Rick VanVranken

January 15, 2019 Rick VanVranken

2019 NJ State Agricultural Convention & Trade Show – Feb 5, 6, 7

Harrah’s Resort & Waterfront Conference Center – Atlantic City

Rutgers Cooperative Extension agents and specialists have finished the educational sessions with topics covering a wide range of topics.
The Vegetable Growers Association says the trade show is just about sold out with industry vendors from near and far.
The NJ Dept of Agriculture has shared the preliminary schedule for the State Board of Agriculture’s policy sessions.

The only thing left is for you to register and join us in Atlantic City. Registration/membership details and hotel reservations can be found on the VGANJ convention website.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops

January 2, 2019 Rick VanVranken

RU Ready to Farm – Beginner Farmer Workshop at NJ Ag Convention

Rutgers Cooperative Extension is hosting the RU Ready to Farm Beginner Farmer Workshop during the New Jersey Agricultural Convention & Trade Show at Harrah’s Resort & Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City on Thursday, February 7, 2019 from 8:30 am – 4 pm. Please share this with anyone interested in starting a farm, those new to farming, or established farmers looking for new opportunities. All are welcome to attend.

Topics covered in this workshop include:

Resources on land availability in the state
Tips on where to access capital
Shared experiences from successful farmers
Insight on what to look for when assessing potential farm properties
Methods of effective marketing and promotion of farm products
Current organic and conventional agricultural regulations

For the program agenda and to register for this workshop, click here.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Vegetable Crops

August 2, 2018 Rick VanVranken

Summer Farm Market Tour Aug 29

In association with Rutgers Cooperative Extension, the NJFDMA (that’s the New Jersey Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association) would like to invite farm marketers to join them for their late summer farm market tour on August 29, 2018.

Tentative schedule:

1:00pm: Pick up at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Atlantic County building in Mays Landing
2:15pm: Pick up at the Burlington Special Services School by the Burlington Cooperative Extension office in Westhampton
3:45- 4:45pm: Tour & wine tasting at Beneduce Vineyards, Pittstown
5:30- 6:30pm: Tour of Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse, Milford
7:30- 8:45pm: Tour and dinner at Melick’s Town Farm, Oldwick
10:15pm: Drop-off at the Burlington Special Services School by Burlington Cooperative Extension office in Westhampton
11:30pm: Drop-off at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Atlantic County building in Mays Landing

This event is free for NJFDMA members.

Non-members, please send a check for $50, which includes 2018 NJFDMA membership, payable to ‘NJFDMA’ to the this address:

RCE of Middlesex County Extension
C/O NJFDMA
42 Riva Rd., Davidson Mill Pond Park
North Brunswick, NJ 08902

Please register online by August 7th, 2018 by clicking here to reserve your place.

Questions? Email njfarmersdirectmarketingassoc@gmail.com

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Vegetable Crops

April 5, 2018 Rick VanVranken

South Jersey Vegetable Twilight Scheduled for 4/26

The South Jersey Vegetable Agents would like to invite you to our annual Spring integrated crop management meeting:

Vegetable Integrated Crop Management
Twilight Meeting
Thursday, April 26, 2018
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
East Vineland Fire Hall
4931 Landis Ave. across from the Savoy Restaurant
(park behind the building and enter conference room door in rear)

6:00 pm Robots, Roselle & Resistant Basil, Finally!
– Rick VanVranken, RCE Atlantic
6:15 pm Respiratory Protection Requirements for WPS-labeled Pesticides
– Patricia Hastings, Rutgers Pesticide Safety Educ Program Coordinator
6:45 pm Soil Fertility, Liming, and Silicon Nutrition
– Joseph Heckman, Ph.D., Extension Specialist – Soil Fertility
7:15 pm Update on Herbicides & Restrictions in New Jersey Vine Crops
– Dr. Thierry Besancon, RCE Specialty Crop Weed Specialist
7:45 pm Pepper Variety Evaluations
– Dr. Wes Kline, RCE Cumberland
8:00 pm Vegetable Disease Control Options for Spring Crops
– Dr. Andy Wyenandt, RCE Vegetable Plant Pathologist
8:30 pm Vegetable Insect Pest Update
– Dr. Joe Mahar, Vegetable IPM Coordinator
9:00 pm Adjourn

Pesticide Recertification Credits have been requested for this meeting.
Hope to see you there!

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops

February 26, 2018 Rick VanVranken

US Food & Drug Administration Announces Microbiological Surveillance Sampling for Fresh Herbs (Cilantro, Basil & Parsley) to Continue Through 2018

The US FDA has announced an ongoing surveillance program started in October 2017 will continue through 2018 until they collect at least 1600 samples each of fresh cilantro, parsley and basil. FDA inspectors will be visiting farm packinghouses, wholesale packers, domestic and import warehouses and shippers, as well as retail purveyors, From their press release,

From 1996 to 2015, the FDA reported nine [food born illness] outbreaks linked to basil, parsley, and cilantro, which resulted in 2,699 illnesses and 84 hospitalizations. Four of the outbreaks were linked to basil, three to cilantro, and two to parsley.

February 26, 2018 Rick VanVranken

New Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety Website!

I’m forwarding this from Meredith Melendez and Wes Kline. If you thought you were subscribed to receive food safety updates in the past but have been wondering why you haven’t been receiving any news, please go to your subscription page and change from ‘Food Safety’ to ‘Commercial Agriculture Updates’. Long story short, but the food safety category was combined into the commercial ag updates, and for some reason, many subscriptions were not transferred to the new category.

Visit the new Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety website for information on Good Agricultural Practices, the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule, and USDA Third Party Audits. Information can also be found on upcoming on-farm food safety workshops, publications and resources to help you understand and implement on-farm food safety practices.