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

June 17, 2015

Veg IPM Update: Week Ending 6/17/15

Sweet Corn

ECB 6-17-15

Click to View

Warmer evening temperatures have resulted in a slight resurgence of European corn borer (ECB) adults in the blacklight network. A residual first generation population remains in northern NJ, while the activity in the southwestern part of the state may represent the beginning of a second flight. The nature of the southern NJ activity should become clear over the next 1-2 weeks. Areas of highest activity include parts of Morris and Gloucester counties (see ECB map). ECB infestations continue to rise in sweet corn plantings. Feeding ranges from single digits to over 50% in areas where IPM personnel are operating.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
June 10, 2015

Veg IPM Update: Week Ending 6/10/15

Click to View

Click to View

Sweet Corn

Catches of European corn borer (ECB) are now in decline through much of the state. Remaining areas of highest activity include parts of Morris and Warren counties (see ECB map).

ECB infestations are now rising in sweet corn plantings. Feeding ranges from single digits to 12% in areas where IPM personnel are operating.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
June 3, 2015

Veg IPM Update: Week Ending 6/3/15

Sweet Corn

ecb06032015Cold temperatures and rain this week have prevented catches of European corn borer (ECB) from rising, and much of the activity represented in the map occurred over the weekend. Areas of highest activity include parts of Hunterdon, Morris and Burlington counties (see ECB map). Low level ECB infestations are present in early sweet corn plantings, and will become more significant with the return of drier weather.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
May 31, 2015

Wet Weather and Strawberry Fruit Rots

Wet weather is expected to come in during the first part of the week and linger around for most of it. Now that strawberries are in full production growers need to pay close attention to fruit rots such as anthracnose and botrytis. Overipe or unharvested mature berries left in commercial or u-pick fields can act as sources of inoculum for both pathogens. Importantly, both pathogens can develop and spread rapidly under wet, rainy conditions and the appropriate protectant fungicides need to be applied ahead of any inclement weather.

Botrytis, or grey mold, on mature strawberry fruit. Botrytis can develop and spread rapidly under cool, wet conditions.

Botrytis, or grey mold, on mature strawberry fruit. Botrytis can develop and spread rapidly under cool, wet conditions.


[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
May 28, 2015

Veg IPM Update: Week Ending 5/27/15

Sweet Corn

European corn borer map May 27, 2015

European corn borer map
May 27, 2015

European corn borer (ECB) adults are being captured with increasing frequency now. Areas of highest activity now include parts of Hunterdon and Morris counties (see ECB map). Within the past 3 days, IPM personnel have found low level ECB infestations in some of the earliest sweet corn plantings. At present, reports of feeding are from Ocean and Somerset counties, however it is likely that feeding is occurring in many early plantings to the south.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
May 25, 2015

Vegetable Disease Update – 5/25/15

Pepper 

Bacterial leaf spot – Symptoms of bacterial leaf spot on pepper leaves include small, brown water-soaked lesions that turn brown and necrotic in the centers. Spots may coalesce and form large blighted areas on leaves and premature defoliation can occur. On fruit, brown lesions can form which have a roughened, cracked wart-like appearance. High temperatures, high relative humidity and rainfall favor Bacterial spot development. Loss from Bacterial spot can be reduced somewhat by maintaining high levels of fertility, which will stimulate new growth. Applying a fixed copper (M1) at labeled rates or may help suppress spread. Quintec (quinoxyfen, 13) at 6.0 fl. oz/A is now labeled for the suppression of bacterial leaf spot in pepper in the mid-Atlantic region. Please see the 2015 New Jersey Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide for more information. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops