Archives for January 2024

January 12, 2024

Upcoming Webinar on Organic Approaches for Management of Spotted-wing Drosophila

A team of researchers across the United States is studying approaches to management of spotted-wing drosophila in organic fruit crops, with funding from the USDA-Organic Research and Extension Initiative. Their annual project webinar will be held on Wednesday February 7, 2024 at 2-3:30 pm Eastern Time. Please join the team members for this event that will update attendees on recent research and the emerging results from studies underway in various berry crops. Presenters will focus on recent efforts to release the classical biological control agent Ganaspis brasiliensis at organic sites nationwide, and will include Dr. Jana Lee (USDA ARS), Dr. Kent Daane (UC Berkeley), and Dr. Philip Fanning (University of Maine).

The webinar is free, but you must register in advance to get the link for this presentation. To register, please visit this link: oregonstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_efBnBYi8QDSzu2NOGopQBg#/registration

 

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Strawberry, Wine Grape
January 8, 2024

Free webinar: Agritourism Business Planning

Exciting News for Agritourism Entrepreneurs and farm service providers! Join a FREE webinar on January 23rd to unlock the secrets of successful business planning for agritourism businesses!

📅 Event Date: January 23, 2024

🕐 Time: 1-2 p.m. EST

🔗 Register: https://www.uvm.edu/vtrc/future-agritourism-gatherings

 

Learn about the innovative AgPlan app, a user-friendly tool tailored for various farm enterprises, including agritourism. Discover key steps in business planning and learn about how you can get support developing a personalized business plan through an online training series in February and March.

 

What to Expect:

-General overview of business planning

-Information on registering for the online training series

-Dive into AgPlan, your go-to business planning app

-Gain valuable insights from Extension business experts

 

We hope to see you there!

Filed Under: Fruit, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
January 5, 2024

Register Today for February 6-8, NJ Ag Convention, Educational Events, & Trade Show

SO MANY NEW OFFERINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2024:

The 2024 NJ Ag Convention and Trade Show will be held Tuesday to Thursday, February 6-8 at Harrah’s Resort and Waterfront Conference Center 777 Harrah’s Blvd. in Atlantic City, NJ. Registration is required. The 3-day registration and VGANJ membership cost of $150 per farm for 2 persons and $25 for each additional person with your business. There is also a $75 per person daily entry fee option if you are not attending all 3 days and do not wish to be a member. All who register are welcome to attend this diverse and informative annual event. The convention is a cooperative effort with the Vegetable Growers Association of NJ, the NJ Department of Agriculture, and Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Rutgers Cooperative Extension worked with VGANJ and others to bring new educational events, activities, and offerings to the 2024 convention.

Some new and interesting events for 2024 for registered participants:

1. Tuesday mid-day “Lunch and Learn” trade show vendors presentations and free lunch for the first 50 people who sign up and obtain a ticket for this extra event at the registration booth on Tuesday morning. This event is sponsored by the exhibitors. Come see what exhibitors have to offer and find out what is new from industry.

2. Tuesday evening social and happy hour featuring a charity auction benefiting Shriners Hospital for Children with items to bid on from convention sponsors and trades show exhibitors. 

3. Free skin screenings on Wednesday, February 7th from 9AM to 3PM with the Rutgers Cancer Institute of NJ. Space is limited and you must sign up in advance. To sign up see registration form and link: https://screennj.gomohealth.care/patient/enroll/

4. The New Jersey Farm Bureau Womens Leadership Committee is sponsoring a Wednesday afternoon workshop featuring guest speaker, Lorenda Oberman, American Farm Bureau Federation Womens Committee and a panel of NJ Farm Women Leaders.

5. A Thursday, All-Day On-Farm Food Safety Training. The cost is $50/per person, separate from the registration fee to the Convention and Trade Show. For more information, contact Brandi at (856) 451-2800 ext. 1. For online registration and more information see: https://go.rutgers.edu/mhqc3m5u

6. A Thursday, 1/2 day Worker Protections Standards Respiratory Protection Training, Fit Testing and Record Keeping Workshop. Space is limited to 30 participants and is a separate sign up for registered participants to the convention – so sign up soon. For more information and to register see: https://go.rutgers.edu/pesticideworkshop

For more information about the entire convention for registration, hotel, and educational events schedule see https://vganj.com/convention. Discounted room rates through the VGANJ Convention room block are available until January 29, 2024. See the VGANJ website for details. To sign up for tickets to the NJ Agricultural Society Luncheon on Wednesday or to get tickets for the Wednesday night awards banquet see: https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/news/hottopics/approved/topics231208.html

Filed Under: Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, pesticide credits, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , ,
January 4, 2024

Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crop (FSCSC) Cost Share Program

The FSCSC application period for calendar year 2023 runs from February 1, 2023, through January 31, 2024.  Eligible specialty crop operations can apply for FSCSC by working directly with the Farm Service Agency offices at your local FSA office for details. Applications will be accepted via mail, fax, hand delivery, or electronic means.

How the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program Works

The FSCSC program provides financial assistance for specialty crop operations that incur eligible on-farm food safety program expenses related to obtaining or renewing a food safety certification in calendar year 2023. This program helps offset costs to comply with regulatory requirements and market-driven food safety certification requirements.   FSCSC will cover a percentage of the specialty crop operation’s cost of obtaining or renewing their certification, as well as a percentage of their related expenses.

Program Eligibility

Eligibility requirements for FSCSC applicants are outlined below. We recommend you review these requirements before initiating your FSCSC application.

To be eligible for FSCSC, an applicant must:

  • Have obtained or renewed a:
  • 2023 food safety certification issued during the 2023 calendar year,
  • Have paid eligible expenses. Expenses that have been incurred by the applicant, but have not yet been paid, will not be eligible.
  • Be a specialty crop operation; and meet the definition of a small business or very small business.
  • A small (farm) business means an applicant that had an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the 3-year period preceding the program year of more than $250,000 but not more than $500,000.
  • A very small (farm) business means an applicant that had an average annual monetary value of specialty crops the applicant sold during the 3-year period preceding the program year of no more than $250,000.

Eligible Expenses Categories

Developing a Food Safety Plan for First Time Food Safety Certification

Maintaining or Updating a Food Safety Plan

Food Safety Certification

Certification Upload Fees

Microbiological Testing for Produce, Soil Amendments and Water

Training Expenses

FSCSC payments are calculated separately for each category of eligible costs based on the percentages and maximum payment amounts.  Applicants must report any previous cost share assistance received for the expenses included on their application.  Details about payment rates and limitations can be found at farmers.gov/food-safety.

You are encouraged to contact the Farm Service Agency office about FSCSC, program eligibility, or the application process. You may also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to provide one-on-one assistance.

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops