The Rutgers Farm Health and Safety Working Group is conducting a survey to evaluate the priority needs of New Jersey farmers for training and resource development related to safety and health. As a New Jersey farmer, you are invited to complete this survey. Click here to access the survey and learn more. [Read more…]
February 6, 2026 Kate Brown
Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Recommendation Guide Available at Select County RCE Offices
Physical, spiral-bound copies of the recently updated 2026/2027 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Recommendation Guide are now available at select Rutgers Cooperative Extension offices throughout the state. This publication is updated biennially with research-based information from land-grant university trials as well as knowledge and experience from farmers and other industry members in the mid-Atlantic region. The production guide is intended for use by commercial vegetable growers and includes general production and pest management recommendations, pesticide safety information, and commodity-specific recommendations.
Limited quantities of the guide are available for purchase at the following RCE offices. The cost is $35.00 (including tax) and payable by check made out to Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Click here to locate your nearest RCE office and access contact information. We strongly encourage you to call in advance to confirm the availability of the guide.
- RCE of Atlantic County (Mays Landing)
- RCE of Burlington County (Westampton)
- RCE of Cumberland County (Millville)
- RCE of Hunterdon County (Flemington)
- RCE of Mercer County (Ewing)
- RCE of Middlesex County (North Brunswick)
- RCE of Monmouth County (Freehold)
- RCE of Morris County (Morristown)
- RCE of Somerset County (Bridgewater)
- Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (Bridgeton)
This production guide is also available as a free downloadable PDF on the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station website (updated version coming soon) or purchasable online from Penn State Extension.
February 2, 2026 Kate Brown
RU-N Seeks to Buy Produce, Dairy, Meat, and Eggs from Female Farmers
Rutgers-Newark (RU-N) seeks to purchase fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, and meat from women-owned farms in New Jersey. Pick-up is available and all women-owned/operated farms located in NJ are eligible. The deadline is almost here! Interested farmers are asked to complete the interest form by Wednesday, February 4, 2026. [Read more…]
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
Two-day online Food Safety Modernization Act: Produce Safety Rule Training: December 9 and 10
The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires ‘At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under a standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.’
You’ll need to attend both days to receive a certificate, and you must always have a camera on during the training according to the Produce Safety Alliance Online Training Policies.
For more information and to sign up go to: Our Trainings – Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety [onfarmfoodsafety.rutgers.edu] Registration closes November 14th.
Not sure if your farm falls under the Produce Safety Rule: Take this survey to find out: https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4IagP1mbPyrp42N [rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com]
October 30, 2025 Kate Brown
Workshops on Taxes, Estate, and Succession Planning
The NJ Department of Agriculture, State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) has two upcoming workshops on ‘Taxes, Estate, and Succession Planning’ as they relate to farmland preservation. These in-person workshops are best suited for farmers, farm owners, and their professional advisors. This is not a series – select the workshop location closest to you. [Read more…]
