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September 2, 2022

Rabies Awareness. Be Alert to Rabies While on Vacation

During prolonged droughts, rabies cases in the wild (raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats etc.) and in feral cats and dogs is known to increase compared to prior years. As the holiday weekend ensues, and many are going to campgrounds and parks and visiting friends out of town, be alert to the presence of rabies in multiple counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and take precautions to not be bitten. If a wild animal actively chases you, do not let the animal bite you.

Livestock can and do get rabies. Cases of reports in cattle have occurred in Pennsylvania in 2022. In their March report, two cows and a horse tested positive for rabies in the state. In the last eleven years, twelve horses have tested positive for rabies in New Jersey.

2022 NJ reported rabies cases by counties link: https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/rabies_stats/rabcases2022.pdf

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/statistics/rabies-stats/

2022 PA reported rabies cases by counties. This map is from March 2022. Because in the course of a month, there has probably been a positve report of rabies in every county in Pennsylvania, assume rabies is present (still circulating in wild animals) in the county in September of 2022.  https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Animals/AHDServices/diseases/Pages/Rabies.aspx

If you are bitten by any wild animal or feral animal or even a domesticated pet or livestock, it is recommended that you:

  • Report to the local police so they are aware.
  • If a wild or feral animal, also report to Game-wildlife regional office.
  • Go to the hospital and fill out a public health notification form. This form notifies the state public health office, and a nurse will call you to advise you of the rabies monitoring period and treatment protocol.
  • Notify your local doctor as soon as possible.
  • Also, call your state reporting number so that the record of the attack is logged in their database.

Pennsylvania hotline: (717) 772-2852 / ra-ahds@pa.gov

New Jersey hotline: Contact the NJ Public Health and Environmental Laboratories, Rabies Laboratory: via email: rabies.PHEL@doh.nj.gov or. via telephone: (609) 530-8416, 671-6418 or 671-641.

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops
September 2, 2022

Rabbit Owners. Protect Wild Rabbits from Emerging Rabbit Disease

Pennsylvania has detected a case of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) case in domestic rabbits in Western Pa. This follows on the heels of a New Jersey detection in March of 2022. RHDV has been evolving and spreading in pet rabbits since cases were first detected in North America in 2000.

Because this is an emerging disease, it is possible we can limit widespread infection in domestic and wild rabbits by practicing biosecurity measures at home and not releasing or disposing of domestic rabbits into the wild.

Example Timeline of RHDV1 Strain Detections in North America | and evolution into RHDV2 Strain

  • 2000 (Iowa)
  • 2001 (Utah, Illinois, New York)
  • 2005 (Indiana)
  • 2008 (Maryland)
  • 2010 (Minnesota)
  • 2016 (Quebec, Canada) detection of the more contagious RHDV2 strain*
  • 2018 (Ohio) detection of the more contagious RHDV2 strain*
  • 2018 (Pennsylvania)
  • 2019 (Vancouver, Canada) detection of a different strain of the contagious RHDV2 strain*
  • 2019 (Washington) detection of the more contagious RHDV2 strain*
  • USDA APHIS notice on 2019 outbreak link is here
  • In recent Canadian outbreaks of RHDV2, the death rate was close to 90%.
  • 2020 Outbreak of (RHDV2) associated disease occurred in the southwestern United States following its first detection in New Mexico in March
  • 2020 (New York City, 13 cases linked to a veterinary hospital) RHDV2 strains*
  • 2022 (New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Oregon)
  • 2022 (New Jersey)

* This new strain is able to infect a wider variety of rabbit species including wild rabbits.

If you notice these symptoms in rabbits, isolate them and contact your veterinarian and your state’s Division of Animal Health. If you see dead wild rabbits that lack explanation, contact your state Game and Wildlife Division:

  • Rabbits die suddenly without symptoms
  • Rabbits have a fever
  • Rabbits are uncoordinated, excessively excited, have convulsions, paddling, or paralysis
  • Rabbits have difficulty breathing just before death
  • Rabbits have bloody discharge from nose or stools
  • Rabbits have eye hemorraghes

To protect the wild rabbit population, do not release domestic rabbits into the wild and do not dispose of dead rabbits in the wild.

For more information about measures in New Jersey see the state press release: https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/news/press/2022/approved/press220513.html

If you are traveling between or through states, be aware of the interstate-intrastate quarantine regarding domestic rabbit movements in Pennsylvania. The PA “Interstate and International Order of Quarantine is applicable to all States, Commonwealths and territories of the United States of America and any foreign country in which the dangerous transmissible disease RHD exists or there is a reasonable suspicion it exists.”

New Jersey residence who suspect RHDV2, should alert the NJDA, Division of Animal Health at 609-671-6400. The 24-hour number to report a foreign animal disease to USDA APHIS VS Area Veterinarian in Charge is 866-536-7593.

Biosecurity measures rabbit owners can take regarding Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease can be found at:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/fs-rhdv2.pdf

USDA APHIS Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Resources 

USDA (RHDV) Cleaning Guidance July 2020 

National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials (NASAHO) – RHDV Biosecurity Guidance 

NASAHO – RHDV Shows and Exhibitions Guidance 

 

 

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops
September 1, 2022

Accelerated Irrigation Funding Now Available for New Jersey Producers

SOMERSET, N.J., Sept. 1, 2022 – The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New Jersey is now accepting applications for accelerated Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) ACT NOW funding for irrigation.

Through this unique opportunity, producers and landowners can convert their existing overhead systems to low flow, high-efficiency systems such as drip or pivot which will efficiently and uniformly apply irrigation water, maintain soil moisture for plant growth, prevent contamination of ground and surface water, and improve poor plant productivity and health. Irrigation may also be combined with soil health practices to improve soil quality.

While NRCS accepts applications year-round, NRCS-NJ has established an evaluation period cut-off date for ACT NOW Irrigation funding of October 1, 2022. Applications submitted prior to the cut-off will be assessed and ranked as soon as the applicant has made treatment decisions through a conservation plan. Land offered for enrollment in EQIP must have been irrigated for at least two out of the last five years to qualify for irrigation-related conservation practices.

Based on fund availability, application assessments with a ranking score of 70 points or greater will be preapproved immediately, allowing the applicant to ACT NOW and achieve contract approval to begin practice installation without being evaluated against other submitted assessments. Application assessment ranking scores less than 70 points will be batched and funded in ranking order as funding allows.

For more details on EQIP, please contract your local USDA Service Center or visit https://www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops
August 29, 2022

Back-yard Poultry Producer Alert: HiPath Avian Influenza deaths in wild birds

On August 8th, 2022, The United States 2022 Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds reported multiple confirmations of dead black vultures in Sussex County, NJ. Today, August 29, 2022, the media has released information that a hundred dead vultures were found in the vicinity of the Sussex Branch Trail in Lafayette, NJ.

Back-yard producers in Sussex County should review their biosecurity measures to prevent avian influenza from wild birds coming in contact with their flocks.

For more information and who to contact in the NJ Department of Agriculture if you have a death in your poultry flock, see the following post https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/poultry-alert-review-implement-biosecurity-measures/

For more information on who to contact in the NJDEP if If multiple birds are found dead in a small area over a short period of time, please contact either 1-877-WARNDEP or Dr. Nicole Lewis (nicole.lewis@dep.nj.gov) for assistance. https://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/news/2022/04-19_avian_influenza.htm

Upcoming webinars and in person meetings for NJ producers (August 31 and September 26) https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/upcoming-sessions-for-backyard-poultry-owners/

Information regarding driving into a quarantine zone in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania currently has a 10 km zone along the PA/NJ border related to this detection. https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/driving-into-high-path-avian-influenza-quarantine-zones-in-pa-know-the-rules/

Filed Under: Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops
August 29, 2022

Non-herbicide Management Options for Large Crabgrass in Specialty Crops

Large crabgrass can form robust root systems thanks to its numerous tillers and capacity to root at stem nodes, allowing it to out-compete crops for moisture and nutrients.  Understanding the life cycle and biology of large crabgrass is key to figuring out the best options for its control on your farm. Learn more about non-herbicide life cycle disruptions that can be used in the development of a short and long term management plan through the large crabgrass decision tool fact sheet and an informational video. These resources are one of a five-part weed management series created by Extension Specialist Thierry Besancon and County Agricultural Agent Meredith Melendez, funded by USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant AM190100Crabgrass. Provide feedback on these resources through an online survey.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops
August 27, 2022

Parasitoids: The Hidden Backyard Beneficials

Many landscapers are familiar with the larger beneficial insects such as lady beetles, praying mantids, lacewings, and flower flies. Although common, parasitic wasps/flies (parasitoids) are examples of landscape beneficials that are typically less recognized because of their small size, and that magnification is needed for best viewing. Also many parasitoids feed unseen on the interior organs within their hosts. Although the majority of parasitoids are found in the two orders mentioned above (Hymenoptera & Diptera), there are more than 50 families that have been identified. Many of these insects do not have distinctive differences in general appearance & therefore attempting to ID the specific species or even family is not practicable for the landscaper or nursery grower. Learning about & being aware of the activity of these less observed but exceptionally important biological control organisms are photographed & reviewed in this blog.

An apparent parasitoid wasp inadvertently captured on the edge of a yellow sticky trap. Most of these adult wasps are exceptionally small & will often have a constricted waist & beaded antennae. The vast majority of observed landscape parasitoids will be wasp or fly species. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)

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