Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development will be offering two Ag Supervisory Leadership courses for all agricultural operations starting in June for farms in the Northeastern Region including: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Registration is currently open and closes on June 25. There are separate registration fees for New York residents and out of state residents. See below.
The courses available are:
ASL101-SP: Transición a Supervisor (in Spanish)
Transition to Supervisor helps to develop leaders and focuses on skills to improve communication and manage conflict. Learn how to recognize our inherent biases and how to build better working relationships. Gain insight into your leadership style and learn how to effectively lead diverse and multicultural teams.
Course topics include:
How to make the mental transition to supervisor
How to develop effective working relationships
Essential communication skills
How to be the leader of a multicultural group
How to build better working relationships
Course begins: Friday, June 20, 2025
Live Zoom discussions: Thursdays, June 26 – July 31, 4:00–5:00 PM ET
Register for ASL101-SP Transición a Supervisor
ASL106: Ethics and Employment Regulations (in English)
In ASL106: Ethics and Employment Regulations, you’ll explore how to implement fair and ethical labor practices in agriculture and why they matter. You’ll learn to recognize and prevent sexual harassment, understand wage and hour laws, and apply Equal Employment Opportunity regulations to foster a respectful, inclusive workplace. The course also covers best practices for handling employee discipline and termination.
Course topics include:
Ethics and sustainability
Equal Employment Opportunity, laws and implications
Hiring regulations and practices
Safety issues in agriculture
Farm employee housing
Compensation regulations
Being an ethical supervisor
Course begins: Friday, June 20, 2025
Live Zoom discussions: Thursdays, June 26 – July 31, 3:00–4:00 PM ET
Register for ASL106: Ethics and Employment Regulations
Course costs:
$275 for NYS residents/$325 for out-of-state residents
Scholarship Opportunity for Dairy Producers:
Thanks to the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NEDBIC), eligible dairy producers can apply for a $100 scholarship to help cover registration fees. Scholarships are available to participants from qualifying states in the Northeast, including Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Questions? Email cu-agworkforce@cornell.edu
Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/cornellagworkforcedevelopment
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.
Subscriptions are available via EMAIL and RSS.
Registration Open for 2 Agricultural Supervisor Training Courses: In English and Spanish
Survey: Novel Weed Management Strategies for Perennial Crop Systems
Take a Quick Survey Regarding your Needs for Novel Weed Management in Perennial Crops!
Dr. Thierry E. Besançon, Associate Extension Weed Science Specialist, Rutgers University
Our interdisciplinary team of weed scientists and sociologists is conducting research under a Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) grant to understand perennial crop growers’ priorities regarding novel weed control technologies. This survey aims to identify drivers and barriers to implementing robotic weeding systems in your operations.
We seek to understand your:
- Perspectives on robotic technologies for weed management
- Specific needs and challenges in weed control
- Preferences and limitations when considering new technology adoption
This anonymous, voluntary survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. All information collected will be used solely to inform future research questions and outreach activities, and will not be published or distributed. This Friday, May 9th, will be the final day of the survey!
Your participation is invaluable to future developments in the industry regarding new technologies for weed management. We need more inputs from New Jersey perennial crops growers so that they have a say on the direction that weed science research will take in the future!
To contribute, scan the QR code or visit: https://iastate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eqzMrFKtlcDjjgO
If you have questions, comments or concerns contact Dr. Thierry Besançon at thierry.besancon@rutgers.edu.
Farm Use of NJ Cottage Food Permit – Webinar 4/30
Learn about the NJ Cottage Food Permit and what value-added products you can, and can’t, make and sell. Meredith Melendez will be hosted by the NJ Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee on April 30th at 6:00 PM. The webinar is free, but registration is required. A tour of the NOFA Farmers Process certified kitchen in Milford will take place on May 7th at 10:00 am, learn more at the webinar!
Need a Manure Spreader? Nutrient Management Assistance Grants – Deadline 6/16/25
New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA), Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources is offering the following grant opportunity:
Nutrient Management Assistance Grants
Available Funding: Up to $25,000
Application Deadline: June 16, 2025
Funding Period: Three Years
The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA), Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources is pleased to announce a funding opportunity to support manure spreader purchase and maintenance, and to establish a community use program for the manure spreader. This grant aims to advance nutrient management Best Management Practices (BMPs) across New Jersey farms by enabling the shared use of properly maintained equipment.
Eligible Applicants:
• New Jersey-based individuals
• Agricultural businesses
• Cooperatives
• Not-for-profit organizations (NFPs)
• Government agencies
Applicants should demonstrate a strong working relationship with local agricultural producers and must be committed to supporting nutrient management in their communities.
Program Highlights:
• Purchase and maintain a manure spreader
• Establish a community use program for the manure spreader with a minimum of five farms
• Support the implementation of Animal Waste Management Plans (AWMPs) with Nutrient Management Plans or nutrient budgets where the manure spreader will be used
• Implement all funded activities over a three-year period
For application materials and additional information, please visit: https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/grants/njdanutrientmanagementgrants.html
2025/2026 New Jersey Commercial Tree Fruit Production Guides are Available (Print and Electronic)
Print copies of the 2025/2026 New Jersey Tree Fruit Production Guides are available at your local Cooperative Extension Offices for $25 per copy.
The guides are also available for FREE online. E002: 2025/2026 New Jersey Commercial Tree Fruit Production Guide
If you have any trouble obtaining a guide from your local office please contact: Kim Crommelin: kfrey@co.hunterdon.nj.us or 908-788-1338.
North Jersey Tree Fruit Twilight Meeting I
North Jersey Tree Fruit Twilight Meeting I
In collaboration with the
New Jersey Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association
May 1, 2025
4:30 PM-7:30 PM
VonThun Farms
438 Route 57 West
Washington, NJ 07882
4:15 PM – Registration
4:30 PM – Strategies to Reduce Pesticide Exposure in Applicators
Kate Brown, Agricultural Agent III, Rutgers NJAES
5:00 PM – Using Web-Based Decision Tools for More Targeted Pesticide Use
Janine Spies PhD, State Fruit IPM Program Leader, Rutgers NJAES
5:30 PM – Tree Fruit Insect and Disease Update
Kaitlin Quinn, North Jersey Tree Fruit IPM Program Associate, Rutgers NJAES
6:00 PM – Seasonal Tree Fruit Thinning Considerations
Megan Muehlbauer, Agricultural Agent II, Rutgers NJAES
6:30 PM – Light Refreshments
7:00 PM – Wagon Tour of Farm and Presentation to New Jersey Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association
Tim VonThun VonThun Farms
Light refreshments will be served.
The following pesticide recertification credits will be awarded
1 Unit CORE 3 Units 1A 3 Units 10 3 Units PP2
Please RSVP for the meetings with a call to:
Kim Crommelin at 908.788.1338 or kfrey@co.hunterdon.nj.us
