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/
March 17, 2020 Michelle Infante-Casella
Status of U.S. Consular Operations in Mexico in Light of COVID-19
March 16, 2020 Thierry Besancon
2020 Recommendations for Preemergence Weed Control in Established Blueberry
With T3 stage scheduled for late March, it’s really time now to apply your preemergence herbicides before blueberry bud break!
Preemergence herbicides should be applied prior to weed seed germination. If applied to weeds that are already out of the ground, most of these products will not control them. Keep also in mind that these herbicides should receive at least ½” rainfall or irrigation one to seven days after application (depending on herbicides) to incorporate the herbicide in the soil
In order to reduce the potential of selecting for herbicide-resistant weeds, it is highly recommended mixing two residual herbicides with different MOA whenever you apply preemergence herbicides. Make sure the herbicides you plan to apply will be effective at controlling the weed species in your field by checking the herbicide label. Usually, residual herbicides will suppress weed for 6 to 8 weeks depending on irrigation as well as soil and weather conditions. After this period, another residual herbicide can be needed to control weeds through harvest and could be mixed with a postemergence herbicides to control emerged weeds. Roundup (glyphosate), Rely 280 (glufosinate,) and Gramoxone (paraquat) are postemergence herbicides that may be applied with preemergence herbicides before bud break with little risk for crop injury.
- MOA 2: Solida (rimsulfuron) and Sandea (halosulfuron) are ALS inhibitors that have both preemergence and postemergence activity. They control most annual broadleaves but are weak on common groundsel, common lambsquarters and eastern black nightshade. Sandea is ONLY recommended for postemergence control of yellow nutsedge. However, these two herbicides will not control ALS resistant weeds (horseweed, ragweed…) already widespread in New Jersey. Thus, these herbicides should always be tank mixed with a partner effective at controlling these weeds
- MOA 3: Kerb (pronamide) and Surflan (oryzalin) are mitosis inhibitor that will be effective at controlling many annual grass species for 4 to 6 weeks after application. Kerb also help controlling perennial quackgrass. If applied to warm soils (> 55°F), Kerb persistence (and weed control) is much reduced; therefore, reserve Kerb for fall/winter application. Do not use Kerb on blueberries that have not been established for about a year.
- MOA 5 and 7: The photosynthesis inhibitors (PS II inhibitors) have a broad spectrum of control and will be effective against many broadleaves and annual grasses when applied in spring. Karmex (diuron) and Princep (simazine) have relatively low solubility and have been very safe on blueberries. Sinbar (terbacil) has a longer residual life in the soil and also is more soluble, so it should be used infrequently on light, wet soils. Velpar (hexazinone) is very soluble and should not be used on New Jersey sandy soils. These herbicides are effective on a many broadleaf weed species, including common chickweed, common lambsquarters, common groundsel, henbit, nightshade, redroot pigweed, pineappleweed, shepherd’s-purse, smartweed, and some mustards. Sinbar and Princep will also control most of the annual grasses and help suppressing quackgrass.
- MOA 12: Solicam (norflurazon) is a pigment inhibitor that may be applied in fall or early spring primarily for annual grass control and quackgrass suppression. Solicam may also provide partial control of many broadleaf weeds as well as of yellow nutsedge. Do not use Solicam on blueberries that have not been established for about a year.
- MOA 14: Chateau (flumioxazin), Zeus XC (sulfentrazone), and Zeus Prime XC (sulfentrazone plus carfentrazone) are PPO inhibitors with activity against many broadleaves (including redroot pigweed, catchweed bedstraw, common mallow, common lambsquarters, ladysthumb, wild mustard, and shepherd’s-purse) when applied preemergence in spring. Chateau and Zeus Prime XC also have some postemergence activity on newly emerged seedlings of annual weeds. Zeus products may also provide some suppression of yellow nutsedge. Chateau has a 7 day preharvest interval (PHI) and Zeus Prime XC have 3 day PHI, and can therefore be applied later in the season to extend preemergence broadleaves control into late summer. Blueberry plants must have been established at least two years prior to use of these herbicides.
- MOA 15: Devrinol (napropamide) and Dual Magnum (s-metolachlor) are long chain fatty acid inhibitor. Devrinol will provide good control of annual grasses and should therefore be tank mixed with a PSII or a PPO inhibitor for controlling broadleaf weeds. Devrinol is rapidly degraded if left exposed on the soil surface, so it should be applied less than 24 hours before a rain event to incorporate the herbicide in the soil. Dual Magnum has a 24c Special Local Need label for blueberry in New Jersey. This herbicide controls many annual grasses and some small-seeded broadleaf annual weeds such as redroot pigweed, nightshade and common purslane. Dual Magnum also suppresses emergence of yellow nutsedge. Use Dual Magnum only on plants established for more than one year, and lower rates are suggested on 2- to 3-year-old plantings.
- MOA 20: Casoron (dichlobenil) is a cellulose synthesis inhibitor recommended for fall application to control many annual and perennial broadleaves, grasses and yellow nutsedge. If left on the soil surface or if applied to warm soil (> 55°F or 70°F depending on dichlobenil formulation), Casoron can lose much of its activity. So, reserve this herbicide ONLY for fall/winter applications. Plants must be at least one year old before Casoron should be used.
- MOA 21: Trellis SC (isoxaben) is a cell wall synthesis inhibitor currently currently registered for bearing and non-bearing blueberry. Trellis SC primarily controls annual broadleaf weeds, such as horseweed, common lambsquarters, wild mustards, shepherd’s- purse, purslane, and common chickweed; higher rates may also suppress field bindweed and curly dock. However, Trellis SC will have to be mixed with a Group 3, 12, or 15 residual herbicide for controlling annual grasses.
- MOA 27: Callisto (mesotrione) is an HPPD inhibitor recommended for spring application to control many annual broadleaf weeds as well as annual sedges. It controls large crabgrass but no other grasses, such as goosegrass. Callisto may be used as a broadcast spray between rows to control broadleaves and crabgrass without injuring the fescue sod. Callisto has both preemergence and postemergence activity, and can therefore be used in spring to control ALS-resistant horseweed at the rosette stage.
Consult the 2020 Commercial Blueberry Pest Control Recommendations for New Jersey available on https://njaes.rutgers.edu for rates and additional information. The information above is correct to the best of our knowledge. Other formulations with the same active ingredient as some of the products listed above may exist that may or not may be labeled for the same uses. Always consult the label before making pesticide applications. Information was current as of February 25, 2020.
March 15, 2020 Meredith Melendez
Build Your Own Handwashing Station
Providing handwashing opportunities for customers and those working on the farm is considered a best practice in reducing human pathogen risk. Handwashing stations can be portable and inexpensive. Click on the picture below for one example of an easy to make handwashing station:
September 26, 2019 Joe Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Update 9/25/2019
Joe Ingerson-Mahar and Kris Holmstrom
This is an abbreviated edition of the IPM Update. The final IPM Update for the 2019 season will appear next week. Pest alerts will appear as needed.
Sweet Corn
European corn borer (ECB) remains at very low levels across most of the state, with a few moths (1 per night) being found in the Hillsborough and Milltown areas this past week. Late-season plantings are still at risk from ECB feeding but are likely to be minimal at this point. In the late-season corn borers tend to lay eggs on many different crops, including apples and eggplant, so do not be surprised that you find ECB on unexpected crops.
Corn earworm (CEW) numbers have fallen somewhat across the state with the generally cooler night-time temperatures of the past week. Counts in both blacklights and pheromone traps are highly variable across the state.
Blacklights – counts statewide range from 0 to 5 moths per night with larger numbers in the southern half of the state. Spray schedules range from 4 to 5-day to 3-day.
Pheromone traps – counts have also declined somewhat, due both to cooler weather and aging sweet corn. Plantings that are tasseling now will be the most attractive to CEW moths and these plantings should be on 3-day schedules, especially in South Jersey where despite declining numbers there is still a large reservoir of moths in the area. Highest counts seen are at Eldora with 58 moths per night and Beckett with 48 moths per night. The pheromone traps are showing a 4-day or 3-day schedule.
Fall armyworm pressure has been light in at least the southern part of the state. Infestations of less than 10% are the norm.
Peppers
Corn earworm numbers have been high in pheromone traps placed at pepper fields. Some injury has been found from these pests where insecticide applications have been backed off.
Beet armyworm continues to be a significant pest in the southernmost part of the state with counts at 73 per night at Jones Island and 32 per night at Pedricktown. Traps in Hammonton record less than 10 per night. Plant injury has occurred at counts under 5 per night.
Pepper weevil has become a widespread pest with now at least 8 farms infested in the Swedesboro, Glassboro, Hammonton and East V
Adult weevil on pepper
ineland areas. It is hard to estimate yield loss to weevils but most of these farms probably have light to moderate loss. Two of the farms had severe losses from weevils this year. Farms that are located near, or do business with, processors should routinely have yellow pheromone traps placed in high traffic areas on the farm and in fields. Weevils are most likely to be transported to the farm by hitchhiking on vehicles or on produce bins, though they are capable of spreading on their own to adjacent fields of solanaceous crops.
Other insect pests
Brown marmorated stinkbug has nearly become absent in blacklight trap catches. At this time of year, they are seeking ov
Hawaiian beet webworm on spinach
erwintering sites and do not present much of a problem for vegetable crops. Centerton had the highest nightly count of 2 for the past week.
Hawaiian beet webworm (HBWW) moths have been trapped in blacklights in South Jersey – Jones Island and Eldora. Though the numbers are light, farmers with spinach, beets, and chard should check their fields for the presence of webbing and feeding injury. These are small migratory moths usually occurring in mid-to-late summer. Their favored host is the pigweed, Amaranthus sp., but they are capable of causing defoliation and contamination to crops. Since they are migratory and have a short life cycle they can rapidly appear and cause extensive damage to crops unnoticed. There were isolated highly-infested weedy areas last year on vegetable farms in South Jersey.
September 12, 2019 Thierry Besancon
Annual Bluegrass Control in Blueberry
Annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) is an increasingly troublesome winter annual weed in some New Jersey blueberry fields. Native to Europe, this species is now worldwide distributed.
Identification and Life Cycle
Figure 1. Annual bluegrass. Thierry Besancon, Rutgers University
Annual bluegrass starts germinating in late summer as soil temperature drops below 70°F. If conditions are favorable, it will continue germinating throughout the winter. Annual bluegrass has light green leaves with a typical boat-shaped tip (Figures 1 and 2). Leaf blades are often crinkled part way down. It will produce greenish white inflorescences (seed heads) during the spring months. Annual bluegrass is a prolific and rapid seed-producing weed.
Each plant can produce up to 100 seeds that are viable just a few days after pollination, allowing multiple germination flushes during the cool season. Annual bluegrass tends to form dense clumps in areas with moist and/or compacted soil. Poor soil drainage, frequent irrigation, excessive fertilization, use of heavy equipment causing compaction, and shade are conditions that will encourage the development of annual bluegrass.
Figure 2. Annual bluegrass leaf tip. Joseph M. DiTomaso, University of California – Davis, Bugwood.org
Impact
While annual bluegrass may not be a strong competitor for blueberry bushes, it forms a dense mat that will persist until late spring. This mat will prevent proper application of residual herbicides in spring by intercepting the spray solution and reducing the amount of residual herbicide penetrating into the soil. Thus, control of established sod of annual bluegrass prior to spring herbicide applications is essential for successful residual weed control in spring and early summer.
Management
As for any other weed species, preventing the release of viable seeds that will replenish the soil seedbank is a primary objective for controlling this species. Cultivation or manual digging before annual bluegrass patches become well established and before the development of inflorescence will provide control of limited infestations if continued throughout the germination period. However, the use of chemical control may be required for large infested areas or where the species has become established for several seasons.
Application of effective preemergence herbicides may prevent annual bluegrass seedling survival. However, preemergence herbicides will not effectively control emerged plants. Timely application of preemergence herbicides is very important for effective control of annual bluegrass. Herbicides should ideally be applied in late-summer / early fall before annual bluegrass seeds germinate. However, crop injury may result if pre-emergence herbicides are applied at this time when blueberry bushes are not dormant. Therefore, a fall application of a preemergence herbicide tankmixed with a postemergence herbicide is often the most practical solution and should be considered when blueberry leaves start dropping.
- Preemergence herbicides such as oryzalin (Surflan), norflurazon (Solicam), or napropamide (Devrinol) may effectively control annual bluegrass. Application of these herbicides can be split between fall and spring applications with half of the yearly rate applied in fall and the second half in spring.
- Simazine (Princep) can provide early post-emergence control of leaf stage plants in addition to its residual activity.
- Pronamide (Kerb SC) is also an excellent option that will provide both residual and postemergence control of annual bluegrass. Optimum pronamide activity occurs when applications are made under cool temperature conditions (55°°F or less).
- S-metolachlor (Dual Magnum) is also effective at controlling annual bluegrass prior to germination. However, Dual Magnum can only be applied once per cropping season and will require grower to agree to the conditions of the indemnified label (https://www.syngenta-us.com/labels/indemnified-label-search).
All preemergence herbicides require incorporation from rainfall so that the herbicide can move into the first few inches of soil where it will be protected from degradation or volatility.
When annual bluegrass has emerged before residual herbicide is applied, a postemergence herbicide should be included in the tank. Use paraquat (Gramoxone or other labeled generic formulation) plus a nonionic surfactant at 0.25% v/v of the spray solution. Glufosinate (Rely 280) is also effective at controlling emerged annual bluegrass, especially when applied under bright sunlight, warm temperature, and high humidity conditions. Do not allow glufosinate spray mist to contact green bark, as injury will occur. None of the graminicides labelled on blueberry (Select, Poast) have sufficient activity for controlling annual bluegrass. The use of glyphosate (Roundup or other labeled generic formulation) is not recommended as failure to control emerged annual bluegrass has been reported in various New Jersey blueberry fields.
Consult the New Jersey Commercial Blueberry Pest Control Recommendations for rates and additional information (https://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.php?pid=E265). As with all herbicides, read and follow all label instructions and precautions.
August 27, 2019 Anne Nielsen
Spotted Lanternfly Updates
Spotted lanternfly (SLF) populations are very active in multiple NJ counties such as Hunterdon, where large numbers of adults can be seen feeding. As of last week, the majority of adults were observed feeding on tree of heaven. Where possible, tree of heaven should be treated with either an herbicide and/or an insecticide. PSU has information on treatment here https://extension.psu.edu/tree-of-heaven
Based on observations in Pennsylvania, feeding by adult Spotted Lanternfly in grapes can reduce overwintering survival and may have broader impacts to vine health. Spotted lanternfly is a phloem feeding insect that feeds directly on the cordon, not on the fruit. As they feed, they expel the extra sugars from their bodies in the form of honeydew. Honeydew can buildup underneath trees or on plant material beneath vines and can be colonized by sooty mold fungi. In grapes, sooty mold can develop on clusters, significantly reducing quality, although this has not yet been observed in the USA. More importantly in areas with high SLF populations, vine health has deteriorated quickly. In Pennsylvania both a decrease in winter hardiness and vine death has occurred.
Vines should be watched closely to determine if SLF adults are dispersing into the vineyards and feeding. Populations will likely be higher along vineyard edges. If feeding occurs, an insecticide treatment may be warranted. The adults have not started to lay eggs yet so this is a critical time for population management. Multiple insecticide materials are effective against the adult stages. Recommendations from PennState in grapes are:
| Pennsylvania State University Insecticide Recommendations Against Spotted Lanternfly
(*modified for space) |
|||||||||
| Trade Name | Active Ingredient | Class
(IRAC Group) |
Rate per Acre | PHI (days) | REI (hours) | Labeled for SLF on Grape in PA? | Life Stage Tested | Longevity | SLF Activity |
| Brigade 10WSB | bifenthrin | Pyrethroid
(IRAC 3) |
16 oz | 30 | 12 | Yes, 2(ee) | Nymphs Adults | **** | ++++ |
| Actara 25WDG * | thiamethoxam | Neonicitinoid (IRAC 4A) | 3.5 oz | 5 | 12 | Yes, 2(ee) | Nymphs Adults | **** | ++++ |
| Scorpion 35SL * | dinotefuran | Neonicitinoid (IRAC 4A) | 5 fl oz | 1 | 12 | Yes, 2(ee) | Nymphs Adults | *** | ++++ |
| Carbaryl 4L | carbaryl | Carbamate (IRAC 1A) | 2 qt | 7 | 12 | No Note: Sevin XLR has 2(ee) |
Nymphs Adults | *** | ++++ |
| Danitol 2.4EC | fenpropathrin | Pyrethroid
(IRAC 3) |
21.33 fl oz | 21 | 24 | No | Nymphs | ** | ++++ |
| Malathion 8F | malathion | Organophosphate (IRAC 1B) | 1.88 pts | 3 | 12 | Yes, 2(ee) | Nymphs Adults | ** | ++++ |
| Mustang Maxx 0.8EC | zeta- cypermethrin | Pyrethroid
(IRAC 3A) |
4 fl oz | 1 | 12 | Yes, 2(ee) | Nymphs Adults | ** | +++ |
| Avaunt 30DG | indoxacarb | Oxadiazine (IRAC 22) | 6 oz | 7 | 12 | Yes, 2(ee) | Nymphs Adults | * | ++ |
| Assail 30SG * | acetamiprid | Neonicitinoid (IRAC 4A) | 5.2 oz | 3 | 48 | Yes, 2(ee) on nymphs only | Nymphs Adults | * | + |
Always follow the insecticide label for use and application instructions. Please note that there is variation in the residual activity of each material and some materials require a 2(ee) label for use in grapes. BotaniGard is also being evaluated as a biological insecticide by PSU.
New sightings of spotted lanternfly in NJ can be reported, along with a picture and address to slanternfly@njaes.rutgers.edu
