July 25, 2022

Pesticide Applicators Seminar – Credits Available

Over the past two years in-person trainings for pesticide applicators to obtain recertification credits have been a challenge. To educate licensed pesticide applicators and help them to receive credits, a 3-hour seminar will be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2022 from 9:00AM to 12:00PM at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension office in Gloucester County, 254 County House Rd, Clarksboro, NJ 08020. The meeting will be in the Sullivan Room auditorium. Attendees can enter through the ramp on the far right side of the main building. 

Presenter: Michelle Infante-Casella, Agricultural Agent

Schedule:
9:00 AM……………..Pesticide Storage Facilities and Pesticide Disposal

10:00 AM……………Pesticide Record Keeping, Notification, and Posting

10:30 AM……………Insect Identification and Life Cycles for Proper Control Strategies in Landscapes, Turf, and Farm Fields

11:00 AM…………….Weed Identification: Annuals and Perennials: Know Your Weeds in Landscapes, Turf and Farm Fields

11:30 AM…………….Common Plant Diseases of Major Crop/Plant Groups

12:00 PM …………….Pesticide Credits and Adjourn

The following credits have been assigned by NJ DEP:
3 – CORE Credits 
3 – PP2 Credits 
3 – 3A Credits 
3 – 3B Credits 
3 – 1A Credits 

Call 856-224-8040 ext. 1 or email jmedany@co.gloucester.nj.us to pre-register or for more information.

There is a $50.00 fee per participant. Only checks or cash will be accepted. Please make checks payable to “Rutgers the State Univ. of NJ”

Pre-registration is appreciated, and walk-in participants are welcome and can pay at the door. To find more information see: https://go.rutgers.edu/Oct18PesticideSeminar

 

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Organic Production, pesticide credits, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
July 19, 2022

Pumpkin Pollination and Weather Conditions

With high temperatures this week and predicted for next week, there are concerns about pollination of pumpkin and other crops. Flower bud abortion can occur if temperatures are in the high 70’s at night or in high 90’s during the day for several consecutive days. Heat stress causes other issues with plant functions and plant health. However, for crops that need pollination, it is especially stressful when hot and dry weather conditions occur.

Honeybees, bumblebees, squash bees, and many other solitary bees will pollinate pumpkin flowers. Pumpkin flowers only live a few hours after blooming and then go limp and close. Therefore, they must be pollinated during the brief window when they are open. It is important to keep adequate soil moisture during pollination to help foster flower health, pollen quality, and good pollen acceptance by the stigma. Pollination cannot occur if the buds and flowers don’t form properly. Irrigation is recommended, as well as other plant health maintenance practices to keep pumpkin roots, vines, flowers and fruit growing properly during this heat wave and throughout the season.

Some other factors to consider in the future to ensure adequate pollination include:

1. Keep plant populations at recommended rates to not have excessive foliage. The nice thing about pumpkin vines is once they cover the ground, they make for good weed competition. However, too much leaf cover and high plant densities can hinder pollinators from locating flowers under the canopy. Additionally, too much foliage causes plants to remain wet for longer periods of time, encouraging fungal diseases.

2. Do not rely solely on native bee populations and investigate hive rentals to accentuate populations of pollinators.

3. Excessive plant growth in response to higher-than-recommended nitrogen applications can also delay flowering and fruit set. Therefore, do not over-fertilize pumpkins. This is true for all growth stages, but especially before fruit set.

4. Besides poor plant/flower quality, drought can lead to a higher than normal male/female flower ratio, resulting fewer pumpkins per plant.

For more information about pollination see the 2022/2023 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Recommendations pages 27-33.

Filed Under: Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
June 30, 2022

USDA June Acreage Report for Corn, Soybean and Wheat

The USDA released its June Acreage Report Here are the numbers: 2022 Corn Intended Acres: 89.9 million acres compared to the USDA March 31 report of 89.5 million acres and 93.3 million acres in 2021. This would be down 400,00 acres from the March report and down 3.4 million acres from last year. 2022 Soybean Planted Acres: 88.3 million acres vs. the USDA March 31 at 90.9 million acres and 87.2 million acres in 2021. This would be down 2.6 million acres from the March 31 report and up 1.2 million acres from last year. 2022 Wheat Planted Acres: 47.1 million acres this compares to the USDA March 31 report at 47.351 million acres and 46.703 million acres in 2021. Initial thoughts after reviewing the survey numbers: The numbers are neutral to corn and wheat and bullish short term and long term for soybeans. The total corn and soybean acreage is just 178.2 million acres. It looks like my early projection of 3 million acres of prevent plant may be 2 million acres too low.

The soybean market will be very weather sensitive, with 2.6 million acres less acres than the March 30 Prospective Planting report, this could create 134 million less soybean bushels than earlier estimates.

Shared from: https://www.agriculture.com/markets/analysis/actual-acres-planted-to-corn-rise-while-soybeans-drop-in-2022-usda-says?did=802009-20220630&utm_campaign=todays-news_newsletter&utm_source=agriculture.com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=063022&cid=802009&mid=91029761676&lctg=123588474

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock Tagged With: , ,
March 3, 2022

New USDA Grant Opportunity Value Added Producer Grants

The Value Added Producer Grant is administered by USDA, questions regarding the grant should be directed toward USDA State Director Ms. Jane Asselta, 521 Fellowship Road, Suite 130 Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054, Voice: (856) 787-7700 Fax: (855) 305-7343.

What does this program do?
The Value-Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities and increase producer income.

You may receive priority if you are a beginning farmer or rancher, a socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher, a small or medium-sized farm or ranch structured as a family farm, a farmer or rancher cooperative or are proposing a mid-tier value chain.
Grants are awarded through a national competition. Each fiscal year, applications are requested through a notice published in the Federal Register and through an announcement posted on Grants.gov.

Program Funding: $19.75 million in total available funding. Of this amount, the COVID–19 relief funds constitute $2.75 million rolled over from the FY 2021 appropriations and the other $17 million comes from the FY 2022 appropriations.
Maximum Grant Amount: Planning Grants $75,000; Working Capital Grants: $250,000.

Matching Funds Requirements: The $2.75 million in COVID–19 relief funds may include a reduced cost share match requirement of 10 percent of the grant amount. The other available funds have a statutory cost share match requirement of 100 percent of the grant amount.
Who may apply for this program?

Independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer- or rancher-cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures, as defined in the program regulation, are eligible to apply for this program.

How may funds be used?
Grant and matching funds can be used for planning activities or for working capital expenses related to producing and marketing a value-added agricultural product. Examples of planning activities include conducting feasibility studies and developing business plans for processing and marketing the proposed value-added product. Examples of working capital expenses include:
• Processing costs.
• Marketing and advertising expenses.
• Some inventory and salary expenses.

How do I get started?

    Before you apply:

• Register your organization with the System for Award Management (SAM) if you aren’t already registered. The registration is free, but you need to complete several steps. It’s a good idea to start the registration process at least a month before any application deadline. Before you start the registration process, we suggest reading through the HELP materials available on the SAM website. Then, you will need to create an account. After you create your account by setting up a user ID and password, you can register your organization. Please make a note of your CAGE (Commercial and Government Entity) code and expiration date as well as your Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number because you will need those for your application.

    Additional requirements:

Please read the Federal Register notice for the details on how to apply. Applicants should put together the required information at least a month before the application deadline. The extra time allows collection of other required materials such letters of commitment or support from other organizations, a work plan and budget, and other information. Copies of required forms are available from your nearest Rural Development Office. See the Forms & Resources tab for optional forms that may assist you in developing your application.

Will I need to send any reports if I receive a grant?
Yes, if you receive a grant, you will need to send regular financial and performance reports. Your grant agreement will tell you how often you need to send the reports, what forms you need to use and what information you need to put in the reports.
Where can I get more information?

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
November 18, 2021

Commodity Classic Conference, March 10-12, 2022 in New Orleans

Registration and housing for the 2022 Commodity Classic is now open. America’s largest farmer-ledCommodity Classic logo agricultural and educational experience will be held Thursday, March 10 through Saturday, March 12 in New Orleans, LA.

Early discounts on registration end Jan. 21, 2022.

Commodity Classic brings the agriculture industry together again in-person for the annual showcase of ag technology, crop production science, marketing intelligence, and farm innovation.

Commodity Classic features a schedule of over 50 educational sessions, a huge trade show with over 350 exhibitors featuring the latest technology, equipment and innovation, top-notch entertainment, inspiring speakers, unique tours, and the opportunity to network with thousands of farmers from across the nation.

A schedule of events is available at the Commodity Classic webpage. 

Established in 1996, Commodity Classic is America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused agricultural and educational experience. It is presented annually by the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers, and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.


Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
August 10, 2021

Sun Exposure and Skin Cancer Precautions in Agriculture

We all want to be healthy and it is important to take measures to prevent illness and injuries. Everyone, especially farmers need to be cautious about their exposure to the ultraviolet rays (UV) of the sun. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States and is related to repeated exposure to the sun which causes damaging changes to a person’s skin. The two types of ultraviolet rays most likely to damage a person’s skin and increase the risk for developing skin cancer are Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB).


No one is immune to the sun’s UV rays; however, some skin types are more susceptible than others. People with blonde or red hair, fair skin, or freckles tend to get sunburned more quickly than others and should be even more vigilant about protecting themselves from the sun.
Skin damage builds up over the years, and once the damage has occurred, it cannot be reversed.


Risks of Sun Exposure:
One of the main health concerns of sun exposure is skin cancer. In the United States, one in five people will develop skin cancer. Contact your physician if you notice a difference in your skin or changes in moles regarding asymmetry, border, irregularities, color, or size.
The three main types of skin cancer are basal, squamous, and melanoma. Basal and squamous cancers are typically associated with long-term exposure to the sun but are seldom fatal. Melanoma can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early and can affect people of all ages. When examining your skin for melanoma, look for changes in the size, shape, and color of existing moles and discolored patches of skin that may start small and grow.


Recommendations:
The following recommendations can reduce an agricultural producer’s risk of sun exposure, skin cancer, and other sun-induced conditions:


Sun Intensity – Exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays is most intense between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. When possible, avoid working in direct sunlight during this time. If you must be in the sun during these hours, take shade breaks to reduce exposure, drink plenty of water, and reapply sunscreen at least every two hours.


Sunscreen – Sunscreens have one or more chemicals that absorb or disperse ultraviolet rays. Sun protection factor (SPF) is a numerical rating that indicates a specific amount of protection. You should wear a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15, but those with fair skin should use an SPF of 30 or higher. Due to exposure to water, weather, and perspiration, you should reapply sunscreen at least every two hours.


Clothing – Long-sleeved shirts and long pants provide protection from the sun’s rays. Darker clothing with a tight weave provides more protection from the sun than light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Special SPF or UV-resistant clothing is available to reduce exposing your skin to the UV rays.


Hats – When it comes to sun protection, not all hats are created equal. You should wear a wide-brimmed (minimum of three inches wide) hat with flaps or drapes to provide sun protection for your eyes, ears, and neck.


Information adapted from: Sun exposure and agriculture. (2012) Farm and Ranch eXtension in Safety and Health (FReSH) Community of Practice. Retrieved from http://www.extension.org/pages/63042/sun-exposure-and-agriculture.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With: , ,