Late blight was reported in potato being grown in northern North Carolina on Monday May 29th. This is the first report of Late blight this growing season outside of Florida. No late blight has been reported in the mid-Atlantic region to date. All potato growers are encouraged to scout their fields on a regular basis. The latest Potato|Tomato Disease Forecasting Report can be found here.
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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May 20, 2017 Wes Kline
USDA Audits and Inspections Rates to Increase
The United States Department of Agriculture just announced that anyone wanting a GAP or Harmonized Audit will see the base and hourly rate increase on October 1, 2017 from $92.00 per hour to $108.00 per hour. There also will be a base fee of $432.00 for either audit. This means if you have two or three audits a year each one will be charged $432.00 then the hourly rate will be added. Growers should try and combined as many crops as possible into one audit. Also, if a grower has been getting their audit in October or November, try to schedule them before October 1 to reduce your cost for this year.
For anyone calling for a quality or grade inspection the cost will increase to $191.00 per hour.
May 18, 2017 Pat Hastings
Revised WPS: Applicability of New Respiratory Protection Requirements
The Revised WPS requires that when a pesticide label requires a handler to wear a respirator, the handler’s employer must provide them with a medical evaluation, fit test, and respirator training. Under WPS, it doesn’t matter if the person is a private applicator, commercial applicator, or neither. If the person is handling (mixing, loading, applying […]
May 18, 2017 Pat Hastings
Revised WPS: Applicability of New Respiratory Protection Requirements
The Revised WPS requires that when a pesticide label requires a handler to wear a respirator, the handler’s employer must provide them with a medical evaluation, fit test, and respirator training. Under WPS, it doesn’t matter if the person is a private applicator, commercial applicator, or neither. If the person is handling (mixing, loading, applying […]
May 18, 2017 Pat Hastings
Revised WPS: Applicability of New Respiratory Protection Requirements
The Revised WPS requires that when a pesticide label requires a handler to wear a respirator, the handler’s employer must provide them with a medical evaluation, fit test, and respirator training. Under WPS, it doesn’t matter if the person is a private applicator, commercial applicator, or neither. If the person is handling (mixing, loading, applying […]
May 18, 2017 Pat Hastings
Just posted to Rutgers “Quick-Connect”: 1st WPS Handler Video approved with 2018 Content
“Quick-Connect”: EPA-approved Handler/Worker Training ** (NEW!) EPA Approved Training Resources webpage. Video (English) – Agricultural Worker and Handler Pesticide Safety Training (MP4). Iowa State University. May 11, 2017. Video for training agricultural workers about pesticides and the Revised Worker Protection Standard (WPS). This video satisfies the pesticide safety training requirement for both handlers and workers under […]
