Overwatering JBP?

[MrFancyPlants]

I just got a new watering system setup ahead of a summer vacation in a couple months. I noticed some browning from the tips of the needles across my JBP. I have done some needle cutting, but this is different in that I can still see the needle points on the brown needles.

I think I am ok as these may be two year old growth naturally attriting?

 

[Shibui]

On the whole your tree looks extremely healthy so I don't think you have real cause for concern.

JBP needles generally have a 3 year life before end of life.
2 year olds browning probably indicates some stress but difficult to say what just from a photo as symptoms are similar for many different factors.
Too dry and too wet cause similar problems. You may be able to make a guess knowing the recent history of watering, humidity, rain and temps but Monitoring soil moisture and/or checking the roots are the only ways I know to work out which is the problem.
Dothostroma infection - needle blight - can sometimes cause similar damage. Look for tell-tale yellow rings around needles.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Generally JBP can take a bit more water than most pines so I doubt that is the issue. I think like Shibu that it is water stress possibly going back a year or two. My Austrian Black pine has a bunch of needles like that resulting from water stress after hurricane Helene last fall. I evacuated from Asheville for 2 weeks and a friend “watered” my trees while I was gone. I lost a bald cypress and water elm due to inadequate watering and the pine is really showing the effects in the needles. Now as to your watering system, make sure to have someone check on it while you are gone. The last thing you want is for it to fail on day 2 and return to a bunch dead trees.