CROP TALK - University of Connecticut Integrated Pest

UCONN EXTENSION AND DEPARTMENT OF PLANT SCIENCE AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
CROP TALK
COMMERCIAL VEGETABLE AND FRUIT CROPS NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 10, ISSUE 4 — DECEMBER 2014
IN THIS ISSUE
CT Vegetable & Small Fruit Growers’ Conference…………..1,11
New England Greenhouse Floriculture Guide………………..…..4
Relative Resistance of Sweet Corn Varieties……...……….….2, 7
Bedding Plant Program………………………………………………….….5
Drought and Plant Nutrients…………………………..……………….3
IPM Email Updates……………………………..…….………..…………..…5
Calendar of Events…………………………………………………………..4
Summary of FSMA Supplemental Revisions………………….6,8-11
C O N N E C T I C U T V E G E TA B L E & S M A L L F R U I T G R O W E R S ’
CONFERENCE
Thursday, January 15, 2015 @ Maneeley’s Conference Center, 65 Rye St., S. Windsor, CT 06074
Sponsored by: UConn Extension, USDA, UConn Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, The Connecticut
Agricultural Experiment Station
Trade Show (8:00-9:00, 10:30-11:00, 12:00 -1:00, 2:00-2:15)
2:00 - 2:15
Break
8:00-9:00
2:15
Netting for Spotted Wing Drosophila and a
High Tunnel Fixed Sprayer System – Dale-Ila
Riggs, Stone Wall Hill Farm, Stephentown, NY
2:45
Examining the Effectiveness of CT Grown
Labeling with Eye-Tracking Technology – Ben
Campbell, UConn
3:30
Re-certification Credits: 3.0 hours
Pre-registration $35 – includes Trade Show/
Continental Breakfast/Coffee/Lunch
Door registration $50 - must pre-register to
be guaranteed a lunch
PROGRAM:
Morning Moderator – Mary Concklin, UConn
9:00
Welcome – Theodore Andreadis, Director, CT
Agricultural Experiment Station
9:05
Nuts and Bolts of Drip Irrigation – Bill Lamont,
Penn State University
9:30
Chemical & Microbial Control of
Phytophthora Blight - Mary Hausbeck, MSU
10:15
10% Local Campaign Benefits CT Growers –
Nancy Barrett, Scantic Farm, Somers, CT
10:30
Break (Trade Show/Coffee & Tea)
11:00
Table Grape Variety Trial – George Hamilton,
UNH
11:30
Niche Crops for High Tunnels – Bill Lamont,
Penn State University
12:00- 1:00
Lunch Break/Trade Show (Lunch – must preregister to be guaranteed a lunch)
Afternoon moderator – Jude Boucher, UConn
1:00
Weed the Soil, Not the Crop – Anne and Eric
Nordell, Beech Grove Farm, Trout Run, PA
The University of Connecticut is an equal opportunity program
provider and employer. Please call three weeks prior to this
event if special accommodations are needed.
Directions: Take I-91 or I-84 to I-291. Take Exit 4 for Rt. 5 (north)
- turn left at bottom of ramp. After 3.5 miles turn right onto
Sullivan Ave. (Rt. 194), in ¼ mile take a left onto Rye St.,
Maneeley’s is on left. Contact: Jude.Boucher@UConn.edu 860
870-6933.
(REGISTRATION FORM CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 11)
Page 2
Relative Resistance of Sweet Corn Varieties to Common Diseases in the Northeast
By Jude Boucher, UConn Extension Educator, Commercial Vegetable Crops
Since it is time to order your sweet corn seeds for next season, you may want to take a minute to be sure that the varieties you pick have at least moderate resistance to the late
season diseases, such as rust (Figure 1) and Northern corn leaf
blight (Figure 2). These two diseases have caused more and
more problems in recent years, and seem to snowball as the
season goes on, with some growers even losing late blocks of
sweet corn. Other growers have had trouble selling ears with
rusty or dead husk leaves, and can’t wait for the next block of
resistant corn to mature to improve sales. Sometimes after
very warm winters, Stewart’s wilt (Figure 3) can kill many of
the plants in early blocks of corn, reducing
yields and sales.
Figure 1
Dr. Jerald Pataky was a plant pathologist for the University of
Illinois who recently retired after conducting sweet corn disease resistance trials on new varieties for 27 years. In 2010,
he and Martin Williams (ARS) published a summary of their
27-years of results which included over 800 commercial and
pre-commercial varieties. Most of the varieties were tested
for a number of years and the average ratings were presented in his final report.
Figure 3 photo by Rob Wick, UMass
The table on pg. 7 provides ratings for these three diseases on
sweet corn varieties that are, or were, popular in New England. Additional information is available by Googling the
“Midwest Vegetable Trial Report for 2010,” under “sweet
corn.”
Figure 2
They inoculated the plants in the trials repeatedly with the
following diseases and races to create uniform disease pressure: rust (races avirulent, D-virulent and G-virulent), northern corn leaf blight (races 0 and 1), Stewart’s wilt, maize
dwarf mosaic virus, a couple of other less-common diseases
and reactions to three post-emergence herbicides (Callisto,
Laudis and Accent). Since the trials ended in 2010, some of
the newest varieties that you may be trying or using on your
farm’s, may not be included. Be sure to check the catalogue
or ask your seed rep for information about resistance to rust
and NCLB for varieties that have just been released, to assure
great late-season performance.
Dr. Pataky and Williams rated each variety, for each disease,
and sometimes for each race, on a scale of 0-9, completely
resistant to susceptible: 1=resistant, 3=moderately resistant,
5= moderate, 7= moderately susceptible, 9= susceptible. Of
the 800 varieties tested, only 12 sugar enhanced (se) and 120
shrunken-2 (super sweet) varieties had R to MR reactions to
Continued on page 7
V O LU M E 1 0 , N U M B E R 4 , D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4
Page 3
Drought and Plant Nutrients – Planning for 2015
By Mary Concklin, UConn Visiting Associate Extension Educator, Fruit IPM & Production
With the present climate consisting of wide temperature
and precipitation swings, hot dry summers may become
more the norm than the exception. Hot sunny weather is a
positive in fruit production but it also increases evapotranspiration. Without rain to replenish this water loss in
plants, many plant functions slow or stop. This means that
for optimum plant and fruit development, supplemental
water is going to be needed.
One symptom of a water deficit are deficiencies of important elements showing up within the plant. Water is
critical for the transport of nutrients from the soil into the
plants and to the fruit and foliage. During a drought plants
become stressed, needed nutrients are not transported
into and throughout the plants, foliage turns shades of
non-green and may fall early, fruit (consisting of 83%-88%
water) does not size well, and plants as well as fruit show
nutrient deficiency symptoms. You may notice I did not
say this happens only in non-irrigated blocks because not
all irrigated blocks are necessarily receiving adequate water. On the flip side however, some of our best crops are
grown in droughty years where adequate irrigation is
used, because irrigation coupled with the higher number
of sunny days provides for almost ideal growing conditions. In the end you have large(r) fruit size, while sugar
content and color are generally at their best.
The picture below shows severe potassium deficiency evident in the foliage. Potassium is a key element in winter
hardiness and fruit size. If we have a repeat of this past
winter, many plants and flower buds may suffer varying
degrees of winter injury if they are potassium deficient.
Potassium deficiency
The NEWA system (http://newa.cornell.edu) has an irrigation model (for apples) using evapotransporation to help
with your irrigation decisions. With 30 weather stations in
CT and 15 more to be added this coming year this will be a
valuable tool. It should be used with the understanding
that the system does not take into account your soil type,
tree age and size. It is based on weather data from the
weather stations. Choose a station close to you. You will
Nutrient deficiency symptoms of calcium, magnesium, po- need to insert information such as tree spacing, row spactassium and boron were noted during the 2014 growing
ing and age of block/orchard. Rainfall for that station will
season, particularly in blocks of tree fruit and berries with already be there. You enter amount of water you applied
no irrigation. The picture shown below is of an apple exor are going to apply via irrigation. The model will indicate
hibiting boron deficiency. Cut the apple open and necrosis your water balance helping you with your management
of the internal tissues is evident. Not very saleable.
decision.
Boron Deficiency
Irrigation is not a cheap investment, but neither is your
crop. USDA-NRCS has programs to help with funding of
irrigation systems and wells and are worth checking into.
Page 4
2015-16 New England Greenhouse Floriculture Guide Available
Greenhouse growers in Connecticut have long relied on the New
England Greenhouse Floriculture Guide, for its unbiased, detailed information about insect and mite management, disease
prevention and management, weed control, and plant growth
regulation. The Guide is updated every two years to ensure that
it provides up-to-date information about crop management
methods and products.
The Guide is a comprehensive manual whose
recommendations reflect
an integrated and sustainable pest management approach. If you’re
interested in implementing biocontrols, the
The new edition presents several new features:
Guide will help you get
 The disease management section has been rewritten into a
started. If you need to
new format, making it easier to use than ever before.
eliminate weeds
 A discussion of neonicotinoid insecticides and their potenunder benches, check the
tial impact on nontarget insects such as bees has been add- Guide for products that
are labeled for use in
ed, to help growers make informed decisions about pest
greenhouses. If you want
management products.
to maintain thrifty plants,
 Several newly registered plant growth regulator products
follow the nonchemical
have been added to the 2015-16 edition.
methods presented in the Guide, and also learn which PGRs
 All product registration numbers, REIs, application rates and might help you achieve added height control.
application guidelines have been updated.
The Guide is updated every two years by floriculture faculty and
 The pest and problem identification website, maintained by staff from the six New England State Universities, and is pubGuide contributors Leanne Pundt of University of Connecti- lished by New England Floriculture, Inc.
cut and Tina Smith of University of Massachusetts, has been
expanded to include emerging pest problems. You can access it online at: http://negreenhouseupdate.info/photolibrary This resource provides photographs and descriptions of cultural problems, diseases, insects, mites, nutritional disorders, weeds and algae. It also presents photos of
biological control agents, and symptom look-alikes.
The Guide is available for $40 per copy via the Northeast Greenhouse Conference website. You can order it online at Order online at: http://www.negreenhouse.org/html/pestguide.shtml
The Guide is also available for $40 per copy via phone, mail and
the UConn Communications Resource Center physical store.
860-486-3336 www.store.uconn.edu
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Dec. 16—Growing Container-Grown Greenhouse Vegetables Litchfield County Extension Center, UConn Torrington Branch.
Contact: Leanne.Pundt@uconn.edu
Jan. 15—The CT Vegetable & Small Fruit Growers’ Conference Maneeley’s Conference Center, S. Windsor, CT. Full program and
registration form on page 5. Pre-register by Jan. 7th $35, ($50 late or at the door). Contact: Jude.Boucher@uconn.edu or
MacKenzie.White@uconn.edu (860-875-3331).
Feb 3.—Bedding Plant Workshop 10:00AM-2:30PM Litchfield County Extension Center, 843 University Drive, UConn Torrington
Branch. Repeated on Feb. 5, Tolland County Ag Center, 24 Hyde Ave., Vernon, CT . Registration $20. Contact:
Leanne.Pundt@UConn.edu
Feb. 7—Vegetable Insect and Disease Workshops I: Cucurbits & Brassicas. (For beginning farmers).9:00AM-1:00PM Litchfield
County Extension Center, Contact: Joan.Allen@uconn.edu
Feb. 14—Vegetable Insect & Disease Workshops 2: Solanaceae & Legumes. (For beginning farmers)9:00AM-1:00PM Tolland
County Extension Center, Contact: Joan.Allen@uconn.edu
Feb. 19— Safe & Effective Use of Organic Pesticides, at Scout Hall Youth Center, East Windsor—open to all, coordinated by the
Scaling Up Program. For more information: www.newfarms.extension.edu or mackenzie.white@uconn.edu 860-875-3331
Mar. 5— Perennial Plant Conference, in Storrs, CT For more information call 860-486-6448 or email Donna.ellis@uconn.edu
Mar. 17 & 18—Tree Fruit, Berry & Grape Plant Nutrition Short Course: Maneeley’s Conference Center, S. Windsor, Contact:
Mary.Concklin@uconn.edu
V O LU M E 1 0 , N U M B E R 4 , D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4
Page 5
UConn Extension offers Bedding Plant Program for Greenhouse Growers
UConn Extension is offering Bedding Plants - Spring 2015!
This educational program will feature the following topics of interest to those who produce spring crops:

How to Maintain, Calibrate and Clean your Fertilizer and Chemigation Injector, Lela Kelly, Vice President, Horticulture
Specialist, Dosatron, Clearwater, FL

Lela will take you through why maintenance and calibration are so important, and show you how easy it can be.

Feeding Greenhouse Crops, Rosa Raudales, Greenhouse Extension Specialist, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT

Diseases of Spring Crops and Their Management, Yonghao Li, Plant Pathologist, CT Agricultural Experiment Station,
New Haven, CT

Hot Topics in Insect and Mite Pest Management, Leanne Pundt, Extension Educator, University of Connecticut, Torrington, CT
Get the latest information on pest control, disease management and other hot topics from University experts and
network with professionals and other growers.
In order to reach greenhouse growers throughout the state, this same program will be offered in two separate locations.
Tuesday, February 3rd, this program will be offered from 10 to 2:30 at the Litchfield County Extension Center at 843
University Drive in Torrington, CT.
Thursday, Feb 5th, this program will be offered from 10 to 2:30 p.m. at the Tolland County Extension Office at 24
Hyde Avenue in Vernon, CT.
Pesticide recertification credits for attendees from CT and other New England states (4 credits).
Handouts; lunch and beverages will be included in your registration fee of $20.00. Please make checks payable to the
University of Connecticut and send to Litchfield County Extension Center, 843 University Drive, Torrington, CT 06790. No credit
card payments accepted.
For more information contact Leanne Pundt, at 860-626-6855 or email: leanne.pundt@uconn.edu or visit the website:
www.ipm.uconn.edu
The University of Connecticut is an equal opportunity program provider and employer.
Page 6
Summary of FSMA Supplemental Revisions for Produce Rule
By Ginger Nickerson, Center for Sustainable Agriculture, University of Vermont Extension
http://www.uvm.edu/~susagctr/?
Page=gaphome.html. This version had minor
edits for Connecticut. The information is drawn from
FDA 21 CFR Part 112 [Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0921]
and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition’s
“Comparing FDA’s Original and Supplemental Proposed FSMA Rules” (October 2014).
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
released the revised (“Supplemental”)
language on the Produce Safety and Preventive Controls Rules in September
2014. There will be a public comment
period until December 15, 2014. The table below summarizes some of the most
significant changes, what they mean for
Connecticut growers, and highlights issues on which the FDA is especially interested in receiving comments.
For more detailed information on the
revised language and its potential impact,
refer to the FDA Produce Rule website:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/
GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/
ucm334114.htm, or the FDA’s docket for
the complete Proposed Rules http://
www.regulations.gov/#!
documentDetail;D=FDA-2011-N-09210973.
The FDA is seeking comments on these
rules. Comments can be made at:
http://www.regulations.gov/
#documentDetail;D=FDA-2011-N-09210973.
Continued on page 8
Initial Proposed
What This Change
FDA requesting
Revised Proposed Rule
Rule
Means
comments on
Manure and Biological Soil Amendments: Determines interval between application of raw manure or
compost and when crops can be harvested
Seeking
Was:
Now:
So What?:
Comment On:
Manure: FDA still wants a
 Manure: Farms can
 Manure: 9 month
 What are the
continue using raw maday length interval, but
interval between
barriers to using
nure for now. FDA not
compost instead of
providing an interval, but
deferring decision. Will work
application of raw
raw manure?
recommends using NOP
with USDA and stakeholders
manure (or grazing
120/90 or GAPs 120 day
 What resources
interval.
to:
animals) and harvest
will be needed for
farms to switch to
 Farms encouraged to
 complete risk assessment
 Compost: 45
using compost
use compost in place of
days
instead of raw
raw manure.
conduct research
manure?
between application
 Compost: No time
develop infrastructure
of
interval required for
for farms to transition to
compost.
compost and harvest
compost
Will reopen docket for
comment when above
completed (estimate 5 – 10
yrs)
Meanwhile will not take
exception to NOP 120/90
day rule
Compost: Removed time
interval between application
of compost and harvest if
compost appropriately
treated.
IS YOUR 2014 RISK MA NAGEMENT PLAN ADEQUATE TO MANAGE 2015 RISKS?
As you make plans for 2015, you should evaluate the adequacy of your 2014 risk management plan for each segment of your
farm business. USDA offers risk management programs that can help you to manage your risk exposures and secure operating
loans. They include crop insurance available from crop insurance agents (list available at: www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agent.html)
and the Non-insured crop Assistance Program available from the Farm Service Agency (FSA/USDA) serving your County. For more
information on programs available contact Joe Bonelli: 860-870-6935 or joseph.bonelli@uconn.edu
This message is brought to you by: Connecticut Farm Risk Management and Crop Insurance Program
Extension Education for Agricultural Producers and Advisors
www.ctfarmrisk.uconn.edu
This institution is an equal opportunity provider
V O LU M E 1 0 , N U M B E R 4 , D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4
Page 7
Relative Resistance of Sweet Corn Varieties to Common Diseases in the Northeast (Continued)
NCLB, but you should be able to pick a variety with at least moderate resistance to this disease. The first NCLB column represent
varieties with partial resistance, which offers protection from more strains and reduces disease spread, but the plants may produce some small or fully developed lesions and spores. Those varieties with Ht or race-specific resistance to NCLB, may not provide resistance to all races of NCLB, but usually restrict lesions to small yellow spots that do not form spores, as opposed to five- or
seven-inch long brown spots that spread up the plant rapidly.
Prevalence of new rust races has
increased in recent years, so a
combination or average rating is
presented in the first column
and individual races are rated in
the next three columns. If the
variety is marked with an Rp in
the first column, then it has a
single, or a combination of resistant genes that provide complete resistance to one or more
races of rust (shown in the next
three columns).
Company or seed sources:
Cent= Centest, Cr=Crookham,
HM= Harris Moran, IFS= Illinois
Foundation Seeds, MM=Mesa
Maize, Rog=Rogers (Syngenta),
Sdw= Seedway, Sem= Seminis,
Sto=Stokes.
Relative maturity is listed as RM:
1=first early, 2=second early,
3=midseason, 4=main season, 5
full season.
Page 8
Summary of FSMA Supplemental Revisions for Produce Rule (continued)
Initial Proposed Rule
Revised Proposed Rule
What This Change Means
FDA requesting comments on
Testing of Agricultural Water: Determines frequency of testing untreated surface or ground water directly applied to the edible portion of
crops that are eaten raw, the level of E.coli at which action must be taken, and what actions should be taken (does not apply to drip or furrow
application of water)
Untreated Surface Water
Was:
Now:
So What?:
Seeking Comment On:
 Testing every 7 days
 Raised E.coli levels for corrective
action to geometric mean (GM) of
 Revisions recognize differences
between watersheds; allow farmers more flexibility to base practices on the risk of their water.
Should FDA establish limit
above which water should not
be applied until corrective
actions are taken?
 Use of STV recognizes
If so, what would be appropriate maximum level?
 Must discontinue use if
samples reached either:
not over 126 CFU, and Statistical
Threshold Value (STV) of not over
o geometric mean of
126 CFU E.coli/100 mL
410 CFU E.coli/100mL¹
o or a single sample of
over 235 CFU
 If STV over 410, increase
time between application of water and
harvest to get 0.5 log reduction in
E.coli.²
“Know Your Water” Tiered
Risk Assessment
1. Take 20 samples over 2 yrs to establish baseline and changes needed
2. After baseline, 5 samples/yr to determine the need to adjust time between irrigation and harvest. FDA will
provide tool for determining number
of days to wait
that levels of E.coli will
vary over time
 Instead of having to stop
using surface water if it
surpasses standards,
farmers can wait
between application of
water and harvest based
on how quickly E.coli die-off.
Is allowing a time interval between application of water and
harvest an appropriate solution
if E.coli levels are above designated limits?
Are there alternative data
sources that should be used as
indicators of water quality?
Is 0.5 log/day die-off rate appropriate?
Should farms be required to
keep records of dates of last
irrigation and harvest?
What records would be reasonable for farms to document
water quality?
3. Re-do baseline every 10
Untreated Ground Water
Was:
Now: Tiered approach
So What?:
 Test at start of growing
 First year: At least 4 samples over
growing season to determine
 Number of times farmers test is
based on water quality
baseline
 Reduces the number of
three months during
 Thereafter test
growing season
1x/growing season
times water must be tested if risk
is low
season and then test
every
1 Statistical Threshold Value approximates the 90th percentile of the samples, and is intended to be a value that should not be
exceeded by 10% of the samples. For example, if a water source tests at 2,100 CFU E.coli in 1 of 10 samples, but the other 9 samples are such that the STV based on all 10 samples is 410 CFU or less, it may still be ok to use the water
2 Calculating die-off period: If E.coli levels are higher than the proposed limits, farmers could apply a waiting period between
application of water and harvesting crops to allow E.coli to die-off to at least GM of 126 CFU and 410 STV CFU. FDA will supply
tool for determining days to wait. For example:
(Continued >)
Page 9
V O LU M E 1 0 , N U M B E R 4 , D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4
If Water Tests at
Calculated Days to Wait between
Calculated Reduced Level After Wait
241 GM and 576 STV
Application & Harvest
1 day
76 GM and 182 STV
241 GM and 4,600 STV
3 days (for a 1.5 log reduction)
8 GM and 145 STV
Initial Proposed Rule
Revised Proposed Rule
What This Change Means
FDA requesting comments on
Definition of Who is Covered: Whether farm size is based on gross sales of all food sales vs. produce sales
Determines: 1) whether a farm qualifies for a full exemption or 2) is considered a very small business or small business for compliance timelines. Definition of Farms falling under Qualified Exemption cannot be changed.
Was:
Now:
So What?:
Seeking Comment On:
 Farms covered by FSMA was
originally based on sales of all food
(produce and meat, milk, grain,
eggs, animal feed, etc...)
 Definition of farms NOT
 Farms with less than
covered is now based on
$25,000 average annual
annual sales of all
sales in produce are NOT
 This meant farms that
produce averaged over 3
covered by FSMA
made the bulk of gross
years.³
 Very small businesses: 4
sales from non-produce
 “Very small businesses” = no
more than $250,000 in annual gross
sales for all produce.
yrs from finalization to
 “Small businesses” = no more
than $500,000 in annual gross sales
for all produce.
 Small businesses: 3 yrs to
food items would be
covered by the
regulations, even if they
only did a small amount of annual
gross sales in produce.
Farms under the qualified exemption (doing 50% or more of sales to
qualified end users and under
$500,000 in gross sales) will still
need to base sales on all food (not
just produce) ⁴
comply
comply
 Is proposal to cover farms with
annual gross sales of produce of
more than $25,000 appropriate? If
not, what would be better?
 Should definition of covered
farms be based on averaged annual
gross sales of covered produce
only instead sales of all produce?
 If the definition should be for
covered produce only, how should
the monetary threshold be applied?
Because definition of farms
under Qualified Exemption
cannot be changed, revision will
not significantly change number of
covered farms, but may shift number of farms in the $250,000 and
$500,000 categories, giving more
farms a longer time to comply.
Definition of Harvesting, Holding and Packing as Covered Activities: Determines whether farms that buy in, hold, label or pack produce from other farms
will have to follow the Preventive Controls Rule or Produce Rule
Was:
Now:
So What?:
Seeking Comment On:
 A business could only be defined
as a farm if all food grown, raised,
packed or held on that farm was
from that farm or another farm
under the same ownership. If a
farm packed or held food from a
farm not under its ownership it
would be considered a “mixed-type
facility” and fall under the Preventive Controls Rule.
 Revised definition includes businesses that
pack, hold or label raw
agricultural commodities
(RACs).
 Farms that pack or hold
RACs from a farm under different
ownership are no longer considered a “mixed-type facility.”
Farms that buy in produce from
other farms for CSA shares, to fill
gaps in supply, or pack or hold
produce for other farms will still be
considered farms and fall under
Produce Safety rule, and will not
have to comply with the Preventive
Controls Rule (PCR) solely for those
activities.
However, off-farm activities, such
as an off-farm packinghouse do still
fall under Preventive Controls Rule
– see below)
Should phrase “in one general
physical location” be included in
definition of farm? Should farms
with off-farm packinghouses fall
under PCR?
Should farms supplying
produce to second farm
provide name, address & description of produce in individual shipments?
Should on-farm packing houses
under cooperative ownership by
multiple growers be considered
under same ownership as any or all
of the growers’ farms?
3 Only some produce is covered under FSMA. Produce rarely eaten raw or goes through a kill step is not covered under FSMA. This
includes: sweet corn, pumpkins, winter squash and potatoes. For complete list see FDA FSMA Produce Rule website http://
www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm334114.htm
4 Qualified Exemption: Farms that do less than $500,000 in annual gross sales of all food AND at least 50% of sales are to qualified
end users will still be under qualified exemption. Qualified end-user is either a) consumer of food or b) restaurant or retail establishment located in the same state or if out of state, not more than 275 miles from the farm.
Page 10
Selected Points from
Revised Preventive
Controls Rule That
Could Apply to
Produce Growers
FDA requesting comments
on
Withdrawal and Reinstatement of Qualified Exemption: Determines criteria for taking farm out of “Exempt” category
Initial Proposed Rule
Revised Proposed Rule
What This Change Means
Was:
Now:
So What?:
Seeking Comment On:
 The FDA could withdraw
 FDA must provide notification and opportunity for farm
to respond before deciding to
withdraw exemption.
 The original language did not
provide alternatives to withdrawal
of exemption. Although there is no
requirement that the FDA utilize
those options, there are alternative
options now, and the FDA must
provide notice to the farm of intent
to withdraw the exemption, time to
respond to the notice, and provide
instruction on what is needed to
reinstate exemption. Farmers must
respond to a notice to withdraw an
exemption on the date the notice is
received, while the Preventive Controls Rule provides processors 10
days to respond.
 Should farms be given
 Farmers have 60 days to
approach and suggestions
for refinements or
Below are revisions in
the Supplement of the
Preventive Controls
Rules (PCR) that might
apply to produce growers.
a qualified exemption:
If you process food or
produce a value-added
product, you should
refer to the PCR page
on the FDA website for
more detailed information about the Preventive Controls Rule
and whether it will apply to your operation
or
http://www.fda.gov/
Food/
GuidanceRegulation/
FSMA/ucm334115.htm
· On-Farm vs. Off-Farm
Packing Houses: Under
the current proposed
rules, off-farm packinghouses are not considered a farm and are
subject to the Preventive Controls Rule. The
FDA is seeking comment on this.
1) in the event of a
food
borne illness outbreak
associated with that
farm
2) if they determine
that
it is necessary to protect
 Before withdrawing an
exemption, FDA may take
alternative actions such as a
warning letter, injunction, or
a recall and consider steps
taken by farmer to correct
problem.
 FDA must provide farm with
a process for reinstatement
of exemption that has been
withdrawn.
the public health and
come into compliance,
prevent a food borne
while processors have
illness outbreak
120 days from receipt of
120 days from date of
receipt to comply with
an order to withdraw an
exemption so that the
guidelines are consistent
between the Produce
Rule and the Preventive
Controls Rule?
 General feedback on this
alternatives
order to come into
compliance.
Wildlife Management and Conservation Practices: Wildlife, hedgerows and other soil and water conservation issues
Was:
Now:
So What?:
Seeking Comment On:
 Farms should evaluate whether produce
can be safely harvested
if there is evidence of
animals in production
areas.
 A new provision has been
added that states
 This provision is intended to clarify that the FDA encourages comanagement of land for wildlife and
conservation, and is not encouraging farmers to remove riparian
buffers, filter strips, hedgerows or
other conservation practices.
 General feedback on this
 Take all measures
reasonably necessary
to identify and not
harvest contaminated
produce
that FSMA does not
require measures to
destroy animal habitat or
approach and the new
provision and suggestions for
alternatives
exclude animals from
outdoor growing areas,
or authorize the “taking”
of threatened or endangered
animals.
· Definition of a very small business: businesses with less than $1 million in total annual sales of human food will be considered
“qualified facilities” subject to modified preventive controls requirements and have three years after publication of final version
of FSMA to comply.
· Definition of a Facility: On-farm or off-farm activities that are transforming food will be considered a “facility” or “mixed-type
facility” and subject to registration with the FDA. Table 1 of the Appendix to the Preventive Controls Rule (PCR) for human food
categorizes activities for farms and farm mixed-type facilities.
· Requirements for mixed RACs (such as bagged greens): Table 1 in the PCR Appendix lists mixing Raw Agricultural Commodities
(RACs) as a packing activity and as a manufacturing/processing activity (e.g., it could be considered manipulating or modifying the
food). The FDA is seeking comments on how to handle different scenarios where raw agricultural commodities are mixed and
suggestions for how to address the issue in the final rule. So for example, if the activities leading to a mixture of RACs only consist
of harvesting and packing, (e.g. harvesting and bagging mesclun or mixed baby greens) and no additional cutting it might stay
under the Produce Rule, but if there is an added step of cutting (chopped lettuce and grated carrots mixed together) it could potentially come under Preventive Controls.
Page 11
V O LU M E 1 0 , N U M B E R 4 , D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4
· Supplier Controls and Verification: The FDA is seeking comments on whether if a receiving manufacturing or processing facility
identifies a significant hazard for a raw material or ingredient, the facility should be required to conduct an annual on-site audit of
the supplier (unless the facility can show that other verification activities and/or less frequent on-site auditing of the supplier provide adequate assurance that the hazards are controlled). The concern is that this could require some farms to go through duplicative requirements.
· Drying/Dehydrating Raw Agricultural Commodities: The revised rule recognizes that drying is a part of harvesting activities for
many raw agricultural commodities. The revised definition of farm includes drying and dehydrating of RACs as long as no additional
processing is conducted and the drying/dehydrating is not creating a distinct commodity, keeping these activities under the Produce Rule (e.g. cured onions are not distinct from recently harvested onions, but raisins are distinct from grapes)
· The definition of “holding” was modified to include activities performed incidental to storage (such as blending the same RAC, or
breaking down pallets), but do not include any activities that would transform a RAC into a processed food.
· Retail Establishments: It is still unclear whether CSAs, on-farm farmstands, farmers markets and other direct marketing venues
will be considered facilities and required to register with the FDA. The FDA is seeking comment on this.
Connecticut Farmers can contact Diane Wright Hirsch at (203.407.3163) diane.hirsch@uconn.edu or the Connecticut Farm Bureau
(860.768.1100) for more information on how to comment or to seek answers to specific questions you may have.
Connecticut Vegetable & Small Fruit Growers’ Conference
(We need folks to pre-register so Maneeley’s has a head count for lunch/food & beverages)
Pre-registration Form
Amount
Postmarked
Postmarked
by Jan. 7
after Jan. 7
Name:________________________________________
$35
Address:______________________________________
----
Town:______________ State:_____ Zip:____________
----
Check off:
----
Vegetable grower ___
Fruit grower____
Amount
$50
Email Address: required for confirmation of registration
_____________________________________________
----
Phone:________________________________________
----
Name(s) additional registrants ($35/person by Jan. 7 &
$50/person after)________________________________
Total amount enclosed:
$___
$___
$____
$____
th
Pre-registration postmarked by Jan. 7 is $35 per person (includes educational session, trade show, Continental Breakfast,
coffee break, lunch). Registration after Jan 7th or at the door: $50. No snow date. No refunds after Jan. 7 th. Payment must accompany this registration form. No credit card payments accepted. Check should be made out to: University of Connecticut or
“UConn”. Send completed Pre-registration and check to: MacKenzie White, UConn Extension, 24 Hyde Ave., Vernon, CT
06066.
(860) 875-3331 MacKenzie.White@UConn.edu
2014-2015 New England Vegetable
Management Guide Available
The updated 2014-2015 New England Vegetable Management Guide is now available in print for $25 or on the web
at www.nevegetable.org. The guide contains sections on
cultural practices, pest management, vegetable transplant
production, 40 different crops, Risk Management, a list of
references for commercial growers, and color pictures for
most of the insects, diseases and weeds mentioned in the
guide. For a hardcopy, send a check made out to “UConn”
to UConn Communications and Information Technology,
1376 Storrs Rd. U-4035, Storrs, CT 06269-4035 or order
online at www.store.uconn.edu.
Crop Talk Editors / Contributors
Jude Boucher, Commercial Vegetable Crops, UConn Extension,
(860)870-6933, jude.boucher@uconn.edu
Mary Concklin, Commercial Fruit Crops, UConn Department of Plant
Science and Landscape Architecture, (860) 486-6449,
mary.concklin@uconn.edu
MacKenzie White, Newsletter Layout, mackenzie.white@uconn.edu
Administrative Officers
Gregory Weidemann, Dean, College of Agriculture, Health and Natural
Resources
Michael P. O’Neill, Associate Dean & Associate Director, UConn Extension
Cameron Faustman, Associate Dean for Academic Programs and
Director, Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture, Storrs Agricultural
Experiment Station
Bonnie E. Burr, Assistant Director & Department Head, UConn Extension
An Equal Opportunity
Employer and
Program Provider
Richard McAvoy, Department Head, Department of Plant Science and
Landscape Architecture
The information in this newsletter is for educational purposes. The recommendations contained are based on the best available knowledge at the time of publication. Any reference to commercial products, trade or
brand names is for information only, and no endorsement or approval is intended. The Cooperative Extension System does not guarantee or warrant the standard of any product referenced or imply approval of the
product to the exclusion of others which also may be available. All agrichemicals/pesticides listed are registered for suggested uses in accordance with federal and Connecticut state laws and regulations as of the date of
printing. If the information does not agree with current labeling, follow the label instructions. The label is the law. Warning! Agrichemicals/pesticides are dangerous. Read and follow all instructions and safety
precautions on labels. Carefully handle and store agrichemicals/pesticides in originally labeled containers, out of reach of children, pets and livestock. Dispose of empty containers immediately in a safe manner and
place. Contact the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection for current regulations. The user of this information assumes all risks for personal injury or property damage.
Vernon, CT 06066
24 Hyde Avenue
UConn Extension