Archives for January 2017

January 25, 2017

Farmer Energy & Water Efficiency Training Feb. 22

Learn from Industry and Academia Experts about Innovations in Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation, that Positively Impact our Environment and Can Increase the Profitability at Your Farm

Click here for Agenda

The Rutgers EcoComplex and the Rutgers Food Innovation Center have partnered together to provide this critically-needed and unique seminar for farmers, that will help companies to reduce their energy and water use, create or enhance their sustainability program, and save money in their operations. The trainers in this course are industry experts who have first-hand experience in the field.

More details here.

Date: February 22, 2017
Time: 8 am registration, Program from 8:30am – 4:30 pm
Location: 140 Locust Grove Rd, Pittstown, NJ 08867
Cost: $20 per person

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Vegetable Crops
January 18, 2017

Corn Earworm Developing Resistance to Bt Toxins in Sweet Corn

Corn earworm caterpillar feeding on sweet corn tassel

New research from the University of Maryland indicates that corn earworm, also known as tomato fruitworm, has developed resistance to the Cry1 Bt toxins present in some sweet corn hybrids.  Based upon Galen Dively’s twenty-one years of research comparing non-Bt sweet corn varieties with Bt varieties in plot studies, the proportion of damaged ears in Bt varieties has dramatically increased over that time.

Syngenta sweet corn hybrids with Attribute® technology expressing Cry1 Ab toxins in 1996 showed less than 10% ear damage.  Those hybrids with Attribute® in 2016 averaged 84% ear damage.  Similarly, the amount of damaged area per ear had tripled.

Seminis produced sweet corn hybrids with Performance SeriesTM containing Cry1 A.105 and Cry2 ab for worm control.  When some of these hybrids were first evaluated in 2010 they provided 100% control of fall armyworm and 95% control of corn earworm.  In 2016, six plantings at research farm sites of these hybrids averaged 67% damaged ears.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
January 18, 2017

2017 South Jersey Commercial Tree Fruit Grower Meeting and Stakeholder Survey

The 2017 South Jersey Commercial Tree Fruit Meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, February 16th. The meeting will be held at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC), 121 Northville Road, Bridgeton, NJ. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Tree Fruit Tagged With:
January 13, 2017

Brewing Crops and Related Topics to be Presented at NJ Ag Convention

Rutgers NJAES malting barley variety trails. Photo courtesy of William Bamka.

There is interest among many craft brewers in the state and region to source locally grown ingredients. The cultivation of New Jersey state-grown ingredients, like malted barley and hops, could provide opportunities for farmers. Has the thought of producing ingredients for the craft brewing industry crossed your mind? Have you wondered what the brewers are looking for? Would you like to know what is involved in producing hops and malting barley for market?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock Tagged With: , ,
January 3, 2017

Ultra-Niche Crop Workshop on High Tunnel Winter Lettuce Production to be Held

Loose leaf lettuce growing in a high tunnel.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension is continuing its Ultra-Niche Crop series in 2017 with the upcoming workshop “High Tunnel Winter Lettuce”.  This workshop, the third class in the Ultra-Niche educational series for farmers seeking new crop opportunities, will take place on Tuesday, January 31, 2017 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.  The workshop will be held simultaneously in Cape May Court House, Bridgewater and Bordentown, New Jersey.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,