Monthly Archives: March 2019

New York State expertise for NEWA tools and resources

Last updated 3/19/19

NEWA offers 23 different fruit and vegetable models and all use real-time weather data to generate research-based crop guidelines for growers in New York State and beyond. Extension specialists across the state provide expertise in different commodity areas and are available to provide management expertise and consultation regarding the utilization of NEWA guidelines on your farm.

Use this guide to locate a fruit or vegetable specialist in your region of New York. Click the hyperlinks to learn more about a specific NEWA model, extension program, or commodity specialist.

NEWA Apple Resources

Apple diseases. Fire blight, apple scab, sooty blotch fly speck.

Apple insects. Apple maggot, codling moth, obliquebanded leafroller, oriental fruit moth, plum curculio, San Jose scale, spotted tentiform leafminer.

Apple management. Blossom thinning, carbohydrate fruit thinning, irrigation modeling.

Affiliation Name
New York State IPM Program Julie Carroll
Cornell Cooperative Extension Lake Ontario Fruit Team Craig Kahlke
Mario Sazo
Tessa Grasswitz
Cornell Cooperative Extension Eastern New York Horticulture Team Mike Basedow (northern NY)
Dan Donahue (Hudson Valley)

NEWA Grape resources

Grape diseases. Black rot, phomopsis, powdery mildew, downy mildew.

Grape insects. Grape berry moth

Affiliation Name
Cornell Cooperative Extension Lake Erie Regional Grape Program Tim Weigle (New York State IPM Program)
Jennifer Russo
Andy Muza (Penn State Extension)
Cornell Cooperative Extension Finger Lakes Grape Program Hans Walter-Peterson
Cornell Cooperative Extension Eastern New York Horticulture Program Jim Meyers
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County Alice Wise

NEWA Vegetable resources

Vegetable diseases. Onion diseases, potato diseases, tomato diseases.

Vegetable insects. Cabbage maggot, onion maggot.

Affiliation Name
New York State IPM Program Abby Seaman
Cornell Cooperative Extension Vegetable Program Elizabeth Buck
Christie Hoepting
Judd Reid
Cornell Cooperative Extension Eastern New York Horticulture Program Chuck Bornt
Teresa Rusinek
Maire Ullrich
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County Sandra Menasha

 

Spring is coming – tune up your weather stations

The 2019 growing season will be here in another few weeks. Now is the perfect time to give your Rainwise weather stations a tune-up. Use the checklist below to make sure you are getting the best possible data feed from your machine.

If your Rainwise station is getting old (>6 years) consider replacing the machine if this decision suits your farm management needs. A 2017 online survey of current NEWA users found that 75% of growers are saving money on their spray bill with average annual savings of $4,329 from reduced pesticide applications and $33,048 in avoided crop losses.

To get in touch with Rainwise support for station servicing or replacement of your weather station sensor assembly please reach out to the RainWise Inc. Service Department for consultation by phone (207) 801-4039 or email service@rainwise.com.

Contact support@newa.zendesk.com with other questions regarding the online NEWA platform at newa.cornell.edu.

Spring weather station tune up checklist

Set a maintenance schedule. Check your weather station every 2 or 3 weeks through the growing season. Choose dates in advance and add to your calendar or planner.

Clean the solar radiation sensor. The diffuser can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Replace the sensor if has turned yellow.

Check the anemometer and weather vane. Make sure the anemometer (spinning fan) and weather vane move freely in all directions. Set the weather vane to zero on due North.

Check the leaf wetness sensor. Examine the plastic board and electrodes for corrosion, cracking or weathering damage.

Check the relative humidity sensor. Verify the accuracy of RH measurements by looking at NEWA values on mornings that are rainy or have heavy dew.

Clean the rain gauge. Remove leaves, nests, insect, spider webs and other debris. Set a schedule. Watch this video and learn more about tipping bucket maintenance.