Plant & Pest Advisory

Rutgers University | New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station | Pesticide User Responsibility

June 28, 2023 Kris Holmstrom

Vegetable IPM Update 6/28/23

Sweet Corn Low numbers of European corn borer (ECB) moth activity has declined to very low levels in areas where blacklight traps are operating in the northern and central counties. Feeding in whorl and pre-tassel stage corn has increased only slightly over the past week, with many plantings exhibiting no ECB injury at all. […]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops

June 28, 2023 Michael Westendorf

Manure/Methane Digester Ponzi Scheme

This comes from the “You can’t make this stuff up” category. A man in California duped investors out of 8.75 million dollars by claiming to build anaerobic digesters for producing methane from manure on dairy farms in California and Idaho. This was a classic “Ponzi” scheme complete with pictures and tours of existing digesters, phony […]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock

June 23, 2023 Dave Schmitt and Kaitlin Quinn

Rutgers Tree Fruit IPM Report for June 23, 2023

Peach: Oriental Fruit Moth: A biofix point for OFM was set on 4/10 in both northern and southern counties. All timings for first generation OFM have past. Second generation timings are updated below: OFM 2nd Generation Timing Insecticide Type County/Region Degree Days by 6/23 base 45 Conventional 1150-1200 1350-1450 Diamide 1075-1150 1375-1450 Gloucester – Southern […]

Filed Under: Tree Fruit, Wine Grape

June 22, 2023 Cesar Rodriguez-Saona

Sparganothis Fruitworm Degree-Day Update: As of June 22, 2023

Based on our degree-day (DD) model for Sparganothis fruitworm, peak flight is expected at around 884 DD (see chart). As of June 22, Sparganothis fruitworm has accumulated 827 DD (using April 15 as biofix; a biofix more realistic to New Jersey practices). Based on the April 15 biofix, egg laying should have been initiated. However, […]

Filed Under: Cranberry, Fruit

June 21, 2023 Kris Holmstrom

Vegetable IPM Update 6/21/23

Sweet Corn Low numbers of European corn borer (ECB) moths remain active in areas where blacklight traps are operating in the northern and central counties, although feeding in whorl and pre-tassel stage corn is low and sporadic in occurrence. The highest feeding levels are in southern Hunterdon and Monmouth counties. ECB injury around 20% […]

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops

June 21, 2023 Meredith Melendez

Webinar: Managing Food Safety Risks in Hydroponic Operations

Incorporate food safety into your hydroponics setup and worker training. August, 17, 2023 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Free! Register online You will get the link to sign on or call in a few days before the event. Hydroponic growers use a variety of methods to grow, harvest, and pack produce. This webinar will focus on […]

Filed Under: Food Safety, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops