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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April 29, 2024

Allium leaf miner update: 04/29/24

Allium Leaf Miner (ALM)

As of last week, allium leaf miner (ALM) adults were still being captured on sticky cards placed in chive plantings in Mercer and Hunterdon counties, and in a garlic planting in Morris County.  Numbers had declined somewhat from catches the week of 4/15.  There is a possibility that damaging levels of ALM adults remain.  Once we cease to capture adults, another update will follow.

Deceased tree branch

Photo: Sabrina Tirpak. Allium leaf miner oviposition scars on onion

Growers should consider initiating the control method of their choice at this time, if any allium crops are in the field.  Affected crops include chives, scallions, garlic, onions and leeks.  Look for neat rows of white spots descending from the upper tips of allium leaves (see photo at left).  Initial injury often occurs on the tallest leaves.  Under warmer, less breezy conditions, adults may be seen near the tips of leaves (see photo of adult at lower right).  Perennial chive beds are often the first, and most heavily infested alliums of the spring season, so this makes chives an ideal crop to confirm ALM adult activity.

Floating row covers, kept on until this flight ends will help minimize access to plants.  Insecticide applications targeting adults may be helpful as well, although frequency of applications is uncertain.  Spinosyn materials (Radiant, Entrust (OMRI approved)), pyrethroids (Mustang Maxx, Spider on leafWarrior), neonicotinoids (Scorpion, Venom), the diamide Exirel (section 2ee recommendation) and the insect growth regulator Trigard are labeled for miner control.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
April 25, 2024

26th Biennial International Pepper Conference Returns to Northeast, Sept 9-11, 2024

Cornell announces they will be hosting the International Pepper Conference 2024

“Fall in New York’s Finger Lakes Region is the perfect time to visit local waterfalls, revel in colorful foliage, and explore our ripening pepper selection! We are excited to be hosting the 26th Annual International Pepper Conference in Ithaca, NY and are looking forward to showcasing peppers in our region. I’m especially excited about this year’s field day. On Tuesday, September 10, we’ll travel around Central New York, touring Cornell University research plots, visiting Norwich Meadows Farm, and taking in one of Ithaca’s “gorges” waterfalls. I’m looking forward to welcoming all of you to Ithaca and sharing the latest scientific information and pepper breeding projects.
—- Michael Mazourek, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Cornell University

The International Pepper Conference has been held every couple of years since 1973 and is not limited to researchers working on peppers. The event is a great opportunity for farmers, industry and vegetable specialists/agents/researchers to learn about new pepper production and research topics! As we know here in the Garden State, northeastern growers are much more significant producers of bell and specialty peppers than most realize! New Jersey was the last to host in the Northeast in 2008.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , ,
April 25, 2024 , , and

NJ Depts of Agriculture & Environmental Protection Allow Controlled Open Burning to Protect Crops

(Trenton) [On April 20, w]ith the state expected to experience cooler spring temperatures, the Department of Environmental Protection has agreed with NJDA Secretary Ed Wengryn’s request to allow farmers to do controlled open burning or use specialized torches known as smudge pots to protect flowering crops from damage beginning today, April 20, through Saturday, April 27.

Temperatures are expected to drop to the 30s or below tonight with varying winds through portions of the state. These expected temperatures follow warm temperatures in recent days. Damage from freezing weather now can significantly reduce yields of certain fruits and vegetables that are in the flowering stage.

The DEP and Department of Agriculture are allowing these steps to protect farmers’ livelihoods and to ensure that consumers will be able to enjoy an ample supply of Jersey produce later this year.

The DEP intends to exercise its authority and discretion under the Air Pollution Control Code, N.J.A.C. 7:27, et seq., and other applicable authorities to permit the following procedure for open burning or the use of smudge pots to assist farmers to protect their crops in low temperatures.

Farmers who believe they will need to conduct open burns and/or use smudge pots must provide notice to the DEP’s 24-hour Communications Center at 1-877- WARNDEP (1-877-927-6337).

Notification to DEP does not require the implementation of either technique but ensures proper procedures are followed should they become necessary.

If a farmer does not call DEP in advance but uses either technique, the farmer must notify DEP by 9 a.m. the following day. The farmer will be asked which technique was used.

Farmers must record the incident number provided to them by the Communications Center. The following information is to be provided:

  • Name of the individual making the decision to conduct the open burning/use of smudge pots and name of the farm.
  • Actual street address of the farm on which either technique will be used (no P.O. Boxes).
  • Telephone number of a contact at the farm.
  • Predicted temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit) at the agricultural operation when the technique will be used.
  • Wind speed anticipated when the technique will be used.
  • Predicted hours of open burning and/or use of smudge pots.
  • Materials expected to be burned.
  • At the time of the initial call to the Communications Center, farmers will be given an email address and incident number.

Within two days, they must submit to DEP via this email address the following information:

  • The DEP Communications Center incident number.
  • Ambient temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit) at the time the technique was used.
  • Actual wind speed at the orchard at the time the technique was used.
  • A statement verifying that all restrictions in the open burning or use of smudge pots were followed.
  • The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and New Jersey Forest Fire Service caution all farmers and agriculture businesses with respect to the use of open burning in high wind velocity conditions. Please take note that farmers are encouraged to utilize smudge pots for warming as necessary during higher wind conditions. Use of open burning when wind velocity is greater than 5 mph is strictly prohibited, may contribute to wildfire risk, and can carry significant penalties.
  • Smudge pots must be fueled only with either kerosene or No. 2 fuel oil.
  • Open burning can consist only of either the following materials: clean and untreated scrap lumber, felled trees, clippings pruned from trees and shrubs, hedgerows, or firewood. Absolutely no refuse, trade waste, tires or garbage of any type may be added to the authorized open burning material.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and New Jersey Forest Fire Service caution all farmers and agriculture businesses with respect to the use of open burning in high wind velocity conditions. Please take note that farmers are encouraged to utilize smudge pots for warming as necessary during higher wind conditions. Use of open burning when wind velocity is greater than 5 mph is strictly prohibited, may contribute to wildfire risk, and can carry significant penalties.

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To learn more about the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NJDeptofAgriculture and www.facebook.com/JerseyFreshOfficial or Twitter @NJDA1 and @JerseyFreshNJDA.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Fruit, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , ,
April 22, 2024

Reminder – South Jersey Vegetable Integrated Crop Management Twilight Meeting

Tuesday, April 30, 2024
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
East Vineland Fire Hall
4931 Landis Ave. across from the Savoy Restaurant
(please park behind the building and enter conference room door in rear)

Pesticide Credits Approved

  • CORE (Basic Safety & Handling)              1
  • PP2 (Private Applicator)                             2
  • 1A (Agriculture Plant)                                 2
  • 10 (Demonstration & Research)                2

USDA’s SARE Program – Resources and Farmer Grants

  • Michelle Infante-Casella, RCE Gloucester

Pesticide Safety and Compliance Tools for Growers and Applicators

  • Pat Hastings, RCE Pesticide Education Program Coordinator

Management Options for Allium Leaf Miner, Diamondback Moth, & Corn Earworm

  • Kris Holmstrom, RCE Vegetable IPM Program Associate

Implications of EPA’s Herbicide Strategic Plan to Comply with the Endangered Species Act &

Weed Management Strategies for Spring and Summer Vegetable Crops

  • Dr. Thierry Besancon, RCE Specialty Crop Weed Specialist

Unlocking the Power of Social Media Marketing Trends

  • Claudia Gil-Arroyo, RCE Cape May

Disease Control Options for Spring Vegetable Crops

  • Dr. Andy Wyenandt, RCE Vegetable Plant Pathologist

Changes to the New FSMA Water Rule Now in Place, and to the Harmonized Audit

  • Dr. Wes Kline, RCE Cumberland

Pesticide Recertification Credits have been requested for this meeting. We hope you’ll be able to join us.

