Happy equinox! And some warm weather!

DEC will hold a Pesticide stakeholder meeting on the proposed changes on pesticide regulations and certification on Oct 1, 2020 from 9-1. We’ve been hearing about what changes might occur.  In this presentation, you can hear the specifics and ask questions and there are also links to make suggestions.  The topics are:

The Federal Certification & Training Rule

Certification & Training

Business & Agency Registration

Commercial Permits

Pesticide Use

Minimum Risk Pesticide Products

Chrlorpyrifos

Aquatic Pesticides

I attended today’s version and it had lots of useful information.  Also, the certification information was towards the beginning if you can’t attend the whole thing.  To register, go to https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/298.html and the link is under Hot Topics.  That link also has the slides and factsheets, and a comment form.

The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program has a new round starting Sept 21 (yesterday).  There is a webinar on Thursday, Sept 24 at 3:00: https://globalmeetwebinar.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1372084&tp_key=8efafcdd45 to register.  Information on the program is at https://www.farmers.gov/cfap. Remember that this does now include ornamental crops – and there have been payouts made to ornamentals operations in NYS from the first version of CFAP.  Here is the link for the page on Floriculture and Nursery – https://www.farmers.gov/cfap/nursery

Information on the farmworker testing in 5 NYS counties – https://agriculture.ny.gov/coronavirus

Have a great week!

Ah, blue sky makes me happy.  And I hope that means more fires are getting under control in the West.  Frost warning for tonight and Saturday night in the Ithaca area.

Education season is getting underway – mostly virtually this year.  Lots of pest management topics included.

The Northeast Greenhouse Conference is moving to Fall 2021 but there will be 6 online webinars from Nov 4-Dec 16, 2020

https://www.negreenhouse.org/virtual-series-schedule.html  $25 each or all 6 for $100 (You can find registration information at the same link).  NY DEC pesticide recertification credits are available.

UMass Extension Green School is also going virtual – a 12 day certificate program for nursery/landscape operations.  Courses start on Oct 26 and run through Dec 10, 2020.  You must register by Oct 15.  You would need to check with the program to find out if NY pesticide credits are available.  They are not listed in the description.

https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/education/umass-extensions-green-school

American Hort’s Disease, Insect and Growth Regulator (DIG) Conference Nov 3-5, 2020

https://www.americanhort.org/page/dig-conference-2020#schedule

A recorded webinar on an important topic in these times – Stress Management and Mental Health Awareness from NY Farmnet

https://www.nyfarmnet.org/webinars

A question came up in the weekly SFE Harvest 2020: COVID office hours about air circulation and what it might mean for COVID infection in controlled environment agriculture.  Growers have the ability to increase the number of air exchanges per hour – while considering temperature and venting needs – which is perhaps a benefit.  However, it is also worth noting the direction of air flow as that seems to have an impact in some situations. Some references that were proposed:

https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/there-hvac-guidance-building-and-maintenance-professionals-can-follow-help-protect-covid

https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/resources

Neither are specifically aimed at greenhouse production but might be useful in keeping your employees healthy as we all move inside.

I’m sure there are more updates lurking on my computer but it seems like a good time to send this along to you.

Have a great week!

Good news – the sky is blue again!  I was wondering if we would have haze until all the fires were out in the west.

Bad news (well not that bad) – Frost warning for tonight.  And while you won’t find me hanging out in the weedy edges of your fields at those temperatures, remember that it is not yet cold enough to not find ticks out there waiting for you to wander by.  Stay tick safe!

And on the issue of staying safe, this story made me think of Christmas tree growers. https://www.morningagclips.com/farmer-who-is-lucky-to-be-alive-takes-time-for-safety/  There is a lot going on when you are out working but keep safety up there at the top of mind.

It drives me nuts when I have to look up an acronym to understand what something is about (feel free to call me out if I do it to you- I’ll give myself a bye for IPM), so I looked this one up for you:

IVM (Integrated vegetation management) – Non-target injury: Applicator Prevention and Response

Wed, Sept 23, 2020 12:00-1:30 Eastern

https://www.cvent.com/events/ivm-non-target-injury-applicator-prevention-and-response/event-summary-4929206febfa4ba68577679f720e4795.aspx?i=4cb3863a-03b8-4056-b67b-acbf7aa049a2

Don’t forget the Agritourism webinar we’ll be presenting Sept 23 from 7:00-8:00

Join Zoom Meeting

https://cornell.zoom.us/j/91887654517?pwd=cEFBSUovbGdWT0gvM0gxSFJLenpkdz09

Meeting ID: 918 8765 4517

Passcode: 123456

GDD                                       Sept 18                                 Sept 23

Champlain                           2240                                      2252

Geneva                                 2512                                      2534

