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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Vegetable IPM Update 08/31/22

Sweet Corn

European corn borer (ECB) moth catches have increased slightly in central counties but remain at low levels generally throughout the state.   At this time, no feeding has been detected.

The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 08/31/22 are as follows:

Pennington   2 Dayton   1 Jones Island   1
Allentown   1 Downer   1 Matawan   1
Centerton   1 East Vineland   1 Oldwick   1
Crosswicks   1 Georgetown   1 Princeton   1

[Read more…]

Back-yard Poultry Producer Alert: HiPath Avian Influenza deaths in wild birds

On August 8th, 2022, The United States 2022 Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds reported multiple confirmations of dead black vultures in Sussex County, NJ. Today, August 29, 2022, the media has released information that a hundred dead vultures were found in the vicinity of the Sussex Branch Trail in Lafayette, NJ.

Back-yard producers in Sussex County should review their biosecurity measures to prevent avian influenza from wild birds coming in contact with their flocks.

For more information and who to contact in the NJ Department of Agriculture if you have a death in your poultry flock, see the following post https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/poultry-alert-review-implement-biosecurity-measures/

For more information on who to contact in the NJDEP if If multiple birds are found dead in a small area over a short period of time, please contact either 1-877-WARNDEP or Dr. Nicole Lewis (nicole.lewis@dep.nj.gov) for assistance. https://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/news/2022/04-19_avian_influenza.htm

Upcoming webinars and in person meetings for NJ producers (August 31 and September 26) https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/upcoming-sessions-for-backyard-poultry-owners/

Information regarding driving into a quarantine zone in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania currently has a 10 km zone along the PA/NJ border related to this detection. https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/driving-into-high-path-avian-influenza-quarantine-zones-in-pa-know-the-rules/

Non-herbicide Management Options for Large Crabgrass in Specialty Crops

Large crabgrass can form robust root systems thanks to its numerous tillers and capacity to root at stem nodes, allowing it to out-compete crops for moisture and nutrients.  Understanding the life cycle and biology of large crabgrass is key to figuring out the best options for its control on your farm. Learn more about non-herbicide life cycle disruptions that can be used in the development of a short and long term management plan through the large crabgrass decision tool fact sheet and an informational video. These resources are one of a five-part weed management series created by Extension Specialist Thierry Besancon and County Agricultural Agent Meredith Melendez, funded by USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant AM190100Crabgrass. Provide feedback on these resources through an online survey.

Your Input on Changes to the Next Farm Bill

House Agriculture Committee Farm Bill Review

“An integral part of the oversight and review process of the 2018 Farm Bill and further preparation for the 2023 Farm Bill is getting direct input from producers, stakeholders, and consumers on how various farm bill programs are working for them” – Click here to add your comments into the form posted on the House Agriculture Committee website with the option to answer the following questions:

  1. Which programs included in the 2018 Farm Bill do you think are performing well?
  2. Are there any new programs or ideas that you or the organization that you represent would like to see considered for the 2023 Farm Bill?
  3. Which programs included in the 2018 Farm Bill do you think could be improved upon or should be reconsidered?

Guidance on Farm Bill Sections.

“The farm bill refers to an authorization of mandatory and discretionary spending bills appropriated to provide assistance related to food and farms. It is a multi-year law that is primarily executed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and it governs a wide variety of agricultural and food programs” – Farm Bureau.org. Click here for a short summary and video on the history of the farm bill.

Title I, Commodity Programs. Under this authorization, USDA is reauthorized to provide and improve commodity and marketing loans, sugar, dairy and disaster programs. In addition to the links below for the farm bill overview, see the ERS link at https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-economy/farm-commodity-policy/title-i-crop-commodity-program-provisions-after-enactment-of-the-agriculture-improvement-act-of-2018/

Title II, Conservation. To read more about this title go to https://www.thefarmbill.com/title-2-other-conservation

or read more in https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/IF11199.pdf

Title III, Trade. To read more about this title go to https://www.thefarmbill.com/title-3-trade-programs

Title IV, Nutrition. To read more about this title go to https://www.thefarmbill.com/title-4-snap

Use the same website to scroll through each of the remaining titles:
Title V, Credit
Title VI, Rural Development
Title VII, Research, Extension, and Related Matters
Title VIII, Forestry
Title IX, Energy
Title X, Horticulture
Title XI, Crop Insurance. To read more about this title you can also go to https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-economy/farm-commodity-policy/crop-insurance-program-provisions-title-xi/
Title XII, Miscellaneous

Vegetable IPM Update 08/24/22

Sweet Corn

European corn borer (ECB) moth catches are largely unchanged; remaining at low levels throughout the state.    Only occasional feeding in sweet corn has been detected by field personnel.

The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 08/24/22 are as follows:

Dayton   1 Matawan   1
East Vineland   1 New Egypt   1
Farmingdale   1 Pennington   1
Folsom   1 Princeton   1

[Read more…]

REMINDER – Vegetable Research Plot Tour at RAREC Tonight

Wednesday, August 24, 2022, 4:30 pm (meet at the shelter near the parking lot)

Rutgers Agricultural Research & Extension Center

121 Northville Rd., Bridgeton, NJ (Upper Deerfield)

PESTICIDE CREDITS approved for this event:  

1A  (AGRICULTURAL PLANT)                     – 07
10  (DEMONSTRATION & RESEARCH)      – 07
PP2  (PRIVATE APPLICATOR CATEGORY)   – 07

4:30 – Welcome and Intros – Rick VanVranken, Atlantic County Agricultural Agent

5:00 –  8:30 pm Tour of research plots and discussions with Rutgers Extension Specialists

Thierry Besancon, PhD, Extension Weed Specialist for Specialty Crops

  • Cover-Crops for Row Middle Weed Management in Plasticulture Tomato.
  • Cover-Crops for Row Middle Weed Management in Plasticulture Cucumber.
  • Crop Safety of Delayed Preemergence Herbicide Application for Cole Crops (Broccoli and Cabbage)

Andy Wyenandt, PhD,  Specialist in Vegetable Pathology

  • Bacterial Leaf Spot Development in Pepper and Tomato in NJ
  • Copper Resistance Development in Bacterial Leaf Spot
  • Basil Downy Mildew Breeding Program Update
  • Bell and Non-bell Phytophthora Tolerance Trials

Joe Ingerson-Mahar, PhD, Vegetable IPM Coordinator

  • Comparing the response of corn earworm to GMO and non-GMO sweet corn varieties and the resistance to BT corn