Cicadas are Here, There and Everywhere (Depending where you are): 17 year cicadas began emergence last week. These insects while a marvel in the insect world, are also capable of doing considerable damage to young fruit trees, grape vines, and blueberry bushes. After mating they begin to deposit their eggs in slits along small diameter branches. Thin branches which are loaded with fruit weight and damaged by egg laying can break. Some growers have asked about damage and what they can do to prevent it. Most egg laying is starting this week.
Landscape, Ornamentals, Nursery, and Turf Edition
Seasonal updates on ornamental, nursery, and turf pests.
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Rutgers Weather Forecasting - Meteorological Information important to commercial agriculture.
May 26, 2021 Tim Waller
Immediate potential for boxwood blight in many parts of NJ over the next 4 days
Breaking- Due to the potential for rainfall and high humidity levels, there is an immediate risk of boxwood blight infections in many parts of New Jersey. Be mindful that even though we have had very little precipitation in the state as of late, we are well within the boxwood blight growth range and prior cover-sprays may have been washed off by irrigation or the interval to reapply has come due.
Preventative spray programs should continue or be initiated for high value crops or installations.
| Boxwood Blight Risk Assessment as of 5/26/2021 | ||||||||
| Region | Location | CODE | 26-May | 27-May | 28-May | 29-May | 30-May | 31-May |
| Southern | Upper Deerfield | NJ50 | Infection Risk | Infection Risk | Very Low | Low | Very Low | Very Low |
| Central | Howell / Freehold | NJ10 | Low | Infection Risk | Very Low | Low | Very Low | Very Low |
| Northern | High Point | NJ59 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low |
| Please check your local boxwood blight risk here (click here and type in your area code – select closest station) | ||||||||
These advisories are general in nature and change rapidly so someone from your business should be using this risk model (CLICK HERE) 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!
- (click on the link – input area code – select closest weather station – check 7-14 prediction – click on graph / table)
Fungicide options;
- You very well may have these materials already applied as ‘cover-sprays’ – But – be mindful that protectant fungicides lose efficacy the more rain/irrigation they are subjected to, and reapplication may be warranted especially if the reapplication interval has come due.
- ROTATE between Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC codes) whenever possible
Format: [FRAC code]: Chemical name (Trade names)
- [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)
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.
May 25, 2021 Meredith Melendez
Keep Up the Customer Communication!
Now that the dates have been set for the lifting of the face covering requirements indoors and social distancing requirements indoors and out (May 28th) farms have decisions to make. What will you require of your customers while on your property? How will you handle customers who expect more or less when it comes to COVID protections? The CDC recommends that those not fully vaccinated should continue to socially distance themselves from others and wear a mask, but these are no longer requirements under state Executive Orders. Here are some suggestions on how to prepare your employees and customers for their experiences on your farm this season.
1. Communicate your farm policies regarding COVID protections clearly online and on the farm.
2. If you choose to no longer require masks indoors at the farm be understanding of customers who may choose to wear a mask. “Mask-free” environments are not enforceable, those who wish to wear masks must be allowed to do so.
3. When possible continue to provide order ahead and pick-up of items sold at your farm. This allows those who are unvaccinated or wary of those who are unmasked to still be able to shop at your farm.
4. Prepare your staff on how to handle disgruntled customers. Who is the right person at the farm to handle these situations? Have a plan on who and how you will respond to these situations.
5. Realize that you will not make everyone happy. The best you can do is decide what your masking and social distancing policies are, stick to them, and communicate the heck out of them.
Important dates:
May 28th – Indoor mask mandate lifted. Businesses may require customers to wear masks indoors, but it is no longer mandated. 6’ social distancing required indoors lifted. Businesses may still enforce 6’ of social distancing. This does not apply to summer camp settings with children.
June 4th – Indoor gathering limits lifted.
May 25, 2021 Rick VanVranken
Letter from Secretary Fisher Regarding Governor’s Executive Order #242 Lifting Major COVID-19 Restrictions
NJ Governor Murphy signed Executive Order #242 lifting major COVID-19 restrections and moving forward with the state’s most significant reopening steps to date. Indoor mask mandates and 6ft social distancing requirements will be lifted this Friday, May 28, and indoor gathering/capacity limits will be lifted on June 4. Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher has provided a summary of the changes that may impact agriculture operations. The full text of his letter is attached here.
May 25, 2021 Tim Waller
Do you have Phytophthora at your conifer nursery / Christmas tree farm? We are still looking for a few more participants in a statewide study – aimed at better RECS.
Update: We are still looking for a few more participants in a state-wide Phytophthora sampling project. If you would like to participate please please respond via this brief survey (click here)
Tim Waller (Cumberland Co.) and Bill Errickson (Monmouth Co.) of Rutgers Cooperative Extension are looking for 30 conifer producers to collaborate in a statewide Phytophthora sampling project, as part of a Specialty Crop Block Grant. This study will focus on identifying the species of Phytophthora limiting conifer production in New Jersey.
- If your operation is selected, the agents will schedule one to three visits this growing season to collect samples from roots, bark, soil, irrigation systems, and will perform soil testing (Year 1).
- During years 2 and 3, we will be performing chemical, biological, and cultural disease management trials in addition to conifer variety trials, at Rutgers-NJAES experiment stations. The aim is to generate local data – using local isolates in order to develop a more wholistic set of recommendations when targeting this disease in our NJ nurseries.
The agents also look forward to developing stronger relationships throughout New Jersey in the post-COVID19 era
This project is open to nurseries and Christmas tree farms producing conifers in NJ
If you are interested in this project – please respond via this brief survey (click here)
Please print and share this PDF survey with anyone not online (click here)
Please contact Tim Waller – twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu – (856-451-2800) – for more information
May 24, 2021 Rick VanVranken
Reminder – Virtual DOH/DOL/NJDA “Ag Stakeholder Engagement Call” 2pm, May 25
NJ Secretary of Agriculture Doug Fisher has shared this attached letter inviting the agricultural community to join a virtual “Ag Stakeholder Engagement Call” on May 25 at 2:00 p.m. Hosted by the Departments of Health, Labor and Agriculture, the Commissioners and Secretary will discuss NJ’s response to COVID-19, provide updates on mitigation efforts and guidance, provide science-based information on the COVID vaccines, and answer questions.
This is a virtual Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app: Click here to join the meeting
Or call in (audio only): +1 856-338-7074,,487903588# United States, Camden
Phone Conference ID: 487 903 588#
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