The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced March 20 that the Traceability Rule is being delayed for 30 months. The rule was to go into effect January 1, 2026, but now enforcement will not start for at least 2.5 years. FDA will be publishing a proposed rule at a later date. There are no indications at this time what changes they plan to make or how it will impact growers of different size operations.
March 20, 2025 Amanda Quadrel
Allium Leafminer Update 3/20/2025
Happy first day of Spring! Many parts of New Jersey are close to accumulating 250 growing degree days (GDDs) base 39˚F, which is when the first emergence of Allium leafminer (ALM) adults is predicted to occur. In some areas of New Jersey, 250 GDDs are forecasted to be surpassed as early as this weekend. In Cape May, oviposition scars have already been spotted. If you would like to know how many GDDs have accumulated in your area, the NEWA website https://newa.cornell.edu/ has a helpful GDD calculator. From the NEWA home screen, select the nearest weather station from drop down menu at the center of the page. Next, scroll down to “Weather Tools” on the right side of the page, and select “DD Calculator”. Select your start date (1/01/25) and end date, as well as Degree Day Type (39 F) from the menu at the left of the page. The site will automatically generate the accumulated GDD base 39F to the last day of your requested sample, and then offer a forecast of accumulated GDD for the next week.
ALM can cause injury to chives, scallions, garlic, onions and leeks, but leeks and scallions seem to be the most effected. Look for neat rows of white spots descending from the upper tips of allium leaves (see photo below). Initial injury often occurs on the tallest leaves. Adults may be seen in warmer conditions at the tips of the leaves- look for small flies with grey-black bodies and yellow heads (see photo below).
If you are concerned about crop injury due to Allium leafminer, you may want to prepare for control efforts. Floating row covers, kept on until the first flight ends (around the end of May) can restrict ALM’s access to vulnerable plants. Adults can be targeted through insecticide sprays. Appropriate materials that are labeled for ALM control include spinosyns (Radiant, Entrust (OMRI approved)), pyrethroids (Mustang Maxx, Warrior), neonicotinoids (Scorpion, Venom), and the insect growth regulator Trigard. The first application should be applied 2- 3 weeks after initial detection of ALM flies (if you see oviposition scars or the fly itself) and subsequent sprays should be completed in 1–2-week intervals. Two or three sprays should provide adequate control.
Notice the white oviposition scars and an adult female ALM. Photo: Brian A. Nault, Cornell AgriTech.
If you have any questions/concerns, feel free to reach out to me at amanda.quadrel@rutgers.edu or 732-742-8441.
LAST CHANCE FOR FSMA PRODUCE SAFETY RULE GROWER TRAINING
When: March 10, 2025, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Where: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, 1440 Parkside Ave., Ewing Township, NJ 08638
Pre-Registration Required Deadline to register online is Monday March 3
This training fulfills the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that at least one person from each farm needs to receive a standardized curriculum recognized by the FDA.
Topics Include:
- Introduction to Produce Safety
- Worker Health, Hygiene & Training
- Soil Amendments
- Wildlife, Domesticated Animals & Land Use
- Agricultural Water – Production Water
- Agricultural Water – Postharvest Water
- Postharvest Handling & Sanitation
- How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan
Each attendee will receive a grower manual and be eligible for a certificate from the Association of Food & Drug Officials of the United States (AFDO). Note: Each participant must stay the entire training to be eligible for the certificate of training.
The cost is $100/per person (Lunch included)
For more information, email Jennifer at jmatthews@njaes.rutgers.edu
Register at: https://onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu/
This training is partly funded through grants from the United States Food & Drug Administration.
Note: Financial Assistance for Food Safety Certification and Training is available from the USDA Farm Service Agency. This is the chance for eligible fresh fruit and vegetable growers to recover some of their expenses for implementing food safety practices on the farm. For more information on this program please go to: Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops for Program Years 2024 and 2025
February 28, 2025 Michelle Infante-Casella
South Jersey Spring Vegetable Growers Meeting
DATE: Thursday, March 27, 2025
TIME: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Gloucester County
Shady Lane Complex, 254 County House Rd, Clarksboro, NJ 08020
(Please enter through the far-right side of the building up the first ramp)
CO- SPONSORED BY THE VEGETABLE GROWERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY
NO REGISTRATION NEEDED
6:00 -6:30PM Sign in and Light Dinner
6:30-7:00PM Rutgers Vegetable Integrated Pest Management Update
Amanda Quadrel, Sr. Program Coordinator, Vegetable IPM, RCE
7:00-7:30PM Update on the Water Requirements for the Produce Safety Rule
Wes Kline, Ag Agent, RCE Cumberland County
7:30-8:00PM Update on Disease Control in Vegetable Crops
Andy Wyenandt, Rutgers NJAES Vegetable Pathologist
8:00-8:30PM Labor and Regulatory Updates from NJ Farm Bureau
Ben Casella, NJFB
8:30-9:00PM USEPA/NJDEP Worker Protection Standards Overview for Pesticide Safety
Michelle Infante-Casella, Ag Agent, RCE Gloucester County
9:00PM Pesticide Recertification credits – CREDITS INCLUDE: 1-CORE, 3-PP2, 3-Cat. 1A, 2-Cat. 10
Contact the RCE of Gloucester County Office for more information 856-224-8040 ext. 1 or email Michelle Infante-Casella at minfante@njaes.rutgers.edu
Pesticide Recertification Credits have been requested from NJDEP for this meeting – TBD.
February 18, 2025 Claudia Gil Arroyo
El Huerto Urbano – serie de webinars en español!
El Servicio de Extensión Agrícola de la Universidad de Rutgers del Condado de Hudson y Essex se complacen en invitarte a nuestra seria virtual en español, El Huerto Urbano. Esta seria consiste en seminarios web en vivo en los que colegas del Servicio de Extensión Agrícola de New Jersey más expertos de USDA NRCS (Servicio de Conservación de Recursos Naturales) ofrecerán técnicas y consejos sobre un tema de jardinería diferente en cada sesión. Esta seria está dirigida a principiantes, personas interesadas en aprender a cultivar hortalizas y hierbas en espacios urbanos. ¡Aunque estas sesiones están diseñadas para adultos, en ella compartiremos actividades de jardinería para integrar a toda la familia! Acompáñanos los miércoles comenzando el 19 de febrero del 2025, a las 7:00 pm.
Estas sesiones virtuales duran 1 hora y 15 minutes y se llevaran a cabo en vivo a través de zoom. Todas las sesiones son gratis.
Para unirte, por favor regístrate aquí: https://go.rutgers.edu/gv5t02gn.
February 18, 2025 Claudia Gil Arroyo
The Urban Garden – Gardening webinar series in Spanish!
Rutgers Cooperative Extension is excited to present an urban gardening webinar series in Spanish, titled “El Huerto Urbano.” This series consists of live webinars in which colleagues from the New Jersey Agricultural Extension Station and experts from other organizations will offer advice for beginner gardeners with a different gardening topic each session. This is a series geared towards beginner gardeners interested in learning how to grow a vegetable and herb garden in urban spaces. The livestreamed presentations are for adults, but gardening activities for the whole family will be covered.
Join us on Wednesdays starting February 19th online at 7:00 PM. These free virtual sessions are in Spanish, will last 1 hour and 15 minutes and will be held live via Zoom. Participants must register to join: https://go.rutgers.edu/gv5t02gn.
