Vegetable Crops Edition

Seasonal updates and alerts on insects, diseases, and weeds impacting vegetable crops. New Jersey Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations updates between annual publication issues are included.
 
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July 9, 2021

Soybean insect vectored, internal stem, root disease monitoring now through pod fill

Full season robust stands of beans planted the end of April early May are beginning to pod in Salem County. Grasshopper, thrip and japanese beetle population feeding has brought on a host of leaf symptoms coupled with the beginning of bacterial blights that emerge with volitile weather patterns.

Overall bean field growth and R stage are looking very green but the beginning of leaf abnormalities are visible in most fields and signs of leaf yellowing/leaf drop on lower leaves is occasionally seen below dark green canopies. Many fields have canopied at waist height. However, low areas and low lying fields with higher clay content have pockets or acres of compaction from last year’s harvest situation and stress on beans in these areas is visually evident. Cut these plant’s stems and roots open to monitor stem health and potential response to corrective foliar measures. Brown discolored stems is an indicator the plants are already infected with fungal or bacterial pathogens. Healthy stems with lackluster root branching and few nodules are hungry for nutrients. Compare varietal resistance to these pathogens from the seed tag to the visual symptoms in field to narrow down concerns and take notes for next year’s seed order and crop rotation. Remember to consider if applied fertilizers leached due to excessive rainfall after application or did beans have an opportunity to absorb.

Crinkled leaves like these non-wilted in field insect damaged plants that “curled up when watered with tap water” may be a sign of high salinity or a sign the plants are stressed from insect feeding, viral load. Recently weed control applications coupled with an insecticide can also stress plants temporally as the plant’s metabolize the products.

Wilted soy bean stemIf irrigating pay particular attention for signs of salt buildup. https://www.corn-states.com/app/uploads/2018/07/salt-damage-to-soybean.pdf

Thrip pressure https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/thrips-in-soybean is also a common cause of crinkled leaves and other insect vectored viruses can cause curling. One indicator of insect vectored viral infection is curled down leaf margins on the newest leaves in the canopy. Leaves having a mottled appearance.

Insect pressure on later planted, double crop beans is expected to be very high as these plants rapidly grow with the rainfall received from Elsa. These plantings should be monitored frequently for timely insecticide and fungal applications. Timely and frequent fungicide and insecticide applications are key components of maintaining quality yield moving forward in stands with the highest yield potential and highest stand population.

Nematode pressure in soybean after soybean rotation should also be considered in areas of fields that are doing poorly. Take soil samples from good areas vs bad areas. Remember to include the root and first node of stem in the bag to keep the nematodes alive when samples are submitted. Mail nematode samples beginning of week with next day delivery so samples do not get overheated in the process over the weekend when laboratories are closed.

Sampling procedure: Waypoint Analytical has a good guide on sampling for nematodes based on soil type. https://www.waypointanalytical.com/Docs/WaypointNematodeGuide.pdf.

The University of Delaware describes sampling procedure for commercial fields  in their https://cdn.extension.udel.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/15103208/Nematode_Instruction_and_Form_2015-16.pdf

Rutgers Plant Diagnostic Nematode Assay: https://njaes.rutgers.edu/plant-diagnostic-lab/pdfs/pdl-brochure.pdf

Soybean disease calender: https://www.krugerseed.com/en-us/agronomy-library/soybean-disease-calendar.html

Soybean disease diagnostics: https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/crops/soybean-disease-diagnostic-series

Soybean cyst nematode: https://extension.psu.edu/proactive-management-of-soybean-cyst-nematode-scn-requires-taking-action-now

Soybean viruses: https://soybeanresearchinfo.com/soybean-disease/viruses/

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Vegetable Crops
July 7, 2021

Vegetable IPM Update 07/07/21

NOTE:  Cucurbit downy mildew (CDM) was detected on cucumbers at the Snyder Research and Extension Farm in Hunterdon County on Wednesday 07/07/21.  No other cucurbit crops exhibited signs of infection.  Growers should assume that CDM races that infect cucumber and possibly muskmelons are now active in ALL parts of the state.  See the Pumpkin and Winter Squash section below for more information.

 

Sweet Corn

European corn borer (ECB) moth catches continue to be extremely low around the state.  The few remaining infestations are in pre-tassel stage sweet corn.  Whorl is largely un-infested with ECB at this time.  ECB population maps will resume if second flight catches rise to high enough numbers.

The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 07/07/21 are as follows:

Blairstown   1
Downer   1
East Vineland   1
Milford   1

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
July 6, 2021

Vegetable Disease Update – 7/6/21

  • Cucurbit downy mildew has been reported on cucumber (6/16/21) and cantaloupe (6/22/21) in southern New Jersey. There have been no reports of CDM on other cucurbit hosts in the region to date. For more information on CDM and its control please click here. To track the progress of CDM please visit the CDM forecasting website.
  • No reports of Late blight in the region. To track the progress of Late blight in the US please click here.
  • Cucurbit powdery mildew has been reported on summer squash, butternut, and spaghetti squash as we are now headed into mid-summer. Please scout fields on a regular basis and initiate a preventative fungicide program if you haven’t already done so. For more information on CPM control please click here.
  • Bacterial leaf spot (BLS) continues to be reported on bell and non-bell peppers in southern New Jersey. Rainfall is expected later in the week making conditions ideal for the spread of BLS. For more information on our continuing survey for BLS and copper resistance detection in tomato and pepper please click here.
  • Now is the time to start thinking about pepper anthracnose control, especially on farms or fields with a history of the disease. For more information on preparing for pepper anthracnose please click here.
  • Southern blight has been reported on tomato in central New Jersey.
  • The 2020/2021 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide is available for free online.
  • For a quick review on managing fungicide resistance development using tank mixes and fungicide rotations, and information on FRAC group 4, FRAC group 7, and FRAC group 3 and FRAC group 11 fungicides please click on hyperlinks.
Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
June 30, 2021

Vegetable IPM Update 6/30/21

Sweet Corn

European corn borer (ECB) moth catches have dropped to nearly nothing around the state.  Remaining infestations are in pre-tassel stage sweet corn.  Whorl is largely un-infested with ECB at this time.  ECB population maps will resume if second flight catches rise to high enough numbers.

