Archives for December 2025

December 28, 2025

Save the Date – Small Fruit Specialty Crop Production Session

Please mark your calendar and register for the Small Fruit Specialty Crop Production Session at the 2026 Northeast Agriculture Expo.

Location –        The Harrah’s Casino and Resort, Waterfront Conference Center at Atlantic City, Wildwood 10&11
Date & Time – January 21 (Wed), 2026, 2 pm – 4 pm
Registration – Use the link https://vganj.com/convention-tickets

Note: If you plan just to attend the Small Fruit Session, and you are not a member of the Vegetable Growers Association, select NONMEMBER SINGLE DAY CONVENTION TICKET $60.

Hemant Gohil – Chair

2:00 PM: Techniques for Growing and Over-Wintering Japanese Fig variety ‘Espalier’. Craig Boyer, Coastal Fig Co.

2:30 PM: Panel Discussion – Blackberry and Raspberry – Opportunities and Challenges with Pest Management and Production. Growers: Neil Pastore, Reuwai Hanwald, Patti Mood. Panel Moderator – Daniel Ward

3:30 PM: Table Grape Production – Marketing Opportunities and Challenges with Insects, Diseases and Other Production Aspects. Hemant Gohil, Agricultural Agent, RCE of Gloucester County

4:00PM Questions
Pesticide Credits: 1-1A, 1-10, 1-PP2

Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Fruit, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, vegetable, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , ,
December 23, 2025

New Jersey Agritourism Grant Program Opportunity

Purpose: 

The purpose of the New Jersey Agritourism Grant Program is to provide funding to support New Jersey agritourism businesses in their efforts to attract, entertain, and educate visitors.

Eligible Applicants:

Agricultural entities operating in the State of New Jersey are eligible to apply for grant funding. Eligible entities include:

  • Farms
  • Ranches
  • On-Farm Wineries
  • On-Farm Breweries
  • On-Farm Distilleries
  • Non-Farm Brewery/Distillery/Wineries
  • Other Agricultural Businesses that pursue funding to support eligible activities.

Funding Available:

A total of $5 million dollars ($5,000,000) available for funding through the NJATP. Applicants may request up to $100,000 in grant funding and must submit documentation to substantiate all proposed grant expenses.

How to Apply:

All interested parties should submit completed NJATP applications, and all supplemental application materials to NJATP@ag.nj.gov or before January 30th, 2026, at 5:00 PM EST. Applications received after this deadline will be considered on a rolling basis, subject to funding availability, which will be determined following the conclusion of the initial application period.

Program Webpage:  New Jersey Agritourism Grant Program (NJATP)

Contact: 

William Conners, Grants Coordinator

609-913-6620

william.conners@ag.nj.gov.

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Fruit, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
December 22, 2025

Salem County Pesticide Safety Meeting – February 20, 2026 – Woodstown

Salem County Pesticide Safety Meeting – 2026

When: February 20, 2026
Where: 51 Cheney Rd., Woodstown, NJ

To register for morning, afternoon, or both
856-769-0090
molly.english@salemcountynj.gov

 

Morning Session (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM)

Credits: CORE: 01, 1A: 02, 1B: 01, 10: 03, PP2: 02

Topic Presenter / Organization
Farmland Preservation in Salem County State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) Staff
Pesticide Safety, Storage, Labels, and Application Raman Sharma, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Disease Control in Vegetable Crops Andy Wyenandt, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Early Season Pest Management in No-Till Corn Maria Cramer, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Animal Agricultural Pest Control Hassan Warriach, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
USDA Program Updates USDA – NRCS / FSA Staff

 

Afternoon Session (1:00 PM – 4:30 PM)

Credits: 1A: 03, 10: 03, PP2: 03

 

Topic Presenter / Organization
Weed Control in Pastures and Forages Matthew Elmore, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Corn Fertility for Yield and Quality Raman Sharma, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Commodity Market Outlook Nathaniel Bruce, Delaware Cooperative Extension
Agricultural Safety and Emergency Response Robert DiGregorio, Salem County Sheriff’s Office
Agrivoltaics Dan Ward, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Forage Quality of Hay and Silage Tess Stahl, Rutgers Cooperative Extension

 

Click to access 2026_Salem_Pesticide_Meeeting_2026_February.pdf

Filed Under: Uncategorized
December 22, 2025

Farm, Fisher, and Aquaculture Wellness Study

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension Department of Family and Community Health Sciences is conducting a study to understand the impact of industry stressors related to the Farm, Fishery and Aquaculture industries.

As a member of the Farm, Fishery and Aquaculture industry, you are being invited to take part in this research. Your participation in the study is completely voluntary. If you agree to take part in this research, you will be asked to respond to survey questions that relate to your knowledge and experience about industry stressors. The survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and no information that can identify you will appear in any professional presentation or publication.

The survey and additional information can be found here: Farm, Fisher, Aquaculture Wellness Study

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With: , ,
December 15, 2025 , , and

Food Safety Modernization Act: Produce Safety Rule Training

When: Tuesday, January 20, 2026, from 10:00-5:00 EST.

Where: Northeast Agricultural Expo (New Jersey Vegetable Growers Convention) at Harrah’s Waterfront, 777 Harrah’s Blvd., Atlantic City, NJ.

To sign up: https://onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu/fsmaac/

Online ticket Sales end on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Registration after January 13, or in-person registration at the conference, must be paid by check.

Who Should Attend

  • Fruit Growers
  • Vegetable Growers
  • Growers who have farms that fall under the PSR
  • Growers who have farms that don’t fall under the rule but will in the future

 Benefits of Attending the Workshop

Individuals who participate in this course will gain a basic understanding of:

  • Requirements in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and how to meet them
  • Fulfills the requirement for at least one supervisor from a farm to complete food safety training at least equivalent to the standardized curriculum recognized by the FDA
  • Microorganisms relevant to produce safety
  • Where microorganisms may be found on the farm
  • How to identify microbial risks, practices that reduce risks and how to begin implementing produce safety practices on the farm
  • Parts of a farm food safety plan and how to begin writing one
  • Cleaning and Sanitizing

What to Expect at the Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training:

  • Introduction to Produce Safety
  • Worker Health, Hygiene and Training
  • Soil Amendments
  • Wildlife, Domesticated Animals and Land Use
  • Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)
  • Postharvest Handling and Sanitation
  • How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course. To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate survey to their trainer at the end of the course.

Does your farm fall under the FSMA PSR? Find out at the link below.
https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4IagP1mbPyrp42N

 

 

Filed Under: Food Safety, Fruit, training, vegetable, Vegetable Crops
December 9, 2025

Empowering Farmers Through Knowledge: Annie’s Project 101 Launches in January 2026

Empowering Farmers Through Knowledge: Annie’s Project 101 Launches in January 2026

As agriculture continues to evolve, so do the challenges and opportunities faced by farmers—especially women and beginning farmers. That’s why we’re excited to announce the launch of the Annie’s Project 101 Course, a comprehensive farm business management training series kicking off in January 2026.

Hosted by Rutgers Cooperative Extension and supported by the Northeast Extension Risk Management Education Project, this six-week webinar series is designed to equip farmers with the tools they need to thrive in today’s dynamic agricultural landscape.

📅 Course Overview

  • Dates: Wednesdays, January 7 – February 18, 2026
  • Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
  • Format: Live webinars + asynchronous learning
  • Fee: $45
  • Registration: Click here to register

🎓 What You’ll Learn

Each session focuses on a key area of farm risk management, featuring expert-led presentations and practical strategies:

  • Legal Risk (Jan 7): Lease agreements and legal foundations for farm operations
  • Financial Risk (Jan 14): Agritourism pricing and profitability analysis
  • Market Risk (Jan 28): Marketing plans and niche development
  • Human Resource Risk (Feb 4): Farm crew management and wellness strategies
  • Production Risk (Feb 11): Food safety and equipment selection
  • Legal & Financial Risk Wrap-Up (Feb 18): Insurance and business planning essentials

🧭 Special Note

There will be no webinar on January 21 to allow participants to attend the Northeast Ag Expo at Harrah’s Resort & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.

Whether you’re a beginning farmer, a seasoned producer, or someone exploring agribusiness, Annie’s Project 101 offers valuable insights and connections to help you grow your farm with confidence.

📌 Don’t miss out—register today and invest in your farm’s future!
#AnnieProject101 #FarmBusiness #WomenInAg #RutgersExtension #AgWebinarSeries #FarmSmart

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , ,