The USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) wants to remind New Jersey apple, blueberry, cranberry, grape, and peach growers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2021 crop year is November 20. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing policies also have until November 20 to do so. [Read more…]
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.
Subscriptions are available via EMAIL and RSS.
Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods Under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Rule
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing a new rule on produce traceability under FSMA. This new rule will impact most wholesale fruit and vegetable growers in New Jersey and some retail growers. There is a 120-day (until January 21, 2021) comment period to respond to the proposed rule. Take the time to review the rule and make comments! Do not think it will not impact your operation it will.
What is in the Proposed Rule?
- Those who manufacture, process, pack, or hold a food on the FOOD TRACEBILITY LIST would be required to establish and maintain records associated with specific Critical Tracking Events (CTEs), including growing, receiving, transforming, creating, and shipping.
- For each CTE, entities would be required to establish and maintain records containing Key Data Elements (KDEs), such as the traceability lot code, the date the product was received, the date the product was shipped, and a product description.
- In addition, those subject to the rule would also be required to create and maintain records related to their internal traceability program.
- The proposed rule would require records to be maintained as either electronic, original paper records, or true copies.
- In addition, the proposal states that in the event of a foodborne illness outbreak, a product recall, or other threat to public health, the FDA could require that firms submit, within 24 hours, an electronic sortable spreadsheet containing relevant traceability
Exemptions:
There are some exemptions (full or partial). Full exemptions include small retail food establishments, small farms (less than $25,000 in sales), farms selling food directly to consumers, certain food produced and packaged on a farm, food that receives certain types of processing and transporters of food. Partial exemptions would apply to certain commingled raw agricultural commodities (not including fruits and vegetables subject to the produce safety regulations), fishing vessels, retail food establishments that receive a listed food directly from a farm and farm to school and farm to institutions programs.
How to Submit a Comment:
Submit either electronic or written comments on the proposed rule by January 21, 2021.
The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on September 23, 2020 (pages 59984-60038)
Electronic Submissions
Submit electronic comments in the following way: Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to https://www.regulations.gov will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because your comment will be made public, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such as medical information, your or anyone else’s Social Security number, or confidential business information, such as a manufacturing process. Please note that if you include your name, contact information, or other information that identifies you in the body of your comments, that information will be posted on https://www.regulations.gov.
If you want to submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a written/paper submission and in the manner detailed (see “Written/Paper Submissions” and “Instructions”).
Written/Paper Submissions
Submit written/paper submissions as follows:
Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for written/paper submissions): Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
For written/paper comments submitted to the Dockets Management Staff, FDA will post your comment, as well as any attachments, except for information submitted, marked, and identified as confidential, if submitted as detailed in “Instructions.”
Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket No. FDA-2014-N-0053 for “Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods.” Received comments, those filed in a timely manner (see ADDRESSES), will be placed in the docket and, except for those submitted as “Confidential Submissions,” publicly viewable at https://www.regulations.gov or at the Dockets Management Staff between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or the electronic and
written/paper comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov and insert the docket number, found in brackets in the heading of this document, into the “Search” box and follow the prompts and/or go to the Dockets Management Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
Listening Sessions
FDA will hold three virtual one-day public listening sessions to discuss the proposed rule and solicit public comments. These meetings will occur on November 6 and 18 and December 2, 2020. Search the FDA website for “FSMA Proposed Rule for Food Traceability” for the proposed rule and to sign up for one of the listening sessions.
FSMA Produce Safety Rule Online Training Opportunities
There are two online opportunities to complete the required educational training for farms who need to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule. The first is a self-paced online class provided by the Produce Safety Alliance, the second is a two day virtual training with the Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety Team. See details below for more specific information.
Online PSA Grower Training Course, Sign up today for discount ($125) through October 31, 2020!
• This course satisfies the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement that at least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training
• Complete at your own pace online for 15-30 hour over three weeks
• No webcam or microphone needed
• Discussion groups and self check quizzes
For more information or to sign up go to https://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu/training/grower-training-courses/online-psa-grower-training-course/.
Live FSMA Virtual Training Course via Zoom: January 12 an 13, 2021.
• This course satisfies the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement that at least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training
• Webcam and microphone required
• Must attend both days from 10:30-3:30 to receive your certificate
• Space is limited, 16 spots left
• Deadline to register is 12/31/20 with no exceptions
For more information or to sign up please visit http://rutgersonfarmfoodsafety.eventbrite.com
Reminder: October Nursery Twilight this Thursday (2 CORE-CREDITS)
Thursday, October 22nd, 2020
6:00-7:00 pm
Click here to register for the twilight meeting
Registration password: nursery
Click here to upload your government issued Photo ID and Pesticide License prior to the meeting
Please join us for a CORE (2) credit bearing session where Pat Hastings will be discussing regulatory requirements for pesticide applicator certification, recertification, and licensing in New Jersey. Administrative changes to certification, recertification, and license renewal processes in New Jersey; includes interim COVID-19 exemptions. Will walk through use of online systems in place for manuals, examinations, and license renewal; resource guide with links provided. Revisions to New Jersey pesticide regulations NJAC 7:30 (April 2020), including certification by examination and Worker Protection. Special emphasis on key differences for ag employers and trainers between NJ regulations and 2015 federal Revised Worker Protection Standard. Explanation of federal WPS training policy for COVID-19. A handout: Resources for New Jersey Licensed Pesticide Applicators will also be made available.
