June 16 Webinar – Creating Healthy Resilient Food Systems in NJ Through Food Policy Councils

The COVID-19 pandemic has people around the world, and right here in NJ, talking about the Food System, and in many, concerned about what they perceive to be broken. Agriculture often considers itself the food system, but in considering the complexity of today’s farm-to-fork movement of food, agricultural production has become a small, albeit indispensable (unless you consider the movement to cell-based culture of food materials), cog on the wheel.

Building our Table WebinarFood Policy Councils are forming around the country and there are at least two or three here in NJ. The NJ Food Democracy Collaborative is one focusing on the shore counties and much of southern NJ. In collaboration with Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension and several other co-sponsors, they are hosting this webinar on June 16 to bring national experts in the roles and activities of food policy councils to discuss “Building our table: Making food more Affordable, Accessible, and Available in NJ through Local Food Policy Councils.”

They are inviting anyone involved in the food system, from production to processing, distribution, preparation and consumption (that’s everyone) to learn more about getting involved to make a sustainable food system capable of feeding our residents, visitors and beyond the Garden State. Register for the webinar at

https://go.rutgers.edu/g4m9ukqm

or by clicking on the poster.

Ag Community Invited to Join a Virtual DOH/DOL/NJDA “Ag Stakeholder Engagement Call” on May 25 at 2:00 p.m.

NJ Secretary of Agriculture Doug Fisher has shared this attached letter inviting the agricultural community to join a virtual “Ag Stakeholder Engagement Call” on May 25 at 2:00 p.m. Hosted by the Departments of Health, Labor and Agriculture, the Commissioners and Secretary will discuss NJ’s response to COVID-19, provide updates on mitigation efforts and guidance, provide science-based information on the COVID vaccines, and answer questions.

This is a virtual Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer or mobile app:  Click here to join the meeting

Or call in (audio only):  +1 856-338-7074,,487903588# United States, Camden

Phone Conference ID: 487 903 588#

Find a local number | Reset PINLearn More | Meeting options

Letter from Secretary Fisher Regarding Governor’s Executive Order #241 Eliminating Requirement for Masks in Outdoor Spaces

On May 12, NJ Governor Murphy signed Executive Order #241 eliminating the requirement for wearing masks in outdoor spaces taking effect immediately. Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher has summarized the changes that may impact agriculture operations. The full text of his letter can be read in this attached file.

Letter from Secretary Fisher Regarding Governor’s Executive Order #239 Easing of COVID-19 Restrictions

On May 12, NJ Governor Murphy signed Executive Order #239 regarding the easing of COVID-19 restrictions which will become effective on May 19. Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher has summarized the changes that may impact agriculture operations. The full text of his letter can be read in this attached file.

Communicating the Value of COVID-19 Vaccines With Your Farm Employees

CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Posters available in multiple languages – “Vaccines (shots) are one of the tools we have to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In an effort to increase participation in the COVID-19 vaccination program among farm workers, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), through the national Extension Foundation, is working with Cooperative Extension across the country to help spread the word about the importance of getting vaccinated. Rutgers Cooperative Extension Director Brian Schilling has enlisted a team of County Agents and Specialists to answer the call from the CDC to participate in this EXCITE program. Through a variety of communications channels we will be providing informational posters and other educational materials in several appropriate languages that you can hand out or post in locations where your workers can easily read them (like on or near your Worker Protections Standards bulletin boards or in your labor camps).

“Vaccines (shots) are one of the tools we have to fight the COVID-19 pandemic” posters from the CDC are now available on the COVID-19 page of the Rutgers NJAES On-Farm Food Safety website <https://onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu/covid-19-information/> with the direct links to these multiple language editions:

You can also share this Spanish language video <https://wecandothis.hhs.gov/un-rayo-de-esperanza> from the US Dept. of Health and Human Services with your workers to help explain where they can get more information about COVID-19 vaccines. There are several other informational videos available at https://wecandothis.hhs.gov/filter/format/Video, as well as posters/fliers from https://wecandothis.hhs.gov/filter/format/Poster%20%E2%80%93%20Flyer (mostly English), and factsheets at https://wecandothis.hhs.gov/filter/format/Fact%20Sheet.

EXCITE PNG

Agrivoltaics – Combining Solar Power & Farming in NJ — CORRECTED LINK

THE REGISTRATION LINK IN THIS POST HAS BEEN CORRECTED.

Farming under solar panels = “Agrivoltaics”.

On Wednesday, March 24th 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Rutgers NJAES will host a webinar on “Agrivoltaics” to explore farming the ground under solar panels (photovoltaics), what’s possible and what’s not in NJ.

Please register in advance for this meeting (no cost) at:

https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUucuurrzkpHNGZTA7os7FizQOsd8Pv23Pu

Agrivoltaics (also called dual use solar on farmland) offers the potential to both create renewable energy and sustain the productivity and profitability of precious farmland. Properly designed agrivoltaic systems have the potential to be built in such a way that the photovoltaic panels allow for farm equipment operation and minimal impact on crop productivity.

This webinar will explore examples of Agrivoltaic systems from other parts of the world and detail the work that has been done by the UMass Clean Energy Extension Program.  Participants will be able to interact with the NJAES Photovoltaic Committee and the Director of UMass Clean Energy Extension Program.