Kudos to fellow Rutgers Professor/County Agent William Hlubik, and congratulations to his team for getting a spotlight on our aging American farmers! The need for new farmers, and the great Rutgers Cooperative Extension and other programs out there that assist those beginner farmers, was the topic of a special segment of CBS Evening News ‘Eye on America’ last week. It’s been exciting to watch the enthusiastic students graduating from Bill’s RU Ready to Farm program with the knowledge and resources to make farming a successful career choice. Thanks to CBS Evening News for covering this important topic! You can watch the clip here:
August 5, 2024 Rick VanVranken
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Beginner Farmer Training Program In National News Spotlight
May 8, 2024 Rick VanVranken
RU Ready to Farm Equipment Demo Day at Specialty Crop Research Farm – Cream Ridge
May 7, 2024 Rick VanVranken
Heat and Pollen Combine For Uncomfortable Outdoor Working Conditions
Accuweather Tree Pollen Forecast for Southern NJ
Though the CDC Heat Risk Forecast indicates minor risk today, and little to none for the rest of the week, NJ pollen forecasts indicate tree pollen counts will be high for the next several days. It doesn’t take much outdoor work to see, and feel, the amount of pollen in the air.
Pollen quickly accumulating on surfaces during this week’s tree shedding.
Working in these conditions can be uncomfortable with that combination of heat and pollen, and risky for those with respiratory health problems and/or allergies. Those KN-95 masks used for COVID-19 prevention can reduce the discomfort of working in high pollen and other dusty conditions, so keep a supply on hand for all your workers.
May 6, 2024 Rick VanVranken
NJDA Announces 2nd RFP for Underserved, Beginning and Military Veteran Farmers Mini-Grant Program
Last Friday, the NJDA closed the Request for Proposals (RFP) period for our Underserved, Beginning and Military Veteran Farmers Mini-Grant Program. Due to a recent increase in interest in the program, we have decided to extend a second RFP window to members of our specialty crop community who qualify. The second RFP will be open to the public starting May 10th, with the final application deadline now May 31st @ 5PM.
A number of exciting applications from members of NJ’s specialty crop community were received during this first application period. To expedite the review process, all applications submitted prior to May 3rd will be reviewed over the next few weeks. Applicants from the first RFP period can expect a funding decision following the NJ Board of Agriculture meeting on May 22nd. Applicants who apply during the second RFP period can expect a decision following the June 26th NJ Board of Agriculture meeting.
For those interested in learning more about this program, the NJDA will be hosting a webinar to promote the Underserved, Beginning and Military Veteran Farmers Mini-Grant Program on Friday, May 10th at 11 am EDT. Please join to learn more about the program guidelines, eligibility, and application process. Q&A will follow the presentation. Registration is not required. A recording of the webinar will be available for those who are unable to attend.
More information about the program is available at the following links:
Program Webinar – May 10th at 11am.
April 25, 2024 Rick VanVranken
26th Biennial International Pepper Conference Returns to Northeast, Sept 9-11, 2024
Cornell announces they will be hosting the International Pepper Conference 2024
“Fall in New York’s Finger Lakes Region is the perfect time to visit local waterfalls, revel in colorful foliage, and explore our ripening pepper selection! We are excited to be hosting the 26th Annual International Pepper Conference in Ithaca, NY and are looking forward to showcasing peppers in our region. I’m especially excited about this year’s field day. On Tuesday, September 10, we’ll travel around Central New York, touring Cornell University research plots, visiting Norwich Meadows Farm, and taking in one of Ithaca’s “gorges” waterfalls. I’m looking forward to welcoming all of you to Ithaca and sharing the latest scientific information and pepper breeding projects.
—- Michael Mazourek, Plant Breeding & Genetics, Cornell University
The International Pepper Conference has been held every couple of years since 1973 and is not limited to researchers working on peppers. The event is a great opportunity for farmers, industry and vegetable specialists/agents/researchers to learn about new pepper production and research topics! As we know here in the Garden State, northeastern growers are much more significant producers of bell and specialty peppers than most realize! New Jersey was the last to host in the Northeast in 2008.
NJ Depts of Agriculture & Environmental Protection Allow Controlled Open Burning to Protect Crops
(Trenton) [On April 20, w]ith the state expected to experience cooler spring temperatures, the Department of Environmental Protection has agreed with NJDA Secretary Ed Wengryn’s request to allow farmers to do controlled open burning or use specialized torches known as smudge pots to protect flowering crops from damage beginning today, April 20, through Saturday, April 27.
Temperatures are expected to drop to the 30s or below tonight with varying winds through portions of the state. These expected temperatures follow warm temperatures in recent days. Damage from freezing weather now can significantly reduce yields of certain fruits and vegetables that are in the flowering stage.
The DEP and Department of Agriculture are allowing these steps to protect farmers’ livelihoods and to ensure that consumers will be able to enjoy an ample supply of Jersey produce later this year.
The DEP intends to exercise its authority and discretion under the Air Pollution Control Code, N.J.A.C. 7:27, et seq., and other applicable authorities to permit the following procedure for open burning or the use of smudge pots to assist farmers to protect their crops in low temperatures.
Farmers who believe they will need to conduct open burns and/or use smudge pots must provide notice to the DEP’s 24-hour Communications Center at 1-877- WARNDEP (1-877-927-6337).
Notification to DEP does not require the implementation of either technique but ensures proper procedures are followed should they become necessary.
If a farmer does not call DEP in advance but uses either technique, the farmer must notify DEP by 9 a.m. the following day. The farmer will be asked which technique was used.
Farmers must record the incident number provided to them by the Communications Center. The following information is to be provided:
- Name of the individual making the decision to conduct the open burning/use of smudge pots and name of the farm.
- Actual street address of the farm on which either technique will be used (no P.O. Boxes).
- Telephone number of a contact at the farm.
- Predicted temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit) at the agricultural operation when the technique will be used.
- Wind speed anticipated when the technique will be used.
- Predicted hours of open burning and/or use of smudge pots.
- Materials expected to be burned.
- At the time of the initial call to the Communications Center, farmers will be given an email address and incident number.
Within two days, they must submit to DEP via this email address the following information:
- The DEP Communications Center incident number.
- Ambient temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit) at the time the technique was used.
- Actual wind speed at the orchard at the time the technique was used.
- A statement verifying that all restrictions in the open burning or use of smudge pots were followed.
- The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and New Jersey Forest Fire Service caution all farmers and agriculture businesses with respect to the use of open burning in high wind velocity conditions. Please take note that farmers are encouraged to utilize smudge pots for warming as necessary during higher wind conditions. Use of open burning when wind velocity is greater than 5 mph is strictly prohibited, may contribute to wildfire risk, and can carry significant penalties.
- Smudge pots must be fueled only with either kerosene or No. 2 fuel oil.
- Open burning can consist only of either the following materials: clean and untreated scrap lumber, felled trees, clippings pruned from trees and shrubs, hedgerows, or firewood. Absolutely no refuse, trade waste, tires or garbage of any type may be added to the authorized open burning material.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and New Jersey Forest Fire Service caution all farmers and agriculture businesses with respect to the use of open burning in high wind velocity conditions. Please take note that farmers are encouraged to utilize smudge pots for warming as necessary during higher wind conditions. Use of open burning when wind velocity is greater than 5 mph is strictly prohibited, may contribute to wildfire risk, and can carry significant penalties.
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To learn more about the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NJDeptofAgriculture and www.facebook.com/JerseyFreshOfficial or Twitter @NJDA1 and @JerseyFreshNJDA.
