The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today that additional specialty crops, including nursery crops and cut flowers, are covered by the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) and that the deadline to apply for the program is extended to September 11th. [Read more…]
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Seasonal updates on ornamental, nursery, and turf pests.
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August 11, 2020 Rick VanVranken
USDA Announces More Specialty Crops, Nursery Crops, Cut Flowers Eligible for CFAP Payments
August 9, 2020 Nick Polanin
The Show Must Go On(line) – 2020 Ag Progress Days Virtual Experience
Continuing a 50-year tradition, Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, brought to you by their College of Agricultural Sciences, is a one-stop shop this week, August 9-12, 2020, for the latest research, management practices, and regulations in agriculture.
This year, Penn State Extension educators and faculty have come together to provide a FREE virtual learning program filled with the latest in Ag research and best practices. This event is being offered at no charge to participants, but registration is required to receive the link to access a webinar. Even if you missed a day or a session, all registrants will receive access to the webinar recordings.
Online registrants can choose from more than 46 live webinars and get questions answered by the experts. Just check out the the live webinar schedule and register online. [Read more…]
August 7, 2020 Nick Polanin
Farmland Assessment for Woodland Owners Webinar
On Thursday, August 20th at 7pm, a free webinar entitled “Farmland Assessment on Woodlands: Multiple Benefit Activities” will be presented as part of the “Backyard Forestry in 90 Minutes” online program. The presenter, Andrew Kimm, is the President of New Jersey Forestry Association (NJFA). This session discusses the implementation of Farmland Assessment on woodlands and the many benefits derived from the active devotion practiced on those lands. [Read more…]
August 6, 2020 Tim Waller
Register for the August Nursery Twilight Meeting (credit-bearing online webinar)
Thursday, August 27, 2020
6:00-7:00 pm
Click here to register for the twilight meeting
Registration password: nursery20
Please join us for presentations on pest management topics from our two nursery agents Tim Waller and Bill Errickson, Spotted Lanternfly updates from Steve Rettke, and water related updates from Sal Mangiafico. Given the current state of in-person meetings we are aiming to make this as educational and painless as possible. We would like everyone to feel comfortable with this online format for future meetings. We plan to have a longer meeting in late September (+2hr) to hear from more nursery specialists and provide another opportunity to obtain pesticide credits.
August 27th Agenda
(5:30pm) Webinar platform opens to registrants; Photo ID Check, Welcome Remarks
__(recording begins)__
(6:00pm) Effective IPM approaches Using Degree-days and Other Predictive Models– Timothy Waller, RCE (Cumberland)
(6:15pm) Reduction of Pesticide Usage Through Cultural Practices- Bill Errickson, RCE (Monmouth)
(6:30pm) Spotted Lanternfly Update & Review of Current Information Concerning This Invasive Insect- Steve Rettke, Ornamental IPM Program
(6:45pm) Harmful Algae Blooms in NJ Lakes and Ponds and Their Effects on Agriculture- Sal Mangiafico, RCE (Cumberland & Salem)
__(recording ends)__
(7:00pm) Additional questions; Photo ID Check, Adjourn
NJ Pesticide License Recertification credits obtained: PP2 (1); 3A (1); 3B (1); 10 (1)
In cooperation with the NJNLA, NJLCA, and NJCTGA
Instructions:
- Register for event at the above link
- Include your pesticide license number if you would like recertification credits
- After registration you will receive a confirmation email with a link to the actual twilight meeting.
- Registered guests will receive a reminder 1 week prior to the event with more specific instructions.
- Day-of: click the link in the registration confirmation email and select “join by browser-New” (if you do not currently have a WebEx app on your computer or video-enabled smartphone.
- Day-of: Have your photo ID ready if you wish to obtain credits
Additional requirements for those seeking credits:
- Licensed applicators with a recertification period expiring October 31, 2020 will be given an exemption from the NJDEP online credit cap of 25% and are eligible for all credits, otherwise this exemption does not apply.
- Government issued photo ID is required and will be verified prior or immediately after the meeting (i.e. will not be video recorded)
- Attendees must be visible throughout the entire session (with live video on) and must stay to the end.
- Polls will be randomly scheduled, & attendance will be visually monitored by a moderator.
- Call-ins (audio only) are not eligible for pesticide recertification credits as of now; you need a computer/phone/tablet with *live* video capability.
We are here to help you connect, please contact Tim Waller (twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu) with any questions or concerns. Thank you very much for your willingness to cooperate within our online space!
Rutgers is dedicated to protecting your privacy and keeping your personal information safe. Your information will be kept strictly confidential; used solely to meet NJDEP ID verification protocol for recertification credit. Any information will be deleted after 60 days.
August 5, 2020 Tim Waller
Early August Nursery Update (2nd generation scale hatch and boxwood blight considerations)
This PPA has four updates:
- Growing Degree-day Update GDD50
- 2nd generation scale insect hatch / crawler growing degree-day targets
- Tuliptree and Magnolia scale insect activity and notes on treatment
- Late summer boxwood blight considerations
(1) Growing Degree-days as of 8/5/2020
(Weather station selected for each location. Ex: NJ50 = Upper Deerfield)
Upper Deerfield (NJ50)= 2242 GDD50 Howell/Freehold (NJ10) = 1946 GDD50 Pequest (NJ58) = 1901 GDD50
If you need help getting your Growing Degree-day models set up, please contact (twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu)
(2) 2nd generation scale insect hatch / crawler GDD50 targets
A second generation of scale insects will be hatching soon. Scout for crawlers and treat as needed.
format: scale insect species – (growing degree day GDD50 targets)
- Maskell scale – (2035)
- Euonymus scale – (2235)
- Japanese maple scale – (2508)
Please refer to Tim Waller’s summer scale insect treatments PPA for additional information.
(3) Tuliptree and Magnolia scale egg hatch and crawler activity
Magnolia Scale & Maturing Females Photo- Steven Rettke of RCE
Tuliptree Scale With Honeydew & Sooty Mold Photo- Steven Rettke of RCE
Tuliptree scale and Magnolia scale insects begin hatching around ~2000 GDD50 but continue to emerge through the month of September (+6 week period). Therefor scouting for 1st and 2nd instar nymphs (crawlers) is critical to controlling these pests. Treatments will be ineffective if made too early in the season, as many of the un-hatched eggs will still be viable and lead to infestation and damages later.
Given this wide window of emergence, three treatment strategies can be deployed
- Delay pesticide applications for these pests until mid-October as the females will be dead and not harming the trees, all of the eggs will have hatched, and all of the crawlers will be vulnerable to appropriate materials (best approach)
- Apply multiple suppressive sprays at the first sign of emergence (time consuming, labor intensive, costly)
- Root or trunk applied systemic insecticides (often for very large trees)
Please refer to Steve Rettke’s Magnolia and Tuliptree scale insect PPA for additional information.
(4) Late summer boxwood blight considerations
As we enter into a period of cooler nighttime temperatures (< 77F) and frequent rain events, boxwood blight preventative sprays should be considered if you have not been making regularly scheduled applications. Boxwood blight is typically not as active during the heat of the summer, however, when cooler temperatures are coupled with prolonged periods of leaf-wetness the pathogen can infect.
Please refer to Tim Waller’s boxwood blight post for additional information and links to many other resources including numerous post from Rich Buckley of the Plant Diagnostic Lab.
Please take the 2020 Nursery Industry Survey: https://forms.gle/dUjLxaiu6qDQYYsRA
July 28, 2020 Rick VanVranken
Unsolicited Seeds From Foreign Sources
Several states are now reporting and you may have read or heard news reports of packets of seeds arriving in the mail from foreign shipping addresses that were not ordered. If you receive such a packet, DO NOT open or discard them. Rather, follow these directions from the NJ Dept of Agriculture:
UPDATED NJDA ALERT (https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/news/hottopics/topics200727.html)
We have been receiving reports of people receiving seeds in the mail from China that they did not order. Sometimes the seeds are sent in packages stating that the contents are jewelry. Unsolicited seeds could be invasive, introduce diseases to local plants, or be harmful to livestock.
Here’s what to do if you receive unsolicited seeds from another country:
This is known as agricultural smuggling. Report it to the USDA!
- DO NOT plant them and if they are in sealed packaging don’t open the sealed package.
- Take a photo of the package and seeds and send the photos to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture Joseph.zoltowski@ag.nj.gov and USDA SITC at SITC.Mail@aphis.usda.gov
- Maintain the seeds and packaging and send to the USDA Office located at 1500 Lower Rd, Linden NJ 07036 for evidence.
If individuals are aware of the potential smuggling of prohibited exotic fruits, vegetables, or meat products into or through the USA, they can help APHIS by contacting the confidential Anti-smuggling Hotline number at 800-877-3835 or by sending an Email to SITC.Mail@aphis.usda.gov. USDA will make every attempt to protect the confidentiality of any information sources during an investigation within the extent of the law.
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