September 29, 2015

Update on Ag Worker Protection Standard

A pre-publication version of the Ag Worker Protection Standard Revisions has been posted on the EPA’s website. In addition, a document comparing new protections to existing protections is available. Per Nancy Fitz, US EPA – Office of Pesticide Programs, compliance with most of the new standards will be required in mid-December 2016. Thanks to Pat Hastings, Rutgers NJAES Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator, for the heads-up.

Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Revisions (314pp, 880K)

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape
July 29, 2015

Vegetable Twilight Meeting & Research Tour

Date: Thursday, August 20, 2015, 5:30 p.m.

Location: Meet at the trailer near parking lot
Rutgers Agricultural Research & Extension Center
121 Northville Road, Bridgeton, NJ (Upper Deerfield)

Agenda

  • 5:30: Taste the new tomato breeding lines that will be released soon and tour the tomato plots
    Tom Orton, PhD, Specialist in Vegetables
    Check out a mobile market/portable cooler trailer with CoolBot™’s alternative to high cost refrigeration units
    Rick VanVranken, Agricultural Agent Atlantic County
  • 6:00: *Summer/Winter Squash and Cucumber fungicide evaluations for Downy and Powdery Mildew Control
    C. Andrew Wyenandt, PhD, Specialist in Vegetable Pathology
  • 6:30: Advances in breeding lines and fungicide evaluation for basil Downy Mildew Control
    Rob Pyne, Graduate Student, Rutgers and C. Andrew Wyenandt, PhD
  • 7:00: Fungicides for controlling Phytophthora Blight control in cucurbits
    C. Andrew Wyenandt, PhD
  • 7:30: Evaluation of Bell Peppers cultivars and breeding lines for Phytophthora tolerance
    C. Andrew Wyenandt, PhD
  • 8:00: *Slicing and pickling cucumber variety evaluation for yield and Downy Mildew tolerance
    Wes Kline, PhD, Agricultural Agent
  • 8:30: Phomopsis Blight control in eggplant
    C. Andrew Wyenandt, PhD

*The cucurbit studies are funded in part through the Charles E. and Lena Maier Fund, the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Vegetable Crops
February 26, 2015

Plastic Pesticide Container Recycling Dates

The NJ Dept. of Ag, Helena Chemical, Allied Recycling, and the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex are offering dates for free plastic pesticide container recycling disposal. These are offered to agricultural, professional and commercial applicators holding a NJDEP Pesticide Applicators License. State, county and municipal government agencies may also participate.

Dates and locations are listed below.

Questions? Contact:
Roberta C. Lang
New Jersey Department of Agriculture
Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources
Phone: 609.292.2242
Fax: 609.633.7229
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Cranberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape
January 23, 2015 and

Confidence at your Fingertips:
Vegetable Production Recommendations

The new 2015 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations guide is now available.

Every year horticulturists, plant pathologists, entomologists and weed specialists from Penn State University, Rutgers, University of Delaware, Virginia Tech, University of Maryland and West Virginia University meet to discuss what changes should be made to the guide based on new research results and changes in the vegetable industry.     ~Elsa Sanchez, PSU

At NJAES, we are proud collaborators in the pursuit of evidence-based, environmentally-sound agricultural practices. We sometimes refer to the Recommendations as the $50-million growers guide because of the cumulative effort, scientific wisdom, and practical experience found within its pages; make no mistake, its a stunning return on investment for anyone who grows or eats vegetables in the mid-Atlantic states (Rabin did the math).

The guide is available online @ Rutgers NJAES | Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations

For a hardcopy of the guide:

Filed Under: Vegetable Crops
September 26, 2014 and

NE SARE Grants Info Webinar

Join Northeast SARE grants coordinator Carol Delaney for a lunchtime webinar on Friday, October 10th at Noon regarding Farmer Grants and Partnership Grants. Carol will cover topics ranging from the application process, designing a budget, choosing a technical advisor (for farmer grants) and the review process. There will be plenty of time for Q&A. Register online.

This year, Michelle Infante-Casella takes over the reins from Jack Rabin as Northeast SARE coordinator for New Jersey. Visit NE SARE, New Jersey webpage for information on programs and priorities.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates
August 20, 2014

Tomato Observational Trial Descriptions

The 2014 Snyder Farm tomato variety observational trial list, with descriptions and seed sourcing information, is now available. The Rutgers NJAES breeding program, variety evaluations, and consumer tastings contribute to improving the quality and competitiveness of New Jersey tomatoes.

Public taste-testing of these tomato varieties will commence at 3 PM on Wednesday, August 27 at the Great Tomato Tasting Event.

Nitzsche-Tomato

Peter Nitzsche cradles tomato seedling.
Photo by J.Pottheiser


2014 Tomato Tasting Variety List
2014 Tomato Tasting Seed Sources List

Related Articles
– Born Again: Rebirth of the Jersey Tomato
– Improving Quality and Competitiveness of Jersey Tomatoes

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates