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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November 13, 2014

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

Click Image to View Flyer

We encourage farm families to participate together in this workshop to:

  • 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.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates
October 9, 2014

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.

NJ Sampled Soils

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:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Organic Production
September 26, 2014 and

NE SARE Grants Info Webinar

Join Northeast SARE grants coordinator Carol Delaney for a lunchtime webinar on Friday, October 10th at Noon regarding Farmer Grants and Partnership Grants. Carol will cover topics ranging from the application process, designing a budget, choosing a technical advisor (for farmer grants) and the review process. There will be plenty of time for Q&A. Register online.

This year, Michelle Infante-Casella takes over the reins from Jack Rabin as Northeast SARE coordinator for New Jersey. Visit NE SARE, New Jersey webpage for information on programs and priorities.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates
September 23, 2014

Retail Marketing Workshop

Annie’s Project New Jersey Presents:

Retail Marketing Conference 10 15 14Retail Marketing Conference for Farm Women
October 15, 2014 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Bridgeton
$75 includes materials, breakfast, lunch and bus tour to Rutgers Food Innovation Center

  • Agritourism
  • Social Media
  • Marketing Strategies
  • Value-Added Enterprises
  • How to Set Financial Goals
  • Writing Your Marketing Plan
  • Networking

Register here!

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates
September 19, 2014

Considerations for Small Grain Weed Control

For no-till fields, a non-selective herbicide needs to be used prior to planting. If grasses or perennial weeds are present, glyphosate is a better choice than paraquat. Fields worked with a vertical tillage implement for residue management, still need a non-selective herbicide. These implements are not weed control tools.

There are few effective herbicides labeled for preemergence applications. Sharpen is labeled for wheat and barley but we have limited data in the region. Valor can be used at 1 to 2 oz with the burndown application, but there must be a 7-day period between application and planting wheat. Valor is not labeled for barley.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates
September 9, 2014

Volunteers Needed for Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Count

Scientists at the USDA are conducting a second year of the “Great Stink Bug Count” and are looking for volunteers from NJ! They are trying to identify characteristics of houses that brown marmorated stink bugs look for when finding overwintering sites. Last year’s count had over 200 volunteers with 44 individuals who counted every day.

BMSB OW

The basics:

  1. Fill out the form
  2. Count the BMSB on the exterior of your home each day
  3. Enter in your count data

Consider participating in the 2014 Great Stink Bug Count!

September 15 – October 15, 2014

You can download particpant forms here: http://www.stopbmsb.org/2014-count

Results from 2013 are the first to document factors that may be important in where bugs chose to overwinter. Last year’s results suggest that landscape factors, specifically agriculture and woodland habitats, may have the greatest influence on the number of BMSB overwintering on a house.

This data will go a long way to helping us figure out important steps to managing BMSB. They are looking for citizen scientists to help out! Please fill out the attached form and send it in if you are interested!

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape