January 2, 2021

Diplodia Tip Blight: The Key to Infections is Found Within the Cones

Diplodia Tip Blight (Diplodia pinea) is a fungus disease in the landscape commonly observed on Austrian pines (Pinus nigra), but can also be found infecting mugo, red, black, & Scots pines. This blog will emphasize with photos the infections seen on Austrian pines.

The symptoms of Diplodia Tip Blight are stunted or dead shoots. With extensive infections, almost every branch & twig can be affected as the disease spreads over the years. The lower branches of the Austrian pines are usually infected first. For numerous years, the upper canopy will initially show few symptoms. The fungus kills developing needles in the spring, resulting in dead candles that are deformed & much shorter than the growth found on healthy twigs.

Austrian pine with obvious symptoms from Diplodia Tip Blight infections. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)

Stunted or dead newly emerged twig shoots on Austrian pine branch. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Plant Diagnostic Lab
December 13, 2020

Primer on Anti-Transpirant Applications

Purpose

During the weeks of late fall & early winter, many landscapers apply their annual anti-desiccant sprays to broadleaf evergreen plants. Some of the common trade names of these liquid resin, spray-on products include Vapor-Guard, Wilt-Pruf, Stress Guard, and Nu-Film. Although plants go dormant during the winter, evergreens will continue to transpire given certain conditions. These applications help reduce excessive water loss from leaves during the dry winter months when the ground is frozen. An anti-transpirant is a film-forming complex of polyethylene’s and polyterpenes that when applied to foliage will reduce the moisture vapor transmission rate. Although much of the transpiration from leaves occur through small openings (stomates) under the leaves, a significant amount of water loss can also occur directly through the leaf cuticle or epidermis. The anti-transpirants function by increasing cuticle thickness of broadleaf evergreens.

This Rhododendron may have some winter injuries, but the primary cause for the plant decline is from wood borers. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)

Desiccated holly leaves (Winter Burn) with obvious symptoms. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Plant Diagnostic Lab
December 7, 2020

A Primer on Dormant Oil Applications

Dormant Oil Guidelines:

Dormant oils at 2-4% rates in the late fall & late winter seasons can aid in the control of overwintering insects and insect eggs. Consider treating for such pests as aphids (eggs), southern red mites/eggs, spruce spider mites/eggs, oak spider mites (eggs), eriophyid mites/eggs, spruce gall adelgids, lace bugs (deciduous plants), cankerworms (eggs), leaftiers, psyllids, plant bugs, etc.

Some landscapers have been successful applying both late fall and early spring dormant oil treatments to the same plants on the same properties. This is a reasonable approach since a single dormant oil treatment will not provide 100% control and it gives the field technician another opportunity to monitor the landscape for problems.

Dormant oil sprays require excellent coverage & often repeat applications. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)

Japanese maple scale infested branch will likely require multiple dormant oil treatments to suppress. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Plant Diagnostic Lab
November 18, 2020

Ornamental: Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP2) deadline 12/11/20

USDA’s Farm Service Agency will accept CFAP 2 applications through December 11, 2020.

Ornamental crop producers (Christmas trees, Floriculture/Cut flowers, Nursery crops, Cactus) are eligible for USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2). The CFAP 2 program is open to all of these operations and is based on sales, inventory, acreage or production in the 2019 or 2020 calendar years (depending on the commodity). Applicants do not need to have suffered a loss or provide any supporting documentation at sign up, unless requested.

Click here to start the process or call 877-508-8364 (or local office, links below) to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance.

Additional links:

FSA Offices (numbers and locations)

CFAP2 Factsheet

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf
October 20, 2020

Reminder: October Nursery Twilight this Thursday (2 CORE-CREDITS)

Thursday, October 22nd, 2020Nursery Twilight Meeting

6:00-7:00 pm

Click here to register for the twilight meeting

Registration password: nursery

Click here to upload your government issued Photo ID and Pesticide License prior to the meeting

Please join us for a CORE (2) credit bearing session where Pat Hastings will be discussing regulatory requirements for pesticide applicator certification, recertification, and licensing in New Jersey. Administrative changes to certification, recertification, and license renewal processes in New Jersey; includes interim COVID-19 exemptions. Will walk through use of online systems in place for manuals, examinations, and license renewal; resource guide with links provided. Revisions to New Jersey pesticide regulations NJAC 7:30  (April 2020), including certification by examination and Worker Protection. Special emphasis on key differences for ag employers and trainers between NJ regulations and 2015 federal Revised Worker Protection Standard. Explanation of federal WPS training policy for COVID-19. A handout: Resources for New Jersey Licensed Pesticide Applicators will also be made available.

