Landscape, Ornamentals, Nursery, and Turf Edition
Seasonal updates on ornamental, nursery, and turf pests.
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Resources for New Jersey Licensed Private Pesticide Applicators & Growers – 2022 Meetings Tools for Regulatory Compliance
Sign Up By June 30 to Receive the 2022 Census of Agriculture
Agricultural producers who did not receive the 2017 Census of Agriculture and do not receive other USDA surveys or censuses have until June 30 to sign up to receive the 2022 Census of Agriculture. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will mail ag census survey codes for responding securely online to every known U.S. producer this November. Hard copy questionnaires will follow in December.
The ag census, conducted for over 180 years, remains the only source of comprehensive and impartial agricultural data for every state and county in the nation. It includes every operation – large or small, urban or rural – from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products are produced and sold, or would normally be produced and sold, in the ag census year.
“The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them,” said Bruce Eklund, state statistician of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), New Jersey Field Office. “Every response is important. The Census of Agriculture is only taken once every five years and documents the value of America’s rural and urban farmers and ranchers. When it comes to Agriculture, people seek information about the local level. Help us document the importance of agriculture in your area.”
On the NASS webpage, producers can also access frequently asked questions, explore past and current ag census data, access tools to help spread the word about the upcoming ag census, learn about ag census special studies, and more.
NASS builds its distribution list for every Census of Agriculture between and during ag census through the official sign-up webpage and multiple National Agricultural Classification Surveys. To learn more about the 2022 Census of Agriculture, visit their website or call the NASS New Jersey Field Office at 503-308-0404.
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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.
Native White Birches & Their Resistance to the Bronze Birch Borer
The Dilemma Regarding Birch Trees
Bronze birch borer adult female laying an egg on the bark surface of a birch tree. (Photo Credit: Ohio State Coop. Ext.)
Bronze Birch Borer (Agrilus anxius) adults (440-800 GDD) are now actively searching landscapes for various species of Betula (Birch) to lay eggs upon. The adult beetles will be attracted to susceptible trees that are genetically defenseless or are compromised from stress (e.g., especially drought stress).
It is well known that the native River Birch (Betula nigra) has a strong resistance against the BBB. As a result, this species has been extensively planted in NJ landscapes during the past few decades to the extent of arguably being over-planted. And it is also widely understood that the non-native Asian & European birch species have virtually no or little resistance to the BBB. Therefore, the planting of these non-natives has rightfully been reduced over the decades. However, what about some of our other native species such as the paper, gray, & yellow birches. Is it best to avoid planting these species as well?
River birch (Betula nigra) is a native birch that is strongly resistant to the bronze birch borer. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop.Ext.)
Is it best to avoid planting other native birch trees in our landscapes, such as the gray birch shown above? (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
Crop Progress and Hessian Fly Sightings
June 8, 2022 Salem County, NJ
Salem County has experienced nearly two weeks of ideal temperatures in the mid 80’s to low 90’s allowing for a considerable amount of soybean acreage to be planted, and hay acreage harvested. Rye for grain harvest is nearly complete and barley will soon follow. With a 72-hour forecast of one inch to one and a half inch expected, many producers have switched back to planting as the window to make dry hay closes.
Corn: Early planted corn is near canopy and in very good condition. Surface moisture is adequate but at this stage of rapid stem elongation, rain is needed to replenish the two inches of rain received at the end of May but less than a tenth of an inch in the last week. Overall, most of Salem County received in excess of 12 inches of rain in the last 90 days ending June 6, which is over an inch and a half more than the average for this period of the growing season and substantially more than the drought stressed crops in Cape May County that are experiencing a 75% deficit in moisture for the last seven days. Corn planted into standing rye and other late terminated cover crops is lagging behind tilled fields due to moisture competition and carbon sink, but overall flushes of seedling broadleaves are not present indicating preemergence programs are working effectively.
Soybeans: Full season soybean planting is nearly complete. Emerged beans are ahead of seedling flushes of pigweeds but behind giant ragweed in areas where ragweed is present. Expect amaranth species weed pressure to increase significantly after this weekend’s forecasted rain.
Wheat: Wheat is drying down rapidly and in overall good to excellent condition. In areas where irrigated wheat is already yellow and evidence of wind damage is visible, Hessian Fly is the most likely culprit as seen in this photograph taken in a dough stage field. Flowering canada thistle seen in wheat that will be double cropped with soybeans should be de-headed to prevent seed dispersal prior to harvesting. In enlarging patches, consider a spot-treatment (sacrificing soybean) of a growth regulator herbicide if prior treatments of glyphosate products have not limited spread.
About Hessian Fly: Mayetiola destructor (Say) is a grain pest in the Cecidomyiidae family. It is a major cause of wheat yield reduction around the world. The fly forms galls on the underside of wheat leaves that protect the feeding larva from efficacious applications of insecticides. In addition to wheat, Hessian fly can be found in rye, barley and in brome grasses (and reedscanary). Bromes are a major composition of the grasses in this area. Egg hatched occurred when temperatures were above 50 degrees earlier this season.
https://www.weather.gov/marfc/Precipitation_Departures
If producer’s noticed patches of dark green areas of wheat (barley) in the same fields now infested with flies or where lodging is increasingly evident, these are an indicator of where the larva were pupating.
Larval feeding after stem elongation causes lodging. Feeding damage can also cause failure to produce a seed head, and a reduce seeds per spike and light test weight. – Journal of Integrated Pest Management, September 2018 article.
The adult swarm seen today are emerging after fourteen days of ideal weather above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Now that flies are present, they will lay eggs over the course of the next week.
Due to climate change, it is possible that there could be three emergences of Hessian Fly this year. Southern states see as many as six generations. Generally, in northern states past recommendations have suggested the fly has an emergence in the spring and again in the fall. But in southern states emergences occur in multiples of one, two three in spring, and again in fall. Which is where management strategies come into play. Knowing the number of emergences in our area can help producers calculate if delayed planting will assist with controlling a two brood a year emergence or if it is unlikely to help with multiples of brood emergences. Wind plays a major role in dispersal from infected fields to non-infected fields. Due to cover crop program planting dates for small grains, producers with Hessian Fly issues should talk to their local NRCS office to make sure program planting dates take into account the local Hessian Fly Free dates for fall of 2022.
What to do now: Producers can identify Hessian Fly by looking for swirling clouds of insects that look like white smoke coming out of the wheat canopy. Swatting the swarm will trap flies on the palm of the hand for easier identification. The female fly has a distinctive orange striping to her abdomen. Hessian flies are orange and black banded compared to the overall all orange appearance of wheat midges. At this stage, the flies have already pupated through the larval stage, which already damaged the wheat crop by tunneling into the stems. Most likely lodging is evident nearby.
What producers can do to plan for next year: Hessian fly was most likely introduced to North America in infected straw bedding. Straw from infested fields may still contain larva. The fly and larva are not considered a pest of stored grain. The larva pupate in the axis of the leaf stem. Cutting straw stubble below the leaf nodes and removing it from the field may help in management as the Hessian Fly larva overwinter inside a flax-seed like cocoon (puparia) at the base of infected plants. Plant resistant cultivars, delay planting dates if this year’s infestation is associated with an earlier planting date, destroy volunteer wheat, and manage brome grasses in field edges and within field when possible.
Hessian Fly Free Planting Dates in Southern New Jersey: “In Maryland, plant wheat following the Hessian fly-free date for your area. This date is approximately September 30 for the Hagerstown area and becomes progressively later as you move from the south and east in the state. The fly-free date is October 13 on the Lower Eastern Shore.” – Read more in 10 STEPS TO PROFITABLE WHEAT PRODUCTION in the Maryland Agronomy News.
Additional considerations for producers planting winter wheat – double crop soybeans-winterwheat: “Growers should avoid planting wheat into last season’s wheat stubble. Continuous no-tillage, wheat-double-cropped-soybeans may result in severe problems and should be avoided in Hessian fly problem areas.” – https://www.farmprogress.com/grains/hessian-fly-resistance-threat-southeast-wheat
Source information. For a detailed publication on Hessian Fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) Biology and Management in Wheat visit Journal of Integrated Pest Management, (2018) 9(1): 14; 1–12 issue.
Salem County Producers, if you are seeing signs of Hessian Fly lodging, contact Melissa Bravo at the Salem County Extension Office so fields can be monitored in the fall to determine the Hessian Fly Free dates for this area.
Questioning the Plant Stress Hypothesis
Definition
The Plant Stress Hypothesis generally states that plants subjected to stressful conditions become more susceptible to attack by insects and diseases. This is often thought to be due to the plant’s increased suitability as a food or due to the reduced ability of the stressed plant to defend itself. It is commonly believed that when a plant is stressed it becomes better food for “bugs.” Is it correct to state that plant stress leads to pest outbreaks, or is the statement too simplistic?
The Experiments
A publication written in 1998 (Koricheva et. al.) summarized approximately 70 controlled experiments that were performed to study how distinct types of plant stresses affected insect/mite attacks. Diverse types of environmental stresses were included in these studies (e.g., drought stress, waterlogged roots, ozone exposure, excess shade, as well as many others). Plant nutrient stress & insect impacts has been researched but was not performed within these studies.
Plant roots stressed from waterlogged soils were included in these studies. Research also included other types of environmental stresses such as excess shade & ozone exposure. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
Dogwood leaves scorched from environmental drought stress. How does this plant stress impact insect herbivores? (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
Bagworm hatch & Boxwood Blight potential now through Friday
Boxwood Blight (BWB) Alert – Infection Potential (Now – FRIDAY)
There is a potential for new boxwood blight infections throughout much of NJ. The end of week rains coupled with more mild temperatures, cloud cover, and prolonged periods of leaf wetness will contribute to the spread or worsening of boxwood blight infections.
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It is time to begin or continue protective fungicide applications in high value areas if you have not already done so!
- My BWB alerts will be less frequent over the summer, given the importance of other issues, and the availability of the Boxwood Blight Risk Model that will give you hyper localized predictions. CLICK HERE TO CHECK YOUR LOCAL BWB PREDICTIONS (takes 2 minutes and can save a crop or installation)
| Boxwood Blight Risk Assessment as of 5/24/2022 | ||||||||
| Region | Location | CODE | 1-June | 2-June | 3-June | 4-June | 5-June | 6-June |
| Southern | Upper Deerfield | NJ50 | Very Low | Infection Risk | Infection Risk | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low |
| Central | Howell / Freehold | NJ10 | Infection Risk | Infection Risk | Infection Risk | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low |
| Northern | High Point | NJ59 | Infection Risk | Infection Risk | Infection Risk | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low |
| Check local boxwood blight risk here (CLICK HERE – input your area code – select closest weather station – check 7-14 prediction – click on graph / table) | ||||||||
ALSO: Volutella Blight is extremely common and readily mis-diagnosed as boxwood blight or vise-versa.
- There is a free / open to the public seminar June 23, 2022 about this important disease. Boxwood International Seminar on Biology and Management of Boxwood Volutella Blight by Prof. Tom Hsiang, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Registration Link: Click here to register
Pest Scouting – Please refer to these documents for a full listing of insects pests for your area corresponding to growing degree-days (GDDs).
- Nursery and Landscape Pest Scouting Guide 2022 PDF (note this contains conifer pests as well)
- Conifer Pest Scouting Guide 2022 PDF
Bagworm hatch is upon us in Southern NJ and will soon be /already the case throughout NJ. Please be ready to control these insects during the VERY SHORT treatment window.
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| BAGWORMS (600-900 GDD) (Bagworm hatch prediction as of 6/1/22) | ||||||
| Crop type | Common Name | Scientific Name | GDD Min (50F) | GDD Max (95F) | Reference | Developmental / Target Stage |
| Conifer mostly, many minor hosts | Bagworm | Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis | 600 | 900 | RU | Larvae (early instars) – ONLY CONTROL WINDOW |
| Region | Location | Station | Date (600 GDD) | Date (900 GDD) | Treatment window | Bagworm Hatch – Predictions only, SCOUTING is critical! Treat as soon as larvae detected. |
| South | Upper Deerfield | NJ50 | 30-May | 12-Jun | 13 days | |
| Central | Howell / Freehold | NJ10 | 3-Jun | 18-Jun | 15 days | |
| North | High Point | NJ59 | 14-Jun | 30-Jun | 16 days | |
