Plant & Pest Advisory

March 31, 2021 Megan Muehlbauer

Attention Tree Fruit Growers!

Ask the Expert Series Orchard Edition Please Join us for an Interactive Discussion on Tree Fruit Thinning April 7: 9AM-10:15 AM Zoom Link: https://go.rutgers.edu/tdi8pllm Meeting ID: 974 2422 2622Password: 808726 Join by Phone: 1 646 558 8656 Expert Panelists Win Cowgill, Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University and owner Win Enterprises International, LLC a […]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Tree Fruit

March 30, 2021 Wes Kline

On Farm Readiness Reviews (OFRR) Available to Produce Growers

As part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) the New Jersey Department of Agriculture in coordination with Rutgers Cooperative Extension are again offering an OFRR to any operation that has taken the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Training. The PSA training is required for fresh produce operations to comply with FSMA with sales over $25,000. […]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops

March 30, 2021 Wes Kline

On-Farm Food Safety Talks for the Busy Grower

The Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety Team has developed three video presentations. Clip on Three On The Go Webinars For the Busy Grower to view the three videos listed below. Introduction to Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and USDA Audits. Find out the differences between FSMA inspections and USDA audits. Who do they apply to and who […]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops

March 29, 2021 Tim Waller

Nursery Pest Scouting Guide: 60-150 Growing Degree-days & Boxwood Blight Information

Pest Scouting: Please print or download the two resources of this post (click on them): Printable Pest Scouting 60-150 GDD Expanded Pest Scouting Guide 60-150 GDD with CLICKABLE LINKS with links (Zoom in and click directly on the links within this document) The information provided in the downloads gives scouting ranges (in growing degree days, base […]

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf

March 28, 2021 Steven K. Rettke

Landscape Pest Notes: Some Early Spring Insects/Mites

The accumulation of heat units (Growing Degree Days (GDD)) is increasing rapidly across many areas of New Jersey as we soon enter into the early weeks of April. If past histories or present-day monitoring indicate the need for interventions, then the best control windows for an increasing number of insect/mite pests are beginning to occur. […]

Filed Under: Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Plant Diagnostic Lab

March 26, 2021 Meredith Melendez

What water test do you need and how often do you need to do it?

FSMA Produce Safety Rule compliance, third party audit standards, and general best practices all include the need for irrigation, harvest, cleaning, sanitation, handwashing, pesticide application, drinking and postharvest water testing. Not all tests are the same, but all cost money, so make sure what your paying for meets your needs. Here are the questions […]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops