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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June 27, 2013

Pepper Anthracnose Reported

Pepper Anthracnose

Pepper anthracnose symptoms
on bell pepper fruit:
note pink-orange spore masses.

The first cases of pepper anthracnose are being reported. Pepper anthracnose can be extremely destructive causing 100% loss if left uncontrolled. No peppers are resistant to anthracnose.

Growers with a history of pepper anthracnose on their farm or in particular fields should be highly diligent and scout their fields on a regular basis looking for ‘hot spots’.

Pepper anthracnose always starts out as a ‘hot spot’ and then fans out with the prevailing direction of the wind. The hot, wet weather and isolated afternoon and evening showers in many areas have been ideal for anthracnose development. If a ‘hot spot’ is found, all fruit (of any size) from the area and from nearly plants should be strip-picked and discarded appropriately. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
June 26, 2013

Late Blight Found on Tomato in Mercer County

Late blight has been found in a 2 acre organic tomato field in Mercer County. This is the first report of Late blight in New Jersey this growing season.

All tomato and potato growers in New Jersey should scout thier fields immediately, especially if fields have not been scouted in the the last 5 to 7 days. At this point, this is just an isolated case. Late blight has not been reported elsewhere in the state. All tomato and potato growers should continue with their regular protectant fungicide programs. The extremely hot weather (> 90 degrees) the last few days should help reduce the threat of late blight as long as the isolated rain showers have missed your farm.

If you suspect late blight on your farm please contact your county agent. For more information on the control of Late blight please see the 2013 commercial vegetable production recommendations guide.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
June 26, 2013

Veg IPM Update: Week Ending 6/26/13

Vegetable IPM Report 6-26-13 – Click to View | Download | Print

Current Week’s Pest Maps – Available Maps for the week are highlighted

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
June 25, 2013

Cucurbit downy mildew reported in Delaware – 6/25/13

Cucurbit downy mildew has been reported in a commercial cucumber field in Sussex County, Delaware. All cucurbit growers in New Jersey should scout their fields on a regular basis and add a downy mildew specific fungicide to their weekly maintanence program. Downy mildew is much more difficult to control if the pathogen arrives prior to any preventative fungicide application(s). Please see article titled “2013 Cucurbit Downy and Powdery Mildew Management Guidelines” from 06/07/13 for current recommendations.

To track the progress of cucurbit downy mildew in the US please visit http://cdm.ipmpipe.org/.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
June 24, 2013

On Ag Updates: Heat Stress Prevention

This week’s forecast is for temperatures in the 90’s with high humidity. Agricultural worker safety is important to agricultural employers. Ag Agent Michelle Infante-Casella outlines some tips on preventing worker illness during hot weather on the Ag Updates Blog.
Heat Stress Prevention

Filed Under: Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops
June 24, 2013

Pepper Weevil Concerns

Pepper weevil is a difficult pest:

  • it is not endemic to New Jersey;
  • we have had sporadic outbreaks but not understanding why or how these outbreaks occurred and because of this we have little experience managing it on farm or in preventing it being spread farm to farm;
  • we lack an appreciation of its life cycle and how well it is adapted to exploiting our food distribution network;
  • and finally, the realization that management recommendations from Florida and other southern locations are not very helpful because of different production practices and climate.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops