Greetings from the Veg IPM team! Read more for the latest pest and disease updates.
Agri-Technology, Nursery, Agronomy, Fruit and Vegetable Research Twilight Meeting at RAREC: Wednesday August 26, 2026
Agri-Technology, Nursery, Agronomy, Fruit and Vegetable Research Twilight Meeting at RAREC
Wednesday August 26th, 2026 (4 pm until dark)
Location: Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC), 121 Northville Road, Bridgeton, New Jersey 08302
Hosted by: Ramandeep Kumar Sharma, Patrick McMullen, and Andy Wyenandt
Questions? Contact: Andy Wyenandt (wyenandt@njaes.rutgers.edu)
This year’s twilight meeting at RAREC will showcase advances in crop production, integrated pest management, soil fertility, weed management, and innovative agricultural technologies for growers and stakeholders across the state.
- Dan Ward, Director, RAREC. Welcome to RAREC
- Wesley Kline, Cumberland County Agricultural Agent
- ‘Impact of Cyclospora on fruit and vegetable production’ CORE: 30 minutes
- Tim Waller, Cumberland County RCE Nursery Agent.
- ‘Useful Nursery and Ornamental Crops and Considerations’
- Raul Cabrera, Extension Specialist in Nursery Production and Management.
- ‘Recent developments on substrates (for container-grown crops)’
- Dan Ward, Director, RAREC; Rutgers Agrivoltiacs Program.
- ‘Update on the agrivoltaics research program at Rutgers’
- Ann Nielsen, Extension Specialist in Entomology
- Emma Waltman, PhD candidate, ‘Land-use around farms impacts stink bug biological control’
- Amanda Furuya, Post-Doctoral Associate, ‘Tackling Spotted Lanternfly in South Jersey Vineyards’
- Octavio Menocal Sandoval, Post-Doctoral Associate, ‘Updating Monitoring and Management for Codling Moth in Apple’
- Thierry Besancon, Extension Weed Specialist for Specialty Crops.
- ‘Update on new technologies for weed management in vegetable crops’
- Ramandeep Kumar Sharma, Salem County Agricultural Agent.
- ‘Optimizing Nitrogen Rate and Application Timing for Corn Yield and Quality’
- ‘Evaluation of Sulfur Fertilizer Sources and Application Rates for Optimizing Soybean Growth and Yield in Southern New Jersey’
- Maria Cramer, Senior Program Coordinator, Vegetable IPM,
- ‘Thrips management in tomatoes’
- Patrick McMullen, Atlantic County Agricultural Agent.
- ‘Wilts of cucurbits: Identification and management’
- Andy Wyenandt, Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology.
- ‘Updates on vegetable disease control’
NJDEP pesticide recertification credits are pending approval. Expected credits include CORE (1), PP2 (4), 1A (4), 3A (2), and Category 10 (3).
July 24, 2026 Amanda Quadrel and Maria Cramer
Vegetable IPM Update 7/24/26
Greetings from the Veg IPM team! Read more for the latest pest and disease updates.
July 17, 2026 Amanda Quadrel and Maria Cramer
Vegetable IPM Update 7/17/26
Greetings from the Veg IPM team! Read more for the latest pest and disease updates.
Letter from New Jersey Department of Agriculture concerning cyclospora
There have been several reports concerning Cyclospora in the news lately and the NJDA and Rutgers Cooperative Extension wanted to update growers as to the status in New Jersey. Below is a statement from NJDA.
Dear New Jersey Residents and Consumers,
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture wants to emphasize that no produce coming from New Jersey farms has been linked to the cyclosporiasis outbreak. To date, no New Jersey-grown produce has been identified as a source of cyclosporiasis cases. National and New Jersey health officials and experts are continuing to investigate the outbreak and monitor any cases.
Our Jersey Fresh farmers meet the high-quality standards imposed not only by their own compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) but also with the quality-grading standards of the Jersey Fresh program.
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture will continue keeping the public informed about any produce categories grown in New Jersey that have been identified by health experts as being a risk.
To help protect against cyclosporiasis and other foodborne illnesses, NJDOH and NJDA recommend:
- Wash your hands with soap and water before and after preparing fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water, even if you plan to peel them.
- Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
- Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing or eating.
- Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables promptly.
Edward D. Wengryn
New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture
July 10, 2026 Amanda Quadrel and Maria Cramer
Vegetable IPM Update 7/10/26
Greetings from the Veg IPM team! Read more for the latest pest and disease updates.
