May 2026 | Volume 17, Issue 4
Inside this issue:
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Vegetable Production Guide Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations (EB-236)
Vegetable Production Guide Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations (EB-236) -
Spray Program for Multi-Small Fruit Plantings
Spray Program for Multi-Small Fruit Plantings -
Common Fruit Herbicides*
Common Fruit Herbicides*
End of Gramoxone: What Growers Should Know
Kurt Vollmer, Ph.D., University of Maryland Extension Specialist, Weed Management
Syngenta recently announced it will stop manufacturing Gramoxone at the end of June. The product contains paraquat, a widely used herbicide for controlling weeds before planting, at planting and post-directed after crops emerge. Paraquat is an important tool for managing tough weeds, including herbicide-resistant weeds such as Palmer amaranth. Only the Gramoxone brand of paraquat will be discontinued. Based on current estimates, Gramoxone supplies should be adequate for 2026, but growers may want to begin exploring alternative brands.
Other paraquat brands may not be labeled for all the applications listed on the Gramoxone label. For example, only certain formulations allow post-directed applications in cucurbit crops such as watermelon. Because labels vary, fruit and vegetable growers should carefully review each paraquat label and follow all state requirements before applying.
| Product | Manufacturer | Cucurbits | Orchards/Vineyards | Solanaceaous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axil Solutions Paraquat 3SL | Axill Solutions LLC | No | Yes | Yes |
| Better Choice Brands Paraquat 3SL | Better Choice Brands, LLC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Devour | Invictus Crop Care, LLC | No | Yes | Yes |
| Gramoxone SL 3.0 | Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Helmquat 3SL | Helm Agro US, Inc. | Yes | See label | See label |
| Paraquat Concentrate | Solera Source Dynamics, LLC | No | Yes | Yes |
| Para-Shot 3.0 | Sharda USA, LLC | No | Yes | Yes |
| Parazone 3 SL | AMVAC Chemical Corporation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Quick-Quat | Drexel Chemical Corporation | No | Yes | Yes |
| Willowood Paraquat 3SL | Generic Crop Science, LLC | NO | Yes | Yes |
Upcoming UME Events!
IPM Webinar Series:
The series meets on the third Thursday of every month from 12 to 1 pm. For more details and registration, visit https://go.umd.edu/ipmwebinar. Maryland Pesticide Credits are available. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Hayden Schug at 301-226-7502.
- May 21, 2026: Vegetable Pest Control with Beneficials - Dr. Veronica Yurchak, University of Maryland Extension Specialist, Vegetable Production
- June 25, 2026: Spotted Wing Drosophila: Management in Berries and Small Fruits - Dr. Kelly Hamby, Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland
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Event: Maryland Crop Scouting School at WYE
Date: June 25, 2026 | Thursday
Time: 9:00 am to 2:45 pm | Cost: $10
Location: Wye Research and Education Center, 124 Wye Narrows Drive, Queenstown, MD 21658
Description: Join us for a hands-on Crop Scouting School focused on building practical skills for identifying and managing pests, diseases, and crop issues in the field. Participants will learn how to scout effectively, recognize key problems, and make informed management decisions using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles. This program is designed for farmers, crop consultants, and ag service providers looking to improve their field diagnostics and decision-making. This event covers common pests in row crop and vegetable production systems.
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/maryland-crop-scouting-school-at-wye-tickets-1988090629591?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Event: Maryland Crop Scouting School at CMREC (Clarksville)
Date: September 24, 2026 | Thursday
Time: 9:00 am to 2:45 pm | Cost: $10
Location: Central Maryland Research and Education Center, 4240 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042
Description: Join us for a hands-on Crop Scouting School focused on building practical skills for identifying and managing pests, diseases, and crop issues in the field. Participants will learn how to scout effectively, recognize key problems, and make informed management decisions using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles. This program is designed for farmers, crop consultants, and ag service providers looking to improve their field diagnostics and decision-making. This event covers common pests in row crop and vegetable production systems.
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/maryland-crop-scouting-school-at-wye-tickets-1988090629591?aff=oddtdtcreator
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Hiring and Retaining Farm Employees – What you Need to Know and Do
Are you trying to find, hire and keep great employees? Is it a bit confusing and time-consuming? Do you know where to start and who to involve? Are you worried about the legal considerations when having non-family members employed? This course will help you sort through all these questions and concerns. Navigating this process doesn’t have to be difficult as this course will share with you. Through the four modules of this course, you’ll get important information and resources you can adapt for your own operation. For more information, go to https://agrisk.umd.edu/grant-proposals/hiring-and-retaining-farm-employees
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Discover more upcoming events from University of Maryland Extension!
Browse our full calendar and find programs near you!
Extensión en Español Check out Extensión en Español, a Spanish language blog by two UMD professors, Anahí Espíndola (Entomology) and Macarena Farcuh (Plant Sciences & Landscape Architecture). https://extensionesp.umd.edu/
They cover a range of topics, including fruit, pollinators, pests, soils, and pesticides.
Vegetable & Fruit News Volume 17 Issue 4, May 2026 Downloadable PDF
Vegetable & Fruit News is a research-based publication for the commercial vegetable and fruit industry available electronically from April through October. Published by the University of Maryland Extension Agriculture and Food Systems team.
Subscribe to Fruit and Vegetable News
EDITOR
Emily Zobel University of Maryland Extension Agent - Dorchester County
501 Court Lane, Room 208
Cambridge, MD 21613
Phone: (410) 410-228-8800
Email: ezobel@umd.edu
Note: Registered Trade Mark® Products, Manufacturers, or Companies mentioned within this newsletter are not to be considered as sole endorsements. The information has been provided for educational purposes only.