- Cucurbit downy mildew has been reported on cucumber in southern New Jersey. This is the first report in the state this growing season. For a review of CDM control please click here. To track the progress of CDM on your phone or PC please visit the CDM forecasting website.
- Cucurbit powdery mildew season is here. For a review of CPM control strategies please click here.
- No reports of Late blight in region. To track the progress of Late blight in the US please click here.
- Aerial stem rot has been reported on potato in southern New Jersey. The pathogen is an opportunistic bacterium in the field which infects vines that have been damaged by wind and heavy rains.
- There have been a few reports of Southern blight (Sclerotinia rolfsii) on tomato and pepper. Southern blight is much more common in vegetable areas south of the state where summer temperatures remain hotter (above 90°F) for longer periods of time. Like white mold, caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, it can survive in the soil for many years. Symptoms of Southern blight include infection at the base of the stem at the soil-line. The resulting infection will girdle the plant causing wilt and death. The fungus will produce white, cottony mycelium and very small, spherical sclerotia which are often have a white to tannish, brown color as they mature. For more information on Southern blight from NCSU please click here.
- Collar rot caused by Alternaria has been reported on processing tomato in New Jersey. It is the same pathogen that causes Early blight in tomato. Tomato growers who have not switched to more specific fungicides for Early blight and anthracnose fruit rot control should consider doing so. For more information from NCSU please click here.
- Bacterial wilt has been reported in tomato in New Jersey.
- Rhizoctonia root and crown rot has been reported on sugar beet in southern New Jersey. For more information from the University of Idaho please click here.
- Bacterial leaf spot has been reported in pepper. For more information on BLS and copper resistance please click here.
- Pepper anthracnose is a serious problem in all bell and non-bell peppers, especially in fields with a history of the disease. For more information on controlling pepper anthracnose please click here.
- Phytophthora blight has been reported in pepper and cucurbit crops. For more information please click here.
- Basil downy mildew (BDM) has been reported in southern New Jersey on BDM susceptible sweet basil. All growers are encouraged to initiate preventative fungicide programs on DMR and non-DMR basil. For control options and to follow the progress of BDM in the US on your phone or PC please click here.
- Downy mildew has been reported in kale seedlings in a hydroponic greenhouse in PA. As a note, kale and related crops should be scouted on a regular basis. For more information on downy mildew in brassica crops from UMASS-Amherst please click here.
- Bacterial canker has been reported in fresh-market tomato. For a review of bacterial canker in tomato please see report by Dr. Sally Miller at The Ohio State University by clicking here.
- Diplodia leaf streak, a fungal disease, was identified in sweet corn this past week. Symptoms include the development of numerous pycnidia which produce conidia within the lesions on infected corn leaves. For nice reviews, please see report by Dr. Kiersten Wise and colleagues from the University of Kentucky and report by Dr. Steve Johnson at the University of Maine.
- White mold, caused by Stromatina cepivorum, has been reported in garlic. For more information, please see report by Crystal Stewart and Frank Hay from Cornell University.
- Angular leaf spot has been reported in summer squash. Look for angular lesions delimited by leaf veins and ‘shotholes’ in infected leaves that develop after periods of hot, dry weather.
- Bacterial leaf spot has been reported in sweet basil. BLS of sweet basil is a relatively new disease of basil in the US. The bacterium has a large host range and can survive and overwinter in the soil on infested plant debris. Disease development is favored by hot, humid, rainy weather. Periods of hot, dry weather will help mitigate disease development.
- With the on and off again heavy rains we have been getting, along with warmer weather, all growers should consider applying at-transplanting fungicides for root rot control. Please click here to see these articles.
- For a quick review on managing fungicide resistance development using tank mixes and fungicide rotations, and information on FRAC group 4, FRAC group 7, and FRAC group 3 and FRAC group 11 fungicides please click on hyperlinks.
- For more information on the control of the diseases mentioned above please see The 2020/2021 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide which is available for free online! With many county offices running reduced hours or being closed this is the easiest way to obtain the newest recommendations.
Organic Farm Advisory
The Plant & Pest Advisory serves NJ growers by reporting on important pests and recommending responses that are grounded in reproducible trials.
Articles in this section contain information helpful to the NJ commercial organic grower.
Sharing organic practice trial results between land-grant universities is a cost effective way to create a common knowledge base built on the strengths of individual programs. In the sidebar, find institutions with programs in organic agriculture which augment knowledge developed at the Rutgers New Jersey Ag Experiment Station.
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Field Guides: These concise guides help with decision making from pre-planting to harvest. For each crop listed, learn what pests to proactively look for as the season progresses, how to look for them, and when to take action.
