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 15, 2014

2014 Tree Fruit Meetings for Commercial Growers

A full slate of tree fruit meetings sponsored by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and Rutgers Cooperative Extension have been scheduled for the upcoming 2014 growing season.
The season begins with:

  • South Jersey Tree Fruit Meeting – February 13 @ RAREC Note: New Date Feb 14
  • North Jersey Fruit Meeting – March 7 @ Warren Grange

These annual “winter” meetings are followed by a series of evening fruit meetings in both northern and southern NJ throughout April, May, and early June. Some of these latter evening meetings will be at grower sites. The meeting season culminates with the RAREC Fruit Research Field Day on June 26, which will include visits to research vineyards as well as orchards.
[Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Tree Fruit
January 15, 2014

NJ Agriculture Convention and Trade Show

Date: February 4-6, 2014
Location: Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, NJ

Complete program and registration materials are available now at the NJ Vegetable Growers Association website.
Hope to see you in AC!

View Convention Program

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates
October 31, 2013

Vegetable Disease ID Workshop

This Workshop is for Small, Beginning, and/or Organic Farm Operators

Date: Friday, November 15th 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County
930 Spruce Street, Trenton 08648
Cost: $25.00 includes lunch

Speakers:

  • Disease Suppression with Brassicas and Cover Crops
    Jack Rabin, Director Rutgers Farm Programs
  • Nutrient Deficiency ID vs Disease ID
    Meredith Melendez, Mercer County Senior Program Coordinator
  • Rutgers Pepper Disease and Disorder Research
    Wesley Kline, Cumberland County Agriculture Agent
  • Management of Vegetable Diseases
    Andy Wyenandt, Vegetable Pathology Specialist
  • Pesticide Safety for Small Farms
    Wesley Kline, Cumberland County Agriculture Agent

Registration required with payment by November 12th
Pesticide credits offered: CORE – 4, PP2 – 6, 10 – 6
For more info call Dana at 609-989-6830

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates
October 31, 2013

Marketing for Profit: Tools for Success

This webinar series for farmers and educators is supported by USDA NE SARE and runs November 2013 through February 2014.

Designed with the assistance of regional and national marketing experts to provide critical marketing insights for farmers and farm markets throughout the northeast, the webinars are free, approximately an hour and a half long, and easy to access with a basic internet connection. This winter, 6 webinars will be held and interested participants are encouraged to register.
For more information and to register go to:
http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/ work-shop-programs/online-marketing-for-profit-course.html?massmail=122

Sponsors: The Farmers Market Federation of NY and the NY Farm Viability Institute in partnership with USDA Northeast SARE

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates
October 31, 2013

USDA-NRCS Program Application Date Extended

State Conservationist Carrie Mosley has extended the application period for two conservation programs to November 15th. All applications received for Agricultural Management Assistance (AMA) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) by November 15 will be ranked and funds allocated after the new deadline. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Organic Production
October 1, 2013

Ag Impacts During 2013 Shutdown

From Douglas H. Fisher, Secretary, NJ Department of Agriculture

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture is committed to keeping you informed of how the ongoing shutdown of federal services will impact agriculture in New Jersey. As of this afternoon, we know the following from a conference call today with USDA and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA):  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates