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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Rutgers Weather Forecasting - Meteorological Information important to commercial agriculture.

September 21, 2020

Climate Adaptation Fellowship Program Seeks Farmer and Advisor Applicants

 

Climate change is bringing challenges for vegetable and small fruit growers. For farmers to reduce their risk, they need to adapt. To address this increasing need, the Climate Adaptation Fellowship was created. The 1-year program provides a peer-to-peer curriculum for farmers and advisors. Its framework is designed to integrate climate science with a land manager’s knowledge that builds climate resilience within specific commodity areas.

The first full Climate Adaptation Fellowship program with northeast vegetable / small fruit growers and agricultural advisors will be offered in 2021-2022 and is now accepting applications through October 1. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Fruit, Organic Production, Strawberry, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , , ,
September 17, 2020

Every Farmer Counts! 76th National Farm Safety & Health Week – Sept. 20-26, 2020.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension Ag and Natural Resources Dept Chair Nick Polanin has announced the good news that RCE has been able to hire Ms. Kate Brown as Program Associate II to work on commercial crop production in the RCE-Burlington County office. We welcome Kate to the job. In continuing some of the programs of retired County Agent Ray Samulis, Kate is now the Rutgers liaison to the NE Ag Safety and Health Coalition and has shared this news about next week’s celebration of National Farm Safety & Health Week (NFSHW). — Rick VanVranken [Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
September 16, 2020

Virtual Statewide Commercial Tree Fruit Growers Twilight Meeting IV Harvest Season Update

Virtual Statewide Commercial Tree Fruit Growers Twilight Meeting IV

Harvest Season Update

Wednesday September 23, 2020

Online 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Statewide Tree Fruit Twilight Meeting IVClick here to register for the twilight meeting.

Password: fallfruit

NJDEP PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION CREDITS ARE ANTICIPATED

If you wish to receive pesticide credits for this meeting, DEP regulations require you to upload a copy of a government issued photo ID and a copy of your pesticide applicator license prior to the meeting.

Click here to upload a government issued photo ID and pesticide license

Upload directions: If you click on the photo ID upload link using a smart phone/tablet you will have the option of simply taking a photo of your ID and uploading it directly into the system.  If you are using a computer you will need to scan or take a photo of your photo ID and upload the file using the directions at the upload link. If you need assistance uploading your documentation contact; Kimberley Crommelin kfrey@co.hunterdon.nj or Megan Muehlbauer muehlbauer@njaes.rutgers.edu to assist you in verifying your identity for NJDEP recertification credit purposes.

Please note: The files are uploaded into a secure Rutgers University digital folder that no one other than the session hosts (Megan Muehlbauer and Kimberley Crommelin) can view or access.

 

To Enter the Meeting: Click the link in the registration confirmation E-mail and select “join by browser-New” BE SURE TO KEEP VIDEO ON IF YOU WISH TO OBTAIN PESTICIDE CREDITS.

 

If you do not wish to receive pesticide credits, and would like to call into the meeting, dial USA Toll: +1-650-429-3300 Access code: 120 185 4274

PLEASE BE IN THE MEETING BY 6 PM AS IT WILL BEGIN PROMPTLY AT 6 PM!

 

Thank you very much for your willingness to cooperate!

 

 

Program

Hosted by: Megan Muehlbauer PhD. County Agent III Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) Cooperative Extension of Hunterdon County

Hemant Gohil PhD. County Agent III Rutgers (NJAES) Cooperative Extension of Gloucester County

 

6:00 PM – 6:20 PM Peach Tree Borer and Spotted Lanternfly Management

Anne Nielsen, PhD. Extension Specialist, Fruit Entomology, Rutgers University

Dean Polk, Fruit IPM Agent Rutgers NJAES

 

6:20 PM – 6:40 PM Herbicide Decisions for Fall Weed Management

Thierry Besancon, PhD. Extension Specialist, Weed Science, Rutgers NJAES

 

6:40 PM – 7:00 PM Peach Leaf Curl and Apple Scab Management in High Inoculum Orchards.

Norm Lalancette PhD, Extension Specialist Tree Fruit Pathology, Rutgers NJAES

 

7:00 PM – 7:30 PM New Jersey Pesticide Regulation and Safety Update

Patricia Hastings, Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator, Rutgers NJAES

Filed Under: Fruit, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops
September 16, 2020

Vegetable IPM Update 9/16/20

Sweet Corn

Fall armyworm (FAW) larval infestations remain at low levels in the few remaining sweet corn plantings not yet silking.  At this point in the season, FAW shouldn’t become a widespread economic problem.  However, growers should be alert to the possibility of infestations on the last of their late plantings.   Injury from newly hatched larvae shows up as “window panes” or areas where leaf tissue has been eaten down the the lower epidermis. This injury leads down into the whorl.  As larvae gain size, they begin to consume leaf tissue in its’ entirety, creating ragged holes and lots of droppings.  FAW can be tough to manage because it is resistant to synthetic pyrethroid insecticides (IRAC 3A) and because larvae are often covered by their own droppings, making contact with the insecticide more difficult.  Treat when 12% or more plants exhibit FAW injury alone, or in combination with ECB injury.

