Melissa Bravo

February 24, 2023 Melissa Bravo

December Prices Received by Farmers Data

The ‘December Prices Received by Farmers’ section of the USDA NASS Agriculture Prices publication contains useful price-margins-costs of production forecasting information for producers.

The report highlights prices received by farmers for principal crops, livestock and livestock products; indexes of prices received by farmers; feed price ratios; indexes of prices paid by farmers; and parity prices. Historical data covering years 1910-60 reported in 1962 publication.

To access the December report go to: https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/c821gj76b/gx41nx339/2b88rs02s/agpr0123.txt

Future reports will be released on: Upcoming releases:Feb 28 2023 3:00 PM. Mar 31 2023 3:00 PM. Apr 28 2023 3:00 PM. May 31 2023 3:00 PM. Jun 30 2023 3:00 PM. Jul 28 2023 3:00 PM. Aug 31 2023 3:00 PM. Sep 29 2023 3:00 PM. Oct 31 2023 3:00 PM. Nov 30 2023 3:00 PM. Dec 29 2023 3:00 PM.

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops

February 22, 2023 Melissa Bravo

Help PA stop Hipath Avian Influenza spread. Sanitize vehicle tires, boots.

With increasing numbers of positive flock detections in Lancaster County, PA, and circulation of the virus in wild birds, please remember to wash farm truck vehicle tires and implement footwear-vehicle-pedal sanitation steps when driving to/from the feed mills, seed stores, and farm machinery dealers located in this region of Pennsylvania. Map current as of 2-22-2023.

Map of avian spread

The following link will take you to the control zone maps for current detections in Pennsylvania.

https://padeptag.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=a9066a3d68a443a08043766cb84bf4ae

Additional information on protecting your backyard flock from exposure to Hipath avian influenza can be found in prior Plant Pest Advisory posts, and at the USDA website, ‘Defend the Flock’. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/defend-the-flock-program/defend-the-flock-program

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops

February 20, 2023 Melissa Bravo

Poultry Owners. Letter from State Veterinarian. HiPath Avian Influenza Reporting

February 10, 2023.

Amar Patil DVM, MVSc, PhD, Diplomate ACVM,
State Veterinarian / Director, New Jersey Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Health reminds NJ poultry owners on the continued presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza circulating in the country. The updated letter highlights information on symptoms, detection, and mandatory reporting of bird mortality. Letter can be found at: https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/ah/

Or:

Click to access 2023%20HPAI%20Letter%20to%20Poultry%20Owners_Feb.pdf

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Uncategorized

January 16, 2023 Melissa Bravo

Recent Agriculture Bills Passed in NJ Senate and Other News

Bill A1929 Aca (1R)
Session 2022 – 2023 – signed in to Law, September 22, 2022.
“Directs Department of Agriculture to establish New Jersey Minority, Women, and Underserved Farmer Registry.”

For more information see: htt ps://njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2022/A1929

For a synopsis of this bill see, https://wrnjradio.com/bill-assisting-minority-women-farmers-signed-into-law/

Bill A285. Session 2022 – 2023. ASSEMBLY, No. 285. Establishes “New Farmers Improvement Grant Program” to provide matching grants for farm improvements to beginning farmers.

For more information see, https://njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2022/A285/bill-text?f=A0500&n=285_I1

For a synopsis of this bill see https://wrnjradio.com/committee-clears-bill-that-will-create-grant-opportunities-for-new-farmers/

Other Bills of interest to New Jersey Farmers. Bill Text: NJ S757. “Authorizes special occasion events at certain commercial farms on preserved farmland, under certain conditions.” https://legiscan.com/NJ/text/S757/id/2608677.

For more on this bill and it’s implications, from the Secretary of Agriculture. “Please click the video below to hear from Secretary Douglas H. Fisher regarding an important bill, S757/A2772, which will allow additional, nonagricultural special occasion event to be held NOT JUST on preserved farm wineries – but on ALL preserved farms.”- January 13, 2023. Secretary of Agriculture.

Women farmers. For additional resources on agriculture business, finance, market, and biosecurity planning, see the late registration option for Annie’s Project. The next session is Wednesday, January 18th. Contact the project coordinator for late registation options via the instructions in: https://sites.rutgers.edu/annies-project/wp-content/uploads/sites/753/2023/01/Poster_2023_AnniesProject_Online.pdf

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops

January 11, 2023 Melissa Bravo

Pennsylvania Advises PA Poultry Owners to House Poultry Indoors

Poultry owners, please be aware of the advisory in Pennsylvania copied below regarding the continued spread of High-Path Avian Influenza.

The appropriate New Jersey letters are found in the following links:

H ighly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Letter for Veterinarians

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Letter to Poultry Owners

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Letter to Live Bird Markets

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Letter to Poultry Distributors

“January 9, 2023
Pennsylvania Poultry Industry

Dear Pennsylvania Poultry Producers,
As you know, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) (H5) has been circulating in the wild bird population in the United States and was identified in commercial poultry in early 2022. On April 14, 2022, the first case of HPAI H5 was detected in a commercial layer flock in Pennsylvania. Since then, the virus has continued to spread into backyard flocks and commercial poultry facilities across the United States, affecting 47 states to date. More than 57 million birds have been lost due to HPAI. More than 4.5 million birds have been lost in Pennsylvania, and a total of 38 Pennsylvania flocks have been affected. Identification of new cases has continued across the United States. The most recent case of HPAI has been reported in the US as recently as January 4th. Wild bird detections continue in multiple states. These recent cases should act as a reminder that a virulent strain of Avian Influenza virus continues to circulate in the wild bird population and still threatens commercial and backyard poultry. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture first recommended that organic producers move poultry indoors in February 2022. At this time, we recommend that all poultry [In PA] be maintained indoors. Producers are also encouraged to implement strict biosecurity practices, monitor bird health, and report any unexplained mortality and morbidity [In PA] to the Department at 717-772-2852 (24/7).”

[state added by Melissa Bravo for clarification for plant pest advisory post]

Thank you,
Kevin D. Brightbill, DVM | State Veterinarian | Director
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture | Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services
2301 North Cameron Street | Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: 717.705.1626 | Fax: 717.787.1868
www.agriculture.pa.gov
kebrightbi@pa.gov

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops

December 27, 2022 Melissa Bravo

Updated Disaster Declarationss & Livestock Forage Disaster Program

Weekly LFP Program Eligibility Maps and Table
These maps and table depict the weekly LFP program eligibility by county for the US and Puerto Rico, based on grazing periods, drought intensity, and forage types – https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/livestock-forage/index

On the LFP list as of a download on December 22, 2022 are:

NATIVE PASTURE 10-03-2022 34-NJ Hudson
FULL SEASON IMPROVED 10-03-2022 34-NJ Hudson
NATIVE PASTURE 10-10-2022 34-NJ Middlesex
FULL SEASON IMPROVED 10-10-2022 34-NJ Middlesex
NATIVE PASTURE 10-10-2022 34-NJ Somerset
FULL SEASON IMPROVED 10-10-2022 34-NJ Somerset

A map showing the counties across the country that have designations for pasture programs can be found at: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/Assets/USDA-FSA-Public/usdafiles/Disaster-Assist/LFP-Maps/2022/native_pasture_2022.pdf

Contact your County Farm Service Agency regarding the most recent primary & contiguous county disaster declarations for 16 New Jersey Counties issued on December 22, 2022; and if any loss programs for hay and pasture in additional counties will become available.

Note: The dates of the USDA disaster declarations vary by declaration. Some counties are designated as primary or contiguous for Drought and Excessive Heat that occurred during July 1 through August 19. Others for Drought that occurred during July 1 through September 14. Others for Drought and Excessive Heat that occurred during June 18 through September 5. And others for Drought and Excessive Heat that occurred during July 1 and continuing. Contact your local FSA office for specific details and program eligibility requirements.

Primary County Disaster Designations from USDA as of December 22.
Morris	Sussex	Warren
Hunterdon	Somerset	Burlington
Camden	Ocean	Atlantic
Cape May	Cumberland	Gloucester
Mercer	Middlesex	Monmouth
Salem

Essex, Union and Passaic are listed as contiguous counties in at least one of the declaration designations date ranges. Hudson is listed in the LFP table referenced above. A few contiguous counties in NY, DE, or PA are also eligible within specific declarations.

You can also check this site on a regular basis to see if new declarations have been added: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/news-room/emergency-designations/index

For detailed information about all disaster assistance programs from USDA, see: https://www.fsa.usda.gov/programs-and-services/disaster-assistance-program/index