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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Vegetable IPM Update 9/09/20

Sweet Corn

European corn borer (ECB) adults continue to be very low, and no map will appear in this edition.

Fall armyworm (FAW) larval infestations are at fairly low levels.  Infestations generally are in the single digits to below 20%, and with few plantings in the whorl stage 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 have decreased slightly over the past week.  This is likely due to several nights with temperatures dropping into the low 60s and even 50s F.  The decline is 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 9/09/20 are as follows:

Downer   7 Bellemeade   4 Chester   3
Denville   6 Green Creek   4 Crosswicks   3
Georgetown   5 Morristown   4 Farmingdale   3
New Egypt   5 Sergeantsville   4 Long Valley   3

[Read more…]

Vegetable IPM Update 9/02/20

Sweet Corn

European corn borer (ECB) adults continue to be very low, and no map will appear in this edition.

Fall armyworm (FAW) larval infestations have declined to fairly low levels.  Infestations generally are in the single digits to below 20%, but  FAW could increase dramatically with the arrival of  storms, resulting in significant injury to whorl and even seedling stage corn.  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 increased through late last week, and then declined in the past 4 nights due to cooler temperatures.  This decline may be temporary, as we get into warmer weather late this week and into the weekend.  The current population poses a significant risk to silking corn.  Catches remain somewhat variable (see map at left), with 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 9/02/20 are as follows:

Downer   14 Farmingdale   6 Medford   4
Elm   9 Haackettstown   6 New Egypt   4
Green Creek   9 Georgetown   5 Princeton   4
Bellemeade   7 Sergeantsville   5 Tabernacle   4

[Read more…]

Reflex 2SL received a 24(c) SLN label for transplanted peppers and tomatoes

Regulation

A 24(c) Special Local Needs label has been recently approved for New Jersey for use of Reflex herbicide for Control of Weeds in Transplanted Tomatoes and Transplanted Peppers. The use of Reflex 2SL is legal ONLY if a waiver of liability has been completed on the Syngenta website (https://www.syngenta-us.com/labels/indemnified-label-login).

Reflex is a selective preemergence herbicide for broadleaf weed control with both soil and foliar activity, but it is only labeled for preemergence use in transplanted peppers and tomatoes. The active ingredient in Reflex is fomesafen, a PPO inhibitor and the only herbicide in this family labeled for peppers and tomatoes. Broadleaved weeds are the main targetted species of this herbicide, that also activity on nutsedge. Expect excellent control of pigweed, (including Palmer amaranth), common ragweed, nightshade, and  common purslane, acceptable control of common lambsquarters, morningglories and galinsoga, and suppression of field bindweed and nutsedge at the rate labeled for transplanted tomatoes and peppers. Use of a surfactant will improves postemergence control of susceptible annual broadleaf weeds. Note that annual grasses and some annual broadleaf weeds, including spurred anoda or horseweed, will NOT be controlled by Reflex 2SL.
[Read more…]

Reminder: Considerations for Agritourism Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic, last Webinar Tonight

Please join us for the 2nd webinar to discuss our resource, “Considerations for Agritourism Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic”

Time: Sep 1, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

To Join on Zoom:

https://go.rutgers.edu/sfk96jlp

Meeting ID: 912 2343 8378
Password: 636141

Join By Phone
+1-646-558-8656
Meeting ID: 912 2343 8378

If you have any questions, please email the host group:

Michelle Infante-Casella’s email: minfante@njaes.rutgers.edu

Bill Bamka’s email: bamka@njaes.rutgers.edu

Steve Komar’s email: komar@njaes.rutgers.edu

Meredith Melendez’s email: melendez@njaes.rutgers.edu

Rick VanVranken’s email: vanvranken@njaes.rutgers.edu

Crop Insurance Deadline Nears in New Jersey

The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) wants to remind New Jersey small grains producers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2021 crop year is September 30, 2020. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing policies also have until September 30 to do so. [Read more…]

Crop Insurance Listening Sessions Scheduled

As part of the 2018 Farm Bill, Congress required USDA’s Risk Management Agency to solicit feedback about improved crop insurance coverage options for farmers and ranchers selling through local food markets. This includes discussing how existing crop insurance programs can be improved, as well as exploring the possibility of a new crop insurance program. Sessions are scheduled for September 1, 2, and 3 for the northeast region. [Read more…]