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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 12, 2015 Michelle Infante-Casella
Hops: Commercial Growers Meeting
Date: January 16, 2015 10am – 1pmLocation: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington County,
2 Academy Drive, Westampton, New Jersey 08060Keynote Speaker: Peggy Fogarty, Executive Director at Keystone Development Center.
Ms. Fogarty has expertise in strategic planning and organizational development for farmer groups.
All NJ Farmers currently growing hops and NJ Farmers considering growing hops are invited to participate in this initial meeting to discuss interest in the creation of a NJ Hops Grower Association. Network with fellow hop growers to gain a deeper understanding of what’s going on with hops in NJ, financing opportunities, and industry needs.
No registration is required.
For further questions, contact Ag Agents William Bamka or Michelle Infante-Casella.
Meeting Flyer: Hops Growers Meeting
Contact number: 609-265-5050
January 12, 2015 Michelle Infante-Casella
On-Farm Direct Marketing Educational Session
NJAES Agritourism Team members will be speaking at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention in Hershey, PA. This session will be held Thursday, January 29, 2015 in the Crystal Room, Hershey Lodge and Convention Center.
Risk Management in On-Farm Direct Marketing
- 9:00 Direct Marketing – Is It Right For You, Doing a Self Assessment
Stephen Komar, Sussex Co. Ag Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension - 9:30 Selecting and Training Employees to Improve Safety for Direct Marketing
Michelle Infante-Casella, Gloucester Co. Ag Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension - 10:00 Assessing Farm Safety When Inviting the Public on Your Property
William Bamka, Burlington Co. Ag Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension - 10:45 Right To Farm, Deed of Easement and Other Regulations that Impact Direct Marketing
Brian Schilling, Specialist in Ag Policy, Rutgers Cooperative Extension - 11:30 Food Aspects for Direct Marketing
Meredith Melendez, Mercer Co. Ag Program Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
December 1, 2014 Meredith Melendez
2015 NJACTS Convention
The 2015 New Jersey Agricultural Convention and Trade Show will be held on February 3rd, 4th and 5th at the Tropicana Casino and Resort in Atlantic City.
Highlights from this year’s program include a session on “What Chefs Want” in regards to ethnic in specialty crops, growing vine crops in high tunnels, and choosing tomato varieties. An organic session will highlight pest management issues and a retail marketing session will examine agritourism from a farmer’s viewpoint. Other topics that will be on the agenda are; sweet corn, State Policy Issues, a [Read more…]
November 13, 2014 Meredith Melendez
Workshop: Preparing For Later Life Farming
Four out of five New Jersey farmers do not have written estate plans. Who will get your farm when it is time? A written will is not enough. This workshop will help you ensure that your wishes are honored when the time comes.
“Preparing for Later Life Farming” workshops will be held regionally in New Jersey:
February 9, 2015 @ RCE of Somerset County
February 10, 2015 @ the Rutgers EcoComplex
February 11, 2015 @ RAREC, Bridgeton
Click Image to View Flyer
- Discuss the future of the farm with farm partners and family members
- Assess financial and strategic planning for family members and the business
- Review personal and business liability
- Develop an outline of a farm estate plan
Registration is available online or via phone at 609-989-6830.
$75.00 for the first farm/family participant and $25 each additional farm/family participant.
For details please click to view the flyer.
October 9, 2014 Meredith Melendez
New Jersey Soils and Copper Fungicide Use
During my field visits to Mercer County organic farms, growers often express concerns about negative soil health impacts from copper based fungicides. In an effort to evaluate soil copper use and the resulting soil copper levels, soil was sampled at fifteen farms throughout the state.
Soils sampled for copper levels.
Both conventional and organic farms participated in this study which was funded by The Phillip Alampi Fund. Two composite samples were taken from each farm, one where copper fungicides had been applied and one where copper fungicides had never been used. Total and soluble copper levels were higher on copper applied soils compared to the non-copper applied soils. Even though copper levels were higher in these soils, the levels were not high enough to cause plant toxicity symptoms, reduce plant growth, nor were the soils showing signs of reduced microbial activity.
Best management practices developed for copper based fungicides use:
