Vegetable and Fruit News-2026 (Volume 17, Issue 5)

June 2026  |  Volume 17, Issue 5

Inside this issue:

• IPM Vegetable and Fruit Scouting Tips
• Orange Rust in Blackberries
• Ozone Damage to Tomatoes and Potatoes
• Managing strawberry Neopestalotiopsis: Avoiding unhealthy plug plants is key
• U.S. Drought Monitor - Maryland
• Growing Degree Days
• Management Practices to Avoid Blossom End Rot
• University of Maryland Extension Events
• Maryland Department of Health is hosting public meetings about updated standards and regulations for a seasonal "On-Farm Food Service Facility" License.
• Vineyard Frost Damage Report

Growing  Degree Days - Weather Update- June  2026

The weather information contained in this chart is compiled using the data collected using the Online
Phenology and Degree-Day Models site (https://uspest.org/cgi-bin/ddmodel.us).

Maryland Department of Health is hosting public meetings about updated standards and regulations for a seasonal "On-Farm Food Service Facility" License.

An On-Farm Food Service Facility (FSF) is a food establishment located on a working farm that prepares and serves food directly to the consumer. The On-Farm FSF licenses has been a temporary 30-day license issued by the local health departments (LHDs) for working farms offering food made on-site directly to customers visiting the farm. This 30-day license can be renewed up to two times in a 1-year period.

House Bill 272 (Food Establishments – Lavatory Requirement and On-Farm Food Service Facility License) changes the On-Farm FSF license from a limited, 30 to 90-day operating period to an annual license. This change will provide licensees greater flexibility, permitting them to prepare and serve food on their farm year-round instead of a one to three-month window. This will take effect in 2027. The On-Farm FSF License Regulation Development webpage is now live ( https://bit.ly/MDOFFSFLRD).

The Department will be hosting several virtual and in-person meetings throughout the State.
Meeting Registration: https://bit.ly/4xrg9Tg
 

• Kickoff Meeting (Virtual) -June 15, 2026 9:30–11 AM
• Hot Topics Meeting (Virtual)
  • Meeting 1 – July 10, 2026 10–11:30 AM,
  • Meeting 2 – August 4, 2026 1–2:30 PM
• Regional Meetings (In-Person)
  • North Central MD (Harford Co.), June 22, 2026 2–4 PM; Location: Churchville Rec Center- Level Building, 3023 Level Rd, Churchville, MD 21028
  • Western MD (Washington Co.), July 7, 2026 2–4 PM; Location: Washington County Public Safety Training Center, 18350 Public Safety Pl, Hagerstown, MD 21740
  • Eastern Shore (Somerset Co.), July 20, 2026 1–3 PM; Location: Somerset County Technical High School, 7994 Tawes Campus Dr, Westover, MD 21871
  • Southern MD (St. Mary’s Co.), August 6, 2026 1–3 PM; Location: Charlotte Hall Library - St. Mary's County Library, 37600 New Market Rd, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622
• Conclusion Meeting (Virtual), August 10, 2026 10–11:30 AM

Upcoming UME Events!

Intro to Produce Safety Rule & Good Agricultural Practices.
Date: June 20, 2026  |  Saturday
Time: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: East Capitol Urban Farm, 5929 East Capitol St NE, Washington, DC.
Description: Learn about produce safety for all types of production systems. All day attendance is required for certification.
Registration: https://go.umd.edu/GAPPSRT62
For more information and accommodation: contact Carol Allen, callen12@umd.edu

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Blueberry Blackberry Twilight Tour at Wye REC
Date: June 24, 2026  |  Wednesday
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  |  Cost: This event is free, but registration is requested.
Location: Wye Research and Education Center, 124 Wye Narrows Dr. Queenstown, MD  21658
Description: Join University of Maryland Extension educators and specialists at the Wye Research & Education Center to learn about current blueberry and blackberry research and production practices. Participants will have the opportunity to taste fruit from our cultivar trials and compare varieties that may be suitable for commercial production or home plantings. Dr. Kelly Hamby will discuss insect pest management strategies, including spotted wing drosophila management, and Dr. Mengjun Hu will provide updates on disease prevention and management in blueberries and blackberries. The berry tasting will begin at 5:00 p.m., followed by the tour and presentations from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Register to attend the Blueberry and Blackberry Twilight Tour

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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.

• June 25, 2026: Spotted Wing Drosophila: Management in Berries and Small Fruits - Dr. Kelly Hamby, Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland
• 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.
• June 25, 2026: Spotted Wing Drosophila: Management in Berries and Small Fruits - Dr. Kelly Hamby, Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, University of Maryland

• July 16, 2026: Pesticide selection and spray considerations - Hayden Schug, University of Maryland Extension

• Aug 20, 2026: Common Diseases Right Now and How to Manage Them - Dr. Ana Cristina Fulladolsa, Plant Diagnostician, University of Maryland Plant Diagnostic Lab

• Sep 17, 2026: Root-Knot Nematode Management in Vegetable Crops - Ben Beale, University of Maryland Extension

• Oct 15, 2026: Precision herbicide application - Dr. Travis Ford, University of Maryland Extension

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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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Lower Shore Vegetable & Small Fruit Twilight Tour
Date: June 25, 2026  |  Thursday
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  |  Cost: This event is free, but registration is requested for a dinner count. Dinner is at 5:00 pm, with the tour starts at 5:45 pm. 
Location: Lower Eastern Shore Research & Education Center is located at 27664 Nanticoke Road, Salisbury, MD.
Description: Come listen to extension educators and specialists from UMD, UDel and IR4 speak about and taste their research on blueberries, blackberries, sweet corn, watermelon, cantaloup, peppers, and biodegradable plastic.  Maryland Pesticide Credits available for 1A, Core and PVT.  If you have questions about the program, please contact Haley Sater at hsater@umd.edu or (301)226-7718.
Register to attend the Lower Shore & Small Fruit Twilight Tour

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Anne Arundel County Urban Farm Tour and Ice Cream Social
Date: July 23, 2026  |  Thursday
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  |  Cost: Free, but registration is required.
Description: You are invited to the Anne Arundel County Urban Farm Research Clinic (AAUFRC) Urban Farm Tour and Ice Cream Social at the Anne Arundel Extension Office located at 97 Dairy Lane, Gambrills, MD on Thursday, July 23, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:30pm. Ice cream will be served at 5:00pm followed by a walking farm tour that begins at 6:00pm. This year the AAUFRC will highlight hops, wine grapes, apples, peaches, blackberries, sweet corn and flour corn varieties, pumpkins, gourds, high tunnel vegetables and herbs, cut flowers, market gardening, and bee keeping.

This event is free. If you need special assistance to participate, please contact the Anne Arundel County Extension office at 301-226-7470 by July 22nd.

Registration for Urban Farm Tour and Ice Cream Social is on-line at Eventbrite.

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Crops Twilight, Barbecue & Ice Cream Social
Date: August 4, 2026  |  Tuesday
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  |  Cost: Free, but registration is required.
Description: You are invited to a Fields Crops Research Twilight, Barbecue and Ice Cream Social at the Central Maryland Research and Education Center (CMREC), 2005 Largo Road, Upper Marlboro, Maryland on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 4:00 to 9 PM. A barbecue dinner will be served at 4:00 pm followed by homemade ice cream prior to the evening tour. University of Maryland Extension Educators and Specialists will showcase their field crop, vegetable and fruit research plots. Barbeque begins at 4:00 PM, Ice cream Served at 5:15 PM, Crops Twilight at 6:00 PM.

Please arrive on time as the wagon tour will start promptly at 6:00 PM.

This event is free. However, a reserved meal ticket is required. If you need special assistance to participate, please contact the Anne Arundel County Extension office at 301-226-7470 by August 3rd.

Registration for Crops Twilight is on-line at Eventbrite.

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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!  
 

Vegetable & Fruit News Volume 17 Issue 5 - Download 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.

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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.