Kudos to fellow Rutgers Professor/County Agent William Hlubik, and congratulations to his team for getting a spotlight on our aging American farmers! The need for new farmers, and the great Rutgers Cooperative Extension and other programs out there that assist those beginner farmers, was the topic of a special segment of CBS Evening News ‘Eye on America’ last week. It’s been exciting to watch the enthusiastic students graduating from Bill’s RU Ready to Farm program with the knowledge and resources to make farming a successful career choice. Thanks to CBS Evening News for covering this important topic! You can watch the clip here:
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August 5, 2024 Rick VanVranken
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Beginner Farmer Training Program In National News Spotlight
July 22, 2024 Tim Waller
UPDATE – Box tree moth confirmed at private residence in Kent County DE. BE ON THE LOOKOUT
UPDATE: Box Tree Moth has been positively confirmed in Kent County – DE. PLEASE BE VIGILANT
Click here to see the original link from DE.gov (write-up with more photos) “The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) has confirmed a find of box tree moth (BTM; Cydalima perspectalis) at a private residence in Kent County, Delaware. The box tree moth is a federally regulated pest that primarily feeds on boxwood species (Buxus spp.)”
Box Tree Moth poses a serious threat to boxwood production, maintenance, and export.
If you think you see this on Boxwoods in the landscape, garden, commercial locations, parking lots, anywhere boxwoods are growing – we want to know!!
If you see, or think you see this pest, or its damages in New Jersey please contact:
- RCE -Cumberland Co. Nursery Agent: Tim Waller – twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu
- or
- Nursery Inspection Program Manager: Sarah Katzenbach – sarah.katzenbach@ag.nj.gov (609) 406-6939
Please educate yourself about this in-bound pest here – Resources:
- Prior PPA post regarding expanding quarantines
- Video: Click here for- “Demystifying Box Tree Moth” – HRI
- Factsheet: Box Tree Moth: Fact Sheet, Management & Visual Guide
- OSU Guide: What to look for with Box Tree (Boxwood) Moth
- [Draft] Compliance agreement: National Plant Board – Box Tree Moth
July 18, 2024 Pat Hastings
EPA Releases Proposed Protections for Pesticide Malathion: Public Comment Period Opens
[USEPA OPP. 7/18/2024]. Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing the Proposed Interim Registration Review Decision (PID) for the pesticide malathion. The PID proposes mitigation measures to reduce potential ecological risks. The malathion PID—as well as the revised Human Health Draft Risk Assessment and Ecological Draft Risk Assessment released earlier this year—will be […]
July 15, 2024 Pat Hastings
EPA Announces New, Earlier Protections for People from Pesticide Spray Drift
WASHINGTON – Today, July 15, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is putting protections in place sooner for farmworkers, their families, and the general public near where pesticides are applied. EPA will now assess the potential for people to be exposed to a pesticide when it drifts away from where it is applied earlier in the […]
July 15, 2024 Tim Waller
Box Tree Moth on the Horizon – BE VIGILANT NOW, like right now – Resources
Box Tree Moth poses a serious threat to boxwood production, maintenance, and export.
Please educate yourself on this important in-bound pest. It is CRITICALY IMPORTANT we stay on top of this issue – as it can cause devastation on par with, or worse than, boxwood blight. We are not looking to cause alarm – just being pragmatic about this spreading invasive pest.
If you think you see this in the landscape, gardens, commercial locations, parking lots, anywhere boxwoods are growing we want to know!!
If you see, or think you see this pest, or its damages in New Jersey please contact:
- RCE -Cumberland Co. Nursery Agent: Tim Waller – twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu
- or
- Nursery Inspection Program Manager: Sarah Katzenbach – sarah.katzenbach@ag.nj.gov (609) 406-6939
Resources:
July 10, 2024 Pat Hastings
EPA Announces Update on Atrazine (with editorial note on NJ)
[7/8/2024]. Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing an update to the level at which atrazine is expected to adversely affect aquatic plants. The new revised atrazine concentration of 9.7 micrograms per liter (µg/L), which was derived following an August 2023 peer review, will be used to develop a revised regulatory decision to […]
