline somewhat with cool night temperatures, look for strong rebounds when nighttime temperatures exceed 60F. The green area on the blacklight map (left) represents a 3-day silk spray schedule zone. Blue and white areas within the overall green zone are outliers, and corn growers in or near those areas should also adhere to 3-day silk spray schedules. There continue to be some exceptionally high catches in southern NJ pheromone traps this past week (see pheromone trap map below at right). Economically damaging populations of this pest are present throughout the state, and all areas are at extreme risk of crop injury if strict silk spray schedules are not observed. Red areas on the on the pheromone trap map indicate a 3-day silk 
spray schedule, while green indicates a 4-5 day silk spray schedule. Currently, the black light network is indicating a more conservative spray regime statewide, than is the pheromone network. Taken together, blacklight and pheromone traps are indicating 3-day silk spray schedules throughout the state. There are far fewer CEW pheromone traps than blacklights, and the resulting map has much broader color bands as a result. It should also be noted that the pheromone traps are much more sensitive than blacklights. Therefore, the number of moths caught in pheromone traps required to generate a specific spray interval is much higher than the number caught in blacklight traps. It must be stressed that there is high variability in these catches, and growers should consult with their IPM practitioner on recommended spray schedules.
August 28, 2019 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 8/28/19
Sweet Corn
Note: Traps in some portions of southern New Jersey were not serviced over the past week. The impact of this will be addressed in individual sweet corn pest sections.
European corn borer (ECB) moth captures have decreased generally over the past week and no map will appear in this addition. Feeding in late season whorl and pretassel corn in northern NJ has increased, with some plantings exceeding the 12% threshold. This week, unsprayed sweet corn in the sentinel plots (Providence) at Snyder Farm in Hunterdon County had 47% ECB infested ears, despite little indication of adult activity in the area. Most of these larvae were in the tips of ears, which underscores the importance of the silk spray schedule in not only controlling CEW, but ECB that move from tassel to ear during the silk period. In combination with fall armyworm (FAW) feeding, action thresholds have been exceeded in all areas of the state.
Growers should continue to scout whorl and pre-tassel stage plantings weekly 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. 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 (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 black light trap catches of ECB for the week ending 8/28/19 are as follows:
| Downer 3 | Hillsborough 1 | South Branch 1 |
| Califon 1 | Milltown 1 | |
| Denville 1 | Sergeantsville 1 |
Corn earworm (CEW) moth catches increased dramatically beginning late last week in all traps. Overall, CEW numbers now represent a sizeable late summer migratory influx. While moth counts declined somewhat with cool night temperatures since the weekend, we are still experiencing high activity. The white area in southwestern NJ on the blacklight map (left) should be considered to be solidly in the 3-day silk spray schedule zone. We are missing trap data in that area, but activity should be similar to surrounding areas. There continue to be some exceptionally high catches in southern NJ pheromone traps this past week (see pheromone trap map below at right). There are now economically damaging populations of this pest throughout the state, and all areas are at extreme risk of crop injury if strict silk spray schedules are not observed. Red areas on the on the pheromone trap map indicate a 3-day silk 
spray schedule, while green indicates a 4-5 day silk spray schedule. Blue areas represent a 5-6 day schedule, and white areas are 6-7 day. Taken together, blacklight and pheromone traps are indicating 3-day silk spray schedules throughout the state. There are far fewer CEW pheromone traps than blacklights, and the resulting map has much broader color bands as a result. It should also be noted that the pheromone traps are much more sensitive than blacklights. Therefore, the number of moths caught in pheromone traps required to generate a specific spray interval is much higher than the number caught in blacklight traps. It must be stressed that there is high variability in these catches, and growers should consult with their IPM practitioner on recommended spray schedules.
