Vegetable Crops Edition - Rutgers Plant and Pest Advisory

Vegetable IPM Update 9/4/26

Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:47:19 GMT

Greetings from the Veg IPM team!

Sweet Corn

Corn earworm trap counts are at least 4-days for all of New Jersey this week. Sprays should be initiated at 10% green silks, and continued in intervals as determined by your local CEW pheromone trap counts. Refer to the map below to see this week’s CEW pressure. Remember, when the average maximum temperature for the next 3 days is above 80 degrees, shorten the spray interval by one day. South of 195, every location has moth counts indicating that a 3 day interval is needed (or, every other day sprays with the current temperatures). In North Jersey pressure is lower, but increasing. Rotation is important for avoiding resistance, and there are four IRAC groups that are registered in silking sweet corn: 1 (carbamates), 3 (pyrethroids), 5 (spinosyns), and 28 (diamides). Corn earworm is at least partly resistant to several pyrethroids, so a spray program should not rely solely on pyrethroids, although they are useful in tank-mixes or as pre-mixed products, such as Besiege or Elevest (Group 28 + Group 3). For detailed information about resistance and potential spray programs, the University of Delaware has an excellent resource on corn earworm management.

Spray intervals based on nightly pheromone moth captures for the southern part of New Jersey. Note that not all locations in the IPM program are currently trapping. This map is based on the following thresholds: 0 moths = 6-7 day schedule, 1 moth = 5 day spray schedule, 2-20 moths = 4 day spray schedule, 20+ moths = 3 day spray schedule.

Caterpillar pests in the whorl and tassel stage. We’re seeing above-threshold fall armyworm (FAW) infestations in many locations throughout the state. Young larvae cause “window paning” damage, in which the top surface of the leaf is eaten away, leaving behind thin, white, membranous-looking scratch marks (A). As the larvae get bigger, these feeding marks become ragged holes (B). The damage can look similar to European corn borer feeding, but FAW damage will be more severe and will lead down into the whorl. The caterpillars have a dark head capsule with a distinct, inverted Y-shaped suture (C). They can also be identified by four dark dots arranged in a square on their last segments (D). We use a treatment threshold of 12% fresh feeding damage in pre-tassel corn. Below this level, treatments for FAW are unlikely to pay off and can flare up aphids. For treatment, we recommend using products other than diamides (IRAC Group 28), as diamides are important to save for silk protection. Effective products include Lannate (Group 1A), Radiant (Group 5), Intrepid (Group 18), Intrepid Edge (5+18), and Avaunt (Group 22). Note that Avaunt can only be used through tassel push.

Fall armyworm identification: A) Windowpane damage, B) ragged holes, C) larva with inverted “Y” on head capsule, and D) larva with 4 dots arranged in a square. Pictures by Maria Cramer.

Aphids. We’re seeing aphid infestations in corn tassels as well as on silking ears like in the picture below. Aphids don’t hurt the edible ear of corn, but in large numbers they can cause honeydew and sooty mold that reduce marketability. If you’re seeing a lot of aphids on corn tassels, you can start your CEW spray rotation with Lannate (group 1A), which has some efficacy for aphids. Come back a week later and check ear tips for aphid populations. If they are high, as in the below picture, use a product more targeted for aphids, such as Assail 30SG or 30 SC (group 4A), Transform WG (group 4C), or Sivanto Prime (group 4D). Keep in mind that Transform WG and Sivanto Prime have 7 day PHIs.

Corn leaf aphids on the tip of an ear. Note blue-green color with dark tail pipes (also called cornicles), legs, and antennae. Picture by Maria Cramer.

Tomatoes and Peppers

Thrips and TSWV. Thrips have slowed down with lower temperatures and general declines in tomato plant health due to stress and diseases as the season has progressed. We are still seeing some spread of tomato spotted wilt virus, but it has slowed compared to earlier in the season. If management of thrips no longer makes sense economically, we encourage destroying older plantings to try to reduce populations of thrips and the reservoir of the virus on farms. See our previous article for detailed information on managing thrips and TSWV in tomatoes.

Spider mites. Be on the look out for spider mites, but along with aphids, stink bugs, and fruit worms, we have seen low populations. Wet weather is likely suppressing them.

Beet armyworm. We track beet armyworm with pheromone traps deployed in south Jersey. Beet armyworm is an occasional pest of peppers, swiss chard, and beets and can cause serious damage and crop loss if outbreaks occur unexpectedly. Our traps in Salem county indicate falling beet armyworm pressure (<20 moths per night), although we still suggest scouting susceptible crops for caterpillars and damage. Traps in Cumberland county continue to have low captures (<3 moths per night).

Cucurbits

!Cucurbit Downy Mildew (CDM) Status!: Cucurbit Downy Mildew has been detected in NJ as of 8/22/26. This includes CDM on butternut squash and cucumbers at the RAREC research farm (Bridgeton), and CDM on butternut squash and pumpkins at the Snyder reserach farm (Pittstown). We will continue to post updates on which crops are becoming affected, but at this time, all growers should be applying downy mildew-specific fungicides to their cucurbit plantings (there are options available in the Mid-Atlantic Production Guide). Keep in mind that products that control powdery mildew won’t necessarily control downy mildew, and vice versa. Be sure to rotate multiple products with different FRAC codes to reduce the risk of resistance development. For more detailed information about the disease and how to build an effective fungicide rotation, you can read this article by Andy Wyenandt.

Downy Mildew symptoms on a butternut squash leaf. On the upper surface of the leaf (A), look for angular, yellow lesions that are contained within the leaf veins. On the underside of the leaf (B), dark, fuzzy-appearing spores will be present. Photos by Amanda Quadrel.

Cole Crops

Downy mildew on a collard leaf. Photo by Maria Cramer.

Scouted cole crops continue to have varying levels of caterpillar activity. The caterpillar threshold is 20% infestation for crops still in the leafy/early cupping stage. Once heads begin to form, the threshold drops to 5%. For young caterpillars, Bt products such as Dipel or Xentari IPM friendly options. In some locations, we’ve also seen some low incidence of diseases such as alternaria and downy mildew. Note that downy mildew in brassicas is not the same species that affects cucurbits. Brassica downy mildew is a disease that develops best around 50-59ºF so we likely won’t see too much progress until temperatures cool down. If needed, consult the Mid-Atlantic Guide for fungicide options.

Alternaria on broccoli. Photo by Amanda Quadrel.

As a reminder, the new 2026/2027 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Guide is now available for free online (click here) or as spiral-bound hard copies that can be purchased at your local county extension office. Consult this guide for a more comprehensive list of materials that are labeled for specific crops and pests.

We want to give a huge thanks to our scouting team for keeping an eye on things for us throughout the season!

North NJ: James Johnson, Shayne Miller, and Cassandra Dougherty

South NJ: Renee Carter, Peter Combs, Mar Sherman, and Kris Szymanski

Authors: Amanda Quadrel (Northern NJ Veg IPM coordinator) and Maria Cramer (Southern NJ Veg IPM coordinator)

Questions or comments? Contact us below:

[contact-form]

Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety: Online FSMA Two-Day Training, September 29 and 30, 2026 9:00-12:00, both days

Wes Kline — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 18:47:23 +0000

Who Should Attend

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.

For more information contact:

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

Wine Tourism Trends Workshop Series

Claudia Gil Arroyo — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 14:53:41 +0000

MAKING WINE TOURISM TRENDS WORK FOR YOU

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

*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

Tree Assistance Program (TAP) Update

Wed, 02 Sep 2026 22:00:43 GMT

Farm Service Agency (FSA) has revised criteria for the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) to help with tree/vine/bush loss beyond normal mortality. Earlier, you needed to have a loss of at least 15% to be eligible for the assistance; thankfully, that criterion has been removed. Please note that this is not for crop loss but for the loss of tree/vine/bush due to natural disasters.

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.

October Farming Twilight Meeting – October 22, 2026

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 13:59:28 GMT

Pesticide recertification credits will be given to those attending this Twilight Meeting. See details below:

Please RSVP by October 20, 2026

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

Vegetable IPM Update 8/28/26

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 23:24:12 GMT

Greetings from the Veg IPM team! This week’s update contains important information about Cucurbit Downy Mildew in NJ.

Sweet Corn

Fall armyworm identification: A) Windowpane damage, B) ragged holes, C) larva with inverted “Y” on head capsule, and D) larva with 4 dots arranged in a square. Pictures by Maria Cramer.

Corn leaf aphids on the tip of an ear. Note blue-green color with dark tail pipes (also called cornicles), legs, and antennae. Picture by Maria Cramer.

Tomatoes and Peppers

Thrips and TSWV. Thrips have slowed down with lower temperatures and general declines in tomato plant health due to stress and diseases as the season has progressed. We are still seeing some spread of tomato spotted wilt virus, but it has slowed significantly compared to earlier in the season. If management of thrips no longer makes sense economically, we encourage destroying older plantings to try to reduce populations of thrips and the reservoir of the virus on farms. See our previous article for detailed information on managing thrips and TSWV in tomatoes.

Spider mites. Be on the look out for spider mites, but along with aphids and fruit worms, we have seen low populations. Wet weather is likely suppressing them.

Beet armyworm. We track beet armyworm with pheromone traps deployed in south Jersey. Beet armyworm is an occasional pest of peppers, swiss chard, and beets and can cause serious damage and crop loss if outbreaks occur unexpectedly. Our traps in Salem county continue to have elevated BAW counts this week (30+ moths per night) so scout susceptible crops for caterpillars and damage. Traps in Cumberland county continue to have low captures (<5 per night).

Cucurbits

!Cucurbit Downy Mildew (CDM) Status!: Cucurbit Downy Mildew has been detected in NJ as of 8/22/26. This past weekend we found CDM on butternut squash and cucumbers at the RAREC research center in Bridgeton, NJ. We also confirmed the disease on butternut squash and jack-o-lantern pumpkins at the Snyder Farm in Pittstown (it was not detected on cucumbers at this site). We will continue to post updates on which crops are becoming affected, but at this time, all growers should be applying downy mildew-specific fungicides to their cucurbit plantings (there are several options available in the Mid-Atlantic Production Guide). Keep in mind that products that control powdery mildew won’t necessarily control downy mildew, and vice versa. Be sure to rotate multiple products with different FRAC codes to reduce the risk of resistance development. For more detailed information about the disease and how to build an effective fungicide rotation, you can read this article by Andy Wyenandt.

Cole Crops

Downy mildew on a collard leaf. Photo by Maria Cramer.

Alternaria on broccoli. Photo by Amanda Quadrel.

We want to give a huge thanks to our scouting team for keeping an eye on things for us throughout the season!

North NJ: James Johnson, Shayne Miller, and Cassandra Dougherty

South NJ: Renee Carter, Peter Combs, Mar Sherman, and Kris Szymanski

Authors: Amanda Quadrel (Northern NJ Veg IPM coordinator) and Maria Cramer (Southern NJ Veg IPM coordinator)

Questions or comments? Contact us below:

[contact-form]

Call Before You Dig

Michelle Infante-Casella — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 19:08:46 +0000

“Call Before you Dig” is the slogan used remind people to find underground utilities before doing any digging or excavation. Striking an underground utility line during routine farm projects—like installing fence posts, deep ripping, or laying drainage tile—can lead to dangerous injuries, costly repairs, and severe service outages. It is important for farmers, ranchers and others to call 811 or before any excavation to remain safe and to comply with the law.

In New Jersey, please review the following process to ensure a safe excavation/digging experience.

New Jersey Law requires anyone digging to call at least three full business days (excluding weekends and holidays) prior to beginning work. This is for everyone and includes property and homeowners’ contractors.

Contact New Jersey One Call at 811 or 800-272-1000 any time, day or night. Also see the website for New Jersey One Call for more information.

Key Safe Digging Tips:

• WAIT for the site to be marked with paint, flags or stakes. See the color chart and labels below for what each utility company uses for markings.
• RESPECT THE MARKS
• DIG WITH CARE by hand digging within two feet on either side of any marked areas.

Stop and Report Immediately: If equipment strikes a line—even if there is no visible damage—stop work and contact the utility company and emergency services right away.

Cyclospora Video

Wes Kline — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 17:41:49 +0000

Annalisa Hultberg from the University of Minnesota Extension has produced a short (under 10 minutes) informational video to provide updates on the outbreaks and recalls associated with the Cyclospora parasite. Many fruit and vegetable farmers may be getting questions from their customers about their produce and its safety. If you want to learn more about this foodborne parasite and how to talk with your customers, there are videos available on YouTube at the addresses below.

English: z.umn.edu/CyclosporaVideo_English

Hmong: z.umn.edu/CyclosporaVideo_Hmong

Spanish: z.umn.edu/CyclosporaVideo_Spanish

Salem County Agronomy Twilight Meeting 2 – This Coming Monday!

Ramandeep Kumar Sharma — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:54:04 +0000

Please join us Monday, August 31, 2026, from 6:00–8:30 p.m. at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Salem County in Woodstown for an evening of timely field crop production updates.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension – Salem County
51 Cheney Road, Woodstown, NJ

Program begins at 6:00 p.m.; please arrive early.

Schedule & Topics

6:00 p.m. – Welcome & Introduction – Salvatore Mangiafico and Ramandeep Kumar Sharma, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

6:15 p.m. – Sulfur in Coastal Soils – Jarrod Miller, University of Delaware

6:45 p.m. – Sweet Corn Pest Management Updates: Scouting, IPM Strategies, and Responsible Pesticide Use – Amanda Quadrel, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

7:15 p.m. – Assessment of Agricultural Crop Damage by Black Bear in New Jersey – Salvatore Mangiafico, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

7:45 p.m. – Corn Lodging Insights and Agronomic Research Updates – Ramandeep Sharma, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

8:15 p.m. – Wrap-Up, Evaluations, and Pesticide Credit Submissions

Pesticide Recertification Credits (Credits are pending NJDEP approval)

Credits have been applied for: CORE (1), 1A (2), PP2 (2), and Category 10 (1)

Registration

Phone: 856-769-0090
Email: e_dehart@salemcountynj.gov

Please save the date and join us for an evening of practical information and discussion relevant to New Jersey field crop production.

We look forward to seeing you August 31!

Soybeans at Full Pod (R4) Growth Stage: What Farmers Need to Know Now to Protect Yield Potential

Ramandeep Kumar Sharma — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:21:35 +0000

With the New Jersey soybeans reaching the R4 (full pod) growth stage, the crop is entering a crucial period for yield development. The plants shown below are at around R4 growth stage. For farmers in Southern New Jersey, this is a crucial time to scout fields closely and minimize stresses that can affect pod and seed development.

(Photo Credit: Ramandeep Kumar Sharma; Aug 24 2026)

How to identify R4 stage in soybeans?

Soybean is reached at the R4 (full pod) growth stage when a plant has a pod at least 3/4 of a inch long at one of the four uppermost nodes on the main stem, with a fully developed leaf at that node. To determine whether the crop has reached R5 (beginning seed), open a pod at one of these upper nodes. R5 begins when the seed inside the pod is at least 1/8 inch long.

Why R4 is so important for soybeans?

R4 marks the starting of one of the most critical periods for soybean yield determination. At R4 stage, pod growth is fast, and seed development is starting. From R4 through early seed filling, stresses such as moisture/nutrient deficiency, disease, insect injury, and excessive defoliation can reduce yield by increasing the abortion of flowers, pods, and developing seeds. The crop has some ability to compensate later through seed growth, but that compensation is limited.

What should soybean farmers do now?

Monitor soil moisture: Adequate moisture is particularly important from R4 through early seed development. This deserves close attention in Southern New Jersey’s sandy and coarse-textured soils, which can dry rapidly during hot, dry periods. Where irrigation is available, monitor soil and crop conditions and irrigate when needed.
Keep scouting for insects and diseases: Continue checking the canopy for defoliation, pod-feeding insects, and disease symptoms. Make pesticide decisions based on scouting, pest or disease pressure, crop stage, economic considerations where applicable, and the current product label but not simply because the crop has reached R4.
Check for nutrient stress: Continue watching for nutrient deficiency, especially in fields with low soil fertility or a history of nutrient loss. Rutgers recommends that soybean fertility management be based on recent soil tests and realistic yield goals. Rutgers also identifies potassium and sulfur as important considerations in New Jersey soybean production and notes that nutrient stress can occur in Southern New Jersey soils because of nutrient leaching.
Don’t stop scouting weeds: A closed soybean canopy suppresses many weeds, but late-season escapes can still produce seed and interfere with harvest. Any herbicide application must follow the current product label, including crops, weed, timing, rate, and preharvest restrictions.

Summary

R4 is not the time to stop scouting, it is the time to pay closer attention. Protecting adequate soil moisture, healthy foliage, developing pods, and seed formation during R4–R6 can help protect soybean yield potential. On checking pods, if a seed (at least 1/8 inch long) is found inside a pod at one of the upper four nodes, it means the plant has reached R5 (beginning seed).

References

Sharma, R. K., & Heckman, J. 2026. Nutrient and Management Tips for New Jersey Soybean Production. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Plant & Pest Advisory, June 26, 2026.
Heckman, J. R. 2009. Soil Fertility Recommendations for Soybean. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Fact Sheet E323.
Bravo, M. 2021. Soybean insect vectored, internal stem, root disease monitoring now through pod fill. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Plant & Pest Advisory, July 9, 2021.
Bravo, M. 2021. Field crop progress mid-July, Salem County. Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Plant & Pest Advisory, July 17, 2021.

Cucurbit Downy Mildew Alert – 8/22/26 – Cucumber and Butternut Squash

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 16:55:32 GMT

Cucurbit downy mildew has been reported on cucumber and butternut squash in southern New Jersey. This is the first report of CDM this growing season in the state. All cucurbit fields need to be scouted on a daily basis and preventative fungicide programs need to be initiated. For more information on CDM and its control please click here.

Vegetable IPM Update 8/21/26

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 01:55:51 GMT

Greetings from the Veg IPM team! Read more for the latest pest and disease updates.

Sweet Corn

Caterpillar pests in the whorl and tassel stage. We’re seeing above-threshold fall armyworm (FAW) infestations in some locations throughout the state. Young larvae cause “window paning” damage, in which the top surface of the leaf is eaten away, leaving behind thin, white, membranous-looking scratch marks (A). As the larvae get bigger, these feeding marks become ragged holes (B). The damage can look similar to European corn borer feeding, but FAW damage will be more severe and will lead down into the whorl. The caterpillars have a dark head capsule with a distinct, inverted Y-shaped suture (C). They can also be identified by four dark dots arranged in a square on their last segments (D). We use a treatment threshold of 12% fresh feeding damage in pre-tassel corn. Below this level, treatments for FAW are unlikely to pay off and can flare up aphids. For treatment, we recommend using products other than diamides (IRAC Group 28), as diamides are important to save for silk protection. Effective products include Lannate (Group 1A), Radiant (Group 5), Intrepid (Group 18), Intrepid Edge (5+18), and Avaunt (Group 22). Note that Avaunt can only be used through tassel push.

Fall armyworm identification: A) Windowpane damage, B) ragged holes, C) larva with inverted “Y” on head capsule, and D) larva with 4 dots arranged in a square. Pictures by Maria Cramer.

Corn leaf aphids on the tip of an ear. Note blue-green color with dark tail pipes (also called cornicles), legs, and antennae. Picture by Maria Cramer.

Tomatoes and Peppers

Thrips and TSWV. Thrips and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) continue to be the main issue in tomatoes. The worst problems are in south Jersey, but isolated cases have been found in throughout the state in peppers and tomatoes. Growers should scout regularly for TSWV (see figure below for an example of a plant with TSWV) and rogue out affected plants to reduce risk of secondary spread. Often multiple plants will be affected and symptoms will appear over a couple of days or weeks, so keep checking the planting for plants that need to be rogued. If you need help identifying TSWV, please contact us with the form at the end of this post.

TSWV symptoms: A) Stunting of infected planted compared to healthy plants, and B) closeup of affected foliage showing curling and brown lesions. Pictures by Maria Cramer.

Second, scout plants for thrips. This is important before and after insecticide applications, because you need to know how well treatments worked. There is no established treatment threshold for thrips, especially when TSWV is a risk, although one adult western flower thrips (the TSWV vector) per flower has been suggested. In the veg IPM program, we typically scout foliage for thrips, as these are most likely to be western flower thrips, but at this point most of the thrips we are finding are western flower thrips, so we advise monitoring both flowers and foliage to get a sense of thrips pressure in a planting.

Thrips on a tomato leaf. Picture by Maria Cramer.

In cases where TSWV is scattered throughout a planting and thrips are present in high numbers in flowers, weekly sprays can help slow TSWV spread, but will not stop it. If you are spraying regularly for thrips, make sure to use effective products (see our previous article for a chart listing products and efficacy) and always rotate modes of action and follow seasonal limits.

Pay attention to fertility: over-fertilized plants are more attractive to thrips.

Thrips can move from older plantings to younger ones, carrying TSWV with them, so destroy older plantings as soon as harvest is done or if management becomes non-economical in order to prevent spread to younger plantings.

Spider mites. We have seen elevated spider mite counts in some tunnel and field tomatoes and peppers. Otherwise, tomatoes and peppers have been relatively free of aphids, stinkbugs, and caterpillars. When sampling spider mites on tomatoes, check 10 upper leaflets in at least 5 sites per field. Typically, the treatment threshold is 2 mites per leaflet on average (one of the individual leaves that makes up the compound tomato leaf). Keep in mind that in 2025 we saw miticide resistance on farms where crop rotation was limited and the same miticides were used for multiple years — If you apply a miticide, check whether the application has decreased mite populations, and if it did not work well, do not keep using it. Rotate between miticides and only treat when above threshold. Some products for spider mites in tomatoes include:

Nealta (group 25)
Oberon (group 23)
Portal (group 21A)
Agri-Mek (group 6) *7 day PHI
Kanemite (group 20B)
Acramite (group 20D) *3 day PHI
Incipio is also considered a very good miticide that also has activity against thrips. In cases where thrips and spidermites are both high, this may be a good choice.

Spider mite stippling on the top of tomato leaves. If you turn the leaf over, you will often see spidermites on the lower surface. When spidermite infestations are large they may be on both surfaces of the leaves. Picture by Maria Cramer.

Beet armyworm. We track beet armyworm with pheromone traps deployed in south Jersey. Beet armyworm is an occasional pest of peppers, swiss chard, and beets and can cause serious damage and crop loss if outbreaks occur unexpectedly. Our traps in Salem county have detected a sharp increase in BAW counts this week (50+ moths per night) so scout susceptible crops for caterpillars and damage. Traps in Cumberland county continue to have low captures (<5 per night).

Cucurbits

Powdery mildew has been detected at low levels in most scouted fields. If you detect more than 1 leaf with lesions out of a 50 leaf sample, you should initiate your fungicide program. Anthracnose continues to be present in fields as well. Fungicides that control powdery mildew should also aid in controlling anthracnose.

Powdery mildew on pumpkin leaf. Photo by Amanda Quadrel.

Squash Bugs: We are still regularly seeing squash bug eggs and nymphs in many locations. If you are scouting your pumpkins and find that your plants have more than one egg mass or nymph cluster per plant on average, it may warrant treatment. Materials for squash bug treatment include Sivanto Prime (IRAC 4D), Cormoran (IRAC15+4A), Incipio (IRAC 30), and various neonicotinoids and pyrethroids. Treatments should target the nymphs, and coverage of the undersides of the leaves is essential.

Squash bug eggs (A), newly hatched nymphs (B), and an adult (C). Photos by Amanda Quadrel

Phytophthora Crown and Fruit Rot

Phytophthora lesions on a pumpkin fruit. Photo by Amanda Quadrel.

With the continuous rains and humid weather, we have seen increases in Phytophthora crown and fruit rot in pumpkin fields across the state. There are many materials available for control listed in the pumpkin/winter squash section of the Mid-Atlantic Production Guide. Tank mixing Phytophthora-labeled fungicides with fixed copper (except for Ranman- do not use copper with this material) can help suppress the disease.

Cucurbit Downy Mildew (CDM) Status: There still haven’t been any reports of downy mildew in New Jersey. We still have not detected CDM in our sentinel plots at the Snyder Farm in Pittstown and RAREC in Bridgeton. These plots contains two varieties of cucumber (a susceptible and resistant variety), watermelons, cantaloupe, and various types of winter squash. If we detect CDM, either in our sentinel plots or elsewhere in the state, we will send out an alert immediately, but the CDM IPM Pipe site can be used to see the most recent sightings of the disease throughout the country. The latest report came from Ohio on 8/17, with downy mildew appearing on cucumbers.

We want to give a huge thanks to our scouting team for keeping an eye on things for us throughout the season!

North NJ: James Johnson, Shayne Miller, and Cassandra Dougherty

South NJ: Alex White, Renee Carter, Peter Combs, and Kris Szymanski

Authors: Amanda Quadrel (Northern NJ Veg IPM coordinator) and Maria Cramer (Southern NJ Veg IPM coordinator)

Questions or comments? Contact us below:

[contact-form]