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.

June 3, 2021

USDA to Begin Loan Payments to Socially Disadvantaged Borrowers under American Rescue Plan Act

WASHINGTON, May 21, 2021 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA) today published the first notice of funding availability (NOFA) (PDF, 242 KB) announcing loan payments for eligible borrowers with qualifying direct farm loans under the American Rescue Plan Act Section 1005. The official NOFA will be published in the Federal Register early next week and USDA expects payments to begin in early June and continue on a rolling basis. A subsequent notice addressing guaranteed loan balances and direct loans that no longer have collateral and have been previously referred to the Department of Treasury for debt collection for offset, will be published within 120 days.

“The American Rescue Plan has made it possible for USDA to deliver historic debt relief to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers beginning in June,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “USDA is recommitting itself to gaining the trust and confidence of America’s farmers and ranchers using a new set of tools provided in the American Rescue Plan to increase opportunity, advance equity and address systemic discrimination in USDA programs.”

Section 1005 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provides funding and authorization for USDA FSA to pay up to 120 percent of direct and guaranteed loan outstanding balances as of January 1, 2021, for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers as defined in Section 2501(a) of the Food, Agriculture Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 2279(a)). Section 2501(a) defines a socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher as a farmer or rancher who is a member of a socially disadvantaged group, which is further defined as a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group without regard to their individual qualities. Qualifying loans as part of today’s announcement are certain direct loans under the Farm Loan Programs (FLP) and Farm Storage Facility Loan Program (FSFL).

For much of the history of the USDA, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers have faced discrimination—sometimes overt and sometimes through deeply embedded rules and policies—that have prevented them from achieving as much as their counterparts who do not face these documented acts of discrimination. Over the past 30 years, several major civil rights lawsuits have compensated farmers for specific acts of discrimination—including Pigford I and Pigford II, Keepseagle, and the Garcia cases. However, those settlements and other related actions did not address the systemic and cumulative impacts of discrimination over a number of decades that the American Rescue Plan now begins to address.

Sections 1005 and 1006 of ARPA provide USDA with new tools to address longstanding inequities for socially disadvantaged borrowers. Section 1006 of ARPA provides additional funding to begin long-term racial equity work within USDA, including to address heirs property claims and to stand up an Equity Commission to identify barriers to access USDA programming.

To learn more about the loan payments to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, visit www.farmers.gov/americanrescueplan.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

#

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

USDA Press Release No. 0109.21

Contact Email: press@usda.gov

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With: ,
May 28, 2021

2020/2021 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations available on-line

The 2020/2021 Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations guide is still available for FREE on-line. The complete 2020/2021 Vegetable Production Recommendations guide or specific sections can be downloaded depending on your production needs.

 

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Vegetable Crops
May 27, 2021

Monitor field edge and in-field large seeded weed emergence pattern

Ivy-leaf morning glory seedlings with one set of true leaves seemingly sprang up over night with the storms that tracked across Southern NJ Wednesday night. This large seeded annual twining vine can significantly reduce yields in soybeans. Where in the field these seedlings are located should be monitored closely over the next few days. Don’t assume preemergence herbicides that have activity on seedlings up to four-inch morning glories are still going to do the job. It all depends on how many days (or weeks) went by since herbicides were applied and if this was the first activating rainfall since application.

Morning glory seeds can germinate at multiple depths in the soil profile escaping what soil residual activity was present before the rains came. Scouting cues of suppressive herbicidal activity from products like Valor, Canopy, Classic, Authority, Flexstar, Firstrate are: Noticeably larger plants along field edges that did not receive spray coverage, and more of them; but few plants further into field interiors where herbicides were applied. Look also for signs of herbicide activity over the next few days.

Preemergence products with some activity on morning glories have group 2, 5 and 14 modes of action and have somewhat similar symptoms of weed injury. “Seedling weeds will then either turn brown and die shortly after being exposed to light, or will cease growing, turn yellow and then turn brown from the growing point out.” – page 4, 2010 Valor XLT Soybean Label, Valent Product EPA Reg. No. 59639-117).

Even one morning glory left unchecked in a foot of row can reduce soybean yield in that row by 50%. If flushes of morning glories are emerging throughout the soybean crop, consider lightly cultivating if at all possible if row spacing permits before that early (full season) flush of morning glories have a chance to entwine. However, keep in mind that cultivation will incorporate surface applied herbicides. Too deep and this could reduce effectiveness against small-seeded broadleaf weed seeds brought up closer to the soil surface.

In beans, post-emergence herbicides applied to emerged morning glories generally only provide suppression and may not prevent seed production. This is generally true for all large-seeded annuals.

Don’t let those roadside edge plants outside the field go to seed. Other plants seen along with ivy morning glory yesterday are emerging jimsonweed and cocklebur seedlings, both large-seeded annuals. If you see a hand sized goose foot shaped plant it could be giant ragweed, also a large seeded annual.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock
May 27, 2021

Controlling Cercospora leaf spot in beet

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS), caused by Cercospora beticola, is an important and emerging disease in beet and swiss chard production in New Jersey. Efforts to control this disease has become more difficult in the past few years in some areas of southern New Jersey. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
May 26, 2021

Managing Heat Stress-Livestock Operations

With the increased temperatures we saw this month, being aware of potential heat stress signs and how to prevent them from happening is very important with livestock production. Luckily, in the North East, our summers are not brutally hot compared to our neighbors in the South and in the Mid-West. It is worth noting that our area can have high humidity that can cause problems for livestock. Depending on the species, and the stage of production, points on the heat index will vary for causes of heat stress.  Identify animals that may be more susceptible to heat stress, i.e. overweight animals, younger and older ones, as well as animals that are pregnant. Establishing a plan of action prior to extreme weather days will also help out.

1) Make sure there is plenty of clean water for drinking. If it is possible, add another trough so there is more access to water. This will allow all animals in your herd to have the ability to obtain water.

2) Do not work your animals on hot days.

3) Provide shade if possible and have access to air movement (wind and breezes).

4) Cool the ground- pigs love to wallow in the mud to keep cool, or you could wet some straw in a shady spot in the pasture for a herd of cattle.

5) Control flies as much as possible because this will add more stress to the animals.

6) Pay attention to the weather forecast and check the livestock weather hazard guide.

7) Know when to intervene (the heat index is 75 or greater for a 72-hour period or the daytime heat index reaches 84 or higher for two consecutive days).

Things are going to happen that are uncontrollable (the weather), but if you plan ahead, you can minimize the effects of heat stress to your livestock.

Livestock Weather Hazard Guide

It’s Hot Out There and Shade is Key to Cattle Performance | Panhandle Agriculture (ufl.edu)

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock Tagged With:
May 25, 2021

Keep Up the Customer Communication!

Now that the dates have been set for the lifting of the face covering requirements indoors and social distancing requirements indoors and out (May 28th) farms have decisions to make. What will you require of your customers while on your property? How will you handle customers who expect more or less when it comes to COVID protections?  The CDC recommends that those not fully vaccinated should continue to socially distance themselves from others and wear a mask, but these are no longer requirements under state Executive Orders.  Here are some suggestions on how to prepare your employees and customers for their experiences on your farm this season.

1. Communicate your farm policies regarding COVID protections clearly online and on the farm.
2. If you choose to no longer require masks indoors at the farm be understanding of customers who may choose to wear a mask.  “Mask-free” environments are not enforceable, those who wish to wear masks must be allowed to do so.
3. When possible continue to provide order ahead and pick-up of items sold at your farm. This allows those who are unvaccinated or wary of those who are unmasked to still be able to shop at your farm.
4. Prepare your staff on how to handle disgruntled customers. Who is the right person at the farm to handle these situations? Have a plan on who and how you will respond to these situations.
5. Realize that you will not make everyone happy. The best you can do is decide what your masking and social distancing policies are, stick to them, and communicate the heck out of them.

Important dates:
May 28th – Indoor mask mandate lifted. Businesses may require customers to wear masks indoors, but it is no longer mandated. 6’ social distancing required indoors lifted. Businesses may still enforce 6’ of social distancing.  This does not apply to summer camp settings with children.

June 4th – Indoor gathering limits lifted.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops