Landscape, Ornamentals, Nursery, and Turf Edition

Seasonal updates on ornamental, nursery, and turf pests.
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March 22, 2023

Immediate potential for Boxwood Blight 3/24 and 3/25 – First infection potentials

There is a potential for new boxwood blight infections this FRIDAY and SATURDAY throughout much of NJ – especially central regions. Increased temperatures and prolonged periods of leaf wetness will contribute to the spread of boxwood blight infections.

  • It is time to begin protective fungicide applications in high value areas if you have not already done so! 

  • Protective fungicide applications should remain in effect or be initiated immediately for Boxwood Blight in “Infection risk or High Risk areas”. 
  • If your area is not listed (throughout all of NJ please visit the USPEST.ORG Boxwood Blight Risk Model – CLICK HERE TO CHECK YOUR LOCAL PREDICTIONS

Boxwood Blight risk-model information, considerations, and links:

Boxwood Blight Risk Assessment as of 3/22/2023
Region Location CODE 22-Mar 23-Mar 24-Mar 25-Mar 26-Mar 27-Mar NOTES
Southern Upper Deerfield NJ50 Very Low  Low Low  Infection Risk Very Low  Very Low 
Central Howell / Freehold NJ10 Very Low  Low HIGH Risk HIGH Risk Very Low  Very Low  High prob. of first BWB infections
Northern High Point NJ59 Very Low  Very Low   Infection Risk Very Low Very Low  Very Low 
 Please check YOUR LOCAL risk (click here)

(input your area code – select closest weather station – check 7-14 prediction – click on graph / table)

These advisories are general in nature, change rapidly over time, are site-specific…therefore  Someone from your business should be using this risk model daily if boxwood is important to your financial stability– In 30 seconds you can have a better idea of boxwood blight (and other pathogen) activity in your immediate area! Please contact Tim Waller if you need help using this service (twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu), we want to help! 

Fungicides; 

  1. You very well may have these materials already applied as ‘cover-sprays’ – But – be mindful that protectant fungicides loose efficacy the more rain (or overhead irrigation) they are subjected to, and reapplication may be warranted.
  2. ROTATE between Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC codes) to avoid this pathogen becoming resistant to specific chemicals

Format: [FRAC code]: Chemical name (Trade names * no endorsement implied, other options exist)  

  • [M05]: Chlorothalonil (Daconil WS)
  • [M05 + 1] Chlorothalonil + Thiophanate methyl (Spectro 90WDG)
  • [11] Trifloxystrobin + [7] Fluopyram  (Broadform)
  • [11] Trifloxystrobin + [3] Triadimefon (Armada 50WDG)
  • [M03] Mancozeb
  • [12] Fludioxonil (Medallion WDG)
  • [3] Tebuconazole (Torque)BW

DISCLAIMER: The label is the law, always refer to it for allowable host crops, use-restrictions, application rates, reapplication intervals, re-entry intervals (REI), and mix compatibility information. Production and pesticide information on this site are for private/commercial pesticide applicators and landscape professionals only, and are NOT for home gardener use. Provided materials represent examples and do not cover all possible control scenarios. Trade-names listed do not imply endorsement and are used as examples only. Please contact your local agent or chemical sales representative for more information or to discuss additional pest management options.

Resources 

Background on the pathogen: 

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
March 15, 2023

In-Person Pesticide Exams for April

The Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education has scheduled multiple opportunities to take pesticide exams before the growing season (excerpted & linked below) at the Pesticide Applicator Certification Exam Registration (PACER) webpage at https://pacer.rutgers.edu/examcalendar.php. If you prefer to take your exams in-person, April will be your last opportunity because the next scheduled in-person exam is […]
Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops
March 14, 2023

Updated 2023 Pest Scouting Guides are up – Getting prepared for the season ahead

The updated Pest Scouting Guides are here, and have a few improvements that enable YOU to share what YOU are seeing in the field with RCE.

Please click, download, and print these scouting guides for use at your nursery, landscape, or conifer plantation. Once printed you can scan the QR at the top of document to link back to the digital copy. These are much larger documents than 2022, as they are sorted by GDD, NEW-Insect “Group”, and by NEW-“favored host plants”. 

Nursery and Landscape Pest Scouting Guide – Scouting with Growing Degree-days (GDD) 2023 (click here)

Conifer and Christmas Tree Pest Scouting Guide – Scouting with Growing Degree-days (GDD) 2023 (click here)

Refer to this post “Obtaining your local growing degree-days (GDD)” for additional information (click here)  or contact Tim Waller twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu for help.

It is important to note that the GDD ranges do not replace scouting and that many of these GDD ranges have not been validated in New Jersey and would greatly benefit from local feedback. Therefore you will notice a QR code at the bottom of the cover-page. If you scan this code it will take you to a form that asks for details about pest occurrence, host plants, any observations, and after you submit your comments it allows the user to upload photographs. This is also a great place to leave feedback on what you would like to see in future iterations (such as pictures…).

PLEASE REPORT – pest observations that deviate from the stated GDD ranges in the guides

PLEASE SHARE PICTURES OF PESTS – we are working to develop insect ID pocket guides and other resources for our NJ growers…but we need your help

LONT – Comment and Photo upload REPORTING LINK (click here) 

Conifer – Comment and Photo upload REPORTING LINK (click here) 

If you would like to interact with the raw data yourself or incorporate it more closely into your businesses needs download this data file (click here) (file will download once clicked!). Please note it is a Microsoft Excel file, that is protected / cannot be modified on all but the two sheets labeled “GDD ACCU”. If you would like help with this or a non-protected file please contact twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu.

 

Regular updates will be utilizing this resource throughout the 2023 season. Have a great Spring Season everyone.  

 

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
March 13, 2023

The 2022 Census of Agriculture – There’s Still Time To Be Counted!

New Jersey farmers still have time to be counted in the 2022 Census of Agriculture, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Although the deadline for submitting the ag census has just passed, NASS will continue to accept completed census questionnaires through the spring to ensure all farmers and ranchers take advantage of the opportunity to be represented in the widely used data.

“My sincere appreciation goes to producers who have already completed the census. We want to partner with New Jersey producers to show the importance of New Jersey agriculture,” said NASS New Jersey State Statistician Bruce Eklund. “There is strength in numbers. The time to do your part is now. There is still time for farmers to respond.”

NASS will continue to follow up with producers throughout the spring with mailings, phone calls, and personal visits. Farmers and ranchers are encouraged to complete their ag census either online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail as soon as possible.

Federal law under Title 7 USC 2204(g) Public Law 105-113 mandates that everyone who received the 2022 Census of Agriculture questionnaire complete and return it, even if they are not currently farming. The same law requires NASS to keep all submissions confidential, use the information for statistical purposes only, and publish aggregate data to prevent disclosing the identity of any individual producer or farm operation.

If you need a survey code or questionnaire, please contact the USDA, NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office, 4050 Crums Mill Rd., Suite 203, Harrisburg, PA 17112; Phone – 717-787-3904; eFax – 1-855-270-2719; or Email – nassrfoner@usda.gov.

NASS will release the results of the ag census in early 2024. To learn more about the Census of Agriculture, visit nass.usda.gov/AgCensus. On the website, producers and other data users can access frequently asked questions, past ag census data, special study information, and more. For highlights of these and the latest information, follow USDA NASS on Twitter at @usda_nass.

NASS is the federal statistical agency responsible for producing official data about U.S. agriculture and is committed to providing timely, accurate, and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
March 13, 2023

White Pine Weevil: Overwintering Adults Become Active in March & April

Many arborists & landscapers often find it difficult to prevent white pine weevil pests (Pissodes strobi), because they are typically applying fertilizer & dormant oil treatments during the control window. In the state of NJ, the control window against feeding white pine weevil adults occurs in March & April. Adults over-winter in the duff beneath trees. The WPW adults will often crawl or sometimes fly to the top terminal leaders of pine, spruce, or Douglas-fir trees. Eastern white pine & Norway spruce species are the most severely attacked & the death of the terminal leaders of these trees will often occur.

Treatment timing is critical with this pest and controlling the adult female before egg laying is necessary. Apply preventative sprays (e.g., pyrethroids) only to the terminal leaders during this time. Before mating & egg laying, adults will feed by chewing holes within the central leader & cause a characteristic pitch flow that becomes white in color when dry. Then females will lay eggs in new cut-out holes within the top 12 inches of the leader just below the terminal bud. This blog will describe with the help of photographs the 7-stage lifecycle of this native weevil borer. Control & management options will also be provided.   

Beetle on stem

White pine weevil adults are about 1/4+ inch long & have a long snout with two white spots on back of wing covers. Adults feed at terminal leaders during March & April. Most eggs will then be laid during April & May. (Photo Credit: Michigan State University)

 

Infected pine tree

Severe white pine weevil infestations to terminal leaders can destroy two or more years worth of growth to pine, spruce, & Douglas-fir trees. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Plant Diagnostic Lab
March 10, 2023

2023 Pre-Season Farm Labor Meetings to be Held Soon

Sponsored by NJ Farm Bureau and Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension, two opportunities for farmers to learn about seasonal updates for farm labor will take place at two different locations. See below:

When: Wednesday, March 22, 7-9pm

Where: Cumberland County Rutgers Cooperative Extension Office, 291 Morton Ave., Millville, NJ


When: Thursday, March 30, 7-9pm

Where: Atlantic County Rutgers Cooperative Extension Office, 6260 Old Harding Highway, Mays Landing, NJ 08360

These meeting will consist of presentations on regulations pertaining to farm labor. The presenters will be from the Department of Labor, NJ DEP Pesticide Control Program, and NJFB. The topics discussed will be as follows. This will be an opportunity to ask any questions you may have going into the growing season.

• Worker Protection Standards Overview of new EPA WPS rules-NJ DEP Bureau of Pesticide Control
• Federal Labor Regulations Update & Overview of MSPA, FLSA and transportation -US Dept. of Labor
• NJ Labor Regulations Update & Overview Wage and Hour and paid sick leave -NJ Dept. of Labor
• Farm Bureau update

NJ DEP Licensed Pesticide Applicators can receive 1 CORE Recertification Credit for attending this event. 

For additional information contact: Ben Casella, New Jersey Farm Bureau, 609-393-7163

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,