Vegetable Crops Edition - Rutgers Plant and Pest Advisory

Diagnosing Southern blight and White mold in tomato and pepper

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:40:51 GMT

There have been a number of reports of Southern blight (Athelia rolfsii; formerly Sclerotinia rolfsii) on tomato and pepper in New Jersey. Southern blight is much more common in vegetable growing regions south of the state where summer temperatures remain hotter (above 90°F) for longer periods of time. Like white mold, it can survive in the soil for many years. Symptoms of Southern blight include infection at the base of the stem at the soil line. The resulting infection will girdle the plant causing wilt and death. The fungus will produce white, cottony mycelium and very small, spherical sclerotia which are often have a tannish, brown color.

In most years, White mold is more common than Southern blight in New Jersey; however the hotter temperatures and wet weather patterns across the state this summer has led to more Southern blight being reported. Like Southern blight, once White mold is present in a field or high tunnel it can very difficult to control. The pathogen produces large black sclerotia on the surface and inside infected stems. If sclerotia of either pathogen make their way back into the soil, both can survive for many years causing significant long-term problems.

All infected plants need to be removed from the field or high tunnel immediately and disposed of properly to help reduce the chances of sclerotia returning to the soil. Timely fungicide applications applied through drip or as directed sprays at the base of the plant can help mitigate disease pressure. For more information on control of both diseases please see the 2026/2027 mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide.

Symptoms of Southern blight on infected pepper plant. Note the numerous, small white to tan colored sclerotia on the stem.

White mold of tomato. Note the large black sclerotia developing inside the brittle stems.

Basil downy mildew confirmed in southern New Jersey – ALERT 7/29/26

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:21:48 GMT

Basil downy mildew has been confirmed in field grown sweet basil in southern New Jersey. This is the first confirmed report of BDM in the state and region this growing season. All basil growers are encouraged to scout their fields or greenhouses on a daily basis.

See our recent update on BDM, the new races, and its control in American Vegetable Grower.

For more information on controlling BDM in the field-grown basil please click here.

For more information on controlling BDM in the greenhouse please click here.

To track the progress of BDM in the US please click here.

For more information on the Rutgers Basil Breeding Program please click below.

Rutgers downy mildew resistant sweet basils available around the world; Research efforts continue

Basil downy mildew sporulating on the underside of an infected leaf.

Research Twilight Meeting for Vegetable Growers – Credits Assigned

Kate Brown — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 19:29:19 +0000

Join us for a Research Twilight Meeting at the picturesque Rutgers Snyder Research and Extension Farm on Wednesday, August 12, 2026! Attendees will gain practical information on management of corn earworm and cucurbit downy mildew paired with timely reminders on resistance management. We will tour the research plots and share updates on the current research activities underway, including new technology (drones, biodegradable mulch, autonomous robots) and updates on the IR-4 and tomato breeding programs. See the full agenda below.

Pesticide recertification credits have been approved for CORE (1), PP2 (3), 1A (3), and 10 (3).

The meeting will be held from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Arrive on time for a light dinner thanks to sponsorship from the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey. Please note the address of the farm is 140 Locust Grove Rd, Pittstown, NJ 08867.

We request that you RSVP by August 10 so we may plan for the meal and the number of wagons needed. To RSVP, please complete this form or contact Ashley Higgins at higgins@somersetcountynj.gov or 908-526-6293.

5:00 PM – Sign-In at Main Building, Load Wagon, Welcome Remarks

5:15 PM – Insecticide Resistance: Recognition and Management (30 min)

Grayson Tung, Senior Coordinator, Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP), Rutgers University

5:45 PM – Corn Earworm Management: Bt Corn Variety Trial & Alternative Insecticides (30 min)

David Hlubik, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County
Amanda Quadrel, Senior IPM Program Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

6:15 PM – Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Evaluation in Tomato (15 min)

David Hlubik, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County

6:30 PM – Drone-Seeded Cover Crops into a Standing Pumpkin Crop (15 min)

Kate Brown, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County
Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County

6:45 PM – Cucurbit Downy Mildew: Monitoring and Management (30 min)

Amanda Quadrel, Senior IPM Program Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Andy Wyenandt, Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology, Rutgers NJAES
Stephen Komar, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Sussex County
Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County

7:15 PM – Updates from the Scarlet Sunrise Tomato Breeding Program (15 min)

Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County

7:30 PM – Organic, Interrow Weed Management in Bell Pepper: An Economic Comparison (15 min)

Kate Brown, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County
Meredith Melendez, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County
Sophie Lee, Extension Specialist in Farm Viability, Rutgers NJAES
Thierry Besanҫon, Extension Specialist in Weed Science for Specialty Crops, Rutgers NJAES

7:45 PM – Overview of the IR-4 Project and On-Site Trials (15 min)

Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County
Jennifer Fisher, Field Research Director, IR-4 Project, Rutgers University

8:00 PM – Return to Main Building, Sign Out, and Depart

Vegetable Disease Update – 7/27/26

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 17:36:00 GMT

There have been no reports of Late blight in the region.

There have been no reports of basil downy mildew.

Anthracnose fruit rot in pepper has been reported in southern New Jersey.

There have been continued reports of southern blight caused by Athelia rolfsii (formerly Sclerotium rolfsii) in tomato and pepper in southern New Jersey. For more information on Southern blight and Timber rot please click here.

Phytophthora blight has been reported on multiple crops in New Jersey.

There have been no reports of cucurbit downy mildew in New Jersey and the mid-Atlantic region. CDM has been reported as far north as North Carolina on cantaloupe and cucumber to date. To follow the progress of CDM in the US please visit the CDMpipe website here.

Bacterial leaf spot in pepper and tomato continues to be reported.

Resistance-breaking strains of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (RB-TSWV) have been reported in southern New Jersey. Please click here for more information on TSWV.

Please follow our weekly Vegetable IPM Updates to stay current on insect pests and vegetable diseases throughout the growing season!

For more information on these diseases and their control please see the NEW 2026/2027 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide.

Anthracnose fruit rot in bell and non-bell pepper

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 17:30:38 GMT

Pepper Anthracnose

Pepper anthracnose was reported last week in southern New Jersey.

Unlike in tomato, where symptoms are only present in mature (red) fruit, pepper anthracnose can infect bell or non-bell pepper fruit at any growth stage. Unfortunately, there are no commercially-available bell or non-bell peppers with known resistance to anthracnose; however breeding efforts continue.

The pathogen overwinters, albeit, not very well on infected pepper fruit left in the field or on infected plant material at the end of the production season. Because pepper anthracnose does not overwinter very well, it always starts out as a ‘hot spot’ in the field and then fans out directionally with the prevailing direction of the wind and driving rain. Hot weather along isolated afternoon and evening showers are ideal conditions for anthracnose development.

On farms with a history of pepper anthracnose, precautions should to be taken each year. The first, if possible, is to rotate away from those areas of the farm with anthracnose for as long as possible. Remember, it can survive (although not very well) in the soil for many years. Importantly, the same pathogens that cause tomato anthracnose and strawberry anthracnose are the same species that infect pepper, so rotating away from fields heavily used in tomato and/or strawberry production is extremely important. Fields need to be scouted as soon as fruit start to develop to locate ‘hot spots’. If ‘hot spots’ are found, all fruit from the immediate and surrounding area need to be strip-picked (or entire plants can also be removed). Growers who have adopted this practice have had success in reducing their losses by reducing the inoculum pressure before the pathogen begins to fan out across the field. Overhead irrigation should not be used in fields with anthracnose problems.

Reducing the amount of inoculum in the field is critical for managing pepper anthracnose. Infected fruit left in the field during and after the production season have the potential to act as a source of inoculum. Therefore, it is critically important to take the appropriate steps to help reduce that chance. During the season, all infected fruit need to be removed from the field. After harvesting, all fields should immediately mowed or hit with gramoxone. All plant debris should be thoroughly worked back into the soil so it can start to break down as quickly as possible. Abandoned fields with plants still standing going into the fall/winter only act as an increased source for inoculum. It’s a misnomer to think that the cold winter weather will help breakdown and reduce inoculum found on infected plant material left on the soil surface. It’s much better if infected plant material is worked back into the soil where other soil microorganisms can help with the process.

Fungicide programs do work for controlling pepper anthracnose. Fungicide programs should begin as soon as plants start to flower. The key to controlling anthracnose is to get the fungicide to where it is needed the most, on the developing fruit. Planting peppers in a single or double-row fashion may greatly affect your ability to control the disease. Your fertility program may also affect your ability to control the disease. Fertility programs high in N that promote tall, lush, dense canopies will greatly impact how much fungicide gets to where it needs to be. Growers should apply high rates of chorothalonil or manzate in a weekly rotation; or tank mix either with azoxystrobin (11); Cabrio (pyraclostrobin, 11); Priaxor (fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin, 7 +11); Quadris Top (3 + 11); Aprovia Top (3 + 7); or Topguard (flutriafol + azoxystrobin, 3 + 11) with a high volume of water (50 gal/A +) to ensure adequate coverage. Organic growers need to be extremely diligent with proper crop rotations, regular scouting to detect ‘hot spots’ early and make sure to remove all potential sources of inoculum. Weekly OMRI-approved copper applications may help suppress anthracnose. Other organic products have shown little or no efficacy against pepper anthracnose.

For more information please see the 2026/2027 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations Guide.

Vegetable IPM Update 7/24/26

Sat, 25 Jul 2026 00:06:34 GMT

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

Sweet Corn

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. In South and Central Jersey, the pressure is quite high (3-4 day spray intervals), and North Jersey pressure is lower, but beginning to increase in pressure. Remember, when the average maximum temperature for the next 3 days is above 80 degrees, shorten the spray interval by one day. 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 can be 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 have been seeing sporadic fall armyworm infestations at various levels 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 somewhat 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.

Tomatoes and Peppers

Thrips and TSWV. Thrips and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) continue to be the main issue in tomatoes at the moment. 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.

If late plantings are planted near earlier plantings that have TSWV infections, spread to the late plantings from thrips is highly likely. You may need to initiate sprays sooner on these later plantings under these circumstances, and other interventions, like using metallized plastic will provide less protection. Additionally, destroy older plantings as soon as harvest is done or if management becomes non-economical in order to prevent spread to later 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

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.

Soil-based diseases in tomato and pepper. We continue to see and hear reports of soil-based diseases in tomato, including southern blight, white mold, and phytophthora. Southern blight has been particularly prevalent, likely due to hot temperatures. If you have healthy plants that suddenly begin wilting, start by examining the soil line for lesions or breakage. Phytophthora typically has a dark lesion that extends up from the soil line. Cutting open the stem lengthwise will reveal dark streaking in the stem. Plants dying from southern blight will usually have cottony mycelium at the base of the stem and often spherical sclerotia that look like tiny pearls. White mold causes large dark sclerotia inside and outside of the tomato stems. Typically, white mold is more common in New Jersey than southern blight, but high temperatures this year have reversed the pattern. Read more about southern blight and white mold here.

Tomato plant with phytophthora symptoms: dark lesion extending up from the soil. Picture by Maria Cramer.

For control of southern blight, white, mold, and phytophthora, see the 2026/2027 vegetable production guide. For southern blight and white mold, immediately removing plants, including the base of the plant, upon diagnosis is critical to prevent the pathogens infesting the fields/high tunnels long term.

Southern blight signs: cottony white mycelium at the base of the stem and spherical sclerotia. Picture by Maria Cramer.

Cucurbits

Powdery mildew has been detected at very low levels in scouted fields where there are fruits on the plant. 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, although the dry weather seems to have prevented it from spreading in most locations. Fungicides that control powdery mildew should also aid in controlling anthracnose.

Powdery mildew on pumpkin leaf. Photo by Amanda Quadrel.

Bacterial Diseases: Bacterial diseases are still present at low levels in many fields. Bacterial diseases can be difficult to manage, and heavy rainfall will encourage spread of the disease. Regular copper sprays plus mancozeb may help reduce spread in the field. If possible, try to avoid overhead irrigation or working in the plants when they are wet.

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

Cucurbit Downy Mildew (CDM) Status: This week, a case of cucurbit downy mildew was reported in North Carolina on cucumbers via the IPMPipe website for CDM. So far, 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 IPMPipe site can be used to see the most recent sightings of the disease throughout the country.

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: Connor Colonese, 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]

Specialty Crop Twilight Meeting August 20

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 22:03:31 GMT

Join us at the Rutgers Specialty Crop Research and Extension Station on Thursday August 20, 2026 for a Specialty Crop Twilight Meeting. The event will run from 5:30pm to 7:30pm and will be held at 283 Route 539, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514.

This event will be a great opportunity for growers to see a demonstration of eight biodegradable plastic mulches and various ornamental nursery crops in a field setting. The full agenda is below.

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

Please RSVP by August 13^th to reserve your spot:

Contact Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County

at 732-431-7260 or Catherine.vanBenschoten@co.monmouth.nj.us

Pesticide recertification credits have been requested and will be assigned soon.

5:30 PM – Sign-In, Light Dinner Served

5:55 PM – Welcome Remarks

6:00 PM – Pesticide Safety: Reading the Label and Selecting the Proper Product

David Hlubik, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County

6:30 PM – Biodegradable Plastic Mulch for Tomato Production (Field Tour)

David Hlubik, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County

7:00 PM – Blight Resistant Boxwoods and Alternative Shrubs (Field Tour)

William Errickson, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County

Special thanks to the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey for sponsoring dinner!

August Twilight Meeting for Vegetable Growers

Kate Brown — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:07:38 +0000

Join us for a Research Twilight Meeting at the picturesque Rutgers Snyder Research and Extension Farm on Wednesday, August 12, 2026!

Attendees will gain practical information on management of corn earworm and cucurbit downy mildew paired with timely reminders on resistance management. We will tour the research plots and share updates on the current research activities underway, including new technology (drones, biodegradable mulch, autonomous robots) and updates on the IR-4 and tomato breeding programs. Pesticide recertification credits have been requested for CORE, PP2, 1A, and 10. See the full agenda below.

5:00 PM – Sign-In at Main Building, Load Wagon, Welcome Remarks

5:15 PM – Insecticide Resistance: Recognition and Management (30 min)

Grayson Tung, Senior Coordinator, Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP), Rutgers University

5:45 PM – Corn Earworm Management: Bt Corn Variety Trial & Alternative Insecticides (30 min)

David Hlubik, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County
Amanda Quadrel, Senior IPM Program Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

6:15 PM – Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Evaluation in Tomato (15 min)

David Hlubik, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County

6:30 PM – Drone-Seeded Cover Crops into a Standing Pumpkin Crop (15 min)

Kate Brown, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County
Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County

6:45 PM – Cucurbit Downy Mildew: Monitoring and Management (30 min)

Amanda Quadrel, Senior IPM Program Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Andy Wyenandt, Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology, Rutgers NJAES
Stephen Komar, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Sussex County
Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County

7:15 PM – Updates from the Scarlet Sunrise Tomato Breeding Program (15 min)

Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County

7:30 PM – Organic, Interrow Weed Management in Bell Pepper: An Economic Comparison (15 min)

Kate Brown, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Somerset County
Meredith Melendez, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County
Sophie Lee, Extension Specialist in Farm Viability, Rutgers NJAES
Thierry Besanҫon, Extension Specialist in Weed Science for Specialty Crops, Rutgers NJAES

7:45 PM – Overview of the IR-4 Project and On-Site Trials (15 min)

Peter Nitzsche, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Morris County
Jennifer Fisher, Field Research Director, IR-4 Project, Rutgers University

8:00 PM – Return to Main Building, Sign Out, and Depart

Vegetable IPM Update 7/17/26

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 02:22:28 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. Large infestations of fall armyworm (FAW) were found this week in Delaware — growers in Cape May, Cumberland, and Atlantic counties should especially be on the lookout for FAW. Elsewhere, we’ve been seeing very small infestations of FAW. 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 somewhat 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.

Tomatoes and Peppers

Thrips and TSWV. Thrips and tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) are the main issue in tomatoes at the moment. 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 even if you have already sprayed for thrips, because you need to know how well the spray worked. Unfortunately, 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.

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

If late plantings are planted near earlier plantings that have TSWV infections, spread to the late plantings from thrips is highly likely. You may need to initiate sprays sooner on these later plantings under these circumstances, and other interventions, like using metallized plastic will provide less protection. Additionally, destroy older plantings as soon as harvest is done or if management becomes non-economical in order to prevent spread to later plantings.

Spider mites. We have seen elevated spider mite counts in some tunnel 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

Soil-based diseases in tomato and pepper. We continue to see and hear reports of soil-based diseases in tomato, including southern blight, white mold, and phytophthora. The flooding last week may also result in movement of phytophthora in fields, so be on the look out. If you have healthy plants that suddenly begin wilting, start by examining the soil line for lesions or breakage. Phytophthora typically has a dark lesion that extends up from the soil line. Cutting open the stem lengthwise will reveal dark streaking in the stem.

Tomato plant with phytophthora symptoms: dark lesion extending up from the soil. Picture by Maria Cramer.

Southern blight and white mold have similar symptoms, but have distinctly different appearing spores. To differentiate them, use Rutger’s post from 2025 on the diseases. Southern blight has been particularly prevalent, likely due to the high temperatures we’ve had.

For control of southern blight, white, mold, and phytophthora, see the 2026/2027 vegetable production guide. For southern blight and white mold, immediately removing plants upon diagnosis is critical to prevent the pathogens infesting the fields/high tunnels long term.

Cucurbits

Anthracnose continues to be present in many scouted fields. It is important to maintain a regular fungicide program to prevent the disease from spreading to the fruits. Many of the fungicides that can be used for anthracnose will also help prevent the spread of powdery mildew.

Symptoms of anthracnose on a pumpkin leaf. Note circular lesions on the top (A) and underside (B) of the leaf. Sometimes the lesions may be surrounded by a pale green halo (C). Photos by Amanda Quadrel.

Bacterial Diseases: In addition to anthracnose, we have been seeing increases of bacterial diseases such as bacterial leaf spot and angular leaf spot. Bacterial diseases can be difficult to manage, and heavy rainfall will encourage spread of the disease. Regular copper sprays plus mancozeb may help reduce spread in the field. If possible, try to avoid overhead irrigation or working in the plants when they are wet.

Squash Bugs: We are still regularly seeing squash bug eggs and nymphs in many locations. Typically, pumpkins that are beyond the seedling-4-leaf stage are not heavily impacted by squash bug feeding. However, 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

We have also been spotting sporadic squash vine borer (SVB) adults when scouting fields. SVB tends to be most destructive in smaller plantings, or in plantings with giant pumpkins. A female adult will lay eggs singly on the main stem right above the soil line. Once the larvae hatch, they bore into the main stem, which eventually results in plant death. To protect plantings against SVB, applying a product at vine-run can be helpful for protection. Materials approved for SVB control include acetamiprid (Assail, IRAC 4A), the combo product Cormoran (IRAC 15+4A), and various pyrethroids. If treating for other pests such as squash bugs and aphids, some products such as Incipio and Exirel can also provide SVB control.

Squash vine borer larvae (A), adult (B), and damage (C). Pictures by Amanda Quadrel.

We have our sentinel plots for Cucurbit Downy Mildew (CDM) planted 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. As of this week, we haven’t detected CDM. No new cases have been reported since June 25th in Georgia according to the IPMPipe website for CDM. If we detect CDM, either in our sentinel plots or elsewhere in the state, we will send out an alert immediately, but the IPMPipe site can be used to see the most recent sightings of the disease throughout the country.

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

North NJ: Connor Colonese, 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]

Letter from New Jersey Department of Agriculture concerning cyclospora

Wes Kline — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 14:04:35 +0000

There have been several reports concerning Cyclospora in the news lately and the NJDA and Rutgers Cooperative Extension wanted to update growers as to the status in New Jersey. Below is a statement from NJDA.

Dear New Jersey Residents and Consumers,

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture wants to emphasize that no produce coming from New Jersey farms has been linked to the cyclosporiasis outbreak. To date, no New Jersey-grown produce has been identified as a source of cyclosporiasis cases. National and New Jersey health officials and experts are continuing to investigate the outbreak and monitor any cases.

Our Jersey Fresh farmers meet the high-quality standards imposed not only by their own compliance with the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) but also with the quality-grading standards of the Jersey Fresh program.

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture will continue keeping the public informed about any produce categories grown in New Jersey that have been identified by health experts as being a risk.

To help protect against cyclosporiasis and other foodborne illnesses, NJDOH and NJDA recommend:

Wash your hands with soap and water before and after preparing fresh fruits and vegetables.
Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water, even if you plan to peel them.
Scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing or eating.
Refrigerate cut, peeled, or cooked fruits and vegetables promptly.

Edward D. Wengryn

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture

Fillable Forms Now Requested by NJDEP Pesticide Control for Worker Protection Standards Training

Michelle Infante-Casella — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 15:59:46 +0000

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Pesticide Control Program is asking farmers to now use the fillable rosters for the required Worker Protection Standards training for both the “Handler” and “Worker” categories. Please see the correspondence from NJDEP PCP at the end of this article. The Handler rosters are the only rosters required to be sent to DEP after training workers as pesticide handlers. The Worker rosters are to be kept on file on the farm. Handler rosters must be sent to NJDEP within 30 days of training.

Fillable Handler Form https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/pesticides/bpc/wps/handler.pdf

Fillable Worker Form https://dep.nj.gov/wp-content/uploads/pesticides/bpc/wps/worker.pdf

To contact NJDEP Pesticide Control Program, their address, phone and email are below:

Address: NJDEP Pesticide Control Program, 401 East State Street, Mail Code 401-04A, P.O. Box 420
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0420

Phone: 609-984-6568

Email: wpspesticides@dep.nj.gov

Email correspondence received from NJDEP PCP on July 8, 2026:

Dear Growers,

To help us accurately review and process your handler training records, we ask that you please use the fillable Handler Training forms when documenting employee training.

Using the fillable forms ensures that employee names and other information are clear and legible when submitted. Handwritten forms can sometimes be difficult to read, which may delay the review process or require us to request additional information.

Please also note that fillable Worker Roster forms are available. Both the Handler Training forms and Worker Roster forms can be found on the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Bureau of Pesticide Control website at https://dep.nj.gov/pesticides/compliance-enforcement/worker-protection/#agricultural-worker-protection-standard-guide.

Although the forms are fillable, handlers and workers must still sign the forms after completing the training.

We appreciate your cooperation in using these fillable forms for all future submissions. If you have any questions or need assistance accessing the forms, please let us know.

Thank you for your continued cooperation.

NJDEP Bureau of Pesticide Control