Through a USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Professional Development Grant, the Rutgers Agricultural Drone Team, led by Agricultural Agent Stephen Komar, is offering a two-day agricultural drone training at no cost to participating farmers. Grant funding for this course is specifically intended to provide drone training to commercial farmers in New Jersey.

The course will prepare participants to learn how to obtain their FAA Remote Pilot Certificate (Part 107), which is required to operate drones for commercial agricultural purposes. Training will include information and resources to help participants prepare for the Part 107 certification examination. On the second day, participants will also receive hands-on instruction and have the opportunity to fly drones at the Rutgers Snyder Research Farm.

Limited Enrollment — Please Commit to Both Days

Enrollment is limited to 10 participants. Those pre-registered prior to the class being filled, will receive access to training materials for studying and practice tests to help prepare for the Part 107 certification exam.

Because space and training materials are limited, please register only if you are able to attend both November 6 and November 13. If you register and do not attend, you may prevent another New Jersey farmer from participating in this training opportunity.

To ensure that the training is available to as many farms as possible, registration is limited to one person per farm. Participants must also be 18 years of age or older.

Please see the bulletin below for additional information.

Registration:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/EU6CBcmpBG

Questions Contact:
Stephen Komar, Agricultural Agent
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Sussex County
Email: komar@njaes.rutgers.edu
Phone: 973-948-3040, ext. 3

Are you interested in improving the sustainability of your farm while also increasing your farm’s productivity and success? Join us to explore topics in sustainable agriculture through this virtual seminar series! This initial offering of four sessions will be held on Zoom from 12-1 pm ET on the below dates and cover an introduction to sustainable agriculture and soil health management.

This series is intended for any farmers looking to enhance their production systems by adopting new sustainable practices. Additional information can be found on the attached flyer. Seminars will be recorded and shared afterwards for those unable to attend live.

Please register at this link to receive the Zoom link for the seminar: Sustainable Agriculture Seminar Series Registration

Sustainable Ag Seminar Series Flyer 2026 (2)

• What is sustainable agriculture, and how can it help my farm?
  • Tuesday, October 6th 12 – 1 p.m.
• Starting from the ground up: physical properties of soil health
  • Tuesday, October 20th 12 – 1 p.m.
• Cover crops to improve soil health and farm profitability
• • Thursday, November 5th 12 – 1 p.m.
• Soil as an ecosystem: microbial soil biology and crop health
  • Tuesday, November 17th 12 – 1 p.m.

The planning committee for the expo is looking forward to providing many new opportunities, and Rutgers has confirmed many new speakers to offer excellent information, covering various topics from the 2026 growing season and research results to help farmers improve their practices. The Harrah’s conference center offers the best layout in Atlantic City for this convention. Come for the opportunity to network with others in the industry, to learn from over 72 presenters on a diversity of topics, and to gain pesticide recertification credits to keep your applicator’s license current. To register and for more information from the organizing association, go to the Vegetable Growers Association of NJ’s website at https://vganj.com.

Please see the DRAFT Rutgers Educational Program below. Pesticide credits have been applied for with NJ DEP. When the credits are assigned this program will be republished and promoted with credits.

Workshop Series

Unlock the latest wine tourism trends and learn how to turn them into real opportunities for your business. This series of 4 workshops offers practical insights, fresh ideas, and simple strategies to help you attract visitors, enhance experiences, and stay ahead in a fast evolving market.

Thursdays, September 24 through October 15, 2026

7.00pm – 8.00pm, Virtual

Register here: https://go.rutgers.edu/hc1xj61h

*Individual workshops are $15 each, or register for all 4 workshops for a discounted rate of $47.

For any questions please call (609) 465 5115 ext. 3607 or email capemayag@njaes.rutgers.edu

WTT Workshop Series-1

WTT Workshop Series-2

The meeting will be held at the Rutgers Eco-Complex: 1200 Florence Columbus Rd, Fieldsboro, NJ 08505

8:00 am – 9:00 am   Registration, Coffee, and Refreshments

9:00 am – 9:05 am   Welcome, David Hlubik, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

9:05 am – 9:45 am   Rutgers Hazelnut Update, Thomas Molnar

9:45 am – 10:15 am  Food Safety Considerations for Hazelnut Production, Meredith Melendez

10:15 am – 10:45 am   Review of Labeled Pesticides for Hazelnut Production, David Hlubik

10:45 am – 11:00 am   Coffee Break

11:00am – 11:15 am   Specialty Crop Block Grant Update, AAC, Sean Walsh

11:15 am – 11:45 am   Cooperative Updates, AAC, NYTCA, KTCC

11:45 am – 12:00 pm   Cooperatives Group Discussion

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm   Lunch, Networking with Fellow Growers and Researchers

1:00 pm – 1:15 pm   April 2026 Freeze Damage Group Discussion, led by David Hlubik

1:15 pm – 1:45 pm   Grower Panel (3 growers, 5 min overview each, 15 min for discussion)

1:45 pm – 2:00 pm   Group Sharing and Open Discussion

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm   Break and Travel to Foggy Bottom Tree Farm: 26815 Mt Pleasant Rd, Columbus, NJ 08022 (8 minutes from Eco-Complex)

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm   Tour of Foggy Bottom Tree Farm

3:30 pm   End/Networking

This event is free, but pre-registration is required:

Please RSVP by October 14^th to reserve your spot:

Contact Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County

at 609-265-5050 or djh222@njaes.rutgers.edu

As harvest wraps up across New Jersey orchards and block plantings, trees enter a critical window. Late summer through late fall is your single best opportunity to target overwintering pests, suppress fungal inocula, protect trees against bacterial pathogens, and prepare orchard infrastructure before winter dormancy sets in.

Summary Checklist for New Jersey Growers

Workshop Series

Unlock the latest wine tourism trends and learn how to turn them into real opportunities for your business. This series of 4 workshops offers practical insights, fresh ideas, and simple strategies to help you attract visitors, enhance experiences, and stay ahead in a fast evolving market.

Thursdays, September 24 through October 15, 2026

7.00pm – 8.00pm, Virtual

Register here: https://go.rutgers.edu/hc1xj61h

*Individual workshops are $15 each, or register for all 4 workshops for a discounted rate of $47.

For any questions please call (609) 465 5115 ext. 3607 or email capemayag@njaes.rutgers.edu

WTT Workshop Series-1

WTT Workshop Series-2

Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety. The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.

What to Expect at the PSA Grower Training Course

The trainers will spend approximately seven hours of instruction time covering seven modules:

• Introduction to Produce Safety
• Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
• Soil Amendments
• Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use
• Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)
• Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
• How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

Cost of Training is $100.00 and registration closes on September 12^th.

After attending the entire two-day course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course. To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate survey to their trainer at the end of the course.

Register Online: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2aivUtkSI4Rj69E

For more information contact:

Jennifer Matthews, Senior Program Coordinator, Rutgers On- Farm Food Safety Team – jmatthews@njaes.rutgers.edu

Workshop Series

Unlock the latest wine tourism trends and learn how to turn them into real opportunities for your business. This series of 4 workshops offers practical insights, fresh ideas, and simple strategies to help you attract visitors, enhance experiences, and stay ahead in a fast evolving market.

Thursdays, September 24 through October 15, 2026

7.00pm – 8.00pm, Virtual

Register here: https://go.rutgers.edu/hc1xj61h

*Individual workshops are $15 each, or register for all 4 workshops for a discounted rate of $47.

For any questions please call (609) 465 5115 ext. 3607 or email capemayag@njaes.rutgers.edu

WTT Workshop Series-1

WTT Workshop Series-2

Below is an announcement with updated USDA info for TAP. If you believe you qualify, please note the deadline (Oct 7). Also, please don’t remove the tree/vine/bush; FSA would want to see the declining or dead tree/vines. For more details and the application, please use: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/disaster-recovery/tree-assistance-program-tap

Tree Assistance Program Update

If you’re an orchardist or nursery tree grower who experienced losses from natural disasters during calendar year 2026, you must submit a TAP application either 90 calendar days after the disaster event or the date when the loss is apparent.

TAP provides financial assistance to help you replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines damaged by natural disasters.

Eligible tree types include trees, bushes or vines that produce an annual crop for commercial purposes. Nursery trees include ornamental, fruit, nut and Christmas trees that are produced for commercial sale. Trees used for pulp or timber are ineligible.

To qualify for TAP, eligible orchardists and nursery tree growers must suffer a qualifying tree, bush or vine loss from an eligible natural disaster in excess of normal mortality. The Working Families Tax Cut Act removed the 15% loss requirement, and a producer now qualifies for TAP if their loss exceeds the normal mortality for a tree, bush, or vine. For 2026 losses, producers who did not meet the 15% loss requirement but are now eligible must submit an application for payment by the later of Oct. 7, 2026, or 90 days from the date of the disaster event or when the loss is apparent.

Additionally, the reimbursement rate increased to 65% for activities like pruning and removal and the implementation period was extended to 24 months with an option to extend.

The cumulative total quantity of acres planted to trees, bushes or vines, for which you can receive TAP payments, cannot exceed 1,000 acres annually.

Please RSVP  by October 20, 2026

Contact Jocelyn Shillingford at (609) 465 5115 ext. 3607 or capemayag@njaes.rutgers.edu

English: z.umn.edu/CyclosporaVideo_English

Hmong: z.umn.edu/CyclosporaVideo_Hmong

Spanish: z.umn.edu/CyclosporaVideo_Spanish

As we approach the end of August, harvest of blueberries and peaches are ending while apple and grape harvest is beginning across the state. Temperatures for the month, particularly in the last week have been mild with high relative humidity. Heavy periods of rainfall were seen late last week with some areas recording more than 2 inches. Below are recent observations and considerations for pest management in fruit crops statewide.

Apples

Disease Management Considerations

Summer disease control is coming to an end for early-season apple varieties. Mid- to late-season varieties will need further applications on a two-week schedule, or every 2 inches of rain, using single-site materials from FRAC groups 11, 7, or 3 to manage summer rots, sooty blotch, and fly speck. See the NJ Tree Fruit Production guide for effective materials. 

Fire blight strikes that are apparent should be pruned out during dry weather, cutting 8 to 12 inches below diseased wood. Pruning tools are sanitized after each cut by dipping them into a 10 percent bleach solution. Young trees with fire blight cankers that have spread to the main leader should be removed. 

Insect Update

Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs (BMSB) are increasing at some farms and injury to fruit has been observed (Figure 1). If stinkbugs are a concern for your orchard, see the NJ Tree Fruit Production guide for effective materials. 

Figure 1. Injury from stink bug feeding on fruit looks like bruising and corking of flesh just under the skin.

Codling Moth (CM) pressure remains low in orchards statewide; however, we are seeing damage to fruit where populations have been high. Additional treatments should be applied if trap captures exceed 5 moths/trap.  

Woolly apple aphids (WAA) are increasing in some orchards and spreading to shoots, particularly in older orchards with dense canopies. Sefina has a 7-day PHI and is a good option to manage WAA.  Assail will also help to suppress WAA.  

Scale crawler emergence is past peak and declining. Options at this point include Group 4A products labeled for scale, including Assail, and the bioinsecticide Venerate. Venerate has a 0-day PHI, making it useful for blocks near or at harvest. 

Dogwood borer (DWB) continues to be captured in pheromone traps in orchards statewide. If this pest has been a problem in your blocks in the past, you may consider adding mating disruption next year. 

Traps

Average Trap Captures in Apple – Southern Counties

Week	STLM	TABM	CM	OFM	DWB	AMBROSIA BEETLE	BMSB
5/11/2026	18	11	6	3	25	2	–
5/18/2026	16	21	3	10	54	13	–
5/25/2026	1.3	23	2	2	71	7	–
6/1/2026	378	33	3	2	49	6	0.4
6/8/2026	258	11	2	1	61	21	1.2
6/15/2026	355	4	0.6	1.5	57	13	0.8
6/22/2026	178	5	0.6	2	54	8	1.2
6/29/2026	504	0.3	0.1	0.5	27	12	0.8
7/6/2026	202	1.1	1.6	0.6	25	7.5	0.6
7/13/2026	226	0.9	1	1	33	1	1.6
7/20/2026	253	1.8	2	3	26	2.3	2.4
7/27/2026	246	1.5	5	1.6	38	2	1.6
8/3/2026	253	1.6	2	1	47	1.4	2.6
8/10/2026		1	1	1	48	2.7	0.8
8/17/2026	375	1.9	1	1	47	2.6	2.2