Note: If you uploaded materials for the September Nursery Twilight you do NOT need to for the October meeting.

Upload directions: If you click on the photo ID upload link using a smart phone/tablet you will have the option of simply taking a photo of your ID and uploading it directly into the system. Otherwise, you can scan a copy of your photo ID into a computer and follow the directions at the upload link. If you are unable to upload documentation prior to the meeting, please contact Tim Waller for assistance (twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu).

October 2020 Nursery Crop Twilight Meeting (CORE) 

NJ Pesticide License Recertification credits anticipated: CORE (2)

Online Program

5:30pm          Webinar opens and visual attendance check 

                        –Timothy Waller, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agriculture Agent for Cumberland County

(Recording begins) : Welcome Remarks

6:00pm          Pesticide Regulatory Review for Pesticide Applicators, Businesses, and Agricultural Employers

-Patricia Hastings, Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator

 (Recording ends)

7:00pm                Additional questions; Adjourn

In cooperation with the NJNLA, NJLCA, and NJCTGA

Instructions:

  • Register for event at the above link
  • Include your pesticide license number and date of birth if you would like recertification credits
  • After registration you will receive a confirmation email with a link to the actual twilight meeting.
  • Upload a copy of your government issued photo ID and pesticide license at the link above
  • Day-of: click the link in the registration confirmation email and select “join by browser-New” around 5:30pm
  • Day-of: Have your video on if you wish to obtain credits

Required to be eligible to receive pesticide applicator recertification credits for this twilight program:

1.   Attend the entire meeting with live VIDEO feed on, seated in the center of the frame. Those without a webcam or  phone attendees without a live video feed are not eligible to receive credits. Call-ins (audio only) are not eligible for pesticide recertification credits as of now; you need a computer/phone/tablet with *live* video capability. If you choose to access via your smartphone, it is recommended that it is fully charged or plugged in; and that any background applications are not running.

2.   Attendees must participate throughout the entire session, staying to the end. Individuals are not eligible for credits if they arrive after the start of the first training topic or leave before the end of the last topic. Polls will be randomly scheduled, and attendance will be visually monitored to verify attendance.

3.   In order to meet NJDEP-required identity verification requirements, each attendee must provide a copy of a Government issued photo ID (passport, driver’s license, municipal, or county ID) and their New Jersey Pesticide Applicator License as part of their registration.

Please upload files of your photo ID and applicator license to the link above as; 

      a)    “Last name_ First_ Photo ID”

      b)    “Last name_ First_ Pesticide License”

Note: Licensed applicators with a recertification period expiring October 31, 2020 or October 31, 2021 will be given an exemption from the NJDEP online credit cap of 25% and are eligible for all credits, otherwise this exemption does not apply.

Rutgers is dedicated to protecting your privacy and keeping your personal information safe.  Upon upload, your files will be encrypted and stored to Rutgers Connect. Your information will be kept strictly confidential; used solely to meet NJDEP ID verification protocol for recertification credit; and will not be used for any other purpose. Your files will be deleted within 60 days after the training event.

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf
October 13, 2020

Fall “Ask the Ag Agent” Discussion Forum Wednesday, 10/14 at 7:00PM

Farmers and others are welcome to join this bi-weekly teleconference every-other Wednesday night from 7:00pm-8:00pm in October. The 10/14/20 webinar/call in event is the 3rd of 4 events. The last webinar in this series will be on October 28th. Events are hosted by Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents working with the farming industry.

This call-in or WebEx webinar event features updates on farm management, crop conditions, farm industry observations, agricultural agency programs and other topics discussed by farmers, agricultural agents and other agricultural service providers.

Some topics for this Wednesday include:
1. Status of the New Jersey Vegetable Growers Convention in 2021
2. Fall Season Updates

Hosted by Agricultural Agents Bill Bamka, Stephen Komar, Michelle Infante-Casella and Meredith Melendez, this bi-weekly communication provides a forum for discussion for farmers and all involved in NJ agriculture, including agricultural agency personnel, non-profit organizations and others.

To join the “Ask the Ag Agent” forum each week on a computer/tablet/smartphone via the WebEx Videoconference

Click Here to Join or use the link https://go.rutgers.edu/g4v4gy0x
To Join by phone call:
+1-650-429-3300 passcode 1202639477##

For this event and other Rutgers Cooperative Extension events see the NJAES Calendar.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Nursery, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: ,