By Heather Cooper •
Wes Kline, Agricultural Agent Time is running out to apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program for 2025 which opened Jan. 1, 2025, and runs through Jan. 31, 2026. The program has been expanded to include medium-sized businesses in addition to small businesses. Eligible specialty crop […]
By Heather Cooper •
Plant & Pest Advisory – July 1 2, 2025 – Andy Wyenandt Phomopsis blight is caused by the fungal pathogen, Phomopsis vexans. It survives between seasonsin the soil on infested plant debris. Although the pathogen can infect stems and older leaves, fruitinfections are most prominent. Cankers that develop on stems and branches can cause the […]
By Heather Cooper •
Plant & Pest Advisory – June 9, 2024- Andy Wyenandt Symptoms usually begin to appear on random plants throughout the field as green fruit begins tomature. The bacterium (Pseudomonas corrugata) is ubiquitous to soils and develops when weatherconditions (cooler nights/very hot, humid days) and cultural practices (i.e., excess heavy N use) leadto favorable conditions for […]
By Heather Cooper •
Plant & Pest Advisory- May 19, 2024- Andy Wyenandt Botrytis, or gray mold, caused by the fungus, Botrytis cinerea, can cause significant losses in high tunnel and greenhouse tomato production if not controlled properly. The pathogen can rapidly spread during periods when structures are closed and when relative humidity remains high for long periods of […]
By Heather Cooper •
Plant & Pest Advisory- May 23, 2024- Andy Wyenandt Most of New Jersey has been wet making current conditions ideal for pathogens such as Phytophthora and Pythium. Unfortunately, Pythium cottony leak and Phytophthora blight can be found on most farms in the southern part of the state. Poor crop rotations with susceptible hosts only make […]
By Heather Cooper •
Plant & Pest Advisory- May 15, 2024- Andy Wyenandt Collar rot (Alternaria linariae) or Alternaria stem rot (Alternaria alternata f. sp. lycopersici) of tomato are common in young tomato plants. Either can be particularly troublesome in seedlings that have been held in transplant flats for an extended period of time before transplanting in hot, humid […]