Vegetable Crops — Page 73 — Plant & Pest Advisory

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.

January 16, 2023 Melissa Bravo

Recent Agriculture Bills Passed in NJ Senate and Other News

Bill A1929 Aca (1R)
Session 2022 – 2023 – signed in to Law, September 22, 2022.
“Directs Department of Agriculture to establish New Jersey Minority, Women, and Underserved Farmer Registry.”

For more information see: htt ps://njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2022/A1929

For a synopsis of this bill see, https://wrnjradio.com/bill-assisting-minority-women-farmers-signed-into-law/

Bill A285. Session 2022 – 2023. ASSEMBLY, No. 285. Establishes “New Farmers Improvement Grant Program” to provide matching grants for farm improvements to beginning farmers.

For more information see, https://njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2022/A285/bill-text?f=A0500&n=285_I1

For a synopsis of this bill see https://wrnjradio.com/committee-clears-bill-that-will-create-grant-opportunities-for-new-farmers/

Other Bills of interest to New Jersey Farmers. Bill Text: NJ S757. “Authorizes special occasion events at certain commercial farms on preserved farmland, under certain conditions.” https://legiscan.com/NJ/text/S757/id/2608677.

For more on this bill and it’s implications, from the Secretary of Agriculture. “Please click the video below to hear from Secretary Douglas H. Fisher regarding an important bill, S757/A2772, which will allow additional, nonagricultural special occasion event to be held NOT JUST on preserved farm wineries – but on ALL preserved farms.”- January 13, 2023. Secretary of Agriculture.

Women farmers. For additional resources on agriculture business, finance, market, and biosecurity planning, see the late registration option for Annie’s Project. The next session is Wednesday, January 18th. Contact the project coordinator for late registation options via the instructions in: https://sites.rutgers.edu/annies-project/wp-content/uploads/sites/753/2023/01/Poster_2023_AnniesProject_Online.pdf

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops

January 16, 2023 Andy Wyenandt

Damping-off: Identifying and Controlling Pathogens in Transplant Production in 2023

It is extremely important to know which pathogen is causing damping-off problems and which fungicide to properly apply. The key to controlling damping-off is being proactive instead of reactive. Always refer to the fungicide label for crop use, pathogens controlled, and application rates.

Damping-off is caused by a number of important vegetable pathogens and is very common during transplant production. Damping-off can kill seedlings before they break the soil line (pre-emergent damping-off) or kill seedlings soon after they emerge (post-emergent damping-off). Common pathogens that cause damping-off include Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium spp.

Control of damping-off depends on a number of factors. First, is recognizing the conditions which may be leading to the problem (i.e., watering schedule/greenhouse growing conditions) and second, identifying the pathogen causing the problem. Reducing the chances for damping-off always begins with good sanitation practices prior to transplant production.

Conditions Favoring Damping-off

Although all four pathogens are associated with damping-off, the conditions which favor their development are very different. In general, Phytophthora and Pythium are more likely to cause damping-off in cool, wet or overwatered soils that aren’t allowed to dry out due to cloudy weather or cooler temperatures. Conversely, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium are more likely to cause damping-off under warmer, drier conditions especially if plug trays are kept on the dry side to help reduce transplant growth. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: damping-off, transplant production

January 11, 2023 Melissa Bravo

Pennsylvania Advises PA Poultry Owners to House Poultry Indoors

Poultry owners, please be aware of the advisory in Pennsylvania copied below regarding the continued spread of High-Path Avian Influenza.

The appropriate New Jersey letters are found in the following links:

H ighly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Letter for Veterinarians

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Letter to Poultry Owners

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Letter to Live Bird Markets

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Letter to Poultry Distributors

“January 9, 2023
Pennsylvania Poultry Industry

Dear Pennsylvania Poultry Producers,
As you know, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) (H5) has been circulating in the wild bird population in the United States and was identified in commercial poultry in early 2022. On April 14, 2022, the first case of HPAI H5 was detected in a commercial layer flock in Pennsylvania. Since then, the virus has continued to spread into backyard flocks and commercial poultry facilities across the United States, affecting 47 states to date. More than 57 million birds have been lost due to HPAI. More than 4.5 million birds have been lost in Pennsylvania, and a total of 38 Pennsylvania flocks have been affected. Identification of new cases has continued across the United States. The most recent case of HPAI has been reported in the US as recently as January 4th. Wild bird detections continue in multiple states. These recent cases should act as a reminder that a virulent strain of Avian Influenza virus continues to circulate in the wild bird population and still threatens commercial and backyard poultry. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture first recommended that organic producers move poultry indoors in February 2022. At this time, we recommend that all poultry [In PA] be maintained indoors. Producers are also encouraged to implement strict biosecurity practices, monitor bird health, and report any unexplained mortality and morbidity [In PA] to the Department at 717-772-2852 (24/7).”

[state added by Melissa Bravo for clarification for plant pest advisory post]

Thank you,
Kevin D. Brightbill, DVM | State Veterinarian | Director
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture | Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services
2301 North Cameron Street | Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: 717.705.1626 | Fax: 717.787.1868
www.agriculture.pa.gov
kebrightbi@pa.gov

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops

January 9, 2023 Andy Wyenandt

Greenhouse Sanitation Important for Disease Management

Proper greenhouse sanitation is important for healthy, disease-free vegetable transplant production.

Efforts need to be made to keep transplant production greenhouses free of unnecessary plant debris and weeds which may harbor insect pests and disease. Efforts need to be taken throughout the transplant production season to minimize potential problems.

All equipment, benches, flats, plug trays and floors should be properly cleaned and then disinfested prior to use.
Any weeds in or around the greenhouse structure should be removed prior to any production.
Any transplant brought into the greenhouse from an outside source needs to be certified ‘clean’, as well as, visually inspected for potential insects and diseases once it reaches your location.

Remember, disinfestants, such as Clorox, Green-Shield, or hydrogen dioxide products (Zerotol – for commercial greenhouses, garden centers and Oxidate – commercial greenhouse and field), kill only what they come into direct contact with so thorough coverage and/or soaking is necessary. The labels do not specify time intervals for specific uses, only to state that surfaces be ‘thoroughly wetted’. Therefore, labels need to be followed precisely for different use patterns (i.e., disinfesting flats vs. floors or benches) to ensure proper dilution ratios. Hydrogen dioxide products work best when diluted with water containing little or no organic matter and in water with a neutral pH.

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: greenhouse sanitation

January 5, 2023 Meredith Melendez

Worker Training and Sanitizer Labeling and Use Recorded Webinars Now Available

We continue to see the need for resources focusing on farm worker training and sanitizers. We invited to produce safety experts to discuss the topics on recorded webinars. These recordings are now available for viewing on the Rutgers NJAES YouTube Produce Safety playlist.

Retraining and Upskilling Workers on Produce Safety Best Practices by Phillip Tocco, MSU Extension

Using Sanitizers in a Postharvest Setting: Selecting a Sanitizer and Understanding Its Label by Donna Clements, Produce Safety Alliance

Additional information can be found on the Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety website, including upcoming FSMA PSR trainings, USDA third-party audit workshops, and future webinars.

Filed Under: Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops

January 3, 2023 Wes Kline

Food Safety Trainings For Winter and Spring 2023

Not sure if your farm is covered by the FSMA Produce Safety Rule? Use this decision tool to find out: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4IagP1mbPyrp42N

Please follow the links for each class to get more information and to register:

FSMA Produce Safety Rule Training –

Wednesday, Jan 11, 10:00 AM, FSMA Produce Safety Rule Training

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, Ewing

Registration fee $75.00 includes lunch

Thursday, Feb 9, 9:00 AM FSMA PSR

Harrah’s Resort, New Jersey Agricultural Convention

Registration fee $50.00 and does not include lunch or registration for the Convention or Trade Show, deadline to register is Feb 3, 2023.

Third Party Audit Training-

Thursday, Feb 23, 2023 9:00 AM EST an ONLINE ONLY Introduction to Harmonized Audits.

Registration fee is $15.00, deadline to register is Feb 16, 2023.

Wednesday, Mar 1, 2023 9:00 AM EST Advanced Audit Training, ONLINE ONLY.