Rutgers University | New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station | Pesticide User Responsibility

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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April 28, 2016

Spring Update for Pesticide Compliance

Plan ahead this Spring for maintaining pesticide compliance: ensure proper pesticide applicator training and licensing; track and report pesticide storage inventory; and document pesticide applications in a central area to notify workers.

Up-to-Date NJDEP Pesticide Applicator Licensing

Pesticide Applicator Certification is designed to demonstrate a certain level of competency by pesticide users on the safe use of pesticides. Users of pesticides are classified as either private applicators or commercial applicators. Consult updated information on the NJDEP Compliance and Enforcement web pages to determine what you and your employees need to do for certification or recertification.

Note that per the Worker Protection Standards (WPS), employees who don’t apply pesticides but do work in areas where pesticides are applied will need appropriate training and will need to carry blue WPS “worker” documentation of that training.

Pesticide Storage Inventory

See Jack Rabin’s reminder, Pesticide Storage Inventory due May 1 to Fire Department, for storage inventory and cover letter forms to help make compliance more convenient.

Record and Post Notification of Pesticide Applications

The “central posting” viewing area is a Worker Protection Standards requirement serving to inform workers that pesticides have been applied. Pesticide applications must be posted within 24 hours of the application and records must be kept for a 3-year period.

Resources
NJDEP Commercial Pesticide Applicator Information
http://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/pcp/bpo-appcom.htm

NJDEP Worker Protection Standard Summary Sheet
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/enforcement/pcp/bpc/wps/inspection.pdf

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates
April 27, 2016

Pesticide Storage Inventory due May 1 to Fire Department

Licensed pesticide applicators and dealers in New Jersey who store pesticides are required by law to send a copy of their inventory along with a cover letter to their local fire company by May 1st each year. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates
February 23, 2016

Greenhouse Production Short Course

Date: March 7 and 8, 2016
Location: NJ EcoComplex, Bordentown, NJ

Come learn about the exciting world of greenhouse production! In this two-day class, our team of expert instructors will cover the core topics you need to either get your greenhouse off the ground or improve an existing program. The class will include a tour of the EcoComplex greenhouse and a mini trade show featuring greenhouse structures and supplies.

Click to View Agenda & Registration Form

This class will cover the topics below and more!
• Greenhouse Structures
• Heating
• Ventilation
• Cooling
• Supplemental Lighting
• Shading
• Control Systems
• High Tunnel Production
• Crop Production
• Hydroponics
• Irrigation
• Nutrient Management
• Pests and Diseases
• Aquaponics
• Specialty Crop Production
• Business Plan Basics
• Marketing and Sales

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops
February 2, 2016

March Meetings: Pumpkin School & CSA Marketing

South Jersey Meeting: Wed, March 2, 2016
RCE of Burlington County,
2 Academy Dr, Westampton NJ
– or –
North Jersey Meeting: Wed, March 16, 2016
Warren Grange No. 110 Hall,
102 Broadway-Asbury Rd. Broadway, NJ

Pumpkin School

This program for commercial pumpkin growers, covers the business aspects of pumpkin production, disease identification and control, as well as post harvest considerations. Pesticide safety and record keeping will also be discussed. Pesticide credits are awarded upon program conclusion. See Pumpkin School brochure for details.

Date: March 3, 2016
Location: Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension of Warren County
165 County Road 519, South Belvidere, NJ 07823
– or –
Date: March 10, 2016
Location: Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension of Gloucester County
1200 N. Delsea Dr, Bldg A, Clayton, NJ 08312

Community Supported Agriculture Conference

The Rutgers NJAES Agritourism Team is presenting a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Marketing Conference. Topics will include CSA marketing as well as budget development with a focus on cost of production, price/share determination, and optimal membership numbers. See CSA Conference brochure for details.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates
January 27, 2016

February Events: Grapevine Pruning Workshop & More

terhune-vines-in-winterDate: Wednesday February 17, 1:00 to 3:00pm
(rain date: February 19)
Location: RAREC Rutgers Agricultural Research & Extension Center
121 Northville Road
Bridgeton, NJ 08302

This winter pruning workshop for beginning as well as experienced grape growers will feature dormant pruning methods demonstrated by Rutgers NJAES and Cooperative Extension experts Hemant Gohil, Gary Pavlis, and Dan Ward.
There is no registration fee however pre-registration is required.
To pre-register, please call or email Joan Medany: (856) 307-6450; jmedany@co.gloucester.nj.us

Don’t Miss the 2016 NJ Ag Convention & Trade Show Wine Grape Sessions

Click link to view 2016 Convention Information & Registration
Tuesday February 9, 2016
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Wine Grape
January 15, 2016 and

2016 NJ Ag Convention & Trade Show

Date: February 9 – 10 – 11, 2016
Location: Harrah’s Resort & Waterfront Conference Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Sponsors: Vegetable Growers’ Association of NJ, New Jersey Blueberry Association, Garden State Wine Growers Association, Rutgers NJ Ag Experiment Station, & NJ Department of Ag

View 2016 Convention Information & Registration
View 2016 Educational Program

Trade show and educational sessions will open on Tuesday, February 9, at the Harrah’s Resort & Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The show will feature exhibits and displays from many of the industry’s suppliers and business associates. This year, the educational program features twenty-five sessions, including an all-day Farm Food Safety training session and Basil Workshop Session. Start 2016 off right: learn from the best, touch base with fellow growers, and earn re-certification credits, all in three jam-packed days.

2016 CVPRDaily passes for the trade show and educational sessions are available for $50 a person. NJ Vegetable Grower Association memberships are $100 for 2 people who may attend the trade show and educational sessions all day/every day. Click the Information & Registration link above for more information on hotel and meal reservations. Members receive the comprehensive 2016 Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations.

In addition, the 2016 State Agricultural Convention will open with its regular business session on Wednesday, February 10, and continue on Thursday, February 11, 2016. The meeting will focus on developing and setting a policy agenda for the industry over the coming year through the resolutions process. The listening sessions, during which members of the agricultural industry can provide on-the-ground experiences and ideas for policy, will also be an important part of the convention. This year’s listening sessions will highlight Locally Grown, as well as feature an Agricultural Agents Micro Speed Session, where county agents will provide an update on their current projects.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Vegetable Crops