Plectosporium blight, also known as Microdochium blight or White speck, caused significant problems in some pumpkin fields last summer in New Jersey. The soil-borne fungal pathogen, although somewhat uncommon, can unexpectedly show up in some years and cause significant losses if left uncontrolled. The fungus survives in the soil on decaying plant debris where it […]
Continue reading...January 22, 2020 Michael Westendorf
Feeding Requirements for Livestock
Determining the adequacy of diets fed to livestock animals is more complicated than just knowing animal requirements or the nutrient and chemical analyses of feed. So then, what do we look for on a farm to evaluate the nutrition program? A proper understanding of how to approach this will be of help to farm advisors, […]
Continue reading...January 22, 2020 Michael Westendorf
Hackettstown Livestock Auction Results for January 21, 2020
This auction sells: lambs, sheep, goats, calves, beef cattle, pigs, rabbits, and all types of heavy fowl. Auctions are held every Tuesday with the first sale beginning at 10:30 am and ending with the last sale at 5:30 pm. Hay, straw, grain, and firewood are also for sale. Hackettstown Livestock Auction Farm Fresh Eggs available […]
Continue reading...January 22, 2020 Andy Wyenandt
Organic Transplant Production: Suppressing Soil-borne Pathogens
Pathogens such as Fusarium, Pythium, Phytophthora, Thielaviopsis and Rhizoctonia that cause pre- and post-emergent damping-off can cause serious problems in organic (and conventional) transplant production. The key to controlling and/or suppressing damping-off pathogens with biological controls is keeping the biological populations high and continually present on root surfaces of the host, and by following good […]
Continue reading...January 22, 2020 Andy Wyenandt
Controlling basil downy mildew in the greenhouse
Basil downy mildew (BDM) can cause significant losses in the greenhouse. Once introduced into the greenhouse it can be very difficult to manage and eliminate. In the past few years, a vast amount of research has been done on understanding BDM biology and controlling it in the greenhouse using different cultural practices. Before we get […]
Continue reading...January 21, 2020 Andy Wyenandt
Understanding Protectant Fungicides
(FRAC groups M01 – M11)
Protectant (contact) fungicides, such as the inorganics (copper, FRAC group M01) and sulfur (FRAC code M02); the dithiocarbamates (mancozeb, M03), phthalimides (Captan, M04), and chloronitriles (chlorothalonil, M05) are fungicides which have a low chance for fungicide resistance to develop. Protectant fungicides typically offer broad spectrum control for many different pathogens. Why wouldn’t fungi develop resistance […]
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