Cucurbit Downy Mildew in North Carolina

Cucurbit downy mildew (CDM) has been reported on cucumbers near Wilson, North Carolina.  To keep track of where downy mildew has been reported please visit the following website:  http://cdm.ipmpipe.org/

Growers guide to understanding the protectant fungicides (FRAC codes M1 – M9)

-Andy Wyenandt

Protectant fungicides offer broad spectrum control and are used often throughout the growing season. Why don't fungi develop resistance to protectant fungicides?

Cold Injury

COLD INJURY Injury was found this past week in some early season plantings due the most recent cold snap we had early this week. Injury was reported on lettuce and on potato (seen pictured). In some cases, such as pepper and tomato, cold temperatures can damage meristem tissue and injury won't be seen until those leaves flush out weeks later. Often in this type of damage resembles virus infection (especially in pepper) resulting in crimpled leaves and mosaic-like symptoms on leaves.

label: vegetable

European corn borer

The first European corn borer moth was found in one of the Vegetable IPM blacklights Monday, in Salem County.  Given the amount of heat accumulation, degree days, this is not surprising.  This first capture is about 2 weeks earlier than last year at this location.  However, this first flight of adults is not yet widespread.  Look for the ECB moth trap catch map in the upcoming issues of the Plant and Pest Advisory, Vegetable edition.

Joe Ingerson-Mahar

Lettuce Tipburn - favorable conditions warrant attention!

The past few days of cloudy, wet/rainy weather 10 to 14 days before Romaine and leaf lettuces are ready to harvest means that evapo-transpiration (Et) rates have dropped significantly. These are the exact conditions identified by California researchers that favor localized Calcium deficiencies in the rapidly growing inner leaves of lettuces that lead to lettuce tipburn. 

We were too late to recognize these conditions last year but discussed it in detail here after several growers experienced significant losses. Now, however, is the time to act to try to prevent damage or at least avoid losing marketable product. Recommendations include:

1. foliar applications of Ca with an air-assisted and/or electrostatic sprayer in order to get the Ca into the inner leaves where it is needed, and 
2. consider harvesting earlier than planned in order to market small heads with little or no damage rather than risking significant losses by waiting to full maturity. 

Details about lettuce tipburn were discussed at the 2012 Atlantic Coast Agricultural Conference and a summary is available in the Proceedings posted on our Rutgers NJAES Vegetable Crops Online Resources Center.

--Rick VanVranken

Agvocating... by example.

New Jersey farmer, John 'Johnny-boy' Rigolizzo, has always been an 'AGVOCATE', long before that term was coined. Here's an example of his latest online opining on the Truth about Trade and Technology blog about the wonders of modern agriculture...(click on the title for the full article)
-Rick VanVranken

Keeping the Sweet Corn Sweet

By John Rigolizzo: Berlin, New Jersey

Forty-plus years of retailing fresh produce has taught John Rigolizzo that great taste, good quality and reliable supply will win over even the most ardent of naysayers...

PA Announces Summer 2012 “Are You Crazy?” Retail Farm Market Tour

Heather Mikulas, Agricultural Entrepreneurship Agent with Penn State Cooperative Extension of Allegheny County, extends an invitation to farm marketers to join their annual two-day retail farm market and agritourism bus tour of Western PA and Eastern Ohio, Monday, July 9 and Tuesday, July 10, 2012. Details and registration info are posted on the PAFarm website here. Heather asks that you pass the word, and come along for a fun learning and networking experience, but act quickly for this has become a popular event that fills up quickly!
-Rick VanVranken