Commercial Ag Updates + Farm Food Safety

Rutgers Cooperative Extension Ag Agents provide updates on what they see in the field, upcoming events, and other important news that affects your operation, such as developments in on-farm Food Safety. Subscribe if you wish to be notified about workshops, meetings, and upcoming commercial ag events.
 
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January 18, 2026

NE Agriculture Expo and Rutgers Educational Sessions Start Tuesday 1/20/26 to Thursday 1/22/26 in Atlantic City

The NE Agriculture Expo and Rutgers Educational Sessions Start Tuesday 1/20/26 at Harrah’s in Atlantic City, 777 Harrahs Boulevard. The final day of educational sessions and trade show ends on Thursday at 5pm.

The weather may be cold, but no rain or no snow in the forecast, and warm times inside the conference center to network with others in the industry.  An afternoon Hospitality Room will be available 12-5pm on Wednesday and Thursday to relax and unwind in the trade show area. Come for the social aspects, education and gain pesticide recertification credits. Check out the Rutgers Educational Program to see what topics you would like to learn about. go.rutgers.edu/2026rutgerseduprog

What’s Happening

January 20 (Tuesday)

  • Pre–trade show workshops and sessions

January 21 (Wednesday)

  • Full day of educational sessions for all commodity groups • Year of the Women Farmer Luncheon
  • Packed trade show with vendor booths sold out
  • Live charity auction with FREE food

January 22 (Thursday)

  • More sessions
  • Another day packed trade show with vendor booths sold out
  • Special appearance by Temple Grandin book signing /meet and greet, then her special session (additional cost)

Registration Options On-Site at the Regitration Counter (hallway of conference center) or On-line https://vganj.com/convention-tickets“>https://vganj.com/convention-tickets

✔️ VGANJ Membership – $100

Includes 2 Expo passes

Additional passes just $25 each

✔️ One-Day Pass – $60

Access to sessions + trade show

Register On-Line to

  • Save time at registration
  • Walk in, grab your badge
  • Enjoy FREE breakfast (8am-10am Wednesday and Thursday in Trade Show)
  • Head straight to learning, growing, and catching up with friends

This event under one roof, packed with education and energy, and celebrating New Jersey agriculture at its best.

Plus, buy your tee shirt or hoodie at the registration desk to “Support New Jersey Farmers” and tout “No Farmers No Food” – new this year.

 

Filed Under: Agrivoltaics, Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, pesticide credits, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Strawberry, training, Tree Fruit, vegetable, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape, work shop Tagged With: , ,
January 8, 2026

NEED PESTCIDE RECERTIFICATION CREDITS? REGISTER TODAY

4 CORE Credits – Pesticide Safety Workshop

A Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Workshop for Pesticide Applicators to gain CORE Credits towards their license will be held at the NE Agriculture Expo at Harrah’s in Atlantic City to start of this year’s event. This workshop will take place from 10:00AM to 12:00PM. Licensed applicators must accumulate 8 CORE Credits over a 5-year period to maintain their NJDEP Pesticide Applicators License. This workshop will offer 4 CORE Credits. Pre-registration is requested and can be found on the VGANJ website at https://vganj.com“>https://vganj.com. Registration cost is $25 per person and non-refundable. Registration for this workshop is separate from the convention registration and attendees must also register for the expo at https://vganj.com/convention-tickets. The topics include: Pesticide Safety – Personal Protection Equipment for the Pesticide Applicator; Update on US EPA Worker Protection Standards; Storage, Tank Mixing, Tank Cleaning, and Disposal; Pesticide Record Keeping and Notification. For more information contact Bill Bamka (bamka@njaes.rutgers.edu) or Michelle Infante-Casella (minfante@njaes.rutgers.edu).

For the full program (January 20-22nd) of Rutgers Educational Workshops and Sessions that offer more credits and diverse topics, see https://go.rutgers.edu/2026rutgerseduprog

Filed Under: Agrivoltaics, Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, pesticide credits, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Strawberry, training, Tree Fruit, Turf, Uncategorized, vegetable, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape, work shop Tagged With: , ,
January 5, 2026

2 “Stop the Bleed” Trainings North and South Jersey

2 STOP THE BLEED TRAININGS SCHEDULED
FOR FARMERS AND THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY
REGISTRATION REQUIRED – NO COST

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10TH IN SUSSEX COUNTY STARTING AT 10:00AM

& 

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND IN GLOUCESTER COUNTY  STARTING AT 9:00AM

FOR SUSSEX COUNTY ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 10TH AT 10:00AM – CALL TO REGISTER: 973-948-3040

LOCATION: RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OF SUSSEX COUNTY, 130 MORRIS TNPK, NEWTON, NJ

-OR-

FOR GLOUCESTER COUNTY ON FEBRUARY 2ND AT 9:00AM – REGISTER USING THIS LINK OR QR CODE:
https://go.rutgers.edu/stopthebleed

LOCATION: GLOUCESTER COUNTY OFFICE OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES
1200 N. DELSEA DR., CLAYTON, NJ

Rutgers Cooperative Extension’ Farm Health and Safety Team has 2 scheduled events for  “Stop the Bleed” training for the farming community.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn the life-saving skills of pressure application, wound packing, and use of tourniquets. The first 25 registrants at each location, will also receive a complementary bleeding control kit.

Space is limited, register today.

If you have questions contact Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Sussex County (973-948-3040) or Gloucester County (856-224-8040 ext. 1)

Rutgers Farm Health and Safety Team:
Agricultural Agents: Kate Brown, Michelle Infante-Casella, William Bamka, and Stephen Komar

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, vegetable, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
January 2, 2026

Wednesday Luncheon at the NE Ag Expo 1/21/26 – Sign Up Today

All are welcome to the 2026 Celebration of the International Year of the Female Farmer on Wednesday, January 21st at the Northeast Ag Expo at Harrah’s in Atlantic City. Your $25 ticket includes access to the luncheon and keynote speakers – Carrie Edsall from New York and NJ Dairy Princess – Dakota Meys. Lunch is a full hot food buffet and dessert. This event will be inspirational and is also a very affordable way to have lunch while at the expo. Spend this time to network with fellow farmers and support women in agriculture. To register for the Expo and the Wednesday Luncheon go to https://vganj.com/convention-tickets

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Organic Production, vegetable, Vegetable Crops, work shop Tagged With: , ,
December 22, 2025

Farm, Fisher, and Aquaculture Wellness Study

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension Department of Family and Community Health Sciences is conducting a study to understand the impact of industry stressors related to the Farm, Fishery and Aquaculture industries.

As a member of the Farm, Fishery and Aquaculture industry, you are being invited to take part in this research. Your participation in the study is completely voluntary. If you agree to take part in this research, you will be asked to respond to survey questions that relate to your knowledge and experience about industry stressors. The survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete and no information that can identify you will appear in any professional presentation or publication.

The survey and additional information can be found here: Farm, Fisher, Aquaculture Wellness Study

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With: , ,
November 13, 2025

FREE Tick Disease Testing for NJ Cattle Available Through 2025

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) Division of Animal Health has launched a free testing program to partner with cattle producers and veterinarians to track and manage the emerging Theileria orientalis Ikeda parasite in New Jersey herds. Free testing is available until the end of the year (2025) to identify infected animals and guide response strategies. Producers are encouraged to contact their herd veterinarian or the NJDA Division of Animal Health (609-671-6400) for more information.

One-page flyer to alert NJ cattle producers of the free tick testing that is being offered through NJDA. Also has a QR code which directs to the link for a Theileria orientalis Producer Handout.

 

They also have released more information explaining the parasite Theileria orientalis Ikeda and signs/treatments available. This information can be found by scanning the QR code above or clicking the link below:

Click to access T_orientalis_Producer_Handout.pdf

 

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock