Happy Labor Day, which was yesterday of course, but I had the day off and hope you did too, and were out in your garden enjoying the diseased and insect riddled plants.
Alcea rosea flowers and seedpods. Photo: Stan Sheds, Spring Preserve Gardens
August 25, 2013 Richard Buckley
Wave That Flag
… summertime gonna come and go by and by. As the weather changes from the dog days of summer to a more “fall-like” pattern, I am feeling pretty good; but so is the fungus that causes dollar spot.
Dollar spot on bluegrass surround. Photo: Matt Roderick, Oakley Country Club
August 15, 2013 Richard Buckley
‘Tis the Season
Bacterial leaf scorch (BLS) season is officially upon us. Over the last 7 to- 10 days, I have been seeing increasing numbers of red oaks in central New Jersey exhibit the tell-tale symptoms of the disease.
Irregular leaf scorch due to Xylella infection. Photo: Richard Buckley, Rutgers PDL
August 5, 2013 Richard Buckley
Touch of Gray
Everybody keeps asking me “any gray leaf spot yet?” And I answer, “why yes, but not where you think.” Gray leaf spot was diagnosed last week on samples of Hakonechloa that were submitted from a central New Jersey nursery grower.
Gray leaf spot on Japanese Hakone grass. Photo: Sabrina Tirpak, Rutgers PDL
July 23, 2013 Richard Buckley
Summer Time and the Livin’ Ain’t Easy
Wow, what a difference a few weeks make! I was just checking out our nematode post from earlier this season and it started with comments on how mild the weather has been. There is nothing like a foot of rain and a couple weeks of 95+ºF heat to change our tune.
Lance nematode damage. Photo: Joe Gulotti, Cavaliers Country Club
July 17, 2013 Dan Kluchinski
NJDA Plant Laboratory Offers Growers Mycotoxin Testing
The recent stretch of unusual rainy weather raises the potential of mycotoxin contamination in small grains, and other field or forage feed crops. Grain growers may be affected by price discounts and/or restricted markets. Mycotoxin contamination in animal feed and forage can lead to feed refusal, reduced productivity (reduced production of eggs, milk, and weight gain), reproduction problems (disrupted heat cycles, early embryonic death, abortion) impaired health, and in severe cases, death.
The NJ Department of Agriculture’s Division of Plant Industry Plant Laboratory offers concerned growers and producers services to test for mycotoxins: Aflatoxin, DON/Vomitoxin, Fumonisin, Ochratoxin, T-2 Toxin, and Zearalenone.
Sample Submission Form information. For questions or more information, please call (609) 406-6939.
