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.
 
Subscriptions are available via EMAIL and RSS.
 
Quick Links:

NJ Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations

Rutgers Weather Forecasting - Meteorological Information important to commercial agriculture.

Romaine: What happened and where do we go from here?

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension Food Safety Team invites  you to attend a Town Hall Meeting to learn the roles of the Food and Drug Administration, New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the New Jersey Department of Health in the 2018 Romaine foodborne illness outbreaks and what the plans are for the future.

The meeting is scheduled for Friday, February 15, 2019 from 9:00 am to noon at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County, 291 Morton Ave. in Millville, NJ 08332.

Douglas H. Fisher, NJ Secretary of Agriculture; Tom Beaver, Director of NJDA Division of Marketing and Development; Chris Kleinguenther, Bureau Chief of NJDA Division of Marketing and Development; and Wesley Kline, Rutgers Cooperative Extension will discuss the steps that were taken for past outbreaks and what can be done for future outbreaks.

This event is free, and lunch will be served. Please RSVP to Charlotte at Charlotte.Muetter@ag.nj.gov or 856-839-3377 on or before February 13 if you are planning to attend.

SAVE THE DATE!

North Jersey Commercial Vegetable Grower Meeting

February 28, 2019

&

North Jersey Commercial Fruit Grower Meeting

March 7, 2019

 

Hunterdon County Complex

314 State Route 12, Bldg. #1

Flemington, New Jersey 08822

8:30 am – 4:00 pm

Detailed program and registration details forthcoming

 

Questions? Please contact: Cynthia Triolo (Morris County Cooperative Extension) at 973.285.8306 or ctriolo@co.morris.nj.us

Or

Kim Frey (Hunterdon County Cooperative Extension) at 908-788-1339 or kfrey@co.hunterdon.nj.us

Spotted Lanternfly Basics Webinars

In conjunction with the New York State IPM Program and the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Northeastern IPM Center will host a collection of webinars, titled “Spotted Lanternfly Basics.” Each webinar will focus on, and be tailored to, a specific commodity group:

Spotted Lanternfly Basics for Grape and Apple Industries (Feb. 26, 2019, 1:00 p.m.). Registration link: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_d_3KfxQ9SuKHyhk6pM7NCA

Spotted Lanternfly Basics for Hops, Berry, and Vegetable Growers (Feb. 26, 2019, 10:00 a.m.). Registration link: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ONViZLocSBCOKIv-sjoZVg

Spotted Lanternfly Basics for Christmas Tree Growers (Mar. 4, 2019, 10:00 a.m.). Registration link: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7eehVeBvSBOgM3aTXOtaew

Spotted Lanternfly Basics for Nursery, Greenhouse, and Landscape Industries (Mar. 4, 2019, 1:00 p.m.). Registration link: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_u5mYQOHMSESWFcNoftt2Nw

All webinars will follow a similar format that covers spotted lanternfly biology, identification, and hosts, monitoring and management strategies, and a regulatory update. While the content may be relevant to audiences throughout the Northeast, management practices covered will be specific to New York. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions.

For more information and registration links, go to:

http://neipmc.org/go/mYey

2019 NJ State Agricultural Convention & Trade Show – Feb 5, 6, 7

Harrah’s Resort & Waterfront Conference Center – Atlantic City

  • Rutgers Cooperative Extension agents and specialists have finished the educational sessions with topics covering a wide range of topics.
  • The Vegetable Growers Association says the trade show is just about sold out with industry vendors from near and far.
  • The NJ Dept of Agriculture has shared the preliminary schedule for the State Board of Agriculture’s policy sessions.

The only thing left is for you to register and join us in Atlantic City. Registration/membership details and hotel reservations can be found on the VGANJ convention website.

RU Ready to Farm – Beginner Farmer Workshop at NJ Ag Convention

Rutgers Cooperative Extension is hosting the RU Ready to Farm Beginner Farmer Workshop during the New Jersey Agricultural Convention & Trade Show at Harrah’s Resort & Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City on Thursday, February 7, 2019 from 8:30 am – 4 pm. Please share this with anyone interested in starting a farm, those new to farming, or established farmers looking for new opportunities. All are welcome to attend.

Topics covered in this workshop include:

  • Resources on land availability in the state
  • Tips on where to access capital
  • Shared experiences from successful farmers
  • Insight on what to look for when assessing potential farm properties
  • Methods of effective marketing and promotion of farm products
  • Current organic and conventional agricultural regulations

For the program agenda and to register for this workshop, click here.

IPM Update – Hawaiian beet webworm 10/04/18

Hawaiian Beet Webworm infestations now present in southern and central NJ counties.

Hawaiian beet webworm moth on spinach

Hawaiian beet webworm moth on spinach

Infestations of Hawaiian beet webworm were reported on in last weeks’ IPM Update as occurring in southern NJ counties.  As of Tuesday of this week, similar infestations were discovered as far north as Mercer County.  As of Thursday, none were discovered in Morris or Hunterdon counties, although sampling has  been minimal there.

The moths of this pest are easily found in weed patches; especially those containing galinsoga or pigweed.  Moths hide beneath leaves, but readily fly when the weeds are disturbed.  As mentioned last week, this pest attacks spinach, chard, and the foliage of beets and sugar beets as well as crops in the amaranth family.  In processing spinach, the larvae (photo below) may be a contaminant issue.  At this time, it is advised that growers of these crops in the southern and central counties inspect fields for the presence of adults and larval infestations.  Should these be found, follow the 2018 Commercial Vegetable Production Guide for suggested materials to control webworm on these crops.  In many cases, insecticides in the groups 28 (Coragen) or 5 (Radiant, Entrust (OMRI approved)) are permissible, effective and have short harvest intervals.

Should this pest spread northward, further updates will be published on this site.

Hawaiian Beet Webworm infestations

Hawaiian beet webworm larva on Swiss chard