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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February 16, 2017

SADC Cost-Sharing for Deer Fence on Permanently Preserved Farms

Whitetail deer. Photo courtesy USDA NRCS.

The NJ State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) recently dedicated $500,000 of funding for 50% cost-share grants to farmers for installing high tensile woven-wire fencing on permanently preserved farms.  The cost share applies to fencing materials and installation.  An applicant can apply for a cost-share of up to $200/acre, with a total award amount capped at $20,000.  As a ballpark estimate: accounting for the farmer’s 50% contribution, the maximum level of funding would support fence installation around roughly 20+ acres.

To be eligible for the program: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Organic Production, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , ,
February 16, 2017

Specialty Peppers Ultra-Niche Crop Session to be Held

A colorful display and array of specialty peppers.

Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension is continuing its Ultra-Niche Crop Series with the upcoming workshop “Specialty Peppers”. This workshop, the fourth class for farmers seeking new crop opportunities, will be held on March 7, 2017 from 5:30 to 8 PM, simultaneously in Cape May Court House, Bordentown and Bridgewater, New Jersey.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , ,
February 15, 2017

The National Strawberry Sustainability Initiative

If you’re a strawberry grower, nurseryman, or Extension Educator or advisor to strawberry growers – WE NEED YOUR INPUT!

The National Strawberry Sustainability Initiative (NSSI) is leading efforts to identify the critical research and outreach needs of the strawberry industry and to develop a project around these issues through the support of the USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative. The NSSI is a collaboration among universities, USDA-ARS, strawberry growers and the strawberry industry, across 13 states, with the goal to support and expand sustainable strawberry production.  Please contribute to this national strawberry industry needs assessment by taking this survey. It should take 10-15 minutes and your answers will remain anonymous.  The survey can be accessed through a link on our NSSI website, http://strawberry.uark.edu.

For questions about the project or the survey, please contact Heather Friedrich at heatherf@uark.edu or 479-575-2798.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With:
February 13, 2017

North Jersey Commercial Vegetable Grower Meeting – Feb 23

Thursday, February 23, 2017
8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Hunterdon County Complex
314 State Route 12, Bldg. #1
Hunterdon County
Flemington, New Jersey 08822

Printable agenda and registration (PDF)

Pre-registration by Friday February 17, 2017 (required for luncheon and educational handouts)

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates
January 25, 2017

Farmer Energy & Water Efficiency Training Feb. 22

Learn from Industry and Academia Experts about Innovations in Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation, that Positively Impact our Environment and Can Increase the Profitability at Your Farm

Click here for Agenda

The Rutgers EcoComplex and the Rutgers Food Innovation Center have partnered together to provide this critically-needed and unique seminar for farmers, that will help companies to reduce their energy and water use, create or enhance their sustainability program, and save money in their operations. The trainers in this course are industry experts who have first-hand experience in the field.

More details here.

Date: February 22, 2017
Time: 8 am registration, Program from 8:30am – 4:30 pm
Location: 140 Locust Grove Rd, Pittstown, NJ 08867
Cost: $20 per person

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Vegetable Crops
January 13, 2017

Brewing Crops and Related Topics to be Presented at NJ Ag Convention

Rutgers NJAES malting barley variety trails. Photo courtesy of William Bamka.

There is interest among many craft brewers in the state and region to source locally grown ingredients. The cultivation of New Jersey state-grown ingredients, like malted barley and hops, could provide opportunities for farmers. Has the thought of producing ingredients for the craft brewing industry crossed your mind? Have you wondered what the brewers are looking for? Would you like to know what is involved in producing hops and malting barley for market?

[Read more…]

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