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.
Resources for Attendees of 2023 Central Jersey Vegetable Growers Meeting
December Prices Received by Farmers Data
The ‘December Prices Received by Farmers’ section of the USDA NASS Agriculture Prices publication contains useful price-margins-costs of production forecasting information for producers.
The report highlights prices received by farmers for principal crops, livestock and livestock products; indexes of prices received by farmers; feed price ratios; indexes of prices paid by farmers; and parity prices. Historical data covering years 1910-60 reported in 1962 publication.
To access the December report go to: https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/c821gj76b/gx41nx339/2b88rs02s/agpr0123.txt
Future reports will be released on: Upcoming releases:Feb 28 2023 3:00 PM. Mar 31 2023 3:00 PM. Apr 28 2023 3:00 PM. May 31 2023 3:00 PM. Jun 30 2023 3:00 PM. Jul 28 2023 3:00 PM. Aug 31 2023 3:00 PM. Sep 29 2023 3:00 PM. Oct 31 2023 3:00 PM. Nov 30 2023 3:00 PM. Dec 29 2023 3:00 PM.
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.
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.
Help PA stop Hipath Avian Influenza spread. Sanitize vehicle tires, boots.
With increasing numbers of positive flock detections in Lancaster County, PA, and circulation of the virus in wild birds, please remember to wash farm truck vehicle tires and implement footwear-vehicle-pedal sanitation steps when driving to/from the feed mills, seed stores, and farm machinery dealers located in this region of Pennsylvania. Map current as of 2-22-2023.
The following link will take you to the control zone maps for current detections in Pennsylvania.
https://padeptag.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=a9066a3d68a443a08043766cb84bf4ae
Additional information on protecting your backyard flock from exposure to Hipath avian influenza can be found in prior Plant Pest Advisory posts, and at the USDA website, ‘Defend the Flock’. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/defend-the-flock-program/defend-the-flock-program
Mild winter, what does it mean for overseeding of turf or dormant seeding?
Typically, turf management isn’t on top of the to-do list in mid-February. But winter in New Jersey isn’t typical typical this year. The statewide average temperature in January 2023 was 41.0°, which was 9.3° above the 1991–2020 normal and ties with 1932 as the mildest January since records commenced in 1895. For more details on […]
