Landscape, Ornamentals, Nursery, and Turf Edition

Seasonal updates on ornamental, nursery, and turf pests.
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Rutgers Turf Blog - Articles on turfgrass diseases and cultural practices for the commercial turfgrass industry. Subscription available via RSS.

 

Rutgers Weather Forecasting - Meteorological Information important to commercial agriculture.

April 15, 2024

2024 National Agritourism Survey

The 2024 National Agritourism Survey is now collecting responses. All agricultural operations that welcome visitors—whether for on-farm direct sales, educational programs, entertainment, farm stays, recreation, special events, and more—are invited to complete the survey.

By participating in this survey, you’ll help us pinpoint the types of support farmers like you require—whether it’s getting business assistance, developing networks, applying for grants, or navigating zoning and liability issues.

If you have questions about this survey, please contact Claudia Schmidt, a Penn State Extension specialist (cschmidt@psu.edu).

To complete the survey click here.

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
April 11, 2024

Last Minute Reminder – Tonight – Annual NJ Farm Labor Regulatory Update in Mays Landing

7pm tonight, Thurs, April 11, 2024
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Atlantic County office
6260 Old Harding Hwy
Mays Landing, NJ 08330

  • in collaboration with NJ Farm Bureau, we bring in representatives from the US and NJ Dept of Labor, and several other speakers dealing with agricultural labor issues. Hope you can join us.

 

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , ,
April 11, 2024

Survey about Farmer Stress

Cultivemos is a Cooperative Extension Regional Cohort and in the Northeast Region we are working diligently to help alleviate stress and burnout in the agricultural industry. To best understand what materials and resources would be most beneficial for industry members we are conducting a survey.

There are not currently a lot of resources in this space in New Jersey, so it is important that NJ is represented in this survey, please take a minute to complete it. You may be entered to win a $50 gift card for completing the survey. Also enclosed is a fact sheet about managing stress and burnout.

For more information and to participate, enter one of the anonymous links below:

https://wvu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d3Tc5nofBzLZf2S or https://bit.ly/Cultivemos

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
April 10, 2024

Immediate Potential for Boxwood Blight Throughout NJ THIS WEEK

Boxwood Blight Risk Assessment as of 4/10/2024
Region Location CODE 10-Apr 11-Apr 12-Apr 13-Apr 14-Apr 15-Apr
Southern Upper Deerfield NJ50 Very Low  Minor Risk  High Risk Very Low  Very Low  Very Low 
Central Howell / Freehold NJ10 Low  Low   High Risk Very Low  Very Low  Very Low 
Northern High Point NJ59 Very Low   High Risk  VERY High Risk Very Low  Very Low  Very Low 
W TH F S Sun M
 Please check YOUR LOCAL risk (click here)

There is a potential for boxwood blight infections this Thursday and Friday  throughout ALL of NJ. Incoming rains, coupled with consistent temperatures may initiate boxwood blight infections this week.

  • It is time to begin protective fungicide applications in boxwoods throughout the state if you have not already done so.

  • If BWB is important to your business – Use the USPEST – PUSH Alerts – (click here) – to setup weekly email alerts. Create an account, watch the tutorial, and then set up your subscriptions. You select which locations (as many as you like), days you want to receive emails (pick Sunday/Monday), and what you would like to receive alerts about (BWB and a variety of other pests and diseases). Rutgers is not directly affiliated, however this is an incredible tool. 

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Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
April 8, 2024

Pesticide Storage Inventory Due May 1st: Download Rutgers Templates

All licensed pesticide applicators, as well as dealers, who store pesticides are required by law to send a copy of their storage inventor(ies) with an explanatory cover letter to the local fire company by May 1st each year. In New Jersey, all licensed pesticide applicators and dealers who store pesticides are required per N.J.A.C. 7:30-9.5 […]
Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops
April 6, 2024

Dormant Oil Applications for Landscapes

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