Can’t tell by the weather today (not another snow storm!), but we are entering the window for our last opportunities to make dormant treatments of insecticidal oils.
Continue reading...March 25, 2013 Richard Buckley
Might be Mites on Your Spinach?
Spinach samples were submitted to the Plant Diagnostic Laboratory today from a local organic grower. They were submitted for the diagnosis of a leaf spot disease, but closer evaluation revealed much more.
Continue reading...March 22, 2013 Dave Schmitt
The Cicadas are Coming!
Brood II of the 17 year cicada (Magicicada sp.) is expected to emerge in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic this spring. The last emergence in 1996 did not cause many problems in southern NJ counties as I recall. Brood II is one of the broods reported on the east coast. This map indicates the possibility of a […]
Continue reading...March 20, 2013 Ann Gould
Impact of Road Salt on Adjacent Vegetation
It’s the first day of spring… Consider that roadside vegetation has been exposed to de-icing compounds following several recent late-winter storms. Runoff from treated pavement contains dissolved salts that can injure adjacent vegetation. In plants sensitive to excessive salt, affected foliage may scorch and drop prematurely. In severe cases, the death of twigs, branches, […]
Continue reading...March 20, 2013 Brad Majek
Orchard Row-Middle Sod Maintanance
Managed sod row middles have many advantages, and have been adopted by many tree fruit growers. A perennial fescue sod does not attract insects pests, is not an alternate host for harmful nematodes, and provides shelter for beneficial insects. The sod provides a firm drive path for spring spraying of insecticides and fungicides, prevent or […]
Continue reading...March 19, 2013 Meredith Melendez
Exemptions – FDA Proposed Produce Food Safety Rule Q & A
The first FDA Proposed Produce Food Safety Rule Q & A conference call, coordinated by the Produce Safety Alliance, was held yesterday. This conference call focused on exemptions to the proposed rule. Here are the highlights of yesterday’s conference call: How are average annual sales for a farm calculated? Farm Facility (Packinghouse) Registration, are farms […]
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