April 7, 2022

April is National Sexual Harassment Awareness Month – Farm Workers at Risk

From MorningAgClips.com posting (4/7/22) <https://www.morningagclips.com/free-training-tools-available-to-address-sexual-harassment-of-farmworkers/> from 4/5/22 press release from Equitable Food Initiative <https://equitablefood.org/latest-news/free-training-tools-available-to-address-sexual-harassment-of-farmworkers/>

Free training tools available to address sexual harassment of farmworkers

Equitable Food Initiative supports awareness initiatives during Harassment Prevention Month

WASHINGTON — Equitable Food Initiative, the workforce development and certification organization that partners with growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumer advocacy groups, has collaborated with Pacific Northwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (PNASH), a part of the University of Washington Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, to support the development of a worksite training and toolkit, ¡Basta! Preventing Sexual Harassment in Agriculture.

April is National Sexual Harassment Awareness and Prevention Month, and EFI is using the time to shine a light on this important topic. Several studies have found that 75%-80% of female farmworkers have experienced sexual harassment at work, compared to 50% in non-agricultural office settings as reported by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The EFI website offers statistics, facts and study citations on harassment at work, links to access the ¡Basta! Preventing Sexual Harassment toolkit, which features videos in both English and Spanish, and educational materials that can be used in workplaces (posters, shareable graphics and a detailed fact sheet). The information and resources can be found at equitablefood.org/harassment, and all are provided free of charge.

“Development of the ¡Basta! toolkit was catalyzed by female farmworkers in Eastern Washington who brought the issue of sexual harassment to PNASH,” explained Dr. Jody Early, a professor at University of Washington who worked on the project. “This is the first program created by and for agricultural stakeholders to address the prevention of sexual harassment, and we tailored it to the needs of Latino/a/x farmworkers, growers and supervisors.”

The PNASH team worked for six years and engaged more than 48 different stakeholders in the development – including farmworkers, grower associations, health care advocates, human rights organizations, state and federal agencies, farmworker rights groups, private businesses and nonprofits like Equitable Food Initiative.

“This can be a difficult topic, but it’s essential that we address it industrywide,” said LeAnne Ruzzamenti, director of marketing communications for EFI. “We know that harassment happens more frequently among farmworkers, we know that it goes unreported, and we know that agriculture workplaces include characteristics that make women more vulnerable to it.”

EFI’s certification program goes beyond a simple audit and introduces workforce development solutions along with training in communication, conflict resolution, problem-solving and collaboration. Third-party evaluation studies have found that the program fosters culture shifts on farms that result in respectful and trusting workplaces where women and indigenous workers report reduced harassment and discrimination.

“EFI’s mission is to improve the lives of farmworkers by bringing everyone in the system together to address the fresh produce industry’s most pressing problems,” Ruzzamenti continued. “I can’t think of a more important goal than creating safer and healthier workplaces through a zero-tolerance approach to harassment.”

About EFI
Equitable Food Initiative is a nonprofit certification and skill-building organization that seeks to increase transparency in the food supply chain and improve the lives of farmworkers through a team-based approach to training and continuous improvement practices. EFI brings together growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumers to solve the most pressing issues facing the fresh produce industry. Its unparalleled approach sets standards for labor practices, food safety and pest management while engaging workers at all levels on the farm to produce Responsibly Grown, Farmworker Assured® fruits and vegetables. For more information about Equitable Food Initiative, visit equitablefood.org.

View a list of EFI-certified farms at equitablefood.org/farms.

–Equitable Food Initiative

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , ,
April 2, 2022

Crop progress report. April showers needed

The U.S. Drought monitor release March 31, 2022 for the period ending March 29, 2022 had all of NJ experiencing abnormally dry conditions, and all of south Jersey experiencing moderate drought conditions.

New Jersey Year to Date Precipitation Departures as determined by NOAA indicates year to date mean aerial precipitation for south Jersey of 7.5 to 9.1 inches as of April 1, is about 2 inches below normal for this time of year. https://www.weather.gov/marfc/NJPrecipitationYTD

Follow this link to review moisture conditions in mid-April last year and pre herbicide considerations.  https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/soybeans-planted-already-weather-and-pre-herbicide-considerations/

Follow this link to review recommended spray tank ingredients to combat difficult to control weeds before they germinate or before they are more than a few inches tall. https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/a-spray-tanks-last-check-list-visual-aide-for-corn-and-soybean-weed-management/

 

Map released: Thurs. March 31, 2022
Data valid: March 29, 2022 at 8 a.m. EDT

https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NJ

The U.S. Drought monitor map March 29, 2022

 

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Uncategorized
March 28, 2022

Are you familiar with the federal soil quarantine map, associated pests of concern

During soil testing season, we often get calls about what laboratory to send samples to and what to test for. You may not know that under certain circumstances USDA-APHIS may have a quarantine for a particular plant or animal pest that can be carried in soil, and movement of soil from that region is restricted and requires a permit. This includes all territories of the United States such as Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. APHIS also restricts the movement of domestic soil from areas within the continental United States that are under quarantine for specific plant pests and adjoining countries. For example, currently soil cannot enter the U.S.  from Canada if from the following areas of Alberta: A farm unit and associated land located near the municipality of Fort Saskatchewan; and a farm unit and associated land located near the municipality of Spruce Grove; British Colombia: That portion of the municipality of Central Saanich on Vancouver Island, ease of the west Saanich Road; Newfoundland and Labrador: The entire Island of Newfoundland; and Quebec: The municipality of Saint- Amble.

The Federal Domestic Soil Quarantines Map provides an overview of the plant pest quarantines that affect the movement of soil. USDA recently updated their Federal Domestic Soil Quarantine Map on February 10, 2022 which is available as a pdf at:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/stakeholder-messages/plant-health-news/federal-domestic-soil-quarantine-map-2-10-22

This map contains a lot of information that is useful for producers, growers and consumers who are purchasing plant materials that may contain soil to be mindful of the presence of significant plant pests of concern that have not yet made it to New Jersey, and to do their part to not bring them here. While many are limited to infestations along the west coast and gulf coast, others are closer to home. For example, the golden nematode is a potato nematode that is quarantined in some parts of western New York State. The pale cyst nematode is another potato nematode of concern that is quarantined from a small area of Idaho and the island of Newfoundland, Canada.

Others like the imported fire ant continue to spread and are now found in hot spots in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Puerto Rico. Quarantine efforts thus far have been able to limit the spread of witchweed to locations in South and North Carolina.

If you have specific questions about bringing in soil from any of these areas denoted in this USDA soil quarantine map or about these quarantine pests, contact the USDA-APHIS NJ state office, state plant health director at (609) 259-5244 or for more contact information see https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/ppq-program-overview/sphd/new+jersey

 

Filed Under: Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops
March 21, 2022

NJ Pesticide Credits. March 24th Weed Management Webinar

For NJ applicators in 10, 1A and PP2

4 category credits.

A virtual workshop will be held on March 24 from 8 am to 11 am for farmers interested in learning how to use integrated weed management (IWM)) techniques to control  troublesome weeds in their fields. This is the fifth year for the workshop series, which is a collaborative effort between the University of Maryland, Virginia Tech, and the University of Delaware.

Education regarding weed identification and integrated management strategies continues to be critically important to enable early intervention and effective management options.  2022 is shaping up to be especially challenging with anticipated shortages of many commonly used herbicides. The 2022 workshop series will provide tactics to manage important weeds given limited herbicide availability and increased input prices. Material covered will target row-crop production systems, but tactics learned may be applicable to other systems. These workshops are free, but participants will need to register at https://go.umd.edu/IWM.

Pesticide credits will be available for MD, DE, NJ and WV. Two hours of CCA continuing  education credits will be offered for each session.

For more information, contact Kurt Vollmer at (443) 446-4260 or Ben Beale at (301) 475- 4481.

If you are attending from NJ, contact Melissa Bravo to upload your pesticide license and photo i.d. at 856-340-6582. This meeting counts as an ‘in person’ meeting as long as you stay on camera. If you cannot stay on camera the entire time, no credits will be awarded. 

NJ Applicators remember, attendees of online courses can earn 25% of their credits for each category from online sources.  Only those whose 5-year recertification period is ending 10/31/2022 are eligible to earn 100% of their credits online.  Attendees can check their eligibility online at www.pcpnj.org.

—

Kurt M. Vollmer, Ph.D.

Extension Specialist-Weed Management
University of Maryland
Wye Research and Education Center
124 Wye Narrows Drive
Queenstown, MD 21658
(443) 446-4260
Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops
March 16, 2022

Wondering what manure is worth right now?

Given the high costs of ‘commercial’ fertilizer components (N, P, K), many are looking at the range of nutrient credit from “unmanipulated animal or vegetable manure”1 sources.

Here is a very comprehensive calculator created by The University of Minnesota Extension for growers who keep track of all costs associated with fertilizer application.

To fine tune your estimates consider the following when calculating benefit of nutrients in manure vs fertilizer:

Manure nutrients are applied at a ton per acre rate basis to give the equivelent unit of nutrient in fertilizer that is applied at a pound per acre rate basis. Different species create vastly different nutrient credits.

On average,

Poultry manure contains the most nutrients per ton requiring the least tons per acre (1.5 to 3 tons/acre) to be equivalent to purchased fertilizer Nitrogen units of 50 lbs. (Please read the PPA post on poultry manure import restrictions due to High Path Avian Influenza)

Fresh beef manure generally requires 20 to 25 to 30 tons/acre to be equivelant to purchased fertilizer Nitrogen units of 50 lbs.

Fresh horse manure contains the least amount of Nitrogen and requires 100 tons per acre to be equivalent to purchased fertilizer units of 50 lbs, but as horse manure ages, the organic credit increases as the carbon:nitrogen ratio comes into equilibrium. Take this into consideration as aged piles many have much higher value.

  • Use an actual analysis of composted, bedding manure or fresh manure
  • Composted manure includes the shavings, straw, hay. Fresh manure is raw product, very little foreign material
  • Test aged piles separately from fresh
  • Aged piles (broken down, look like soil) can be sent in as soil test if well composted
  • Fresh samples must be sent in as fresh manure, vented properly and packaged properly so they do not cause issues in transit. Read the laboratories instructions on shipping carefully 
  • Account for cost to ship samples to lab
  • Capture in analysis the organic nitrogen credit
  • Capture in analysis micronutrient credits as these trace minerals add value to ‘manure’ beyond just the major three nutrients (N, P, K).
  • Know the common weed seeds most likely to be in fresh manure
  • Know the common weed seeds most likely viable in aged manure
  • Consider value of aged manure (organic nitrogen, soil health, worm castings, actual worms) vs fresh (hot) manure (higher N value)
  • Account for moisture content in figuring rate per acre, tons per load etc. as analysis will be on a DM basis
  • Laboratory fees range from $14.00 per test to $60.00 per test. Check current prices online before submitting sample, and use the laboratories submission form
  • Consider transporation costs
  • Consider spreading costs (manually vs manure spreader)
  • Be aware of any restrictions (days since application etc.) on using fresh or unaged manure on crops that will be harvested for human consumption (fresh market etc.) in particular be aware of FSMA Final Rule on Produce Safety that states”the final rule as of 12/02/2021 requires that untreated biological soil amendments of animal origin, such as raw manure, must be applied in a manner that does not contact covered produce during application and minimizes the potential for contact with covered produce after application. For more information on this rule, see https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/fsma-final-rule-produce-safety

 

Footnotes:

For information on what constitutes sale of a commercial ‘fertilizer’ see  https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/md/pdf/FertilizerLaw.pdf

An indepth fact sheet on manure can be found at https://ag.umass.edu/crops-dairy-livestock-equine/fact-sheets/manure-nutrient-resource

 

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops
March 16, 2022

Action required NOW to safeguard Nursery shipping – SLF egg mass guide, additional resources, permitting

EXTREMELY  IMPORTANT – PLUS EGG MASS VISUAL GUIDE

Crippling load-by-load phytosanitary requirements are a very REAL concern for the nursery industry this spring.

WE as an industry are in this together, in order to safeguard our industry please do the following:

  1. SLF Training Permits for hang-tags (click here) are required for each company driver who delivers your plants out-of-state. This training is relatively simple and you can also obtain Training materials to educate your employees (click here)
  2. Scout every plant for ANY SLF life stages – from dead adults to egg masses. REMOVE any egg masses prior to shipment and train employees to know the various appearances of SLF egg masses.
  3. Use this guide – SLF EGG MASS GUIDE – USE FOR TRAINING (click here to download) (print and hang up / distribute to personnel)
  4. Refer to this great resource from Penn State: Spotted Lanternfly Management Guide (click here)
    1. An excerpt pertaining to the use of Dormant/Hort oils to suffocate egg masses (note this is not enough for plants about to be shipped (scraping required!), rather this may be considered for plants with SLF that are not being shipped this spring)Ovicides to Kill Egg Masses
      Experiments have shown that some insecticide sprays can kill SLF eggs. So far, all experiments were done between February and April using egg masses that had intact protective coverings. The most effective insecticides tested that are registered for use on ornamentals were horticultural and dormant oils. When oils were applied directly to the egg masses at a concentration of at least 3 percent, they were effective in killing up to 75 percent of treated eggs. Labels must be followed to prevent plant damage, and not all plants should be sprayed due to phytotoxic damage potential.These experiments suggest that registered insecticidal oils may provide some control of eggs if they are applied between February and April in high enough volumes to get excellent coverage. Oils offer a lower-toxicity option and may provide some control of egg masses that are not accessible for scraping or smashing. However, for egg masses that are within a reachable area, scraping or smashing will provide greater efficacy than currently available ovicides. We are actively researching other ovicides that could provide increased control, and we encourage you to stay up to date on our progress.

Please be diligent in this matter. Early season sprays to target nymphs will be discussed soon, but for now remove ANY and ALL signs of SLF in ANY SHIPMENTS! 

Use this guide – SLF EGG MASS GUIDE – USE FOR TRAINING (click here to download)

 

The following is an alert and reminder from NJDA and NJNLA, and Nick Polanin’s prior post…

Grower Alert: Don’t Let Spotted Lanternfly Impact Spring Shipping

The spring shipping season is upon us, and Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) should be one of your top concerns. You are probably well aware of the shipping disruptions that could occur if any life stage of Spotted Lanternfly is found on outbound deliveries from NJ growers.

No doubt many of you heeded the NJ Dept. of Agriculture’s recommendations last fall and implemented control measures to prevent the spread of neighboring infestations into your nursery or greenhouse facility. To the extent that those efforts might have come up short, you would be well advised to begin scouting and removing any egg masses (and adult carcasses) from your crops – especially as items are being loaded for shipment. Otherwise, you run the risk of contaminated shipments being fully rejected by the vigorous inspections that are planned at out-of-state retail and landscape destinations this season.

Even though you may disagree with these measures, be advised that it remains within the discretion of any state to impose crippling load-by-load phytosanitary requirements on future deliveries.

Load-rejections that occurred last fall underscore the seriousness of the Spotted Lanternfly situation and the far-reaching impact it might have on your business and the NJ industry at large.

Additionally, Spotted Lanternfly training permits are required for each company driver who delivers your plants out-of-state. This training is relatively simple and available online by clicking HERE.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to NJNLA (609-291-7070) or the NJ Department of Agriculture Plant Diagnostic Lab (609-406-6939).

Joseph Zoltowski, NJDA; Ed Overdevest and Lori Jenssen, NJNLA

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Turf, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , ,