Local Governments • U.S. Department of Agriculture

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The University of Maryland Extension Agriculture and Food Systems and Environment and Natural Resources Focus Teams proudly present this publication for commercial vegetable and fruit industries. Volume 7 Issue 2 June 9, 2016

Vegetable Crop Insect Update By Joanne Whalen

DE Extension IPM Specialist jwhalen@udel.edu

Cucumbers Be sure to scout for cucumber beetles as well as aphids. Fresh market cucumbers are susceptible to bacterial wilt, so treatments should be applied before beetles feed extensively on cotyledons and the first true leaves. Although pickling cucumbers have a tolerance to wilt, a treatment may still be needed for machine-harvested pickling cucumbers when 5% of plants are infested with beetles and/or plants are showing fresh feeding injury. A treatment should be applied for aphids if 10 to 20 percent of the plants are infested with aphids with 5 or more aphids per leaf.

Melons Continue to scout all melons for aphids, cucumber beetles, and spider mites. Although aphid populations are still relatively low in most fields we have started to see an increase in populations in a few fields. Populations can quickly explode. The treatment threshold for aphids is 20% infested plants with at least 5 aphids per leaf. The threshold for mites is 20-30% infested crowns with 1-2 mites per leaf. Cucumber beetles can continue to re-infest fields as we as hide under the plastic, so be sure to check carefully for beetles as well as their feeding damage. Multiple applications are often needed to achieve effective cucumber beetle control. When fields are blooming, be sure to consider pollinators when making an insecticide application and read all labels for requirements regarding pollinator protection.

Peppers As soon as the first flowers can be found, be sure to consider a corn borer treatment. Depending on local corn borer trap catches, sprays should be applied on a 7 to 10-day schedule once pepper fruit is ¼ – ½ inch in diameter.

Potatoes Continue to scout fields for Colorado potato beetle (CPB) and leafhoppers. Adult CPB as well as the small and large larvae can now be found. A treatment should be considered for adults when you find 25 beetles per 50 plants and defoliation has reached the 10% level. Once larvae are detected, the threshold is 4 small larvae per plant or 1.5 large larvae per plant. As a general guideline, controls should be applied for leafhoppers if you find ½ to one adult per sweep and/or one nymph per every 10 leaves.

Snap Beans Continue to sample all seedling stage fields for leafhopper and thrips activity. The thrips threshold is 5-6 per leaflet and the leafhopper threshold is 5 per sweep. If both insects are present, the threshold for each should be reduced by one third. As a general guideline, once corn borer catches reach 2 per night, fresh market and processing snap beans in the bud to pin stages should be sprayed for corn borer. Sprays will be needed at the bud and pin stages on processing beans. After the pin spray on processing beans, the spray schedule will be determined by a combination of both moth catches and field scouting. Once pins are present on fresh market snap beans and corn borer trap catches are above 2 per night, a 7 to 10-day schedule should be maintained for corn borer control.

Sweet Corn Continue to sample seedling stage fields for cutworms and flea beetles. You should also sample whorl through pre-tassel stage corn for corn borers and corn earworms. A treatment should be applied if 15% of the plants are infested with larvae. The first silk sprays will be needed for corn earworm as soon as ear shanks are visible. IPM Threshold Guide for Vegetable Crops ECONOMIC THRESHOLD - Level of pest activity when control action is suggested to prevent economic injury Online at: https://extension.umd.edu/sites/default/files/_docs/IPMGuideVegetables2009.pdf

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Three-Line Lema Beetle on Physalis Ground Cherry or Goldenberry

Andrew Ristvey UME Specialist Commercial Horticulture aristvey@umd.edu

& Mike Newell UME Senior Faculty Specialist

Horticulture Crops &

Mike Embry UME Entomology These past weeks, Three-line Lema Beetle (Lema trivittata) has been showing up at Wye Research and Education Center. In the Chrysomelidae family and Criocerinae subfamily, this leaf beetle resembles a skinny potato beetle, and some common names such as three-lined potato beetle has popped up in the on-line literature and extension-based fact sheets. These beetles are common pests for plants in the solanum family. While tomatoes have not been identified as a common host, other plants like ground cherries (Physalis species like tomatillos and golden berries) are. The following pictures show the various stages of the beetle from egg to adult on Goldenberry plantings at Wye Research and Education Center, where ground cherry plants (Physalis spp) are being trialed. Unfortunately, no pupa stages were found. Small orange-yellow eggs laid in clusters give way to larvae approximately 1/32 to 1/16 inch long (A) and (C). Before, hatching eggs are seen with black tops (B).

Small chew marks first appear on leaves. The larvae are clustered underneath the leaf at first and then disperse as they grow larger (C). They develop quickly, increasing in size to ¼ inch. The larva are known to carry their frass (excrement) on their backs (D).

The males are smaller than the females and can be seen together (E), sometimes near clusters of eggs.

Few control options are listed for this particular beetle. Dr. Jerry Brust, University of Maryland’s Fruit and Vegetable Extension Specialist says that Surround mixed with an organic pyrethrum works pretty well on cucumber beetles and bean leaf beetles (similar and related beetles). Other pesticides including organic ones were not labeled for either ground cherries or leaf beetles.

A pesticide used must have the name of the pest and the plant it is used on. Look for leaf-beetles and the plant you intend to use the pesticide on as key words for correct application.

Vegetable Disease Update By Kate Everts

Vegetable Pathologist University of Delaware and University of Maryland

keverts@umd.edu

June 8, 2016 Late blight Update Late blight has been confirmed in both western Maryland, Garrett County on tomato and on the eastern shore in Accomack VA on potato. The genotype of both outbreak strains is US23. This genotype is pathogenic on both tomato and potato. In our past experience, the strain has usually been sensitive to mefenoxam, which means Ridomil products are effective.

Cucurbit downy mildew Update No downy mildew has been reported on any cucurbit crop in Maryland. The closest outbreaks are on cucumber in Duplin County North Carolina. Downy mildew is present in Georgia on cantaloupes, acorn squash, yellow squash and cucumber. I don’t think the threat of downy mildew in Maryland is imminent, but growers should scout their cucurbits frequently for symptoms. Follow the progress of the epidemic online at http://cdm.ipmpipe.org/ .

New disease on potato - Dickeya spp. Update Earlier this year, Nathan Kleczewski at the University of Delaware, alerted all to a “new” bacterial disease of potatoes that is similar to, but more aggressive than black leg. He wrote an excellent article on the disease for the UD Weekly Crop Update on April 1 at: http://extension.udel.edu/weeklycropupdate/?p=8900 During the past two week symptoms of black leg have

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shown up in potatoes in Delaware and Maryland. The potatoes were infected with the pathogen Dickeya spp. At this point in the growing season, there is little that can be done to prevent or manage the disease. However, growers should avoid excess irrigation and have a balanced fertility program. The following is a list from Nathan’s article on what to do if you have confirmed Dickeya in your field: If you have symptomatic fields and Dickeya is suspected/confirmed:

1. Harvest these fields last 2. Disinfest equipment with quaternary ammonium.

Typical sanitation products such as bleach will not work against Dickeya spp.

3. If potatoes are to be stored, ensure rooms are adequately ventilated and are maintaining cool temperatures

4. Avoid including brassicas or onions in rotations 5. Manage volunteer potatoes 6. Avoid placing cull piles near fields or production

areas 7. Check your seed certificate

Potato samples from Maryland and Delaware. Note darkened aerial stem lesions (Fig. 1) and lesions emanating from the soil line (Fig. 2).

Melcast for 2016 Watermelon growth throughout Maryland and Delaware has beens slow in 2016 due to cool May temperatures. However as our temperatures return to more normal levels, the crop has improved. We began our yearly dissemination of MelCast for watermelons this past week.

MelCast is a weather-based spray advisory program for watermelon developed at Purdue University. Melcast began for the 2016 watermelon production season on June 8. The program uses hours of leaf wetness and temperature during leaf wetness periods to determine when a fungicide should be applied. Weather information is used to calculate how favorable weather is to the development of gummy stem blight or anthracnose. The output of the program is an “environmental favorability unit” (EFI) for each day. The EFI values are added together. Once the threshold of 30 EFI is reached, a fungicide application is recommended. After the fungicide application, begin adding the EFI again from zero. If two weeks elapse and you have not accumulated 30 EFI, spray anyway. Also, add 2 EFI for each overhead irrigation event. We currently run MelCast for three locations in Delaware (Coverdale Crossroads, southeast of Laurel, and southwest of Laurel) and five locations in Maryland (Galestown, Hebron, Salisbury, Waldorf and Woodbine).

To use MelCast on your farm, please call Karen Adams (302-856-7303) or Sheila Oscar (410-742-8788) and give us your name and Fax number or e-mail address. More details about how the program works are available at our Disease Forecasting Web page, which is at a new location this year:

http://extension.umd.edu/mdvegetables/vegetable-plant-diseases/disease-forecasting . Use EFI values for the location that is nearest to your farm. In addition, we post the MelCast Advisory online three times a week.

Possible Tomato Ripening Problems in High Tunnels By Jerry Brust, IPM Vegetable Specialist,

UME

May was a very cool, cloudy and wet month, which is having all kinds of repercussions now and into the summer for field crops. Most of the problems are disease related, but some are horticultural. These weather conditions have led to some problems in high tunnels. In some tomato high tunnels even though the tomato plants and tomato fruit look decent with nice color, when the tomatoes are cut open, growers (or customers) find an internal whitening of the tomato (fig

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1). This malady is different from grey wall because there are blotches of hard white corky tissue instead of collapsed dark tissue (common in grey wall) in the outer wall of the fruit. In addition the corky white tissue is not confined to the outer wall of the fruit but is found throughout the interior walls. Tomatoes look good on the outside but bad on the inside. The cause is lower levels of potassium (K+) than what is needed by the fruit to ripen properly. Tissue tests should show K+ levels at 3-3.5% or greater to avoid any fruit ripening problems. For the month of May we had very few sunny or even partly sunny days, most were cloudy or overcast. In the past when we have had very overcast skies for extended periods of time we have seen the internal whitening problems in high tunnel tomatoes. This may seem odd but anything that interferes with the ability of the plant to take up K+ at the critical time of fruit enlargement will result in ripening problems, especially when there is a heavy fruit load on the plant, which there is in high tunnels in May and June. However, other tomato high tunnels have not seen this problem. I think one thing that is more in our favor of not seeing the problem this year is the fact that May temperatures were not very warm. These somewhat cooler temperatures, I think, slowed the growth of tomatoes when there was not much sunshine in the high tunnels reducing the problems with K+ uptake. The thing to do now is to be sure to be feeding K+ through the drip each time you fertigate. This placement of K+ in the upper layer of soil where tomato roots are concentrated is exactly where the plant needs it for quick uptake and utilization. Some growers also use a foliar spray of potassium after flowering to move more K+ into the plant. This does help in reducing ripening problems, but cannot substitute for the large amounts of K+ that are needed at fruit loading. Fig 1. Internal whitening of tomato fruit found in high tunnel tomatoes this late spring.

Orange Rust on Brambles: An Ongoing Saga

By Cassandra L. Swett Berry Pathology, University of Maryland

We all get a little rusty as we get older, but one thing that we don’t want to see getting rusty is our brambles. There are several rust diseases that affect brambles. I’m just going to focus on orange rust, which is the most important rust disease in the northeast.

We are definitely seeing a bit of orange rust this year, with the cool wet springs. You’ll see this disease on blackberries, black raspberries and purple raspberries. Orange rust does not affect red raspberries.

This is an unusual fungus—it grows systemically throughout the whole plant. So once a plant is infected, it will stay infected the rest of its life, and be a persistent source of inoculum for other plants. Over time, orange rust stunts and weakens plants so they will not bear fruit, but plants do not typically die. All in all, not a disease you want in your bramble field.

Orange rust stunting black raspberry plant. Note the “spindly” elongated shoots. Photo credit: Mike Ellis Orange rust is caused by two species: (1) Arthuriomyces peckianus, which is more common in the northeastern US. (2) Gymnoconia nitens, which is more common in southern states and primarily effects blackberry.

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WHEN TO CONTROL ORANGE RUST: LIFE CYLE Infection by orange rust occurs when it’s persistently wet (for more than 12 hrs in a day) and between 43ᵒ F and 72ᵒ F. The fungus cannot infect if it’s hot for most of the day or if it’s very dry. Above 85ᵒF the fungus cannot infect at all. The life cycle of orange rust is much more complex than your typical fungal pathogen, so I’m just going to boil it down to the simple take homes: First: In a new field, orange rust can come in on infected plants, or can spread from nearby brambles—either other fields or wild brambles. Second: Rust overwinters on infected leaves on the soil surface and on old canes, so if rust gets established your field, it will likely persist at low levels through the life of the planting. Third: There are two periods of infection that are important to control:

(1) about 3-4 weeks in the spring, around the time of shoot emergence, after the last frost, and

(2) about 3-6 weeks in the fall, from the time when primocane growth slows until first frost

Understand that these are estimates—what really determines infection is the weather—again, persistently wet and between 43 and 72°F

Fourth: It is important to protect both leaves and emerging shoots / buds. The time of year and history of the field can inform you about whether you need to protect leaves, buds or both. In the spring--protect against leaf infections if you are detecting rust for the first time; if you have a history of rust in your field, also protect against emerging shoot / bud infections. In the fall--protect only against emerging shoot / bud infections. This has to do with the type(s) of spore present in your field:

If you HAVE NOT had rust in your field in recent years, you should not have the overwintering spores, which infect buds. You should only have spring spores, which only infect leaves.

If you HAVE had rust in your field in recent years, then you probably DO HAVE overwintering spores, which infect buds.

CONTROL METHODS 1. Scout and remove infected plants in the spring Once a plant is infected, it must be removed. Otherwise it will continue to provide inoculum, allowing spread to other plants. It does not do much good to keep it, because after a couple of years the plant will stop yielding.

Spring is a critical time to scout for and remove orange rust-infected plants in the field, because this is the only time you will see the bright orange spores. Scout early, as soon as new shoots start are emerging, after the last frost. Be particularly diligent when it’s a wet spring—this year is a great example. The disease is easily identified as orange pustules on the underside of young leaves. You will not be able to detect orange rust after sporulation ends (early to June, onwards).

Scout for orange pustules on the underside of young leaves, early in the spring. Photo credit: Mark Bolda 2. Chemical control Chemical control is an important compliment to removal. Once you remove all infected plants, you will want to spray to prevent the spores from infecting new plants. When to spray Weather can be a good indication that you need to spray—it has to be wet and between 43ᵒF and 73ᵒF to get infection. It is typically too cold between November and March and too hot between June and mid-August. In our region, the critical control periods for chemical protection are:

(1) About 3-4 weeks in the spring, around the time of shoot emergence, after the last frost, and

(2) about 3-6 weeks in the fall, from the time when primocane growth slows until first frost

(1) Spring protection: Apply fungicides upon first discovery of the blisters, preferably before they burst open and release spores. If the field has a history of the disease, sprays should be initiated before blisters appear. Direct this application to the foliage, since you are preventing leaf infections. If you have had rust in previous years, ALSO do a spray directed to the base of the cane, to protect the developing buds from getting infected by overwintering spores. (2) Fall protection: Apply fungicides if you detected rust in the field in the spring. Direct towards the base of the cane, to protect the developing buds (both floricane and primocane); for

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floricane varieties—also spray the primocane shoots, to protect the buds on next year’s floricane. What to spray Rally (formerly called Nova) (myclobutanil) Pristine 38 WG (pyraclostrobin + boscalid) Cabrio 20EG (pyraclostrobin).

When to spray Apply on a 10-14 day schedule--use the shorter interval in wet weather. Alternate Rally with Pristine and Cabrio to prevent fungicide resistance. Do not apply more than two sprays without alternating. An example of a 14 day-interval program for, say northern MD, would be: In the spring--Starting after the last frost, at shoot emergence: April 10: Rally 40WSP (Nova) April 24: Cabrio 20EG May 8: Rally 40WSP

https://www.extension.umd.edu/smallfruit

Bloom (May)

• Disease Management - Botrytis • Tissue Sampling

Post-Bloom (June) • Downy Mildew Management • Minimizing Herbaceous Character in the Vineyard • Pre-Bloom to Post-Bloom Disease Management

WMREC Tree Fruit Update By Bryan Butler

UME Principal Agent, Agriculture bbutlers@umd.edu

As we move from cold and wet to hot and wet weather we cannot seem to stench the spray intervals very far due to disease pressure. So far the weather has not lined up very well for fire blight infection but it is important to stay on the lookout and be very careful when doing any summer pruning and training to pick hot dry days to avoid shoot blight. We are continuing to monitor our two new special friends SWD and BMSB. So far we are not seeing a lot of activity but we have picked up BMSB in peaches but I would like to note we have been seeing brown stinkbugs in the peaches in Keedysville for several weeks. We should stay on our toes regarding BMSB and remember it is important not to allow theses overwintering adults to lay eggs and establish a nymphal population in the orchard. Be sure to be keeping a close eye out for BMSB especially around the boarders of your operation. We will be having an Attract and Kill Demonstration on the Maryland Horticulture Society summer Tour on 13th. This may prove to be a method of controlling the population in an orchard without the widespread use of insecticides that are particularly hard on beneficials.

The bifenthrins section 18 for use in apples and peaches is approved for 2016 by the EPA so be aware you do have that tool in the toolbox if needed. This exemption allows the use of 3 products (Bifenture EC, Bifenture 10 DF and, Brigade WSB) to control Brown marmorated stink bugs on apples, peaches and nectarines. Application must be made post-bloom, by ground only, at a rate of 0.08 to 0.2 lb. active ingredient bifenthrin (a.i.) per acre; no more than 0.5 lb. a.i. per acre may be applied per year; multiple applications may be made at a minimum of 30 day intervals; a restricted entry interval (REI) of 12 hours and pre-harvest interval (PHI) of 14 days must be observed. This specific exemption expires on October 15, 2016.

This picture was taken exactly one year ago, what a difference a year makes. This season Dr. Peter is doing a second inoculation to try to get infection in the orchard.

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Interested in Hops? By R. David Myers

Principal Agent, Agriculture myersrd@umd.edu

http://extension.umd.edu/anne-arundel-county

Hops Yard Slides - CMREC Upper Marlboro Farm research at: http://extension.umd.edu/anne-arundel-county/agriculture/agnr-slide-presentations http://extension.umd.edu/sites/default/files/_docs/Hops%20Production%20CMREC%202013-2015%20Myers.pdf 1) Steve Miller, Cornell Hops Specialist Cornell’s Hops Program: http://madisoncountycce.org/agriculture/hops-program Order your baby hops at Zerrillo’s Greenhouse Cornell’s Hops Plant Program: https://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.cce.cornell.edu/attachments/12370/Plant_Sale_Form_2016.pdf?1450462870 2) Washington Extension Hops Production Handbook: http://ipm.wsu.edu/field/pdf/hophandbook2009.pdf 3) I would also recommend contacting local breweries and ask which varieties that they are the most interested in. 4) You probably should join the Maryland Hops Association: http://stillpointfarming.com/ and Northeast Hops Alliance: http://www.northeasthopalliance.org/ Learn about Hops varieties at the Hops Union: http://www.hopunion.com/hop-varieties/ 5) Vermont Hops Project: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/hops 6) Hops Feasibility Study: http://www.uvm.edu/extension/cropsoil/wp-content/uploads/hops-feasibility-study.pdf This document provides an excellent economic analysis, and may also help answer the variety and marketing questions. I have focused my research on growing and delivering wet, aromatic hops for small micro-breweries. Five pounds of wet hops equates to one pound of dried pelletized hops, equivalent to a market value of $12; although I think wet hops are worth considerably more due to perishability, hence, the need for refrigeration. The average production goal for hops is 5000 lbs/acre of wet hops cones, equivalent to 1000 lbs/acre of dried pelletized hops; $12,000/acre gross income. 7) I would suggest following the Michigan Hops Spray Guide for hops as it was recently compiled in 2015 (as long as the product is sold in Maryland and hops is on the label it is registered for use): http://msue.anr.msu.edu/uploads/234/71503/Registered_hop_pesticides_2015.pdf

8) I have successfully kept the hops healthy at the Upper Marlboro Research Center trial with just a few products: Fungicides: Insecticides: Fixed copper (Kocide) Bifenthrin Phosphorus acid (Phostrol) Warrior Pristine Ridomil

Guess Who is the Spring/Summer 2016 Maryland Beer

Ambassador & Proclaimed Hops King?

To find out click and scroll to page 30: http://custommediaoptions.com/digital/mdbrewspringsummer

2016/#

Are Your Soybeans Getting Enough Sulfur to Produce Top Yields of

Quality Food and Feed? By Ray Weil, University of Maryland Soil Scientist

Sulfur (S) is a macronutrient, just like N, P and K. But S is all too often the forgotten nutrient for crop production. Sulfur deficiencies are becoming increasingly common in many farm crops. This is the result of reductions in sulfur deposition from air pollution (a good thing) and increases in sulfur removals with higher yields (also a good thing). One reason why sulfur does not receive the attention it deserves is that crops suffering from S deficiency may look a lot like they are nitrogen deficient. Crop yields are likely to show profitable responses to sulfur applications on more and more fields. Even more important is the potential for sulfur to improve crop protein quality. Soybean protein quality (as opposed to simple quantity) is very important to the nutritional value of the crop as non-ruminant livestock feed or human food. Without the proper balance of the essential S-containing amino acids, the protein is of less actual nutritional value.

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I am working on a project on managing sulfur fertility for increasing soybean yields and improving the quality (amino acid profile) of the soybean seed protein. The biggest potential long term payoff would be in protein quality. Increasing the sulfur-containing amino acids could significantly improve the quality of the soybeans as food and feed, eventually leading to premium payments. I am hoping to find appropriate fields to obtain plant and soil samples for this research. Therefore, I am reaching out to farmers who may be interested in collaborating on this project. I will be working with two U of Md students, Rachel Patterson and Phil Schwartz.

We are seeking farmers who may wish to collaborate at one of two levels. At the first level, we'd like to find about 20 farmers who grow soybeans and are simply willing to have us take small samples from their fields several times during the growing season. For these soybean fields we would only plan to come and collect samples by hand and so would not leave any disturbance and would not require anything special of the farmer - except that he let us know ahead of time when he plans to spray or harvest so we can sample accordingly. For the second level, we are looking for about 6 farmers who would be willing to implement a simple sulfur fertility trial using replication plots or strips. The treatments would be with or without a foliar application of 10 lbs S/acre at first flower. The sulfur could be applied as a solution of magnesium sulfate or calcium sulfate as a foliar after flowering but before seed set. The plot size would depend on farmer equipment and preference. For this smaller number of farmers we could conduct the trials in one of two ways: 1. We could lay out small plots consisting of four rows each 10 feet long , apply the sulfur with backpack sprayers and harvest yield by hand. 2. Alternatively, if the farmer is willing to apply the treatments the plots would be large enough to

accommodate farm equipment size and we would need the farmer to make the yield measurements with a yield monitor. They could apply the S to the whole field and leave at least four strips untreated - or they could apply the S to at least four treated strips and leave the rest of the field untreated. We are interested in both full season and double crop soybeans. We need to sample a wide range of fields, but we are especially interested in fields likely to be low in sulfur. Likely candidates would have coarse textured soils without recent sulfur applications. If you know of some wheat fields that are showing sulfur deficiency now and will be rotated into double crop soybeans, those would be excellent candidates if the farmer is willing to keep at least parts of the field untreated with sulfur. We expect to sample both soybean leaves and soil at full flowering and soybean seeds at crop maturity. We will be looking for foliar symptoms of sulfur deficiency and for growth responses, but we don't expect either to be nearly as dramatic on soybean as they are on, say, wheat. While yield responses are likely to be in the 5 to 15% range, the real profit potential is in the area of soybean protein quality which may eventually lead to opportunities for premium payments. If you are interested in collaborating with us on this sulfur fertility research this summer and fall, please either email Dr. Ray Weil directly at: rweil@umd.edu or contact your local extension office.

Foliar Fertilization of

Vegetable Crops

By Gordon Johnson, DE Extension Vegetable

& Fruit Specialist; gcjohn@udel.edu

Correcting Nutrient Deficiencies in Vegetable Crops As the season progresses, growers and consultants will use tissue tests to determine the nutrient status of vegetable crops and take corrective actions if necessary. As a rule, if levels are in the adequate range or are high no corrective action is needed. If levels have dropped to near deficient levels or are in the deficient category then additional mineral nutrients will need to be added. Critical tissue test values for many vegetables can be found in the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Recommendations. The following are some guidelines for correcting low or deficient levels from tissue tests in vegetables.

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Nitrogen If tissue results are low or deficient for Nitrogen (N) apply additional nitrogen as a sidedressing or through fertigation: Watermelon, muskmelons, melons: 40 lbs/a N Cucumbers, squash: 20 lbs/a N Tomatoes, peppers: 40-60 lbs/a N Eggplant: 30 lbs/a N White potato: 40 lbs/a N before tubers start to size Cole crops, greens: 30-40 lbs/a N Sweet corn: 40-80 lbs/a N Beans: 20 lbs/a N Additional nitrogen may be needed for extended harvest in some crops such as watermelons. Use non-acidic forms of nitrogen for blossom end rot sensitive vegetables such as tomato or pepper (calcium or potassium nitrate is recommended). Foliar applications of N can benefit most vegetables if the plant is low in N. Urea forms of N are the most effective; methylene ureas and triazones are effective with less injury potential; and ammonium sulfate is also effective. Recommended rates are 1-10 lbs per acre N in sufficient water to have less than 2% salt solution. Multiple applications will be necessary to correct deficiencies, or combine with a soil application. Potassium If tissue test results are low or deficient for potassium (K) apply additional K as a sidedressing or through fertigation. Note that fruiting vegetables often have low K levels in tissue tests if fruit loads are heavy and first harvest often brings them back in balance. Watermelon, muskmelons, melons: 40 lbs/a K Cucumbers, squash: 20 lbs/a K Tomatoes, peppers: 40-80 lbs/a K Eggplant: 40 lbs/a K White potato: 40 lbs/a K Cole crops, greens: 30-40 lbs/a K Sweet corn: 40-80 lbs/a K Beans: 40-80 lbs/a K Foliar sprays of potassium nitrate or sulfate (4 lbs/a K foliar) may be useful on tomatoes and melons. Phosphorus If tissue test results are low or deficient for Phosphorus (P), apply an additional 20-40 lbs/a P for all crops as a sidedressing or through fertigation. Note that areas with high levels of calcium or magnesium in irrigation water can have problem with P precipitates clogging drip irrigation emitters and water may need to be acidified to prevent this. Magnesium If tissue test results are low or deficient for magnesium (Mg) apply 15-25 lbs of Mg as a sidedressing or through fertigation. Another option is to apply 2-3 applications foliarly (2-4 lb Mg/A) for sensitive crops such as tomatoes or melons.

Calcium For vegetable crops low or deficient in calcium (Ca), foliar applications of 2-4 lb Ca/A. Calcium chloride at the rate of 5-10 lb per 100 gallons per acre or calcium nitrate at the rate of 10-15 lb per 100 gallons per acre is recommended for fruiting vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant). Calcium chelates are also available. For potatoes, sidedress gypsum (calcium sulfate) at a rate of 500 lbs/a. Sulfur For vegetables low or deficient in sulfur (S) apply 20 lbs/A S as a sidedressing or through fertigation. Ammonium sulfate and ammonium thiosulfate are effective ways to add both N and S at the same time. Gypsum is an inexpensive material to use to provide S. Micronutrients For micronutrient metals (Iron – Fe, Manganese – Mn, Zinc – Zn) foliar application is often the most effective way to correct low or deficient levels. Suggested rates are: Fe, Mn, 1-2 lbs/a, and Zn ¼ lb/a. The other micronutrient that can be effective as a foliar application is boron. Boron in the Solubor form is often recommended at 0.1 to 0.25 lbs/a for mustard family crops such as cabbage as a foliar application. Boron is very toxic to plants if applied in excess so applying at correct rates is critical. Do not use boron on bean crops.

Commercial 2016 Vegetable Production

Recommendations Maryland EB 236

On-Line at: http://extension.umd.edu/sites/default/files/_docs/programs/mdvegetables/2016_CommercialV

egRecommend-CompleteMid-AtlanticVegRecsBook.pdf

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AG MARKETING ALERT! Dear Ag Marketing Subscriber, The Maryland Department of Agriculture, Food Quality Assurance will be offering an "Understanding Acidified Foods" training workshop on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 from 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM at the Maryland Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401 This workshop is designed to teach the basics of food safety requirements and regulation in the manufacture of acidified foods in Maryland. Whether you have a business that you wish to expand, or you are just in the planning stages, the Acidified Foods Workshop will be helpful to you. Also, this workshop satisfies FDA Better Process Control School Acidified Foods requirement. For more information or would like to register, please see attached brochure (pdf format). If you have any questions about registration or about the workshop, please contact CAROL REYNOLDS at 401-841-5769 or by email Carol.Reynolds@maryland.gov Ginger S. Myers Marketing Specialist, University of Maryland Extension Director, Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center VOICE: 301-432-2767 Extension: 338 FAX: 301-432-4089 EMAIL: gsmyers@umd.edu WEB: http://www.extension.umd.edu/ https://www.extension.umd.edu/mredc https://www.extension.umd.edu/agmarketing

View inks to all of the hort tips newsletters. The most recent is at the bottom of the list at: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/home-and-garden-information-center-and-grow-it-eat-it-publications#hortTips

Draft Guidance on Managing Pesticide Resistance EPA has made available for a 60-day comment period two draft Pesticide Registration Notices (PR Notices) that are aimed at combating pesticide resistance. The first PR Notice (PR Notice 2016-X) is titled “Draft Guidance for Pesticide Registrants on Pesticide Resistance Management Labeling” and the second PR Notice (PR Notice 2016-XX) is titled “Draft Guidance for Herbicide Resistance Management Labeling, Education, Training, and Stewardship." Pesticides can be used to control a variety of pests, such as insects, weeds, rodents, bacteria, and fungi. Over time, many pesticides have gradually lost their effectiveness because pests have developed resistance – a significant decrease in sensitivity to a pesticide, which reduces the field performance of these pesticides. The Agency is concerned about resistance issues and believes that managing the development of pesticide resistance, in conjunction with alternative pest-management strategies and Integrated Pest Management programs, is an important part of sustainable pest management. To address the growing issue of resistance and preserve the useful life of pesticides, the Agency is beginning to embark on a more widespread effort that is aimed at combating and slowing the development of pesticide resistance. The release of these two PR Notices will allow the Agency to communicate (and seek comment) on potential strategies to combat pesticide resistance. Draft PR Notice 2016-X, which revises and updates PR Notice 2001-5, applies to all conventional agricultural pesticides (i.e., herbicides, fungicides, bactericides, insecticides and acaricides). The updates in PR Notice 2016-X focus on pesticides labels and are aimed at improving information about how pesticide users can minimize and manage pest resistance. Updates fall into the following three categories: (1) additional guidance to registrants and a recommended format for resistance-management statements or information to place on labels; (2) references to external technical resources for guidance on resistance management; and (3) instructions on how to submit changes to existing labels in order to enhance resistance-management language. Draft PR Notice 2016-XX, which only applies to herbicides, communicates the Agency’s current thinking and approach to address herbicide-resistant weeds by providing guidance on labeling, education, training, and

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stewardship for herbicides undergoing registration review or registration (i.e., new herbicide actives, new uses proposed for use on herbicide-resistant crops, or other case-specific registration actions). It is part of a more holistic, proactive approach to slow the development and spread of herbicide-resistant weeds and prolong the useful lifespan of herbicides and related technology. The Agency is focusing on the holistic guidance for herbicides first because (1) herbicides are the most widely used agricultural chemicals, (2) no new herbicide mechanism of action has been developed in the last 30 years, and (3) herbicide-resistant weeds are rapidly increasing. In the future, the Agency plans to evaluate other types of pesticides (e.g., fungicides, bactericides, insecticides, and acaricides) to determine whether and what guidance may be appropriate for these types of pesticides. To view and provide comments on these draft Pesticide Registration Notices and any supporting material, please visit EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0242 for PRN 2016-X and EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0226 for PRN 2016-XX. The comment period for each closes on August 2, 2016. See Slowing and Combating Pest Resistance to Pesticides for more information on pesticide resistance management.

On the web at extension.umd.edu/woodland On Facebook at www.facebook.com/UMDWSE On YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/UMdFSE

1. Upcoming Forestry Friday workshop: "Learning How to Use a Handheld GPS"- Friday, June 10, Western Maryland Research & Education Center, Keedysville MD Join us for our next Forestry Friday program! "Learning How to Use a Handheld GPS" will be held June 10 at the Western Maryland Research & Education Center in Keedysville (near Hagerstown) from 1-4:30 p.m. Registration is limited ($10.00 per person); no lunch provided. Many people have purchased handheld GPS units but don't know how to use all the important features. This workshop will be a hands-on outdoors event. The workshop begins with an overview of handheld GPS units, Using the handheld GPS units will be provided, participants will learn how to record waypoints, tracks, and how to GoTo locations created. There will also be a demonstration of downloading points to a computer along with other skills. You are welcome to bring your own GPS, but due to differences in the units we will ask that you use our units for the exercise. What you learn can be applied to your own units. For more information on using handheld GPS, go to "Introduction to GPS" on our website

at http://www.extension.umd.edu/woodland/gps-training. To register with a credit card, go to https://umeforestryfridaygps.eventbrite.com.Registration closes Wednesday, June 8. Please feel free to share with this with anyone you feel would be interested.

2. Considering a Timber Harvest? Now you can "Call Before You Cut" Maryland has more than 2.5 million acres of woodlands, and the majority are owned and managed by private landowners. Many understand that successfully managing their property occasionally means cutting some trees for the overall health of the woods, but may have little knowledge about how best to do so. Now they have access to a free program that can help them make informed decisions about the timber harvesting process. The “Call Before You Cut” program offers professional assistance to landowners considering timber sales. Landowners can receive complimentary information by visiting the website www.callb4ucut.com/maryland and selecting “Request Info,” or by calling 301-432-2767, extension 315. Call Before You Cut began in Ohio in 2006, and has since grown to include states as far west as Missouri and as far north as Minnesota. In Maryland, the program is coordinated by the University of Maryland Extension, with support from a dozen conservation and land management partners across the state. Call Before You Cut encourages sustainable harvesting of timber, supports the use of professional foresters, facilitates the development of forest stewardship plans, and promotes the use of Master Loggers to minimize the impacts of timber harvests on forests and the state’s valuable soil and water resources. According to Jonathan Kays, Extension Forester with the University of Maryland Extension, “Having a credible information source that targets the nuts-and-bolts of timber harvesting can be a real asset for landowners when they need timely information concerning a harvest decision.” The Call Before You Cut program will help woodland property owners achieve their management goals and help ensure the health of their forests for the coming years and future generations. Visit www.callb4ucut.com/maryland to learn more.

3. Registration is now open for the General Forestry Course The University of Maryland Extension will offer the General Forestry Course for the Fall 2016 semester. Both the PAPER AND ONLINE version will be offered. The course begins September 1 and runs until December 15, 2016. Registration is now open. To register, go to our website at http://extension.umd.edu/forestry-course. This is a non-credit course. As there are no formal classes, you work from the comfort of your home using your own woodlot, a friend's or a public forest. You will

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learn how to protect your trees from insects, diseases and fire; step-by-step procedures will walk you through a forest inventory and stand analysis; and the details of the forestry business are presented, including tax nuances and the sale and harvest of forest products. Ultimately, the course exercises help you develop the framework for a stewardship plan for your forest. The cost for this forestry course is $300. Included in the cost are copies of the supplemental readings (A Sand County Almanac, The Woodland Steward, American Forests: A History of Resiliency and Recovery, a small pamphlet entitled What Tree Is That? and Common Native Trees of Virginia Tree Identification Guide). The paper version text and appendices are in binder form. Online users receive a flash drive of the paper version of the text and appendices. A certificate of completion is awarded when all assignments are completed. But don't take our word for it. See it for yourself on our website athttp://extension.umd.edu/forestry-course. There you can read a lesson from the text, view an interactive exercise, read through detailed course information and FAQs. For more information, contact Nancy Stewart at the University of Maryland Extension, Wye Research and Education Center, P.O. Box 169, Queenstown, MD, 21658; phone410/827-8056, ext. 107; or email nstewar1@umd.edu. Check for details on our website today!

4. Coming soon! "The Woods in Your Backyard" online course Since the 2006 publication of the first edition of "The Woods in Your Backyard," thousands of woodland owners in the Mid-Atlantic area have attended workshops and purchased the guide to help them become better stewards of their property. Feedback and new research led to a second edition of the guide, which was published last year. Now the University of Maryland Extension has developed an online course that will bring "The Woods in Your Backyard" to woodland property owners across the region. The non-credit course will be offered this coming fall (September - November, 2016), and will include online quizzes and activities, as well as the content presented in the workshops. In addition, participants will be able to interact with their fellow students and UME staff to complete the course. More details about the course, including cost and how to register, will be sent out this summer. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Andrew Kling at 301-432-2767, ext. 307, or by email at akling1@umd.edu. Andrew A. Kling Faculty Extension Assistant University of Maryland Extension Western Maryland Research & Education Center 18330 Keedysville Road, Keedysville MD 21756 (301) 432-2767 x307 – phone akling1@umd.edu

See the Attachments!

1) 2016 Section 18 Brigade WSB, a FMC product.

2) 2016 Section Bifenture EC a United Phosphorus, Inc. product and Bifenture 10DF a United Phosphorus, Inc. product.

Vegetable & Fruit News A timely publication for the commercial vegetable and fruit industry available electronically in 2016 from April through October on the following dates: May 13; June 9; July 21; August 18; September 8; and October 20. Published by the University of Maryland Extension Focus Teams 1) Agriculture and Food Systems; and 2) Environment and Natural Resources. Submit Articles to: Editor, R. David Myers, Extension Educator Agriculture and Natural Resources 97 Dairy Lane Gambrills, MD 21054 410 222-3906 myersrd@umd.edu Article submission deadlines for 2016 at 4:30 p.m. on: May 12; June 8; July 20; August 17; September 7; and October 19. The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to any person and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression. Note: Registered Trade Mark® Products, Manufacturers, or Companies mentioned within this newsletter are not to be considered as sole endorsements. The information has been provided for educational purposes only.

RESTRICTED USE PESTICIDEToxic to fish and aquatic organisms.

For retail sale to and use only by certified applicators or persons under their direct supervision, and only for those uses covered

by the certified applicator's certificate

Section 18EXEMPTION

FOR DISTRIBUTIONAND USE ONLY IN

MARYLAND

EPA File Symbols:16-MD-01,l6-MD-02,16-MD-03

rr#ffiade'*r"-

lnsecticide/Miticide

+MCFMC CorporationAgricultural Products Group

1735 Market StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19103

EMERGENCY CALLS: 800-331-3148

Brigade ls a FMC Tradernark

02016 FMC Corporation

ALL APPLICABLE DIRECTTONS, RESTRTCTIONS, AI\D PRECAUTTONS ON THE REGISTEREDPR0DUCT LABEL FOR BRTGADE WSB (EPA REG. NO. 279-3108) ARE TO BE FOLLOWED

THESE DIRECTTONS FOR USE MUST BE IN THB POSSESSION OF THE USER AT THE TIME OFPESTICIDE APPLICATION.

This exemption is effective from May 31,2016 through October 15,2016

Brown Marmorated Stinkbus 12.8 -32 ozlA(0.08 - 0.2[b ailacre)

Directions for Use: Application must be made post-bloom, by ground only as a dilute (minimum 200 gallons offinished spray per acre) or concentrate (minimum 50 gallons of finished spray per acre) in sufficient water toprovide thorough coverage. Do not apply this product until after petal fall.

Restrictions: Do not apply more than3? oz/acre (0.2 lb ailacre) per application. Do not apply more than 72 ozlA(0.5 lb alacre) per year. Do not make applications less than 30 days apart. Do not graze livestock in fteated areas.

Do not apply within 14 days of harvest. Do not allow entry into treated areas for 12 hours following application.

Any adverse effects resulting from the use of Brigade WSB under this emergency exemption must be immediatelyreported to the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Crop Pest Controlled Rate of Application

Apples,Peaches,Nectarines

For distribution and use only in Maryland under an emergency exemption authorized under

Section 18 of FIFRA

All applicable directions, restrictions, and precautions on the EPA registered product labels as well as those on these

directions for use must be followed. These d irections for use m u st be in the oossession of the user at the time ofpesticide application.

Products: Bifenture@ EC Agricultural Insecticide (EPA Reg. No. 70505-57)Bifenture@ 10DF Insecticide/Miticide (EPA Reg. No. 70506-227)

Firm Name: United Phosphorus, Inc.

630 Freedom Business Center, Suite 402King of Prussia, PA 19406

Crop/Site/Commodity: Apples, Peaches, NectarinesFile Symbol: 15-MD-01, 16-MD-02, 15-MD-03Target Pest/Problem: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Holyomorpha holysl

Dosage: Apply 5.12 - 12.8 fl ozs (0.08-0.20 lbs ai) per acre of Bifenture EC Agricultural Insecticide (EPA

Reg. No. 70505-57), OR

Apply 12.8 - 32.0 ozs (0.08-0.20 lbs ai) per acre of Bifenture 10DF Insecticide/Miticide (EPA Reg.

No. 70505-227)

Use higher rates under heavy insect pressure.

Dilution Rate: By 6round: Apply as a dilute spray (minimum of 200 gallons of finished spray per acre) orconcentrate (minimum of 50 gallons of finished spray per acre).For best control, thorough coverage is necessary.

Frequency/Timing ofApplications: Applications should be applied when populations reach locally determined economic thresholds.

Consult the cooperative extension service, professional consultants or other qualified

authorities to determine appropriate threshold levels for treatment in your area.

Do not apply more than 32 fl ozs (0.50 lbs ai) of Bifenture EC Agricultural Insecticide or80 ozs (0.50 lbs ai) of Bifenture 10DF Insecticide/Miticide per acre per season.

Apply as necessary to maintain control using a minimum of 30-day spray intervals.

Do not apply this product until after petal fall.Do not graze livestock in treated orchards or cut treated cover crops for feed.

Restricted EntryInterval (REll: 12 hours

Pre-Harvest lnterval(PHl): 14 days

Restricted Use Pesticide: When used in Maryland, applications can only be made by certified applicators or by persons

under their direct supervision and only for those uses covered by the certified applicatorscertification.

This exemption is effective May 31,2016 through October 15,2015.