Note: If you uploaded materials for the September Nursery Twilight you do NOT need to for the October meeting.
Upload directions: If you click on the photo ID upload link using a smart phone/tablet you will have the option of simply taking a photo of your ID and uploading it directly into the system. Otherwise, you can scan a copy of your photo ID into a computer and follow the directions at the upload link. If you are unable to upload documentation prior to the meeting, please contact Tim Waller for assistance (twaller@njaes.rutgers.edu).
October 2020 Nursery Crop Twilight Meeting (CORE)
NJ Pesticide License Recertification credits anticipated: CORE (2)
Online Program
5:30pm Webinar opens and visual attendance check
–Timothy Waller, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agriculture Agent for Cumberland County
(Recording begins) : Welcome Remarks
6:00pm Pesticide Regulatory Review for Pesticide Applicators, Businesses, and Agricultural Employers
-Patricia Hastings, Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator
(Recording ends)
7:00pm Additional questions; Adjourn
In cooperation with the NJNLA, NJLCA, and NJCTGA
Instructions:
- Register for event at the above link
- Include your pesticide license number and date of birth if you would like recertification credits
- After registration you will receive a confirmation email with a link to the actual twilight meeting.
- Upload a copy of your government issued photo ID and pesticide license at the link above
- Day-of: click the link in the registration confirmation email and select “join by browser-New” around 5:30pm
- Day-of: Have your video on if you wish to obtain credits
Required to be eligible to receive pesticide applicator recertification credits for this twilight program:
1. Attend the entire meeting with live VIDEO feed on, seated in the center of the frame. Those without a webcam or phone attendees without a live video feed are not eligible to receive credits. Call-ins (audio only) are not eligible for pesticide recertification credits as of now; you need a computer/phone/tablet with *live* video capability. If you choose to access via your smartphone, it is recommended that it is fully charged or plugged in; and that any background applications are not running.
2. Attendees must participate throughout the entire session, staying to the end. Individuals are not eligible for credits if they arrive after the start of the first training topic or leave before the end of the last topic. Polls will be randomly scheduled, and attendance will be visually monitored to verify attendance.
3. In order to meet NJDEP-required identity verification requirements, each attendee must provide a copy of a Government issued photo ID (passport, driver’s license, municipal, or county ID) and their New Jersey Pesticide Applicator License as part of their registration.
Please upload files of your photo ID and applicator license to the link above as;
a) “Last name_ First_ Photo ID”
b) “Last name_ First_ Pesticide License”
Note: Licensed applicators with a recertification period expiring October 31, 2020 or October 31, 2021 will be given an exemption from the NJDEP online credit cap of 25% and are eligible for all credits, otherwise this exemption does not apply.
Rutgers is dedicated to protecting your privacy and keeping your personal information safe. Upon upload, your files will be encrypted and stored to Rutgers Connect. Your information will be kept strictly confidential; used solely to meet NJDEP ID verification protocol for recertification credit; and will not be used for any other purpose. Your files will be deleted within 60 days after the training event.
Building Our Capacity: Newest Team Members in Crop Production and Field and Forage
Despite the many challenges 2020 has thrown at all of us, Rutgers Cooperative Extension’s Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources has been successful in filling two positions vital to NJ’s commercial agriculture industries. While these positions are located in Burlington and Salem Counties respectively, they greatly enhance our regional and statewide expertise and outreach resources. [Read more…]
Fall “Ask the Ag Agent” Discussion Forum Wednesday, 10/14 at 7:00PM
Farmers and others are welcome to join this bi-weekly teleconference every-other Wednesday night from 7:00pm-8:00pm in October. The 10/14/20 webinar/call in event is the 3rd of 4 events. The last webinar in this series will be on October 28th. Events are hosted by Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents working with the farming industry.
This call-in or WebEx webinar event features updates on farm management, crop conditions, farm industry observations, agricultural agency programs and other topics discussed by farmers, agricultural agents and other agricultural service providers.
Some topics for this Wednesday include:
1. Status of the New Jersey Vegetable Growers Convention in 2021
2. Fall Season Updates
Hosted by Agricultural Agents Bill Bamka, Stephen Komar, Michelle Infante-Casella and Meredith Melendez, this bi-weekly communication provides a forum for discussion for farmers and all involved in NJ agriculture, including agricultural agency personnel, non-profit organizations and others.
To join the “Ask the Ag Agent” forum each week on a computer/tablet/smartphone via the WebEx Videoconference
Click Here to Join or use the link https://go.rutgers.edu/g4v4gy0x
To Join by phone call:
+1-650-429-3300 passcode 1202639477##
For this event and other Rutgers Cooperative Extension events see the NJAES Calendar.