Rutgers University | New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station | Pesticide User Responsibility

March 13, 2023

White Pine Weevil: Overwintering Adults Become Active in March & April

Many arborists & landscapers often find it difficult to prevent white pine weevil pests (Pissodes strobi), because they are typically applying fertilizer & dormant oil treatments during the control window. In the state of NJ, the control window against feeding white pine weevil adults occurs in March & April. Adults over-winter in the duff beneath trees. The WPW adults will often crawl or sometimes fly to the top terminal leaders of pine, spruce, or Douglas-fir trees. Eastern white pine & Norway spruce species are the most severely attacked & the death of the terminal leaders of these trees will often occur.

Treatment timing is critical with this pest and controlling the adult female before egg laying is necessary. Apply preventative sprays (e.g., pyrethroids) only to the terminal leaders during this time. Before mating & egg laying, adults will feed by chewing holes within the central leader & cause a characteristic pitch flow that becomes white in color when dry. Then females will lay eggs in new cut-out holes within the top 12 inches of the leader just below the terminal bud. This blog will describe with the help of photographs the 7-stage lifecycle of this native weevil borer. Control & management options will also be provided.   

Beetle on stem

White pine weevil adults are about 1/4+ inch long & have a long snout with two white spots on back of wing covers. Adults feed at terminal leaders during March & April. Most eggs will then be laid during April & May. (Photo Credit: Michigan State University)

 

Infected pine tree

Severe white pine weevil infestations to terminal leaders can destroy two or more years worth of growth to pine, spruce, & Douglas-fir trees. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)

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Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Plant Diagnostic Lab
March 2, 2023

NJDEP Bureau of Water Allocation and Well Permitting Workshops Held

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection coordinated workshops in the past two weeks to assist farmers with Agricultural Water Certifications/Registrations who needed 5-year renewals. Those farmers with certifications expiring in 2023 were invited by NJDEP to attend the scheduled workshops. NJDEP Staff visited the 4 counties: Gloucester, Salem, Burlington, and Cumberland to complete renewals for 2023. These workshops are an efficient way to make sure forms are accurate, complete, and acceptable to NJDEP – avoiding the need to mail back paperwork to correct any information. If a farmer receives an invitation in the future to attend these NJDEP coordinated workshops, it is really important to attend and update your forms.

If a farmer was unable to attend workshops, or their county did not have a workshop, they must complete the 5-year renewal form mailed by DEP and make an appointment with the County Agricultural Agent in their county to finalize the forms in order to keep their status current. County Agricultural Agents do not have access to obtaining the renewal packets and farmers must bring them completed to the appointment or contact NJDEP for another copy, if they cannot locate their copy.

As per the NJDEP’s instruction, Agricultural Agents are to complete an “agent irrigation calculations sheet” and sign off on the form prior the forms are submitted to DEP. The forms can also be reviewed during an appointment with the Agricultural Agent. All other portions of the form are the responsibility of the farmer to complete. Also, it is important to read all instructions – that includes having a written daily log of the last month water was used in the past year to submit with the 5-year renewal application.

If a farmer does not have an Agricultural Water Use Certification or Registration, they can contact the NJDEP using the information below to obtain the forms.

If a farmer has any questions, NJDEP asks they contact staff at:

NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Supply and Geoscience, Bureau of Water Allocation and Well Permitting, Mail Code 401-04Q, P.O. Box 420, Trenton, NJ 08625-0420, 609-984-6831. Also see the website at http://www.nj.gov/dep/watersupply/

 

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Fruit, Nursery, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , ,
February 22, 2023

Rutgers Soil Testing Laboratory adds Sulfur to Soil Fertility Analysis

Plant-available sulfur (sulfate) values have been added to Rutgers Soil Testing Laboratory fertility reports in the micronutrient reporting line. There are four interpretive categories: Low, Medium-low, Sufficient, and High. An explanatory paragraph follows near the end of the report to help interpret the reported value.

Photo illustrating sulfur deficiency in sweet corn.

Symptoms of sulfur deficiency include yellowing or light green coloring on youngest tissue, thin stems and petioles, slow growth, and delayed maturity. Photo Credit: G. Brust, University of Maryland.

As the interpretative statements within the reports explain, sulfur analysis/interpretation is very complicated (similar to nitrogen) due to the many factors influencing it. Also, there is not full consensus among soil fertility experts on a best extraction method and critical values. Still, the sulfur value on the revised reports will provide an extra degree of information for understanding the soil & plant health. As with all micronutrient interpretations on the reports, the relevant RCE publication is referenced for further information; in the case of sulfur, RCE bulletin E365.

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Filed Under: Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , ,
January 29, 2023

2x Nursery Sessions in Atlantic City Next Tuesday – 2023 New Jersey Agricultural Convention (ACTS) & Trade Show

I am happy to remind that Tim Waller (Cumberland) and Bill Errickson (Monmouth) will be holding two Nursery Sessions next Tuesday (Feb 7th) at the 2023 New Jersey Agricultural Convention & Trade Show (ACTS) hosted by the Vegetable Growers Association (VGA). The meeting is held at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City.

This is a relatively new session for the nursery and green industries that Tim and Bill really pushed for, so PLEASE join us at this important agricultural event alongside many of the other commodities in NJ. Urge your friends and other growers to join as well so we can continue to bring in great speakers for this event.

