Despite the many challenges 2020 has thrown at all of us, Rutgers Cooperative Extension’s Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources has been successful in filling two positions vital to NJ’s commercial agriculture industries. While these positions are located in Burlington and Salem Counties respectively, they greatly enhance our regional and statewide expertise and outreach resources. [Read more…]
Archives for October 2020
Building Our Capacity: Newest Team Members in Crop Production and Field and Forage
Fall “Ask the Ag Agent” Discussion Forum Wednesday, 10/14 at 7:00PM
Farmers and others are welcome to join this bi-weekly teleconference every-other Wednesday night from 7:00pm-8:00pm in October. The 10/14/20 webinar/call in event is the 3rd of 4 events. The last webinar in this series will be on October 28th. Events are hosted by Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents working with the farming industry.
This call-in or WebEx webinar event features updates on farm management, crop conditions, farm industry observations, agricultural agency programs and other topics discussed by farmers, agricultural agents and other agricultural service providers.
Some topics for this Wednesday include:
1. Status of the New Jersey Vegetable Growers Convention in 2021
2. Fall Season Updates
Hosted by Agricultural Agents Bill Bamka, Stephen Komar, Michelle Infante-Casella and Meredith Melendez, this bi-weekly communication provides a forum for discussion for farmers and all involved in NJ agriculture, including agricultural agency personnel, non-profit organizations and others.
To join the “Ask the Ag Agent” forum each week on a computer/tablet/smartphone via the WebEx Videoconference
Click Here to Join or use the link https://go.rutgers.edu/g4v4gy0x
To Join by phone call:
+1-650-429-3300 passcode 1202639477##
For this event and other Rutgers Cooperative Extension events see the NJAES Calendar.
Hackettstown Livestock Auction Results for October 13, 2020
This auction sells: lambs, sheep, goats, calves, beef cattle, pigs, rabbits, and all types of heavy fowl. Auctions are held every Tuesday with the first sale beginning at 10:30 am and ending with the last sale at 5:30 pm. Hay, straw, grain, and firewood are also for sale.
Hackettstown Livestock Auction
Farm Fresh Eggs available for purchase by the case (30 doz.) or by the flat (2&1/2 doz.) in the main office Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday. Also available some Monday’s and Friday’s but please call office first (908)-852-0444.
Click for auction results:
Hackettstown Auction Results 10-13-2020
October Nursery Twilight Meeting (CORE CREDITS)
Thursday, October 22nd, 2020
6:00-7:00 pm
Click here to register for the twilight meeting
Registration password: nursery
Click here to upload your government issued Photo ID and Pesticide License prior to the meeting
Please join us for a CORE (2) credit bearing session where Pat Hastings will be discussing regulatory requirements for pesticide applicator certification, recertification, and licensing in New Jersey. Administrative changes to certification, recertification, and license renewal processes in New Jersey; includes interim COVID-19 exemptions. Will walk through use of online systems in place for manuals, examinations, and license renewal; resource guide with links provided. Revisions to New Jersey pesticide regulations NJAC 7:30 (April 2020), including certification by examination and Worker Protection. Special emphasis on key differences for ag employers and trainers between NJ regulations and 2015 federal Revised Worker Protection Standard. Explanation of federal WPS training policy for COVID-19. A handout: Resources for New Jersey Licensed Pesticide Applicators will also be made available.
Note: If you uploaded materials for the September Nursery Twilight you do NOT need to for the October meeting.
Upload directions: If you click on the photo ID upload link using a smart phone/tablet you will have the option of simply taking a photo of your ID and uploading it directly into the system. Otherwise, you can scan a copy of your photo ID into a computer and follow the directions at the upload link. If you are unable to upload documentation prior to the meeting, please contact Tim Waller for assistance (twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu).
October 2020 Nursery Crop Twilight Meeting (CORE)
NJ Pesticide License Recertification credits anticipated: CORE (2)
Online Program
5:30pm Webinar opens and visual attendance check
–Timothy Waller, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agriculture Agent for Cumberland County
(Recording begins) : Welcome Remarks
6:00pm Pesticide Regulatory Review for Pesticide Applicators, Businesses, and Agricultural Employers
-Patricia Hastings, Rutgers Pest Management Office Program Associate I
(Recording ends)
7:00pm Additional questions; Adjourn
In cooperation with the NJNLA, NJLCA, and NJCTGA
Instructions:
- Register for event at the above link
- Include your pesticide license number and date of birth if you would like recertification credits
- After registration you will receive a confirmation email with a link to the actual twilight meeting.
- Upload a copy of your government issued photo ID and pesticide license at the link above
- Day-of: click the link in the registration confirmation email and select “join by browser-New” around 5:30pm
- Day-of: Have your video on if you wish to obtain credits
Required to be eligible to receive pesticide applicator recertification credits for this twilight program:
1. Attend the entire meeting with live VIDEO feed on, seated in the center of the frame. Those without a webcam or phone attendees without a live video feed are not eligible to receive credits. Call-ins (audio only) are not eligible for pesticide recertification credits as of now; you need a computer/phone/tablet with *live* video capability. If you choose to access via your smartphone, it is recommended that it is fully charged or plugged in; and that any background applications are not running.
2. Attendees must participate throughout the entire session, staying to the end. Individuals are not eligible for credits if they arrive after the start of the first training topic or leave before the end of the last topic. Polls will be randomly scheduled, and attendance will be visually monitored to verify attendance.
3. In order to meet NJDEP-required identity verification requirements, each attendee must provide a copy of a Government issued photo ID (passport, driver’s license, municipal, or county ID) and their New Jersey Pesticide Applicator License as part of their registration.
Please upload files of your photo ID and applicator license to the link above as;
a) “Last name_ First_ Photo ID”
b) “Last name_ First_ Pesticide License”
Note: Licensed applicators with a recertification period expiring October 31, 2020 or October 31, 2021 will be given an exemption from the NJDEP online credit cap of 25% and are eligible for all credits, otherwise this exemption does not apply.
Rutgers is dedicated to protecting your privacy and keeping your personal information safe. Upon upload, your files will be encrypted and stored to Rutgers Connect. Your information will be kept strictly confidential; used solely to meet NJDEP ID verification protocol for recertification credit; and will not be used for any other purpose. Your files will be deleted within 60 days after the training event.
Notes from the 2019 Cabernet Franc Wine Tasting and Evaluations
Hemant Gohil, Gary Pavlis, and Daniel Ward
A Cabernet Franc (CF) wine tasting and evaluation workshop for winemakers was held on November 25, 2019, at Unionville Vineyards, located in Ringoes. Cabernet Franc (CF) is one of the most suitable Vitis vinifera varieties for New Jersey with high-quality wine production, for both north and south New Jersey1. It is also one of the best red varieties for New Jersey in terms of consistency in ripening. It can be easily adapted in the winery for Rosé, dry still varietals, and in red wine blends. The responses to a survey sent two weeks before the event, formed the basis of discussion at the workshop. Winemakers also described how they accomplished each of their wines. [Read more…]
Update – Agricultural Water Permits and COVID19
In accordance with the Permit Extension Act signed by NJ Governor Murphy on July 1, the term of certain governmental permits, approvals, and deadlines that were due to expire on March 9, 2020, or the specified period following it, were extended. In addition and in accord with the rules published in the NJ Register on Sept. 8, an official request for such an extension via a NJDEP website was required for approval of the COVID-19 extension period by October 8, 2020.
These requests were finalized today on behalf of the growers through information provided by NJDEP Bureau staff and the efforts of ANR Department members to obtain missing required information, updating spreadsheets, and inputting information online.
This effort encompassed 613 agricultural water permits across the state with expiration dates from 2020 through 2024. In consultation with NJDEP, it was decided to include a wide a window as possible to accommodate the unknown future regarding COVID19 and NJ’s public health emergency declarations.
Growers who currently hold an ag water permit and a valid email address should have already received an auto-generated email from the NJDEP website once their information was uploaded confirming a permit extension request. If the permit holder had no email on record, ANR emails were included and the county faculty or staff member received the confirmation email. These should be filed locally with the allocation permit information, and a printed copy shared with the grower as soon as feasible.
I want to acknowledge Terry Pilawski, Jennifer Myers, Matthew Myers, Christa VanHaren, Yvens Dessalines (NJDEP) and Monique Purcell (NJDA) who reached out to initiate this collaboration, and Talia Zirin, Amina Lamrabat, and our ANR members and county office staff across the state for assisting me in this important endeavor.
The accommodations provided by the Permit Extension Act of 2020 supplement actions taken by Governor Murphy by way of Executive Order and by the NJDEP to address the impacts of COVID-19.