 

Average Trap Captures in Apple – Northern Counties

Week	STLM	TABM	CM	DWB	AMBROSIA BEETLE	BMSB
5/11/2026	13.7	1.5	1.8	12.8	1.1	–
5/18/2026	8.3	13.25	2.4	18.5	10.8	–
5/25/2026	2.2	13.75	1.2	24.5	5.1	–
6/1/2026	25.1	24.3	3.4	23.8	9.4	0.3
6/8/2026	94	22.3	0.3	24.6	18	1.4
6/15/2026	68	22.3	1	22.6	14	1.1
6/22/2026	105.9	35	0.7	27.2	8.2	0.5
6/29/2026	100	11.5	0.3	28.9	5.3	0.3
7/6/2026	50.2	7.3	0.6	26.4	5.2	0.2
7/13/2026	52.4	7	0.5	24.8	5.3	0.2
7/20/2026	69.7	2.5	0.7	27.4	4.3	0.1
7/27/2026	92.4	2	0.6	30.6	5.3	0.2
8/3/2026	78.6	1.8	0.5	2.3	2.2	0.5
8/10/2026	56.5	3.3	0.7	26.3	3.2	0.1
8/17/2026	23	3.3	0.8	26.9		0.4

Grapes

Insects

Grape Berry Moth timing for the third generation is past. No further treatments should be needed, especially where harvest has begun and insecticides are being applied for Spotted lanternfly and Spotted-wing drosophila. 

Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) adults are appearing in vineyards in low numbers, mostly on vineyard edges. As we move into September, adult migration will increase, and at that point, growers should apply materials with long residual efficacy. More information on biology and control is available at Penn State.

Diseases

 Disease management continues to focus on downy and powdery mildew, as well as bunch rots. Downy mildew has been particularly prevalent later in the season in vineyards throughout the state due to wet, humid weather (Figure 2). Refer to the NJ Commercial Grape Production Guide for information on control. 

Figure 2. Downy mildew on grape foliage.

Figure 2. Peach tree root feeding is likely by the pine voles (Photo; H. Gohil).

Figure. 1. Vole damage is seen as gnaw marks and girdling at the base of peach tree (Photo; H. Gohil).

Identification and Habitat: Meadow voles and pine voles are two common vole species.  Pine voles have small eyes and small, almost inconspicuous ears, while meadow voles have larger eyes and ears. Meadow voles primarily feed in open vegetation, while pine voles prefer underground burrow systems just below the ground surface. Vole diets include many primary food sources in addition to tree bark. However, they can attack fruit trees during the fall and winter months when other food sources are scarce.

Damage: Direct visible signs of Meadow vole damage are often clearly visible at the ground surface in the form of girdling and or gnawing (Figure 1) at the base of the trunk. Pine vole girdles large roots and eats small roots (Figure 2). Pine vole damage is difficult to notice until the tree growth begins to decline, by which time it is difficult to save the tree. Most pine vole damage will appear as root damage and crown girdling just below

the ground surface. However, when feeding occurs under a deep snow cover, damage can appear at the ground surface.

Secondary symptoms: Vole damage may already be extensive by the time unhealthy, declining trees are observed. Above-ground signs resemble those of water and nutrient stress, including yellowish leaves, premature leaf drop, and branch dieback (Figure 3). Observations of extensive gummosis and tunneling by insect borers in the tree trunk or branches indicate weakened trees that may have sustained vole damage. Secondary infections from Phytophthora and Cytospora canker are more likely to occur in damaged or wounded areas (Figure 4). Drought, winter injury, and extreme fluctuations in early-spring temperatures are compounding factors contributing to tree decline in the orchard.

Fig. 4 Gummosis from the trunk indicative of potential secondary infection and environmental stress (Photo; H. Gohil).

Figure 3. Above- ground symptoms of vole damage. (Photo; H. Gohil)

Figure 5. Presence of holes near the tree indicates vole tunnels and vole damage at the base of the tree (Photo; H. Gohil).

Vole Monitoring: If you notice holes, dime-sized or larger, under the tree, they could be signs of a vole tunnel and likely vole damage (Figure 5). Dig the soil around the trunk and look for gnaw marks or girdling. Meadow voles create an extensive network of surface runways in the grass, about 1.5 inches wide, often visible after close mowing. Bits of leaves and vole droppings in pathways are the surest signs of meadow vole presence. Runways are often spread out through the cover crop in orchard aisles and, under poor weed control, cross back and forth to the tree row. Since pine vole burrows and runways are just underground, there is a “soft” feel of the soil underfoot, which is one indication of pine vole presence. A simple monitoring method is a two-step process. First, place a grid of ‘shelters’ in the orchard. These can be pieces of roofing shingles, heavy tar paper or roof matting, or scraps of wood. After leaving them for 3-5 days so the voles can find them, place apple chunks or slices beneath each shelter. Return in 24 hours and assess which pieces have been chewed. This will give you a rough idea of where controls need to be focused.

Vole Management: 

Non-Toxicant: Regularly mowing ground cover to 3 to 5 inches is a recommended practice for an integrated vole damage management program. It not only limits the availability of food for voles’ survival but also exposes them to predators. Maintaining a vegetation-free zone below the trees discourages voles from living near the trunk, where they can cause significant damage. This is the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of routine vole prevention. Sanitizing the orchard floor by removing leaves and pruned twigs, which attract the voles, is also helpful.

The addition of a 12-inch-diameter, 3-4-inch-deep gravel layer around the trunk will also help. Gravel collapses in on a vole runway, helping prevent voles from accessing the trunk and crown of the tree.

Fig. 6. Bait Station for voles in the orchard

Cylinder-shaped wire guards made from 1/4-inch hardware cloth mesh placed around the tree trunks can protect young trees. However, make sure to bury the hardware cloth at least 6 inches below the surface to control both meadow and pine voles. This exclusion method may not be very practical or cost-effective in large orchards.

Toxicants: Sometimes, to control large-scale vole populations, chemical methods are the only practical option available. When vole populations get too high, toxicants within and near the herbicide strip in the tree rows are the most effective means of controlling them. There are 2 types of toxicants available: 1) zinc phosphide, which is a fast-acting stomach poison, and 2) chlorophacinone and diphacinone, which are slow-acting anticoagulants. Zinc phosphide is extremely toxic. These materials are sold under a number of brand names including for Zinc Phosphide: Prozap Zinc Phosphide Pellets, Prozap Zinc Phosphide Oat Bait, Bonide Orchard Mouse Bait, and Zinc Phosphide Rodent Bait AG. Anticoagulants include Ramik Oats, Ramik Brown, and Rozol Vole Bait. Make sure you have the necessary pesticide applicator license to handle these chemicals.

The reliance on one product over another is discouraged, since voles will get accustomed to grain baits with anticoagulants or become bait-shy of anticoagulants in general. Bait is most effective when placed in simple bait stations, such as under roofing shingles, boards, or scrap plate steel, or in PVC pipe bait stations (Fig. 6). Hand placement in areas of high vole activity, or depositing bait with a trail maker, is also effective. Broadcast placement of toxicants is discouraged, since it is inefficient and can put wildlife at risk. Bait stations can reduce the chances of bait getting into contact with unintended animals or humans. Bait stations are easy to make using 2- to 3-inch PVC pipes in an ‘L’ or ‘T’ shape, with the horizontal pipe providing an opening for voles to enter and the vertical pipe containing the toxicant. Fumigants are usually not effective because shallow depth of vole burrow systems allow fumigants to escape.

Sources:

https://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/files/vole_control_in_apple_orchards.pdf.

http://extension.psu.edu/plants/tree-fruit/commercial-tree-fruit-production/wildlife-damage-control/voles.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nwrc/publications/93pubs/93-42.pdf.

http://extension.missouri.edu/p/G9445