The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 6/30/21 are as follows:

Asbury   1
Downer   1
Milltown   1
Oldwick   1

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
June 30, 2021

Available Food Safety Signs and Posters

We continue to get questions about what signage is required for an audit or the Produce Safety Rule and where to get them.  Not all the signs listed below are, but handwashing and visitor signs need to be posted in English and in the language of the workers.  For example, if you have a mixture of Spanish and Creole speakers, you will need signs in three languages.

The signs and posters listed below are available at the following locations – Rutgers Cooperative Extension office in Cumberland County (291 Morton Ave., Millville Tel. 856-451-2800 x 1) or Rutgers Cooperative Extension office in Mercer County (1440 Parkside Ave., Ewing, NJ 08638 Tel. 609-989-6830). If you would like any of the signs, please call the office to schedule a pick-up.

Please Wash Your Hands Often! (8.5x11inches) – English, Spanish, Creole, Chinese, Greek, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Vietnamese.

Please Put Used Toilet Paper in the Toilet (8.5×11 inches) – English and Spanish

Please Use Toilets Provided in the Field (8.5×11 inches) – English and Spanish

When Must Hands Be Washed (8.5×11 and 21.5×27.5 inches) – English and Spanish

Health and Safety Notice for Visitors (21.5×27.5 inches) – English and Spanish

Cleaning and Sanitizing Food Contact Surfaces (21.5×27.5 inches) – English and Spanish

Service Animals Covered by the ADA are Welcome Here (8.5×11 and 21.5×27.5 inches) – English and Spanish

Many of these signs can also be downloaded from our revised website onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu starting July 1st.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops
June 30, 2021

Don’t Let Your Guard Down With Farm Worker Health

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical and essential role of farm labor in getting food from farm to plate. However, health concerns should not stop with a negative COVID test or vaccine, especially if an employee or family member is exhibiting any of the ‘flu-like’ symptoms that are associated with corona virus.

From the Vermont Law School Center for Agriculture and Food Systems (CAFS) – “The CAFS launched the Food System Worker Law and Policy Project in 2021 with research focused on farmworkers, who—despite forming the backbone of a trillion-dollar industry in the U.S.—face a level of occupational risk unrivaled by most workers. From repeated exposure to pesticides and extreme heat, …. ” Their newly published “report titled “Essentially Unprotected: A Focus on Farmworker Health Laws and Policies Addressing Pesticide Exposure and Heat-Related illness,” … May 2021, provides an overview of the findings as well as policy recommendations that are urgently needed to protect farmworkers.”

Typically not seen until July, we’ve already had 3 heat waves beginning in May that expose workers to a number of potential health risks that may present very similar symptoms and can be equally health, and even life, threatening. Published studies from the Rutgers Institute of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences suggest growing numbers of people worldwide are at risk of heat stress and related complications, including farmers and ag laborers working in high heat and humid conditions. Last year, OSHA-NIOSH released a Heat Index App (in English and Spanish at the Apple App Store or Google Play) featuring:

  • A visual indicator of the current heat index and associated risk levels specific to your current geographical location
  • Precautionary recommendations specific to heat index-associated risk levels
  • An interactive, hourly forecast of heat index values, risk level, and recommendations for planning outdoor work activities in advance
  • Editable location, temperature, and humidity controls for calculation of variable conditions
  • Signs and symptoms and first aid information for heat-related illnesses

For more information about safety while working in the heat, see OSHA’s heat illness webpage, including online guidance about using the heat index to protect workers.

In addition to heat stress, harvesting and other activities along field edges, including going into the woods instead of using a portable bathroom facilities, create a high risk for tick bites which can also carry a number of diseases, many as or more debilitating than Lyme disease. It is critical for your employees’ health and well-being to get proper diagnosis and treatment for all of these ailments. This table illustrates how many tick-born diseases, as well as heat stress, all have potential symptoms very similar to those of COVID-19. Each is linked to additional resources at the CDC. In many cases, it may be the ‘other symptoms’ that may be unique to each disease and assist a medical practitioner with correct identification and lead to better verification with further testing.

   Disease    >

Symptoms  v

 COVID-19 Heat Stress Lyme Disease Ehrlichiosis Babe- biosis Powas-san Rocky Mtn Spotted Fever
Vector* Human Black-legged Tick (a.k.a. Deer Tick) (I. scapularis) Lone Star Tick (A. americanum) & Black-legged Black-legged Tick Ground hog(I. cookei), Squirrel (I. marxi) & Black-legged Ticks American Dog Tick (D. variabilis)
Fever or chills X X X X X X X
Cough X X
Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing X
Fatigue X X X X
Muscle/body aches X X X X X X
Headache X X X X X X X
New loss of taste or smell X
Sore throat X
Congestion or runny nose X
Nausea/vomiting X X X X X X X
Diarrhea X X
Rash X X X
Other symptoms X X X X X X
Potentially Deadly/Disabling
 X X X X X X X

*NOTE – main vector listed, but many tick born diseases may be vectored by other species of ticks, or different species causing same disease may be carried by different tick species.

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