 

Corn earworm (CEW) moth captures continued a gradual decline over this past week due to several nights with low temperatures.  The decline is less noticeable in the northern counties, where CEW blacklight catches had been quite high prior to the onset of cooler weather.  Therefore the weekly averages there are higher.  Overall, these catches are representative of lower adult activity, and growers should consider this pest to still be at moderately high population levels in the state.     The current population poses a significant risk to silking corn.  The reduction in CEW catch was not enough to substantially change this weeks map from last week (see map at left).  Green areas on this map representing a 3-day spray schedule.  For further information on CEW activity, see pheromone trap information below.

 

The highest nightly trap catches of CEW in black light traps for the week ending 9/16/20 are as follows:

Hackettstown   19 Morristown   8 Port Colden   6
Long Valley   16 Allamuchy   7 Princeton   6
Denville   13 Sereantsville   7 Blairstown   5
Chester   9 Downer   6 Hillsborough   5

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
September 14, 2020

Vegetable Disease Update – 9/14/20

  • No reports of Late blight in region. Late blight was reported in tomato and potato in western NY with no immediate threat to New Jersey. To track the progress of Late blight in the US please click here.
  • Cucurbit downy mildew remains active on cucumber and cantaloupe in New Jersey. There have been no reports of CDM in other cucurbit crops in the region to date. For a review of CDM control please click here. To track the progress of CDM on your phone or PC please visit the CDM forecasting website.
  • Cucurbit powdery mildew (CPM) season continues. Growers should continue regular fungicide programs to help maintain foliage through harvest. For a review of CPM control strategies please click here.
  • All cucurbit plantings that are no longer in production should be destroyed immediately after the last harvest by mowing or with herbicide to reduce the risk of harboring of CDM, CPM, and virus.
  • Alternaria and Cercospora leaf blights have been reported in carrot plantings.
  • Bacterial leaf blight has been reported in collards.
  • Pepper anthracnose is still active in southern New Jersey and is a serious problem in all bell and non-bell peppers, especially in fields with a history of the disease. For more information on controlling pepper anthracnose please click here.
  • Bacterial leaf spot is still extremely active in in bell and non-bell peppers. For more information on BLS and copper resistance please click here.
  • Basil downy mildew (BDM) remains active. All growers are encouraged to initiate preventative fungicide programs on DMR and non-DMR basil. For control options and to follow the progress of BDM in the US on your phone or PC please click here.
  • With the on and off again heavy rains we have been getting, all growers should consider applying at-transplanting fungicides for root rot control in fall crops. Please click here to see these articles.
  • For more information on the control of the diseases mentioned above please see The 2020/2021 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide which is available for free online! With many county offices running reduced hours or being closed this is the easiest way to obtain the newest recommendations.
Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
September 10, 2020

Ask the Agent Fall Series

“Ask the Ag Agent” was created in spring 2020, when COVID-19 forced a new normal in communications nationwide. Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents working with “Ask the Ag Agent” education and outreach are committed to the agriculture industry and all interested in growing plants, raising livestock and essential resources related to agriculture. The program will now continue beginning on Wednesday, September 16th and run every-other Wednesday in September and October.

Farmers and others are welcome to join this bi-weekly teleconference each Wednesday night from 7:00pm-8:00pm. Weekly events are hosted by Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents working with the farming industry.

This call-in/WebEx event features updates on farm management, crop conditions, farm industry observations, agricultural agency programs and other topics discussed by farmers, agricultural agents and other agricultural service providers.

Hosted by Agricultural Agents Bill Bamka, Stephen Komar, Michelle Infante-Casella and Meredith Melendez, this bi-weekly communication provides a forum for discussion for farmers and all involved in NJ agriculture, including agricultural agency personnel, non-profit organizations and others.

This event and other events hosted by Rutgers Cooperative Extension can be found on the Rutgers NJAES Events website.

To join the “Ask the Ag Agent” forum each week on a computer/tablet/smartphone via the WebEx Videoconference use the link:

“Ask the Ag Agent” was created in spring 2020, when COVID-19 forced a new normal in communications nationwide. Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents working with “Ask the Ag Agent” education and outreach are committed to the agriculture industry and all interested in growing plants, raising livestock and essential resources related to agriculture. The program will now continue beginning on Wednesday, September 16th and run every-other Wednesday in September and October.

Farmers and others are welcome to join this bi-weekly teleconference each Wednesday night from 7:00pm-8:00pm. Weekly events are hosted by Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents working with the farming industry.

This call-in/WebEx event features updates on farm management, crop conditions, farm industry observations, agricultural agency programs and other topics discussed by farmers, agricultural agents and other agricultural service providers.

Hosted by Agricultural Agents Bill Bamka, Stephen Komar, Michelle Infante-Casella and Meredith Melendez, this bi-weekly communication provides a forum for discussion for farmers and all involved in NJ agriculture, including agricultural agency personnel, non-profit organizations and others.

This event and other events hosted by Rutgers Cooperative Extension can be found on the Rutgers NJAES Events website.

To join the “Ask the Ag Agent” forum each week on a computer/tablet/smartphone via the WebEx Videoconference click here

Join by phone
+1-650-429-3300 passcode 1202639477##

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Organic Production, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,