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
April 19, 2024

Purdue Agricultural Spray Nozzles: A Comprehensive Review (PPP-153)

Courtesy of Dr Fred Whitford, Purdue University Pesticide Safety Education Program for Illinois: Purdue Pesticide Programs has just published Agricultural Spray Nozzles: A Comprehensive Review (PPP-153). It can be found at https://ag.purdue.edu/department/extension/ppp/resources/ppp-publications/_docs/ppp-153.pdf. This 104 page document  is currently being printed so hard copies will be available.
Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops
April 19, 2024

Free event for farmers will dig into historical agriculture using archaeology and insects

On May 1, 2024, an experiential learning workshop for farmers will be held from 10:30 – 2:00 at the Rutgers Specialty Crop Research and Extension Center in Cream Ridge, New Jersey. The workshop focuses on insects recovered from a 1683  grave that was excavated at Historic St. Mary’s City, Maryland. Historic St. Mary’s City was the first permanent British settlement in Maryland, located on a small rural coastal peninsula east of modern-day Washington, DC. Today, the site is still a farming operation that mainly grows field crops.

Registration is free and can be found on the workshop’s homepage here: https://go.rutgers.edu/mll66dzo

Workshop Details

Dr. George Hamilton’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Laboratory at the Rutgers Department of Entomology is studying historical insects from the Philip Calvert grave at Historic St. Mary’s City and the insect biodiversity of the modern site. One goal of this project is understanding if the same beneficial rove beetle species have survived in the area as land use around the site has changed over time.

The workshop’s purpose is to get feedback from the agricultural community on the project after going through some of the activities used to study the historical insects and gather modern site data. First, the workshop will start at 10:30am with learning more about the project and the archaeology of Historic St. Mary’s City through two 10-minute talks. Then, three break-out groups will rotate through guided insect collecting in the field, recognizing historical insect fragments under laboratory microscopes, and seeing how maggots move after leaving a death scene by making insect art.

Everyone who attends will receive a folding pocket scope on behalf of NOFA-NJ for viewing insects they collect and are invited to take home their maggot insect art.

Lunch will be provided around noon after breakout groups complete each hands-on activity. Coffee will be served, and a short talk will give an overview of the investigation’s current findings. Finally, before the workshop ends at 2:00pm project members will lead a brief group discussion about how studying insects in archaeology can be used for sustainable agriculture.

For example, identifying native rove beetles that have existed at a location for 100s of years then developing an IPM farmscaping or habitat manipulation program targeted to increase populations of those beneficial insects.

Additional Background Information

The study of insects and other arthropods in archaeology sites is referred to as archaeoentomology. In Europe archaeoentomology has been used to show fleas and grain weevils moved with migrating humans over 5,000 years ago. Changes in archaeoentomology beetle species found at early European farms represent changing land use once agriculture became established. However, even though insects are all around us, archaeoentomology is usually overlooked when researchers try to design new sustainable agriculture practices.

Very little archaeoentomology research has been conducted in the United States. This provides an opportunity for developing American archaeoentomology as a field focused on understanding changes in the food system over time related to crop pests and beneficial insects.

Parking information and the link to the registration form can be found on the workshop’s homepage here: https://go.rutgers.edu/mll66dzo

In addition to farmers, growers, ranchers, farm workers, beekeepers and other members of the agriculture industry, this workshop is free and open to college students interested in agriculture, Master Gardeners, and other interested community members.

Please contact Mike with any questions at mmonzon@njaes.rutgers.edu

This event is a collaboration between NOFA-NJ, George Hamilton’s Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Laboratory at the Rutgers University Department of Entomology, and the Fahrenfeld Research Group at the Rutgers University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program under subaward number GNE22-292.

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops