September 9, 2026

Sustainable Agriculture Seminar Series

Are you interested in improving the sustainability of your farm while also increasing your farm’s productivity and success? Join us to explore topics in sustainable agriculture through this virtual seminar series! This initial offering of four sessions will be held on Zoom from 12-1 pm ET on the below dates and cover an introduction to sustainable agriculture and soil health management.

This series is intended for any farmers looking to enhance their production systems by adopting new sustainable practices. Additional information can be found on the attached flyer. Seminars will be recorded and shared afterwards for those unable to attend live.

Please register at this link to receive the Zoom link for the seminar: Sustainable Agriculture Seminar Series Registration

Sustainable Ag Seminar Series Flyer 2026 (2)

  • What is sustainable agriculture, and how can it help my farm?
    • Tuesday, October 6th 12 – 1 p.m.
  • Starting from the ground up: physical properties of soil health
    • Tuesday, October 20th 12 – 1 p.m.
  • Soil as an ecosystem: microbial soil biology and crop health
    • Thursday, November 5th 12 – 1 p.m.
  • Cover crops to improve soil health and farm profitability
    • Tuesday, November 17th 12 – 1 p.m.

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With:
August 17, 2026 , and

Pesticide Recertification Credits Approved for: Agri-Technology, Nursery, Agronomy, Fruit and Vegetable Research Twilight Meeting at RAREC: Wednesday August 26, 2026

NJDEP pesticide recertification credits approved for this meeting are: CORE (1), PP2 (4), 1A (4), and Category 10 (4). 

 

Agri-Technology, Nursery, Agronomy, Fruit and Vegetable Research Twilight Meeting at RAREC

Wednesday August 26th, 2026 (4 pm until dark)

Location: Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC), 121 Northville Road, Bridgeton, New Jersey 08302

Hosted by: Ramandeep Kumar Sharma, Patrick McMullen, and Andy Wyenandt

Questions? Contact: Andy Wyenandt (wyenandt@njaes.rutgers.edu)

This year’s twilight meeting at RAREC will showcase advances in crop production, integrated pest management, soil fertility, weed management, and innovative agricultural technologies for growers and stakeholders across the state.

  • Dan Ward, Director, RAREC. Welcome to RAREC
  • Wesley Kline, Cumberland County Agricultural Agent
    • ‘Impact of Cyclospora on fruit and vegetable production’ CORE: 30 minutes
  • Tim Waller, Cumberland County RCE Nursery Agent.
    • ‘Useful Nursery and Ornamental Crops and Considerations’
  • Raul Cabrera, Extension Specialist in Nursery Production and Management.
    • ‘Recent developments on substrates (for container-grown crops)’
  • Dan Ward, Director, RAREC; Rutgers Agrivoltiacs Program.
    • ‘Update on the agrivoltaics research program at Rutgers’
  • Ann Nielsen, Extension Specialist in Entomology
    • Emma Waltman, PhD candidate, ‘Land-use around farms impacts stink bug biological control’
    • Amanda Furuya, Post-Doctoral Associate, ‘Tackling Spotted Lanternfly in South Jersey Vineyards’
    • Octavio Menocal Sandoval, Post-Doctoral Associate, ‘Updating Monitoring and Management for Codling Moth in Apple’
  • Thierry Besancon, Extension Weed Specialist for Specialty Crops.
    • ‘Update on new technologies for weed management in vegetable crops’
  • Ramandeep Kumar Sharma, Salem County Agricultural Agent.
    • ‘Optimizing Nitrogen Rate and Application Timing for Corn Yield and Quality’
    • ‘Evaluation of Sulfur Fertilizer Sources and Application Rates for Optimizing Soybean Growth and Yield in Southern New Jersey’
  • Maria Cramer, Senior Program Coordinator, Vegetable IPM,
    • ‘Thrips management in tomatoes’
  • Patrick McMullen, Atlantic County Agricultural Agent.
    • ‘Wilts of cucurbits: Identification and management’
  • Andy Wyenandt, Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology.
    • ‘Updates on vegetable disease control’

NJDEP pesticide recertification credits approved: CORE (1), PP2 (4), 1A (4), and Category 10 (4).

Filed Under: Agrivoltaics, Commercial Ag Updates, Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, pesticide credits, training, Tree Fruit, vegetable, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape, work shop
July 31, 2026 , and

Agri-Technology, Nursery, Agronomy, Fruit and Vegetable Research Twilight Meeting at RAREC: Wednesday August 26, 2026

 Agri-Technology, Nursery, Agronomy, Fruit and Vegetable Research Twilight Meeting at RAREC

Wednesday August 26th, 2026 (4 pm until dark)

Location: Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC), 121 Northville Road, Bridgeton, New Jersey 08302

Hosted by: Ramandeep Kumar Sharma, Patrick McMullen, and Andy Wyenandt

Questions? Contact: Andy Wyenandt (wyenandt@njaes.rutgers.edu)

This year’s twilight meeting at RAREC will showcase advances in crop production, integrated pest management, soil fertility, weed management, and innovative agricultural technologies for growers and stakeholders across the state.

  • Dan Ward, Director, RAREC. Welcome to RAREC
  • Wesley Kline, Cumberland County Agricultural Agent
    • ‘Impact of Cyclospora on fruit and vegetable production’ CORE: 30 minutes
  • Tim Waller, Cumberland County RCE Nursery Agent.
    • ‘Useful Nursery and Ornamental Crops and Considerations’
  • Raul Cabrera, Extension Specialist in Nursery Production and Management.
    • ‘Recent developments on substrates (for container-grown crops)’
  • Dan Ward, Director, RAREC; Rutgers Agrivoltiacs Program.
    • ‘Update on the agrivoltaics research program at Rutgers’
  • Ann Nielsen, Extension Specialist in Entomology
    • Emma Waltman, PhD candidate, ‘Land-use around farms impacts stink bug biological control’
    • Amanda Furuya, Post-Doctoral Associate, ‘Tackling Spotted Lanternfly in South Jersey Vineyards’
    • Octavio Menocal Sandoval, Post-Doctoral Associate, ‘Updating Monitoring and Management for Codling Moth in Apple’
  • Thierry Besancon, Extension Weed Specialist for Specialty Crops.
    • ‘Update on new technologies for weed management in vegetable crops’
  • Ramandeep Kumar Sharma, Salem County Agricultural Agent.
    • ‘Optimizing Nitrogen Rate and Application Timing for Corn Yield and Quality’
    • ‘Evaluation of Sulfur Fertilizer Sources and Application Rates for Optimizing Soybean Growth and Yield in Southern New Jersey’
  • Maria Cramer, Senior Program Coordinator, Vegetable IPM,
    • ‘Thrips management in tomatoes’
  • Patrick McMullen, Atlantic County Agricultural Agent.
    • ‘Wilts of cucurbits: Identification and management’
  • Andy Wyenandt, Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology.
    • ‘Updates on vegetable disease control’

NJDEP pesticide recertification credits are pending approval. Expected credits include CORE (1), PP2 (4), 1A (4), 3A (2), and Category 10 (3).

Filed Under: Agrivoltaics, Commercial Ag Updates, Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, pesticide credits, training, Tree Fruit, vegetable, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape, work shop
May 18, 2026

Protecting your crops from heat stress

Spring in NJ this year has certainly been a whirlwind of conditions. While a few short weeks ago many were battling freezing temperatures, we now face extreme heat. Heat damage typically occurs when temperatures are sustained above 86℉ for long periods. With temperatures in the upper 90s and potentially exceeding 100℉ in some locations this week, you should take extra measures to protect your crops from heat damage. Newly planted transplants and young seedlings with shallow roots are particularly sensitive to extreme heat.

Symptoms of heat stress and heat damage including wilting, cupping of leaves, scorching on leaves and stems, and leaf drop.

 

Figure 3. Burning along the edges of leaves on romaine

Heat damage on romaine lettuce. Photo: RF Smith and MD Cahn, U of CA

Increasing irrigation is the best mitigation for most systems. Evaporative cooling allows plants to release heat in the form of water vapor through open pores or stomata on their leaves. When plants are low on water, they will close their stomata to retain turgidity, which in turn prevents evaporative cooling. To compensate for this, increase irrigation to prevent desiccation.

Planting on black plastic mulch should be avoided in the summer, as it will cause overheating. White plastic or metalized mulches are effective alternatives to control weeds, increase soil water retention, and reduce soil temperature. If black mulch is used, a foliar application of kaolin clay can be used as a reflective layer. Work conducted by R.J.G. Taveras at Virginia Tech found that applying 20-40 lb/A of Kaolin clay could maintain soil temperatures 10℉ cooler than black plastic alone.

Shade cloth can be placed over stakes or hoops to reduce soil and air temperature. Work by Dr. Emmalea Ernest at the University of DE found 30% shade cloth optimized benefits of cooling without reducing sunlight too drastically for the majority of vegetable crops.

Finally, avoid fertilizing or applying pesticides when temperatures are consistently above 86℉ to prevent burning the crop. Consult the product’s label for more specific guidance.

Contact your County Agent with concerns or questions. Stay cool!

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, vegetable, Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
May 5, 2026

Laser Weeder Demonstration in Vegetable Field Trials at RAREC

Wednesday, May 13th at 10 am

Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC)

121 Northville Rd, Bridgeton, NJ 08302

Come see vegetable field trials evaluating the LaserWeeder G2 by Carbon Robotics.

Laser weeding and laser crop thinning will be demonstrated in spinach, kale, and cilantro

 

Come see this new weed control technology in action!

More information is available on the attached flyer May 13 Laser Weeder Field Day

Please dress for field conditions.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Vegetable Crops Tagged With:
March 4, 2026

South Jersey Vegetable Integrated Crop Management Twilight Meeting

Vegetable Integrated Crop Management

Twilight Meeting

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

6:00 p.m. – 8:30 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)

 

Hosted by RCE of Atlantic, Cumberland, and Gloucester Counties

6:00 pm        Soilborne Disease Identification and Control in Seedlings and Transplants

  • Patrick McMullen, RCE Atlantic

6:30 pm        Vegetable Disease Control Options for Spring Crops

  • Andrew Wyenandt, Extension Specialist, RAREC

7:00 pm        USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Programs for Crop Production

  • Michelle Pedano, District Conservationist, NRCS

7:30 pm        On-Farm Food Safety and Food Safety Modernization Act Updates

  • Wesley Kline, RCE Cumberland

8:00 pm        Pesticide Regs & Worker Protection Standards Update for the Coming Season

  • Michelle Infante-Casella, RCE Gloucester

8:30 pm        Adjourn

Pesticide Recertification Credits offered include 1 CORE, 2 1A, 2 10, and 2 PP2.

 

Please call 609-625-0056 with any questions.

Hope to see you there!

 

Sincerely,

 

Patrick W. McMullen, Wesley L. Kline, and Michelle Infante-Casella

Agricultural Agents of Atlantic, Cumberland, and Gloucester Counties

                          

Filed Under: pesticide credits, vegetable, Vegetable Crops, work shop Tagged With: , , ,