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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October 7, 2020

Update – Agricultural Water Permits and COVID19

In accordance with the Permit Extension Act signed by NJ Governor Murphy on July 1, the term of certain governmental permits, approvals, and deadlines that were due to expire on March 9, 2020, or the specified period following it, were extended. In addition and in accord with the rules published in the NJ Register on Sept. 8, an official request for such an extension via a NJDEP website was required for approval of the COVID-19 extension period by October 8, 2020.

These requests were finalized today on behalf of the growers through information provided by NJDEP Bureau staff and the efforts of ANR Department members to obtain missing required information, updating spreadsheets, and inputting information online.

This effort encompassed 613 agricultural water permits across the state with expiration dates from 2020 through 2024. In consultation with NJDEP, it was decided to include a wide a window as possible to accommodate the unknown future regarding COVID19 and NJ’s public health emergency declarations.

Growers who currently hold an ag water permit and a valid email address should have already received an auto-generated email from the NJDEP website once their information was uploaded confirming a permit extension request. If the permit holder had no email on record, ANR emails were included and the county faculty or staff member received the confirmation email. These should be filed locally with the allocation permit information, and a printed copy shared with the grower as soon as feasible.

I want to acknowledge Terry Pilawski, Jennifer Myers, Matthew Myers, Christa VanHaren, Yvens Dessalines (NJDEP) and Monique Purcell (NJDA) who reached out to initiate this collaboration, and Talia Zirin, Amina Lamrabat, and our ANR members and county office staff across the state for assisting me in this important endeavor.

The accommodations provided by the Permit Extension Act of 2020 supplement actions taken by Governor Murphy by way of Executive Order and by the NJDEP to address the impacts of COVID-19.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Tree Fruit, Turf, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , ,
October 7, 2020

Neopestalotiopsis – Something to scout for in fall-transplanted strawberry

A fungal disease has been identified in some fall-transplanted strawberry fields in New Jersey. The pathogen, Neopestalotiopsis spp., causes a leaf spot and fruit rot in strawberry. Up until recently, the pathogen was considered a secondary pathogen. However, the disease has been found in strawberry production in FL where leaf, fruit, petiole, crown, and root symptoms were observed, and yield was severely affected. Dieback has been up to 50% in some New Jersey plantings this fall (Fig. 1). Symptoms on infected leaves include brown to tan circular spots (Fig. 2) that under the right environmental conditions will produce numerous black pycnidia (Fig. 3). Fruit infections look similar to anthracnose fruit rot. Growers who have purchased strawberry plants this fall should scout their fields immediately and contact their County Agricultural Agent if suspect plants are found.

For more information on Neopestalotiopsis please see links below from NCSU and FL.

https://strawberries.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/09/a-new-disease-is-emerging-neopestalotiopsis-fruit-rot/

https://vegetablegrowersnews.com/news/neopestalotiopsis-fruit-rot-seen-n-florida-strawberries/

(Article for use with permission only)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
October 7, 2020

H-2A Employer Audit Webinar hosted by Maryland Farm Bureau

Maryland Farm Bureau will be hosting a webinar on how to prepare for an H-2A employer audit. Experts from the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, Maryland Department of Labor, and the private sector will be discussing what records need to be kept and produced in response to a labor investigation. Although geared towards Maryland employers, this webinar will certainly provide broadly applicable resources for those utilizing H-2A labor in New Jersey.

When: October 14, 2020, 8:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.

Click here to register

Agenda

8:00- 8:05 Welcome and Introductions
8:05-8:45 Nicholas Fiorello & Kim Ga, United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division
8:45-9:25 Jesús Díaz, Maryland Department of Labor
9:25-9:35 Break
9:35-10:05 Jesse Hammock, Esq., Partner, Parker Goodman Gordon & Hammock, LLC
10:05-10:15 Questions & Wrap-up

Moderated by Sarah Everhart, Agriculture Law Education Initiative

 

Filed Under: Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf, Vegetable Crops
October 7, 2020

Vegetable IPM Update 10/07/20

Note:  This will be the final regular edition of the Vegetable IPM Update for 2020.  We will post alerts should special pest situations arise.

Sweet Corn

Corn earworm (CEW) moth captures continue to decline, although with temporary increases on warm nights.    Growers should consider this pest to still be at moderate population levels in the state, with higher risk during stretches of warmer nights.   The current population poses a threat to silking corn.  Blue areas on this map (see map at left)   represent a 4-5-day spray schedule.  The low catches in the southern county blacklight traps are contradicted somewhat by the pheromone trap network.   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 10/07/20 are as follows:

Crosswicks   3 Califon   1 Green Creek   1
Hackettstown   2 Clinton   1 Milford   1
Sergeantsville   2 Eldora   1 Milltown   1
Bellemeade   1 Georgetown   1 Oldwick   1

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
September 30, 2020

Vegetable IPM Update 9/30/20 -New CEW Map

Attention:  Please refer to this updated CEW pheromone map for the weekending 9/30/20.  We were able to procure some late data from traps in the southwestern portion of the state.  These indicate a significant influx of CEW moths on the recent storm system.  At this time, these migratory individuals appear to be limited to southwestern NJ (see CEW pheromone map at left).  The blacklight network is still indicating a 3-day silk spray schedule in the northern counties, while the pheromone network is at 5-6 day.  In the south, the pheromone map is now indicating a 3 day spray schedule.  Under cold night conditions, it is possible to adhere to a more relaxed schedule, but growers should tighten up by a day if we return to warmer nights.   The number of pheromone traps deployed is much lower, resulting in much broader color bands on the map.    Additionally, several of the northern pheromone trap sites no longer have silking corn nearby.  This influences the catch, resulting in fewer moths captured.   The current population continues to be an economic threat.  It is important to use effective materials to manage this pest on silking corn.  Insecticides in the IRAC 28 class (Coragen, Besiege, Exirel) and IRAC 5 (Radiant, Blackhawk, Entrust (OMRI approved)) remain among the most useful insecticides against CEW.

 

The highest nightly trap catches of CEW in pheromone traps for the week ending 9/30/20 are as follows:

Monroeville   180 Pedricktown   20 Springdale   7
Woodstown   150 Eldora   12 South Branch   2
Green Creek   31 Berlin   10 Allamuchy   1

Silking Spray Schedules*:
South – 3 days

Central – 3-4  days

North – 4-5 days

*These recommendations are based on regional catches.  Adhere to tighter spray schedules if indicated by local trap catches.  Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn, or for fall armyworm (FAW) management at any stage.  Control with these materials is very inconsistent.

 

 

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
September 30, 2020

Tips for Renewal of NJDEP Private Pesticide Applicators Licenses

RecieptRutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents have been receiving questions from farmers on what to do with the renewal applications they recently received from NJDEP Pesticide Control Program. The invoice may be somewhat confusing. So here are a few tips to help.

1. The $0.00 Amount Due is correct on the invoice. Farmers with a “Private” applicator licenses do not pay for licenses and renewals. So you do not need to send any payment and in the box where it says “enter the amount of your payment” enter $0.00.

2. The best way to complete this renewal is not to mail in the form, but instead renew online. CLICK HERE to renew your license online. YOU WILL NEED YOUR PAPERWORK WITH YOUR “INVOICE NUMBER”. Do not use the NJEMS Bill ID number, instead find the invoice number above.

It would be a good idea to print the screen with the confirmation that you renewed online, since the system does not send you an email confirmation. The screen also states, “License generation may take a few weeks”. So, please be patient and if you need to use your license number, continue to use the same number on your expired license for recertification credits, as your license number will not change. It also says to not send the paper forms once you did your online submission. See photo to the below for an example of the confirmation screen you will see when renewing online.Website

3. If you must mail the renewal, here are some TIPS:

a. You will need to provide your own envelope and a stamp when mailing back the forms.

b. Also, the form may be confusing since the bottom tab to return says to mail to Treasurer-State of New Jersey, while the “Reminder” section says to mail forms/letters to NJDEP Licensing and Registrations.

c. Do not mail the bottom tab and other information for renewal of your Private Pesticide license to NJDEP. It is to be mailed to the NJ Department of Treasury – as stated on the return portion at the bottom of the first page.

d. Fill out page 2 and check to see if all your information is correct on page 2. Do not forget to sign and date the bottom of page 2 before mailing with your “payment” tab from page 1.

e. It may be best to send these forms in using USPS “Certified Mail” or UPS or FEDEX to track that it was received. Your pesticide license is very important for your business and you would want to verify it was received.

If you need more assistance with pesticide licenses, contact the NJDEP. Contact information in the photo below.Zoom in of a reciept

Best wishes and we hope this information is helpful in renewing your NJDEP Private Pesticide Applicators License.

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