Soil temperatures have been warming and reached the mid-40s °F last week at Rutgers Hort Farm No. 2 in North Brunswick NJ and are creeping into the upper-40s °F early this week. Dr. Clarke recommends that treatment of turf with a history of take-all patch be initiated when soil temperature averages 40 to 60 °F. […]
Status of U.S. Consular Operations in Mexico in Light of COVID-19
In response to the global pandemic COVID-19, and in line with the Mexican government’s call to increase social distancing, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and all U.S. consulates in Mexico will suspend routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services starting March 18, 2020, and until further notice. For farmers this means, H-2A workers and others from Mexico may be prevented from entering the U.S. until further notice. NJ Farm Bureau is researching the subject for more clarification. For now to see more information go to the U.S. Embassy’s website at: https://mx.usembassy.gov/status-of-u-s-consular-operations-in-mexico-in-light-of-covid-19/
2020 South Jersey Nursery Meeting Registration Deadline is This Thursday, March 5th
What:
2020 South Jersey Nursery Meeting
When:
March 12, 2020 8:30 A.M – 4:00 P.M. (registration deadline is this Thursday, March 5th)
Cost:
$25 per person. Registration fee covers morning coffee/tea, donuts, and lunch.
Where:
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County
291 Morton Ave. Millville, NJ 08332
Phone: 856-451-2800 ext 1
Fax: 856-451-4206
Pesticide Credits: CORE (1); PP2 (5); 1A (5); 9 (1)
This year’s meeting will be an introduction of Tim Waller and Bill Errickson to the nursery industry here in South Jersey. The educational programming will include weed and pest updates, irrigation management, pesticide use /safety, and soil fertility presentations.
The deadline for registration is this Thursday, March 5th. Please register by mailing in the registration form in the attached tri-fold brochure or call Brandi or Katie (ext 1) for assistance. Due to the proximity of the meeting please call and let us know if you will be attending.
Tri-fold brochure (print out registration form): Trifold 2020 Nursery Meeting
Meeting flyer: Flyer 2020 Nursery Meeting
Gramoxone/paraquat Mandatory Training Required Before Use
All pesticide certified applicators must successfully complete an EPA-approved training program before mixing, loading, and/or applying paraquat.
Anyone using Gramoxone, Firestorm, Helmquat, Parazone, and other paraquat products must complete an EPA-mandated training before application.
After November 14, 2019, the EPA requires companies to have newly labeled products on the market.
The following are items related to the new label for paraquat products:
- Only certified applicators, who successfully completed the paraquat-specific training, can mix, load or apply paraquat.
- No longer allow application “under the direct supervision” of a certified applicator.
- Restricting the use of all paraquat products to certified applicators only.
- EPA required Online Training – users must create an account with username and password.
- A certificate will be delivered by the end of the training after successful completion of the online exam.
- Applicators must repeat training every three years.
For additional information and FAQs about the paraquat training go to the EPA Paraquat Training website
Summer Aeration/Cultivation/Venting
Aeration during the summer can be a helpful practice but does need some caution. Many turf managers performing mid-season aeration on putting greens will be using needle tines, which are less disruptive. But the key words are “less disruptive”; as reminder, needle time aeration (venting) will cause some damage to the roots. How extensive the […]
Glyphosate Alternatives
Recent news about glyphosate has many thinking about alternatives. Joe Neal (Professor of Weed Science, Extension Specialist & Department Extension Leader Horticultural Science) and Andrew Senesac (Extension Weed Scientist Cornell Cooperative Extension, Suffolk Co., NY) have published a thorough summary of alternatives and the associated pros and cons through NC State Extension at https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/are-there-alternatives-to-glyphosate-for-weed-control-in-landscapes