DEP, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TEAM UP TO ALLOW FARMERS TO PROTECT FLOWERING CROPS AGAINST FROST CONDITIONS EXPECTED EARLY NEXT WEEK
(16/17) TRENTON – With temperatures in many parts of the state expected to approach freezing over the weekend into early next week, the Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Agriculture are working cooperatively to allow farmers to do controlled open burning or use specialized torches known as smudge pots to protect flowering crops from frost damage.Forecasts call for near or below freezing conditions overnight Saturday through April 5. The cold temperatures could affect fruit and vegetable crops, as well as flowers in bloom or near bloom. Peaches, blueberries and apples are particularly susceptible. Frost damage now can significantly reduce yields of these crops later in the season.
The DEP and Department of Agriculture are allowing these steps through April 5 to protect farmers’ livelihoods and to ensure that consumers will be able to enjoy an ample supply of Jersey produce later this year.
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Weather Alert: Protect Flowering Crops Against Frost
North Jersey Tree Fruit Meeting
Date: February 24, 2016
Time: 8:30 am – 4:45 pm
Location: Hunterdon County Complex
314 State Rt. 12, Bldg. #1, Flemington, NJ 08822See Rutgers Fruit Focus Newsletter for details.
North Jersey Fruit Meeting I: May 7, 2015
Date: Thursday, May 7, 2015
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
Location: Rutgers Snyder Farm, 140 Locust Grove Road, Pittstown, NJ 08867
Agenda
6:00 p.m. Orchard Tour – Leaves promptly at 6:00 p.m.
- Observe NC-140 – Apple Rootstock Trials
- Observe 5 high density apple Tall Spindle Apple Plantings and Trellis Systems Planted 2002, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, Spacing varies from 2×10, 3×14 and 3×12
- Asian Pear Variety Trial – 5th leaf
- Update on the Rutgers NJAES Project to release new strawberry varieties for the eastern US
Peter Nitzsche, Win Cowgill, Bill Hulbik – Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE)
6:50 p.m. (back indoors)
- Stone and Pome Fruit: Bacterial Disease Management
Dr. Norm Lalancette, Specialist in Tree Fruit Pomology, RCE - Utilizing thresholds in IPM for fruit pests
Anne Nielsen, Specialist in Tree Fruit Entomology, RCE - Key Timings and Treatments for Tree Fruit
Dean Polk, RCE IPM - Crop Insurance Update
Dave Lee, RCE of Salem County - Update on Pesticide Regulations for 2015
Peter Nitzsche, RCE of Morris County - Apogee for Fireblight and Growth Control
Win Cowgill - Chemical Thinning Update with Plant Growth Regulators
Win Cowgill
Pesticide Recertification Credits will be awarded.
Flyer
Weather Alert from NJ Dept of Ag: Open Burn Approval
At the request of the NJ Dept of Agriculture, DEP Commissioner Martin today approved open burning and the use of smudge pots for tonight and Friday because of the extreme cold temperatures forecasted for those evenings. This approval mirrors the approval from 2012. Copies of the approval and restriction memo plus the list of Critical Temperatures for Frost Protection of Various Crops are attached.
NJ Crop Insurance News Reminder
Apr 30: spring and fall forage seeding contract change date
Created to inform New Jersey ag producers about crop insurance, the Garden State Crop Insurance Education Initiative Team makes available important information through multiple media outlets. Get the latest news by visiting the website or follow via blog, Facebook, or Twitter.
NJ Crop Insurance News Reminder
Apr 21: grain sorghum earliest planting date
Created to inform New Jersey ag producers about crop insurance, the Garden State Crop Insurance Education Initiative Team makes available important information through multiple media outlets. Get the latest news by visiting the website or follow via blog, Facebook, or Twitter.