Riverhead                            3180                                      3222

Another set of bug questions this week – Cinara aphids.  They are large, often black in color and don’t do much physical damage to the trees.  However, they can stay on the tree after it is cut and once in someone’s home, abandon the tree for the walls, etc.  When squashed they are likely to leave a purple stain.  Neither characteristic leads to happy customers.  So scout for them this time of year on trees that are market sized – sometimes the presence of wasps/yellow jackets on the honeydew helps.  They are often in colonies on the trunk.  We don’t seem to hear of lots of trees with them at the same time but you might want to mark those trees and keep an eye on the colony as you get closer to cutting as beneficials may take care of them.  Shaking will dislodge many but not all – one more thing to check when you are selling trees.

Pictures – https://influentialpoints.com/Gallery/Cinara_curvipes_bow-legged_fir_aphid.htm

Have a great week!

Yes, we do sadly have a population in NYS  on Staten Island so upping the scouting game is important to prevent spread throughout the state.  In addition to Brian’s comments below, remember that Spotted lanternflies are great hitchhikers so check vehicles and other equipment before heading out.

Betsy

For the next few weeks, until hard frost hits, it is prime time to look for adult Spotted Lanternflies.  With the recent discovery of populations on Staten Island it is especially important for the NYC area, Long Island and the lower Hudson Valley.

Although they may be found on maple trees, grapevines and a variety of other host plants at this time of year, the Ailanthus tree is their favorite and that’s the first place I would look.

Because other trees, like walnuts, can look like it, I put images of Ailanthus here: https://cornell.box.com/v/AilanthusSLF

As a reminder:

Suspected cases can be entered here:  https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/a08d60f6522043f5bd04229e00acdd63

-or-

an email can be sent directly to: mailto:spottedlanternfly@agriculture.ny.gov

I hope you all muddled on without an update last week. There is something about vacation that causes my mind to go blank and I forget what it is I do for a living.  I’m slowly remembering!

Things will start to slow down now – but I expect we will get at least one more warm spell (I still have gardening to do!)

Sept 11                 Sept 16

Champlain                           2199                      2239

Geneva                                 2463                      2519

Riverhead                            2635                      2706

I had a question about what I think was balsam woolly adelgid.  It is a sneaky pest as it is very small and tends to hide in the bark on trunks and branches so you might not notice it until you see the damage.  It is one of those that finds a place to feed as a crawler, sticks its mouthparts in and never moves again (like me watching Netflix), covering itself in white woolly wax to protect itself and its eggs.  I can say ‘herself’ because they are all female so no need to move to find a mate.

As she feeds, she injects a toxin and what you might notice first are nodes that look like arthritic knuckles – called gouting – although that can be somewhat inconspicuous sometimes (good pictures here:https://fpr.vermont.gov/sites/fpr/files/Forest_and_Forestry/Forest_Health/Library/VTFPR%20Forest%20Health%20Leaflet_Balsam%20Woolly%20Adelgid_2016.pdf)

The toxin also causes the wood to be brittle and can eventually kill the tree.  On larger trees you might notice the tops are angled.

This insect is tiny and is spread by wind.  It can also be spread on clothing/equipment so always work in any clean fields first and the infested ones last.  If the trees are badly infested, you should remove them.  But very carefully.  Either burn in place or tarp if you are pulling them out of the field.  Doing this in the winter when it is cold helps prevent the spread.

I haven’t found any GDD numbers for BWA.  There are 2 generations in the northeast with crawlers present late spring/early summer and late summer/early fall.  For the most part, the only stage that can be controlled is the crawler stage although horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps might penetrate the wax of the adults and can be used for the overwintering stage (be careful of foliage damage).

Scouting for crawlers can be done with a beat sheet (whacking branches over a white surface to find the amber colored crawlers) or with double sided tape around the trunk or branches to catch the crawlers.

I have heard growers say they have success with Asana XL (esfenvalerate) and OnyxPro is also labeled. Pesticides won’t reverse the damage but will limit insect populations.  Spray trees around where you have removed trees or seen damage, especially downwind, as you likely won’t find the first insects on a tree.

I did find information that suggests Concolor fir and European silver fir are moderately resistant and Veitch and Momi fir are resistant.  Turkish fir seems to have some resistance or tolerance, too. Douglas fir isn’t a host.

We are planning another Agritourism During COVID presentation so keep an eye out for the advertisement.

Have a great week!

The press release https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-new-state-guidance-agritourism-businesses-fall-approaches.

The frequently asked questions:

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-new-state-guidance-agritourism-businesses-fall-approaches.

The press release https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-cuomo-announces-new-state-guidance-agritourism-businesses-fall-approaches.

Please feel free to ask questions and I will try to get answers for you.