Rutgers University | New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station | Pesticide User Responsibility

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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NJ Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations

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August 19, 2015

Veg IPM Update: Week Ending 8/19/15

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Sweet Corn

European corn borer (ECB) adult activity has declined somewhat over the past week, with only scattered individuals outside of western Gloucester and Salem Counties (see ECB map). It remains to be seen whether we get another surge in moths as the summer winds down. As always, consider treating when the number of infested plants in a 50 plant sample exceeds 12%. Any planting remaining at or above threshold as it proceeds to full tassel should be treated, as this is the last stage at which ECB larvae will be exposed and vulnerable to insecticidal sprays.

See the 2015 Commercial Vegetable Recommendations Guide for insecticide choices.

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Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
August 14, 2015

Late Blight Found on Tomato: Sussex County – 8/14/15

Late blight has been found in a small tomato planting near Layton in Sussex County.

This is the second report this growing season in New Jersey and the first since early July. All tomato growers should scout their fields on a regular basis. The incoming hot, dry weather should help reduce any potential threat from late blight.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
August 12, 2015

Veg IPM Update: Week Ending 8/12/15

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Sweet Corn

European corn borer (ECB) adult activity is on the increase, with low catches in parts of the state now. The second adult flight is underway. Areas of highest activity are scattered throughout the state with one notable hot spot in central Morris County (see ECB map).

As always, consider treating when the number of infested plants in a 50 plant sample exceeds 12%. Any planting remaining at or above threshold as it proceeds to full tassel should be treated, as this is the last stage at which ECB larvae will be exposed and vulnerable to insecticidal sprays.

See the 2015 Commercial Vegetable Recommendations Guide for insecticide choices.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
August 11, 2015

Two Important Vegetable Production Pathogens Confirmed in NJ

  • Dickeya sp., an aggressive form of Black leg, has been confirmed on potato in New Jersey.
    Symptoms of Dickeya infection look similar to Black leg infection and can cause significant rot above ground (stems and foliage) and below ground (tubers). Very little information is available on Dickeya, since it is most likely a new pathogen on potato to the US. It has also been found in Europe in recent years.
  • Bacterial leaf spot race 6 was confirmed on bell pepper near Vineland this past week. All bell and non-bell pepper varieties currently grown in New Jersey lack resistance to this race of the pathogen.
    All pepper growers need to scout on a regular basis and know what BLS resistance packages the varieties they grow carry. Bell pepper varieties such as Tomcat and 1819 carry resistance to races 1 to 5. Thus, if symptoms of BLS appear on either variety then race 6 is most likely present on the farm and any pepper that lacks resistance to race 6 has the potential to become infected.
Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
August 11, 2015

Vegetable Disease Briefs – 8/11/15

  • Bacterial leaf spot race 6 has been confirmed on bell pepper in the Vineland area. This has major implications since all widely-grown peppers (bell and non-bell) in New Jersey do not have resistance to this race. All bell peppers growers need to scout on a regular basis and know what BLS resistance packages are present in the varieties they are growing.
  • There have been no new reports of late blight in New Jersey since 7/8 although it has been reported in other States in the region. To track late blight in the US please visit http://usablight.org/
  • Cucurbit downy mildew has been reported on cucumber in New Jersey and on cucumber and butternut squash. All cucurbit growers should include downy as well as powdery mildew specific fungicides in their weekly maintenance sprays. To track the progress of CDM in the US please visit http://cdm.ipmpipe.org/.
  • Basil downy mildew remains active across the region.
  • Pepper anthracnose has been reported.
Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
August 11, 2015

Audit Ready: Equipment Maintenance Records

tractorThe harmonized audit requires a listing of equipment (2.7.1) that has the potential to come into contact with the crop, and for each piece of equipment a maintenance record.
Just how detailed of a record do they want?

Anytime there is a repair, cleaning, or fluid change there should be a record of this task.  The auditor will look at the equipment for signs that there could be a issue, such as an oil or fluid leak under the equipment.  If they see an issue they will then ask to see the maintenance record for that piece of equipment.  This falls under the “are in good repair and are not a source of contamination of produce” section of standard 2.7.2.  Remember, this is only for equipment that will go out into the field or production area.

Filed Under: Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops