H Take soil sample from field to determine soil texture by mechanical analysis for each soil type within the field. This needs to be done only once for each field to help determine herbicide rates. H Take soil sample form field to determine percent organic matter to help adjust herbicide rates. This needs to be done whenever cropping practices change. That is, going from fallow to crops, from perennial to annual crops.
H Use western-produced seed certified free of halo blight, common blight, and brown spot.
H Use tolerant and disease resistant varieties. H Update weed map of the field when crop is small for use in evaluating the current year's weed control and for use in determining if a post emergent treatment is needed. H Keep records of pest densities, cultural procedures, and pesticide applications for use in the future. If more than one option exists for insecticidal control, use an insecticide that is less harmful to natural enemies. H Follow Rutgers Commercial Vegetable recommendations for pests that do not have thresholds.