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

Rutgers Weather Forecasting - Meteorological Information important to commercial agriculture.

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

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/.

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

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.

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Cucurbit Downy Mildew Reported on Cucumber in Maryland

Downy mildew was reported on cucumber in Caroline County, MD on Friday night (6/21/13). This is the first report of cucurbit downy mildew in the mid-Atlantic region this growing season. All cucurbit growers should scout their fields on a regular basis and should add downy mildew specific fungicides to their weekly fungicide maintenance programs. 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/.

Vegetable Briefs and Update – 6/23/13

Vegetable Briefs

  • Cucurbit downy mildew was reported on cucumber in Caroline County, MD this Friday (6/21). This is the first report of CDM this year in the region. All cucurbit growers should scout their fields on a regular basis and consider adding downy mildew specific fungicides to their regular maintenance program.
  • Pith necrosis has been reported on tomato.
  • Basil downy mildew was reported near Vineland last week! All basil growers should continue to scout their fields and apply preventative fungicides.
  • Late blight was reported on tomato on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and in Montgomery County, MD this past week. These are the first reports of Late blight in the region this year.
  • To track late blight in the US please visit http://usablight.org/
  • Want more information on what’s going on, please sign up for the Jersey Vegetable Crop Ag Updates at: http://jerseyvegcropsagupdates.blogspot.com/.

Vegetable Disease Update – 6/23/13

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