Please use below links for the audio and video recordings of Webinar – Ask the Expert Series -V held on May 5th. The recording includes lively discussion on various aspects of orchard soil fertility and plant nutrition, including Q &A from growers, with, Dr. Robert Crassweller from PSU; and Dr. Joseph Heckman, Dr. Megan Muehlbauer and Dr. Hemant Gohil from Rutgers NJAES. Some of the information is also applicable to other crops. [Read more…]
Landscape, Ornamentals, Nursery, and Turf Edition
Seasonal updates on ornamental, nursery, and turf pests.
Subscriptions are available via EMAIL and RSS.
Companion Website Links:
Rutgers Turf Blog - Articles on turfgrass diseases and cultural practices for the commercial turfgrass industry. Subscription available via RSS.
Rutgers Weather Forecasting - Meteorological Information important to commercial agriculture.
May 12, 2021 Hemant Gohil
Recordings of Webinar – Ask the Expert: Orchard Soil Fertility and Tree Nutiriton
May 11, 2021 Nick Polanin
Resuming In-Person RCE Programming – A Guide for Attendees
Rutgers Cooperative Extension has announced the resumption of in-person programming beginning this month. Extension professionals across all program areas have the option to offer in-person programming, limited at this time to outdoor events with no more than 25 total in attendance. This includes farm and field visits, twilight meetings, and pesticide applicator recertification events. Resuming in-person events doesn’t mean that online or hybrid events will end; both are essential tools for successful RCE programming.
These RCE guidelines and expectations are for all participants to follow to attend these events:
Voluntary Participation – Participation at in-person RCE activities is completely voluntary – there is no requirement for attendance.
Health Screening Form – Attendees will be required to bring a completed RCE Health Screening Form, which can be be accessed at https://go.rutgers.edu/RCE.healthform. Once completed, please take a screenshot of the big green checkmark or print out a copy to show when you arrive before being allowed to attend.
Face Masks – Every participant will be required to wear a face mask / covering over their mouth and nose at all times. Arrive wearing your mask, and make sure to keep it in place during the entire event.
Physical Distancing – Everyone will be required to practice physical distancing, staying at least 6 feet apart.
Hygiene & Sanitation – Everyone who attends is expected to practice good hygiene habits. Participants should wash or sanitize their hands when they arrive and before they leave, and as needed throughout the activity. You are encouraged to bring your own hand sanitizer to limit shared surfaces.
What to Bring With You – Food will not be provided and sharing food is not permitted. Make sure to bring your own refreshments, filled water bottle, tools/equipment, notebook and writing tool, camp chair, etc. depending on the event you’re attending.
All participants are expected to follow these rules and procedures to help make every RCE in-person event safe and enjoyable for everyone. Please be sure to check the NJAES Calendar of Events and the RCE office in your county for upcoming events.
May 4, 2021 Meredith Melendez
Vaccine Information Resources for Farmers
Anyone who lives or works in NJ is now eligible for a COVID vaccine at any of the vaccine megasites. No appointment needed, see walk-in hours here:
https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/vaccine
Information resources for farmers and farm workers continue to be developed by the CDC and the state of NJ. These resources are easily accessed on the Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety COVID website. This website will be updated as more resources are developed. Available now on the website:
- Documentation from NJDOH stating all are eligible for free COVID vaccinations regardless of immigration status
- Megasite locations and times for walk-in COVID vaccines for anyone 16 years or older
- COVID vaccine educational posters in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Korean, simplified Chinese, and traditional Chinese
- CentraState (Freehold) walk-in vaccine clinic information – May 11th and 15th
Farmers or farm workers with questions about locating a vaccine or other vaccine information may use the email address njfarmvax@njaes.rutgers.edu for assistance.
May 4, 2021 Tim Waller
Infection potential for Boxwood Blight in the next 48h – PROTECTANT fungicide applications should remain in effect
There is a potential for new boxwood blight infections today and tomorrow with the rain/humidity and higher temperatures
– Protective fungicide applications should remain in effect or be initiated immediately for Boxwood Blight (nursery and landscape settings) –
Boxwood Blight risk-model information, considerations, and links:
| Boxwood Blight Risk Assessment as of 5/4/2021 | ||||||||
| Region | Location | CODE | 3-May | 4-May | 5-May | 6-May | 7-May | 8-May |
| Southern | Upper Deerfield | NJ50 | Very Low | Infection Risk | Infection Risk | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low |
| Central | Howell / Freehold | NJ10 | Very Low | Low | Low | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low |
| Northern | High Point | NJ59 | Very Low | Very Low | 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)
Fungicides;
- You very well may have these materials already applied as ‘cover-sprays’ – But – be mindful that protectant fungicides loose efficacy the more rain they are subjected to, and reapplication may be warranted.
- 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.
Resources
- Become a Boxwood Blight Advocate to receive quarterly updates (through the Horticultural Research Institution) – Email to join: bboxwood-advocate-g+subscribe@vt.edu
- Click here for additional BWB research updates
- CLICK HERE FOR A FREE DOWNLOAD – BOXWOOD HEALTH, Best Management Practices Production and Landscape Management (18 pages – Version 3.0)
- Click here for more BWB initiatives
April 26, 2021 Steven K. Rettke
Landscape Pest Notes: Some Mid-Spring Insects/Mites
As we enter the last week of April, many of our mid-spring landscape insect/mite pests continue to awaken & cause feeding symptoms on our ornamentals. This blog only talks over some of the typical mid-spring pests that plague our landscapes. Those discussed within include: Southern Red Spider Mites; Gypsy Moths; Evergreen Lace Bugs (e.g., rhododendron, azalea, & andromeda lace bugs); Nantucket Pine Tip Moth; Birch Leaf Miner; Hemlock Woolly Adelgid; Plant Leaf Galls (eriophyid mites).
Mid-Spring weeks have arrived & shade trees like this green ash have begun leaf expansion. (Photo Credit: Steven K. Rettke, Rutgers Coop. Ext.)
April 26, 2021 Tim Waller
IMPORTANT NOTICE – Considerations for systemic and contact material control of Redheaded Flea Beetle – now
If you are unfamiliar with this pest
- Dr. Kunkel presenting “Seeing red? Redheaded flea beetle” Seeing red? Redheaded flea beetle (scroll to the bottom of the webpage)
- NC State: Red-headed flea beetle biology and management
- Nursery Mag: Don’t get foiled by the flea beetle
- If you do not know how to calculate Growing Degree-days (GDD50): Obtaining your local growing degree-day information
If you are interested in donating infested plant material or conducting on-farm RHFB research. Please contact twaller@njaes.rutger.edu (856-451-2800 ext.1)
Redheaded Flea Beetle (RHFB) Considerations
Ideally when controlling high-density populations of RHFB, fall applications of long-lasting systemic materials can provide a strong knock-down of larvae populations destined to emerge in the following spring. Establishing a reserve of systemic materials in the soil and root zone late-season or early this season will greatly increase control efforts made later and can reduce the number of overall applications made specifically for RHFB. A two-pronged approach of systemic and contact insecticides can manage active adults and larvae throughout the season. For current season control: systemic insecticide drench or ‘sprench’ (*consider backpack units) near planting / potting-up, or a month prior to adult emergence (now for southern NJ), will provide the reserve of systemic activity required to reduce larvae and adult populations later. Contact material applications should also be considered for adult and larval treatments but must be made at sufficient volumes to guarantee ‘contact’. Contact-only driven spray regimes can provide good results, however the need to protect new growth will be ever present. When choosing materials, also consider the other pests targeted by that compound to maximize the value of your investment. Targeting the larval stage will reduce the number of adults present to lay the next generation of eggs.
Timeline for New Jersey growers and landscape professionals
- NOTE: Calendar date predictions based on USPEST.ORG using weather-stations for Upper Deerfield (NJ50), Howell/Freehold (NJ10), and High Point (NJ59). These are predictions and scouting should commence at least 2 weeks prior to listed dates
| Projected GDD50 accumulation as of 4/26/2021 | ||||||
| Region | Location | 26-Apr | 1-May | 1-Jun | 1-Jul | Aug. 1st |
| Southern | Upper Deerfield (NJ50) | 163 | 231 | 638 | 1315 | 2158 |
| Central | Howell / Freehold (NJ10) | 110 | 166 | 514 | 1135 | 1929 |
| Northern | High Point (NJ59) | 61 | 99 | 313 | 765 | 1327 |
| Forecast: NOAA NCEP Coupled Forecast System model version 2 (CFSv2) forecast system (3.5 months) (USPEST.ORG) | ||||||
| Redheaded flea beetle – life stage predictions for South, Central, and Northern New Jersey with material considerations | |||||||||
| TARGET RANGE | TARGET RANGE | Upper Deerfield (NJ50) | Howell (NJ10) | High Point (NJ59) | |||||
| Growth Stage | Gen. | GDD50 LOW | GDD50 HIGH | LOW (DATE) | HIGH (DATE) | LOW (DATE) | HIGH (DATE) | LOW (DATE) | HIGH (DATE) |
| Egg hatch – larvae | 1st | 242 | 600 | 2-May | 29-May | 10-May | 6-Jun | 24-May | 21-Jun |
| Adults (feeding / laying eggs) | 1st | 517 | 1028 | 24-May | 20-Jun | 1-Jun | 27-Jun | 16-Jun | 14-Jul |
| POTENTIAL OVERLAP OF GENERATIONS / STAGES | |||||||||
| Egg hatch – larvae | 2nd | 1570 | 1860 | 10-Jul | 21-Jul | 17-Jul | 29-Jul | 11-Aug | 27-Aug |
| Adults (feeding / laying eggs) | 2nd | 1878 | 2318 | 22-Jul | 7-Aug | 30-Jul | 16-Aug | 28-Aug | 1-Oct |
Note: Updated 4/26/2021 – Estimated using USPEST.org, 3.5-month CFSv2 based seasonal climate forecast, simple average growing degree-days, min temp: 50F, max temp: 95F. Growing degree-day ranges based on Dr. Kunkel’s work out of the University of Delaware.
- 1st generation larvae: 242-600 GDD50
- Observation of larval activity on the outside of root balls occurs during this timeframe, meaning they may be active earlier
- Systemic treatments should be initiated late fall or immediately on susceptible hosts (southern NJ)to guard plants from adult feeding later this season.
- Materials containing neonicotinoids [4A] and cyantraniliprole [28] (Mainspring) are considered particularly fast and effective, however lack the staying power of similar chemistries such as Chlorantraniliprole [28] (Acelepryn) that takes longer to translocate from soil reserves.
- Organophosphates (1B) Acephate (Orthene, Acephate 97UP) are also a systemic options.
- During larval development contact materials containing bifenthrin, azadirachtin, tolfenpyrad, cyclaniliprole + flonicamid, entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria bassiana) or beneficial nematodes should be seriously considered when attempting to knock-down forthcoming adult populations.
- 1st generation adults: 517-1028 GDD50
- Feeding damages will be apparent on susceptible hosts, scout to determine best time of day for applications, materials such as Captiva Prime or another agitator may be useful in driving the beetles out of hiding (which they do EXTREMELY well).
- Continuation of systemic materials, use contact materials to directly target the adults.
- Keep weed populations to a minimum, adults may feed on nearby weed species such as dog fennel, pigweed, and knotweed, thus avoiding pest control efforts on susceptible crops
- 2nd gen. larvae: 1570-1860 GDD50
- Potential for considerable overlap of larval-adult developmental stages
- Continuation of systemic materials, use contact materials to directly target the larvae and adults.
- 2nd gen. adults: 1878-2318 GDD50
- Continuation of systemic materials, use contact materials to directly target the larvae and adults.
- Keep weed populations to a minimum
- A third generation is suspected to be possible in the southern and central regions of New Jersey
IT IS CRITICAL TO ROTATE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BETWEEN IRAC GROUPS DUE TO THE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
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.
Boxwood Blight risk model update (4/26 – 5/1)
| Boxwood Blight Risk Assessment as of 4/26/2021 | ||||||||
| Region | Location | CODE | 26-Apr | 27-Apr | 28-Apr | 29-Apr | 30-Apr | 1-May |
| Southern | Upper Deerfield | NJ50 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low |
| Central | Howell / Freehold | NJ10 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Low | Very Low |
| Northern | High Point | NJ59 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Low | Low | Very Low |
| Please check your local boxwood blight risk here (click here) | ||||||||
Please contact Tim Waller – Cumberland Co. – RCE for more information – twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu – 856-451-2800 ext. 1