July 8, 2020 Andy Wyenandt
Vegetable Disease Update – 7/8/20
July 2, 2020 Michelle Infante-Casella
Governor Signs Permit Extension Act: NJDEP Water Certifications Extended 1 Year
Governor Murphy signed The Permit Extension Act (A3919/S2346) this week, which extends certain permits during the COVID-19 emergency. Agricultural Certifications issued by the DEP are included in this extension, so any Agricultural Certification which expired on or after March 9, 2020 will be extended.
Any complete new, renewal or modification application already submitted to the DEP will continue to be reviewed and issued for the full five-year term.
Any Certification holder who received the first renewal reminder which contained the pre-filled application form does not need to do anything at this time. The DEP will forward you a new pre-filled application once the extension period is over.
“COVID-19 extension period” means the period beginning March 9, 2020 and continuing for as long as a public health emergency, pursuant to the “Emergency Health Powers Act,” P.L.2005, c.222 (C.26:13-1 et seq.), or a state of emergency, pursuant to P.L.1942, c. 251 (C.App.A.9-33 et seq.), or both, that has been declared by the Governor in response to COVID-19, is in effect.
Please be advised that annual water diversion reports were required to be submitted to the DEP by February 28, 2020 and are not extended due to the passage of this Bill. The DEP is issuing reminders to those who failed to submit this information in accordance with their Certification. Continue to log diversion amounts and submit your reports in accordance with the deadlines in your Certification.
Rutgers Cooperative Extension is working very closely with the DEP’s Bureau of Water Allocation & Well Permitting to resolve any ongoing issues and concerns. The Bureau is aware that many renewal applications are awaiting the Ag Agent review and signature. With the extension act, these renewal applications are being extended as mentioned above.
Some RCE Offices remain closed or with minimal access at this time. Call your local Rutgers Cooperative Extension office for specific information. In addition, during the month of July, staff in the NJ Department of Agriculture and the NJ DEP personnel are furloughed, and response times will be slowed, so please be patient during these challenging times.
July 1, 2020 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 7/01/20
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moth catches have remained steady at very low levels over the past week. At this time, activity is highest in Gloucester and Camden counties (see ECB map at left). Catches are widely dispersed. Above threshold (12%) larval infestations continue into the northern counties. Larval infestations should be expected to continue for another week or so.
The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 7/01/20 are as follows:
| Medford 2 | Elm 1 | Springdale 1 |
| Blairstown 1 | Long Valley 1 | Tabernacle 1 |
| Downer 1 | New Egypt 1 | |
| Eldora 1 | Port Colden 1 |
Corn earworm (CEW) moth captures stayed largely unchanged in blacklight traps this past week. This lingering population is somewhat heavier than normal for this time of year, and silking corn will need protection from this pest. Blacklight catches were highest overall along the coast (see map at left).
The highest nightly trap catches of CEW in black light traps for the week ending 7/01/20 are as follows:
| Matawan 4 | Eldora 1 | Pedricktown 1 |
| Allentown 1 | Elm 1 | Sergeantsville 1 |
| Cinnaminson 1 | Green Creek 1 | Springdale 1 |
| Downer 1 | Milltown 1 | Tabernacle 1 |
June 30, 2020 Andy Wyenandt
Basil downy mildew confirmed in southern New Jersey – ALERT 6/30/20
Basil downy mildew has been confirmed in field-grown basil and sweet basil being sold in ‘box store’ retail establishments in southern New Jersey. All basil growers are encouraged to scout their fields on a daily basis and begin preventative fungicide programs in BDM-susceptible and DMR varieties.
For more information on controlling BDM in the field-grown basil please click here.
For more information on controlling BDM in the greenhouse please click here.
To track the progress of BDM in the US please click here.
Basil downy mildew sporulating on the underside of an infected leaf.
June 26, 2020 Andy Wyenandt
Vegetable Disease Update – 6/26/20
- Cucurbit powdery mildew season is here. For a review of CPM control strategies please click here.
- Cucurbit downy mildew has been reported on cucumber in western MI and as far north as North Carolina on cucumber. For a review of CDM control please click here. To track the progress of CDM on your phone or PC please visit the CDM forecasting website.
- No reports of Late blight in region. To track the progress of Late blight in the US please click here.
- Basil downy mildew (BDM) has been reported in southern New Jersey on BDM susceptible sweet basil. All growers are encouraged to initiate preventative fungicide programs on DMR and non-DMR basil. For control options and to follow the progress of BDM in the US on your phone or PC please click here.
