Rutgers Cooperative Extension
During my field visits to Mercer County organic farms, growers often express concerns about negative soil health impacts from copper based fungicides. In an effort to evaluate soil copper use and the resulting soil copper levels, soil was sampled at fifteen farms throughout the state. Both conventional and organic farms participated in this study which was […]
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Springtime 2014 seemed like it would go on forever. Temperatures remained cool for an extended period and we had plenty of moisture, which are the conditions that always result in shade tree leaf diseases. Here are a few we saw…
Continue reading...Leaf blight in Dill as shown up in the past week in some areas of southern New Jersey. Leaflets on plants will appear wilted, often on the lower portion of the plant first. Up close, irregular lesions will appear scattered over the leaflets, girdling them, causing them to look wilted. There have been a couple […]
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This year we observed damage to cranberries likely caused by an unknown “mirid” bug (Hemiptera: Miridae). These insects are known as true bugs and have piercing-sucking mouthparts to suck juices out the plants. The species has now been identified by Dr. Thomas Henry, from USDA-ARS-Systematic Entomology Laboratory in Beltsville, MD, as Plagiognathus repetitus (Hemiptera: Miridae). The insect […]
Continue reading...Cole Crops Pumpkin Spinach Cole Crops Downy mildew and Alternaria – Symptoms of downy mildew include purple to yellowish-brown spots on upper leaf surfaces. A grayish-white spore mass will develop and cover the underside of leaves under ideal temperatures (night temperatures of 46 to 61°F and day temperatures below 75°F). Downy mildew can kill young […]
Continue reading...Basil downy mildew remains active. The weather this time of year is ideal for downy mildew development across many crops. Growers should remain diligent going into the fall with regular scouting and preventative fungicide applications. Cucurbit downy and powdery mildew remain active. Growers holding mature pumpkins in the field for the next few weeks should […]
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