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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February 8, 2021

An update on the potato pathogen, Dickeya dianthicola

It has been nearly six years since Dickeya dianthicola was first reported in potato in New Jersey in 2015 and many other states up and down the East Coast in the spring and summer of 2016. Before then, this seed-borne pathogen had not been detected in potato fields in the mid-Atlantic region and elsewhere. Unfortunately, some potato growers suffered substantial economic losses during the 2015 and 2016 growing seasons. Organic potato producers who grew very small acreage were also affected by Dickeya dianthicola. Most of the commercial potato acreage in New Jersey and elsewhere was being planted with seed purchased from Maine or Canada. When a disease such as this is so widespread when it first occurs it suggests that contaminated seed is the likely inoculum source. Extension personnel from the region learned from visiting farms and talking with growers that occurrences were associated with specific seed lots. With knowledge of the probable origin of the pathogen, Extension personnel from the region developed best management guidelines for Dickeya dianthicola to help potato growers in the region minimize the potential for a Dickeya outbreak in their operation.

Since that time, along with Dickeya dianthicola, other seed-borne tuber rotting pathogens (Pectobacterium spp.) have routinely been found causing significant problems for potato growers in the region. Research on Dickeya and Pectobacterium has been ongoing in the US and other parts of the world where these pathogens occur with data and results related to the most recent outbreaks being published most recently. In a survey of soft rot bacteria collected from potato fields in New York state during the 2016 growing season, a majority of isolates collected were designated as D. dianthicola or P. parmentieri. Based on their dnaX sequence analysis, the authors determined that the D. dianthicola isolated from potato plants in New York formed a single clade, being genetically identical to each other and to D. dianthicola ME23 isolated in Maine in 2015 (Ma et al., 2018). More recent research by Ge et al (2020, Plant Dis. First Look) surveyed commercial potato fields in Maine as well as suspect Dickeya samples collected from potato seed pieces, tubers, or plants from potato fields in 11 other states from 2015 to 2019. A total of 1183 samples were collected. A total of 256 Dickeya dianthicola isolates were used to identify pathogen genotype (I, II, or III) and the “inoculum geography”.  Of these, 231 (~90%) were Type I, 14 (~5%) were Type II, and 11 (~4%) were Type III. In Maine alone, 95% of the total isolates collected from commercial potato fields were Type I. “As such, it was suspected that the original contamination in other states initiated from Maine” since “Maine is the primary seed potato supplier to states in the Northeastern U.S.”. The only consistent genotype found in each year of the study from all states sampled from was Type I for which the authors hypothesized was “likely associated with Maine seed origination”. Not finding Dickeya dianthicola Type II and III in Maine in each year of the study may reflect the fact these types were rare compared to Type I thus a larger sample size was needed to confirm they likely were not present those years. Additionally, while most occurrences of Dickeya dianthicola in potato production fields were associated with seed originated from Maine, there were occurrences associated with seed from Wisconsin and Canada. It is possible Type II and III are principally associated with those seed. Seed source was not determined for the samples.

 

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
February 4, 2021

Greenhouse Sanitation Important for Disease Management

Proper greenhouse sanitation is important for healthy, disease-free vegetable transplant production.

Efforts need to be made to keep transplant production greenhouses free of unnecessary plant debris and weeds which may harbor insect pests and disease. Efforts need to be taken throughout the transplant production season to minimize potential problems.

  • All equipment, benches, flats, plug trays and floors should be properly cleaned and then disinfested prior to use.
  • Any weeds in or around the greenhouse structure should be removed prior to any production.
  • Any transplant brought into the greenhouse from an outside source needs to be certified ‘clean’, as well as, visually inspected for potential insects and diseases once it reaches your location.

Remember, disinfestants, such as Clorox, Green-Shield, or hydrogen dioxide products (Zerotol – for commercial greenhouses, garden centers and Oxidate – commercial greenhouse and field), kill only what they come into direct contact with so thorough coverage and/or soaking is necessary. The labels do not specify time intervals for specific uses, only to state that surfaces be ‘thoroughly wetted’. Therefore, labels need to be followed precisely for different use patterns (i.e., disinfesting flats vs. floors or benches) to ensure proper dilution ratios. Hydrogen dioxide products work best when diluted with water containing little or no organic matter and in water with a neutral pH.

 

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
February 3, 2021

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Harmonized Food Safety Audit Training

We are offering a final, for this spring, online Harmonized Audit Training Course on March 2, 2021 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM.  If you will need to obtain a USDA Harmonized Audit this year or want a refresher this is the course for you.

This three-hour virtual class will cover each question on the USDA Harmonized Audit allowing participants to hear how questions are interpreted by auditors.  New Jersey Department of Agriculture Auditors will also discuss how someone signs up for an audit and review common issues that auditors found during 2020.  Participants will have the opportunity have their questions answered to help make their audit run more smoothly.

The deadline to register for the class is Friday February 26. The registration form is on the Eventbrite page at rutgersonfarmfoodsafety.eventbrite.com

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
February 3, 2021

2021 NJ Ag/VGANJ Virtual Convention Update 2

My apologies for some of the confusion from my initial update regarding the educational sessions of our 2021 NJ Ag/VGANJ Convention will be held virtually the last week of February. While the entire up-to-date program was, and is, available to view on the Vegetable Growers Association of NJ website – VGANJ.com/schedule, I forgot one critical point in that last post. The link for signing up for pesticide re-certification credits was not ready to go at that time.

It is ready now.

(One other clarification – when you join the VGANJ and pay your membership dues at either the full or daily rate, you are also registered for these educational sessions.)

Registration for Pesticide License Re-certification Credits

If you want to receive pesticide re-certification credits for attending any of the sessions offering them, you must supply identification information that will allow us to confirm your participation and to let DEP know which sessions you attend. You do not have to sign up for individual sessions, but you must supply these required pre-registration details or you will not receive credit. If supplied, you will receive credits for any session you attend in its entirety as described in our guide.

If you are attending for credits, you will need to be signed in to the Zoom meeting within 10 minutes of the start, remain attentive and responsive to random polls, and logged into the session until it ends. You will not get credit if you leave to join another Zoom session. There will be some allowance and support if there are technical issues, but otherwise, leaving a meeting early will disqualify you for credits.

Before you start to register for credits, please have the following ready before you start:

  • A photo, scan or screen-shot (your ID and license may be submitted as one photo or two) of:
    • your Government-issued ID, and
    • NJ Pesticide applicator status
      • copy of your current license, OR
      • status page from the NJ DEP <https://go.rutgers.edu/t0hiphuz>- search for your name in either the “Commercial Certified Pesticide Applicators by Name” or “Private Certified Pesticide Applicators by Name” menu selections on the page.)

NOTE:  If you are NOT looking for credits, DO NOT enter your license and ID information. You will be able to move from Zoom session to Zoom session.

 

 

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape
February 3, 2021

Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) – Produce Safety Alliance Training Course

The Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under the standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration’.  This is the only training recognized by the FDA at this time!

The course is being offered virtually over two days on March 9 and 10 from 10:45 am to 3:30 pm.  All participants must preregister by February 23 at rutgersonfarmfoodsafety.eventbrite.com.  Once registered a training manual will be sent to each person and the registrant must have the manual to show at the training.

Fruit and vegetables growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management of natural resources and food safety should also attend this training.

The course is divided into seven modules that cover:

  • Introduction to Produce Safety
  • Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
  • Soil Amendments
  • Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
  • Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)
  • Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
  • How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module and are included in the grower manual provided.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
February 1, 2021

NEW- Nursery and Ornamentals Track (2 sessions – 8 speakers) at this year’s virtual VGA

Please join us at the NEW- Nursery and Ornamentals Track at this year’s virtual VGA

When: Monday, February 22nd (Session I:  9:15 – 11:45am)(Session II:  1:15 – 3:45pm (recert. credits pending))

Click here to register by Wednesday Feb. 17th for pesticide credits!

Click here for additional pesticide credit requirements and instructions (mandatory steps for recertification credits at VGA)

Price options:

  1. One day pass – $60.00
  2. Full 1yr VGA Membership (access to all four days of sessions 2/22-2/25)- $120

Summary: The sessions are geared towards delivering information broadly applicable to ornamental AND vegetable nurseries and producers alike. The speakers assembled for these sessions are renown experts and we are extremely lucky to learn from them.

  • Session I will focus on production techniques and plant selections, including management of drip irrigation clogging, fall mum selections, producing broadleaf evergreens, and native plant selections.
  • Session I – Featured Speaker: Dr. Paul Fisher (University of Florida)
  • Dr. Fisher is an expert in irrigation system management and will be discussing how to avoid or manage clogged irrigation emitters and pipes. He will be discussing how these clogs happen through the buildup of salts, biofilms, and various other particles. He will help you diagnose the cause of problems and select the best solutions.

 

  • Session II will focus on pest and disease mitigation including key pests in micro green production (aphids), the red headed flea beetle, and boxwood blight. Additionally, updates on utilizing growing degree days and other predictive models will be discussed (applicable to all crops)
  • Session II – Featured Speaker: Dr. Chuan Hong (Virginia Tech)
  • In addition to being at the forefront of Phytophthora research, Dr. Hong is a world renown boxwood blight researcher who was recently awarded nearly 4M dollars to investigate innovative methods to safeguard one of the nation’s most economically important evergreen shrubs. He will be discussing effective strategies and tools for blight mitigation at local and national levels. Together we can save this iconic landscape plant.

(pesticide recertification credits have been requested for Session II.)

Rutgers is dedicated to protecting your privacy and keeping your personal information safe. Upon upload, your files will be encrypted and stored to Rutgers Connect. Your information will be kept strictly confidential; used solely to meet NJDEP ID verification protocol for recertification credit; and will not be used for any other purpose. Your files will be deleted within 60 days after the training event.

New Nursery and Ornamental Track at the 2021 VGA

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops