Rutgers Cooperative Extension
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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The USDA has translated its organic regulations and resources into Spanish. Available online are:
USDA Organic Regulations
Organic Foods Production Act
NOP Handbook
Organic Integrity in the Supply Chain
Training materials
Video resources on certified organic FAQ, preventive practices, and recordkeeping
Tip/Fact sheets on topics ranging from soil assessments, composting, manures, orchards, livestock, dairy, meat, and others
The COVID-19 pandemic has people around the world, and right here in NJ, talking about the Food System, and in many, concerned about what they perceive to be broken. Agriculture often considers itself the food system, but in considering the complexity of today’s farm-to-fork movement of food, agricultural production has become a small, albeit indispensable (unless you consider the movement to cell-based culture of food materials), cog on the wheel.
Food Policy Councils are forming around the country and there are at least two or three here in NJ. The NJ Food Democracy Collaborative is one focusing on the shore counties and much of southern NJ. In collaboration with Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension and several other co-sponsors, they are hosting this webinar on June 16 to bring national experts in the roles and activities of food policy councils to discuss “Building our table: Making food more Affordable, Accessible, and Available in NJ through Local Food Policy Councils.”
They are inviting anyone involved in the food system, from production to processing, distribution, preparation and consumption (that’s everyone) to learn more about getting involved to make a sustainable food system capable of feeding our residents, visitors and beyond the Garden State. Register for the webinar at
https://go.rutgers.edu/g4m9ukqm
or by clicking on the poster.
May 17, 2021
Soil residual herbicides require precipitation to activate
Salem County. Surface soil conditions are quite dry across much of the acreage planted in the last two weeks. While their is adequate moisture in the rooting zone for corn and soybean germination, without a half inch to inch of precipitation or irrigation, soil residual herbicides applied to manage herbicide resistant weeds and other annuals will be slow to activate. Monitor fields for signs of common lambsquarters and amaranth as air temperatures rise this week into the 80’s.
In response to catastrophic aquaculture losses due to major winter storms that hit states along the U.S. Gulf Coast in February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced a policy change that makes food fish and other aquatic species eligible for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP). Previously, only farm-raised game and bait fish were eligible for death loss ELAP benefits. Beginning June 1, eligible aquaculture producers can request ELAP assistance for 2021 losses. This policy change is for the 2021 and subsequent program years.
ELAP provides financial assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees, and farm-raised fish for losses due to disease, certain adverse weather events or loss conditions, including blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the Secretary.
To be eligible, losses must have occurred on or after Jan. 1, 2021. For farm-raised fish and other aquatic species death losses only that occurred prior to June 1, 2021, FSA is waiving the requirement to file a notice of loss within 30 calendar days of when the loss is apparent. An aquaculture producer will still need to be able to provide contemporaneous records upon request to document the eligible loss event and demonstrate the beginning and ending inventory. The deadline to file an application for payment for the 2021 program year is Jan. 31, 2022.
USDA offers a comprehensive portfolio of disaster assistance programs. On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Farm Loan Discovery Tool can help producers and landowners determine all program or loan options available for disaster recovery assistance. For assistance with a crop insurance claim, producers and landowners should contact their crop insurance agent. For FSA and NRCS programs, please contact your local USDA Service Center.
Rutgers Cooperative Extension is working with other extension professionals in the northeastern states to deliver weekly, one-hour webinar programming for agritourism and on-farm direct market operators. The 3rd session will focus on what to do in the event of an confrontation, accident, or injury, and how to communicate with the media in a crisis. Registration is being handled through the University of Vermont. See information below to join the webinars. There are separate registrations for each event.
Session 3: What to Do when Something Goes Wrong, Incident Response and Media Relations, When: May 18, 2021 7:00-8:00 PM Eastern Time. Presenters: Bill Bamka, Stephen Komar, Bill Hlubik, Rutgers Cooperative Extension – Register HERE
Session 4: Liability Insurance, When: May 25, 2021 12:00-1:00 PM Eastern Time. Presenter will be an insurance agent from VT: – Register HERE
Recorded past sessions will be posted to this website if you missed any sessions: https://www.uvm.edu/extension/vtagritourism/safety-and-liability-farms-during-covid-19
To request a disability-related accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Christi Sherlock at 802-476-2003 or Christi.Sherlock@uvm.edu for assistance.
Rutgers Cooperative Extension has announced the resumption of in-person programming beginning this month. Extension professionals across all program areas have the option to offer in-person programming, limited at this time to outdoor events with no more than 25 total in attendance. This includes farm and field visits, twilight meetings, and pesticide applicator recertification events. Resuming in-person events doesn’t mean that online or hybrid events will end; both are essential tools for successful RCE programming.
These RCE guidelines and expectations are for all participants to follow to attend these events:
Voluntary Participation – Participation at in-person RCE activities is completely voluntary – there is no requirement for attendance.
Health Screening Form – Attendees will be required to bring a completed RCE Health Screening Form, which can be be accessed at https://go.rutgers.edu/RCE.healthform. Once completed, please take a screenshot of the big green checkmark or print out a copy to show when you arrive before being allowed to attend.
Face Masks – Every participant will be required to wear a face mask / covering over their mouth and nose at all times. Arrive wearing your mask, and make sure to keep it in place during the entire event.
Physical Distancing – Everyone will be required to practice physical distancing, staying at least 6 feet apart.
Hygiene & Sanitation – Everyone who attends is expected to practice good hygiene habits. Participants should wash or sanitize their hands when they arrive and before they leave, and as needed throughout the activity. You are encouraged to bring your own hand sanitizer to limit shared surfaces.
What to Bring With You – Food will not be provided and sharing food is not permitted. Make sure to bring your own refreshments, filled water bottle, tools/equipment, notebook and writing tool, camp chair, etc. depending on the event you’re attending.
All participants are expected to follow these rules and procedures to help make every RCE in-person event safe and enjoyable for everyone. Please be sure to check the NJAES Calendar of Events and the RCE office in your county for upcoming events.