- Bacterial canker has been reported in fresh-market tomato. For a review of bacterial canker in tomato please see report by Dr. Sally Miller at The Ohio State University by clicking here.
- Diplodia leaf streak, a fungal disease, was identified in sweet corn this past week. Symptoms include the development of numerous pycnidia which produce conidia within the lesions on infected corn leaves. For nice reviews, please see report by Dr. Kiersten Wise and colleagues from the University of Kentucky and report by Dr. Steve Johnson at the University of Maine.
- White mold, caused by Stromatina cepivorum, has been reported in garlic. For more information, please see report by Crystal Stewart and Frank Hay from Cornell University.
- Angular leaf spot has been reported in summer squash. Look for angular lesions delimited by leaf veins and ‘shotholes’ in infected leaves that develop after periods of hot, dry weather.
- Phytophthora blight has been reported in pepper and cucurbit crops.
- Rhizoctonia and Pythium root rot have been reported in pepper. For a review of identifying and controlling root rots please click here.
- Septoria leaf spot and bacterial blight have been reported in parsley.
- Timber rot, or white mold, has been reported in tomato.
- White rust and Cercospora have been reported in spinach.
- Bacterial leaf spot has been reported in sweet basil. BLS of sweet basil is a relatively new disease of basil in the US. The bacterium has a large host range and can survive and overwinter in the soil on infested plant debris. Disease development is favored by hot, humid, rainy weather. Periods of hot, dry weather will help mitigate disease development.
- Sand blasting has been reported on a number of leafy green and other crops these past few weeks. Injury from sand blasting predisposes plants to bacterial infections. Remember, all bacteria need a wound or a natural opening, such as a stomata, to gain entry into the plant. Fields with extensive injury need to be scouted regularly, and most likely will need to be sprayed regularly with a copper fungicide or disinfectant-type product to help mitigate infection and spread.
- For a review on how to avoid sunscald injury on transplanted crops please click here.
- With the on and off again heavy rains we have been getting, along with warmer weather, all growers should consider applying at-transplanting fungicides for root rot control. Please click here to see these articles.
- The 2020/2021 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide is available for free online! With many county offices running reduced hours or being closed this is the easiest way to obtain the newest recommendations.
- For a quick review on managing fungicide resistance development using tank mixes and fungicide rotations, and information on FRAC group 4, FRAC group 7, and FRAC group 3 and FRAC group 11 fungicides please click on hyperlinks.
June 24, 2020 Kris Holmstrom and Joe Ingerson-Mahar
IPM Update 6/24/20
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) moth catches have declined somewhat over the past week. At this time, activity is highest in Gloucester County and along the Cape May/Cumberland bay shore (see ECB map at left). Catches are widely dispersed. Larval infestations above 20% continue into the northern counties this past week. Larval infestations should be expected to continue for approximately another 2 weeks.
As always, look for the characteristic “shot-hole” type of feeding (photo below at right) and consider treating when infested plants exceed 12% in a 50 plant sample. As plantings proceed to the pre-tassel stage, ECB larvae may be found in emerging tassels (see photo at left). It is a good idea to treat individual plantings as they move into the full tassel/first silk stage one time. This eliminates any ECB larvae that have emerged with the tassels as they begin to move down the stalk to re-enter near developing ears.
Useful insecticides for this particular application include synthetic 
pyrethroids (IRAC Grp 3), spinosyns (including OMRI approved Entrust) IRAC Grp 5), and diamides such as Coragen (IRAC Grp 28) or materials such as Besiege which include the active ingredient in Coragen. Synthetic pyrethroids alone should NOT be used for corn earworm (CEW) protection on silking corn. Control with these materials is very inconsistent.
The highest nightly trap catches of ECB for the week ending 6/24/20 are as follows:
| Downer 2 | Eldora 1 | Milltown 1 |
| Blairstown 1 | Farmingdale 1 | Port Colden 1 |
| Cinnaminson 1 | Lawrenceville 1 | Springdale 1 |
| Denville 1 | Matawan 1 | Tabernacle 1 |
Corn earworm (CEW) moth captures increased slightly in blacklight traps this past week. As early plantings are now in the silk stage, they will need protection from this pest. Blacklight catches sere highest overall along the coast (see map at left).
The highest nightly trap catches of CEW in black light traps for the week ending 6/24/20 are as follows:
| Matawan 2 | Elm 1 | New Egypt 1 |
| Bellemeade 1 | Green Creek 1 | Sergeantsville 1 |
| Crosswicks 1 | Hillsborough 1 | Springdale 1 |
| Eldora 1 | Milltown 1 | Tabernacle 1 |
