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.
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May 25, 2021 Rick VanVranken
Letter from Secretary Fisher Regarding Governor’s Executive Order #242 Lifting Major COVID-19 Restrictions
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#
Find a local number | Reset PIN | Learn More | Meeting options
May 21, 2021 Steven K. Rettke
Landscape Pest Notes: Some Late-Spring Insects (Part 2)
Since there are still over 4-weeks before the official start of summer, the accumulation of growing-degree-days (GDD) will continue to accelerate over the next several weeks. Many of our landscape insect pests will be rapidly emerging and be entering their best control windows before they potentially cause feeding symptoms. This writing contains part 2 of 2 parts of only a handful of the many late spring landscape insect pests that require monitoring. Some could more properly be called mid-spring pests, especially in southern NJ. Those included within part 2 of this blog are: Taxus mealybug; Boxwood leaf miner; Aphid species and Bronze birch borer.
The late spring weeks in the landscape means full plant leaf emergence & many flowers plus increasing insect activity. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
May 20, 2021 Rick VanVranken
Ag Community Invited to Join a Virtual DOH/DOL/NJDA “Ag Stakeholder Engagement Call” on May 25 at 2:00 p.m.
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#
Find a local number | Reset PIN | Learn More | Meeting options
May 20, 2021 Steven K. Rettke
Landscape Pest Notes: Some Late Spring Insects (Part 1)
Since there are still nearly 5-weeks before the official start of summer, the accumulation of growing-degree-days (GDD) will continue to accelerate over the next several weeks. Many of our landscape insect pests will be rapidly emerging and be entering their best control windows before they potentially cause feeding symptoms. This writing contains part 1 of 2 parts of only a handful of the many late spring landscape insect pests that require monitoring. Some could more properly be called mid-spring pests, especially in southern NJ. Those included within part 1 of this blog are: Four-lined plant bug; Douglas-fir needle midge; Pine needle scale; & Elongate hemlock scale.
The late spring weeks in the landscape means full plant leaf emergence & many flowers plus increasing insect activity. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
