Rutgers Cooperative Extension
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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Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moth catches are increasing slightly in parts of the state. Overall numbers remain quite low, however. ECB population maps will resume if second flight catches rise to high enough numbers.
The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 08/03/22 are as follows:
| Centerton 1 | Farmingdale 1 | New Egypt 1 |
| Cinnaminson 1 | Georgetown 1 | Old Bridge 1 |
| Crosswicks 1 | Matawan 1 | Sergeantsville 1 |
| Downer 1 | Medford 1 | Springdale 1 |
Doppler radar polarimetric technology from iWeatherNet.com: Rainfall totals for the last 24 hours to 3 days – high resolution map shows a widespread system brought much needed precipitation to South-Central NJ Sunday, July 31st though the 72-hour period ending August 2, 2022. In Salem County, areas along the Delaware River to west of Woodstown received 5/10ths to 9/10ths in parts of Mullica Hill. A wider swath through Woodstown and Glassboro provided 3/10ths to less than an inch. A narrower swath of 7/10ths to one inch fell from Elmer to Williamstown. Localized areas west of Salem City and South of Abbottstown Meadow received an inch of accumulation. Less than 3.0 inches of rain have been recorded below Memorial Lake at the USGS 393838075194901 Woodstown USGS Gauge for the month of July.
Looking at the Short-term Prediction Research and Transition Center map
, soil moisture for surface to ten cm depth readings shifted from below the 3-percentile category for much of the county on August 1st to the 30th percentile as of August 2, but a large area of production remains in the five to ten percentile.
Basil downy mildew has been confirmed in field grown basil in southern New Jersey. This is the first confirmed report of BDM in the state this growing season. To date, there have been very few reports of BDM in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions this growing season. The extremely, hot dry weather these past three to four weeks have not been ideal for its development. However, all basil growers are encouraged to scout their fields or greenhouses on a daily basis and should consider initiating a preventative fungicide program. [Read more…]
Sweet Corn – Fall Armyworm
As of Wednesday (7/27) evening, significant fall armyworm (FAW) infestations were found in whorl stage sweet corn in Cape May County. These infestations were nearing 50% of plants infested, and are an indication that all sweet corn growers in southern NJ should be checking fields regularly for signs of FAW feeding. This pest often hits earliest and hardest in coastal areas, and new infestations have been detected up the coast to Monmouth County. Northern infestations have been much lower, and very recent.
Look for extensive foliar feeding in sweet corn ranging from seedling to pre-tassel stage. FAW create large volumes of droppings that often cover larvae while feeding in the whorl. Untreated infestations can result in severely stunted plants. Consider treating when FAW feeding alone, or in combination with European corn borer exceeds 12%. Insecticides in the IRAC 28 class (diamides) and IRAC 5 class (spinosyns) work well against FAW.
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moth catches continue to be extremely low around the state, although there has been some increase in adults in southern traps. ECB population maps will resume if second flight catches rise to high enough numbers.
The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 07/27/22 are as follows:
| Allentown 1 | Jones Island 1 | Oldwick 1 |
| Eldora 1 | Medford 1 | Tabernacle 1 |
| Elm 1 | Milltown 1 | |
| Georgetown 1 | New Egypt 1 |