Specifics:

  • Click here to register and for more information
  • February 7th (Tuesday)
  • Harrah’s Atlantic City
  • 2 Sessions with Pesticide CEU’s in 1A, PP2, 10
  • Cost: $75 for 1-day pass (1 person), $120 for 3-day (2 people ($60 each)) + additional guest in your group $25 (cheaper option for multiple folks = grab a friend to come with).

Speaker highlight – View full schedule here get the full schedule here

Adam J. Kantrovich – Clemson (Extension Associate Professor of Agribusiness)

Dr. Kantrovich is an Associate Professor and Extension Economist with Clemson University and is located at the Sandhill Research and Education Center in Columbia, SC. Major responsibilities are programming activities in the areas of farm financials, ACA compliance for agribusiness, agribusiness succession and transition planning and agricultural and timber taxation management. Dr. Kantrovich conducts programs around the state and nationally to various agricultural groups and organizations. Click here for Dr. Kantrovich bio

  • Speaking on: “What’s the Political, Policy, and Economic Landscape” (1-h afternoon session)
  • Followed by a NRCS and FSA panel to speak about federal monies available to implement some of these ideas

Other speakers: 

  • Bill Errickson (RCE Monmouth Agent) – Native Trees for Low Input Landscapes
  • Raul Cabrera (Nursery Extension Specialist) – Irrigation Management of Nursery Crops
  • Steve Rettke (Nursery IPM) – Backyard Beneficials: Inviting Insects into the Landscape
  • Lauren Errickson (Director of Rutgers Gardens) – Women in Horticulture Panel
  • Aly Dyson and Stephanie Bouchelle (FSA), Fran Deficcio (NRCS) – Available NRCS and FSA Programs for Nurseries
  • Tim Waller (RCE Cumberland Agent) – Management of Oomycete Root Diseases (with treatment regime handouts!)

 

Upcoming Events:

  • Rutgers Speakers (and Educational Committee Planning) – TotalPro Expo (NJNLA)(Jan. 31st – Feb 1st)
  • Rutgers Speakers (and Educational Committee Planning) – Landscape New Jersey (NJLCA) (March 1st)
  • Tim Waller will be speaking about Phytophthora at Chesapeake Green 2023 (February 15 – 16th)
  • Many more to come including Nursery IPM Training Sessions
Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf Tagged With: , , ,
January 26, 2023

Nostoc in Nurseries: Herbicides to Control the Slippery Slime Threat

 

Nostoc is a cyanobacterium and is one of the oldest organisms on earth (over 3.5 billion years). It is a primitive growth, like algae, moss, and liverwort. Many years ago, it was incorrectly identified as blue-green algae. Nostoc has no roots, no vascular tissues & is not a plant but it is photosynthetic. It can be found growing within gravel, stones, limestone chips, granite, saturated soils & on-ground cloth within container nurseries. It can tolerate long periods of desiccation but requires plentiful amounts of water for establishment. This cyanobacterium growth can become common & persistent at certain nursery/greenhouse sites where long-term overhead irrigation is done.

Nostdoc growing in front of container

Nostoc growing in front of container bay opening. The opening allowed the overhead irrigation to saturate the soil/gravel at entrance. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)

Nostdoc on ground

Nostoc growing on ground cloth within a nursery container bay. Creates a serious slipping hazard for nursery personnel. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)

Nostoc is not toxic & does not directly compete with nursery/greenhouse crops or landscape plants, but it can harbor fungus gnats & snails. Nostoc first became a growing concern in nurseries approximately 30 years ago. Slipping hazards are the primary threat this organism poses to nursery & greenhouse personnel. It forms gelatinous masses composed of filaments linked together by protective jelly-like coverings. This creates a surface as slick as wet ice. Nostoc can occasionally be found growing within turf or landscape settings but is not common.

This blog will show with photographic images how Nostoc can be identified & will also review available control options.      

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Filed Under: Nursery, Plant Diagnostic Lab
October 12, 2022

Autumn Pest Review: Soft Scales, Leafminers, Aphids, Mites & Adelgids

AUTUMN PEST REVIEW: Although the season is beginning to wind-down, there are still a number of insect & mite pests that require scouting during the fall weeks. The pests discussed in this blog include soft scale nymphs, boxwood leafminers, white pine aphids, spruce spider mites, southern red spider mites, hemlock rust mites, eastern spruce gall adelgids & hemlock woolly adelgids. The use of low %-rates of horticultural oils this fall can be especially valuable against controlling many of these pests.

SOFT SCALE NYMPH MIGRATIONS: Most soft scale species (exceptions include magnolia, tuliptree, and globose) have 1st instar nymphs that spend July and August feeding along veins on the undersides of leaves of their deciduous host (the use of a hand lens may be needed). During the weeks of late summer and early fall, these nymphs migrate off the leaves onto woody stem tissue and molt into the overwintering 2nd instar stage. The size of the nymphs increases 3-times after molting and their presence is usually observable even without magnification (they can be as large as lenticels). Typically, overwintering soft-scale nymphs have a dark coloration, to help absorb sunlight and maintain body warmth.

European elm 1st-instar nymphs settled along the main vein underneath elm leaf. During the early weeks of fall they migrate from leaves onto the bark to overwinter. (Photo Credit: Cornell University)

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Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Plant Diagnostic Lab