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.

Field Guide List

April 27, 2017

UMaine to Hold International Potato Disease Summit Nov. 9, 2017

Orono, Maine — Two bacteria threatening the potato industry worldwide will be the focus of a Potato Disease Summit Nov. 9 in Bangor, Maine, convened by the University of Maine.

Plant pathologists, researchers and scientists from The Netherlands, Scotland and five U.S. states will present the latest information on the bacteria — Dickeya and Pectobacterium — that cause blackleg disease, an emerging potato seed problem.

In the past three growing seasons, Dickeya, a bacterial pathogen of potatoes, has caused significant economic losses in seed nonemergence and crop loss nationwide. In addition, an associated pathogen, Pectobacterium, has caused potato crop losses in the field and in storage. The bacteria have caused losses to the potato industry in Europe for an even longer period.

“The University of Maine is responding to this situation by holding an international summit focused on the latest research and what steps are needed to help the potato industry,” says University of Maine President Susan J. Hunter. “As Maine’s only public research university, we are a longstanding partner with the state’s potato industry in addressing its needs, including the growing threat posed by Dickeya and Pectobacterium.”

 The Potato Disease Summit, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Nov. 9 at the Cross Insurance Center, 515 Main St., Bangor, Maine, is designed for scientists, consultants, regulatory officials, and potato seed growers and buyers. It will focus on such topics as current advances in detection and diagnosis of Dickeya; an overview of Pectobacterium in the U.S.; and management of Enterobacteriaceae spread and risk.

The $80 per person fee includes materials, lunch and breaks. Registration deadline is Oct. 2 and is available online: extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/programs/dickeya-and-pectobacterium-summit.

For more information or to request a disability accommodation, contact Steve Johnson, 207.554.4373, stevenj@maine.edu.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
February 16, 2017

SADC Cost-Sharing for Deer Fence on Permanently Preserved Farms

Whitetail deer. Photo courtesy USDA NRCS.

The NJ State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) recently dedicated $500,000 of funding for 50% cost-share grants to farmers for installing high tensile woven-wire fencing on permanently preserved farms.  The cost share applies to fencing materials and installation.  An applicant can apply for a cost-share of up to $200/acre, with a total award amount capped at $20,000.  As a ballpark estimate: accounting for the farmer’s 50% contribution, the maximum level of funding would support fence installation around roughly 20+ acres.

To be eligible for the program: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , ,
June 30, 2016

Basil downy mildew confirmed in southern and central New Jersey – ALERT 6/30/16

Basil downy mildew has been confirmed on field-grown basil in southern and central New Jersey on 6/29/16. This is the first report of the pathogen in New Jersey and the mid-Atlantic region this growing season. All basil growers are encouraged to scout on a regular basis and initiate a protectant fungicide program if one hasn’t been started.

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
June 3, 2016

Late blight confirmed in VA on 6/3/16

Late blight was confirmed on potato in Accomack County, VA located on the Eastern Shore just south of the Maryland border. This is the second report of Late blight in the mid-Atlantic region this growing season. All tomato and potato growers should scout their fields on a regular basis. Growers who have not initiated standard protectant fungicide programs should consider doing so.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Disease Forecasting, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
May 17, 2016

RCE Hosting a “Pollinator Victory Garden” Workshop

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County is hosting “The Pollinator Victory Garden: Winning the War on Pollinator Decline” on Wednesday, June 8 from 5:30 to p.m., rain or shine, at Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 355 Court House – South Dennis Road, Cape May Court House, New Jersey.

 Participants will learn how to attract an array of pollinators, what plants they eat, how to provide them with shelter, and how to help win the war on pollinator decline.  Also, each recipient will receive starter plants for their victory garden. Kim Eierman, Environmental Horticulturist and founder of EcoBeneficial will be presenting. Eierman specializes in ecological landscapes and native plants. She teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Native Plant Center in NY, Rutgers Home Gardeners School and others.  In addition to being a Certified Horticulturist through the American Society for Horticultural Science, Eierman is a Master Gardener, a Master Naturalist, an Accredited Organic Landcare Professional, a Steering Committee member of The Native Plant Center and a member of the Garden Writers Association.

 This is a beginner class, therefore, no experience is needed.  The cost for this workshop is $25 and includes dinner and all materials.  Registration is due by June 1, 2016.  To register or for more information, please call 609-465-5115, ext. 607 or email dana.tyndall@co.cape-may.nj.us

See official flyer  here.

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Organic Production Tagged With:
May 17, 2016

Late blight confirmed on tomato in Western Maryland – 5/17/16

Late blight (US23) was confirmed on tomato in a small, retail greenhouse operation in western Maryland (Garrett Co.) today. This is the first report of Late blight on tomato or potato this growing season. US23 has been the most prevalent genotype found in the region the last few years and can infect tomato or potato. While the current report not an immediate threat to NJ, all tomato and potato growers should scout fields on a regular basis as long as wet weather pattern continues. At this time, general protectant fungicide programs that have been initiated will help protect against Late blight. Importantly, in order for Late blight to appear this early in our region it must either have survived on an infested potato tuber left in the field or in a cull pile. For more information on the control of late blight please see the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Production Recommendations Guide.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Disease Forecasting, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,