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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October 21, 2020

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

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Food Safety, Fruit, Vegetable Crops
October 20, 2020

Reminder: October Nursery Twilight this Thursday (2 CORE-CREDITS)

Thursday, October 22nd, 2020Nursery Twilight Meeting

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.

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Turf
October 13, 2020

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…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , ,
October 13, 2020

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.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Nursery, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: ,
October 7, 2020

Update – Agricultural Water Permits and COVID19

In accordance with the Permit Extension Act signed by NJ Governor Murphy on July 1, the term of certain governmental permits, approvals, and deadlines that were due to expire on March 9, 2020, or the specified period following it, were extended. In addition and in accord with the rules published in the NJ Register on Sept. 8, an official request for such an extension via a NJDEP website was required for approval of the COVID-19 extension period by October 8, 2020.

These requests were finalized today on behalf of the growers through information provided by NJDEP Bureau staff and the efforts of ANR Department members to obtain missing required information, updating spreadsheets, and inputting information online.

This effort encompassed 613 agricultural water permits across the state with expiration dates from 2020 through 2024. In consultation with NJDEP, it was decided to include a wide a window as possible to accommodate the unknown future regarding COVID19 and NJ’s public health emergency declarations.

Growers who currently hold an ag water permit and a valid email address should have already received an auto-generated email from the NJDEP website once their information was uploaded confirming a permit extension request. If the permit holder had no email on record, ANR emails were included and the county faculty or staff member received the confirmation email. These should be filed locally with the allocation permit information, and a printed copy shared with the grower as soon as feasible.

I want to acknowledge Terry Pilawski, Jennifer Myers, Matthew Myers, Christa VanHaren, Yvens Dessalines (NJDEP) and Monique Purcell (NJDA) who reached out to initiate this collaboration, and Talia Zirin, Amina Lamrabat, and our ANR members and county office staff across the state for assisting me in this important endeavor.

The accommodations provided by the Permit Extension Act of 2020 supplement actions taken by Governor Murphy by way of Executive Order and by the NJDEP to address the impacts of COVID-19.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Tree Fruit, Turf, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , ,
September 30, 2020

Tips for Renewal of NJDEP Private Pesticide Applicators Licenses

RecieptRutgers Cooperative Extension Agricultural Agents have been receiving questions from farmers on what to do with the renewal applications they recently received from NJDEP Pesticide Control Program. The invoice may be somewhat confusing. So here are a few tips to help.

1. The $0.00 Amount Due is correct on the invoice. Farmers with a “Private” applicator licenses do not pay for licenses and renewals. So you do not need to send any payment and in the box where it says “enter the amount of your payment” enter $0.00.

2. The best way to complete this renewal is not to mail in the form, but instead renew online. CLICK HERE to renew your license online. YOU WILL NEED YOUR PAPERWORK WITH YOUR “INVOICE NUMBER”. Do not use the NJEMS Bill ID number, instead find the invoice number above.

It would be a good idea to print the screen with the confirmation that you renewed online, since the system does not send you an email confirmation. The screen also states, “License generation may take a few weeks”. So, please be patient and if you need to use your license number, continue to use the same number on your expired license for recertification credits, as your license number will not change. It also says to not send the paper forms once you did your online submission. See photo to the below for an example of the confirmation screen you will see when renewing online.Website

3. If you must mail the renewal, here are some TIPS:

a. You will need to provide your own envelope and a stamp when mailing back the forms.

b. Also, the form may be confusing since the bottom tab to return says to mail to Treasurer-State of New Jersey, while the “Reminder” section says to mail forms/letters to NJDEP Licensing and Registrations.

c. Do not mail the bottom tab and other information for renewal of your Private Pesticide license to NJDEP. It is to be mailed to the NJ Department of Treasury – as stated on the return portion at the bottom of the first page.

d. Fill out page 2 and check to see if all your information is correct on page 2. Do not forget to sign and date the bottom of page 2 before mailing with your “payment” tab from page 1.

e. It may be best to send these forms in using USPS “Certified Mail” or UPS or FEDEX to track that it was received. Your pesticide license is very important for your business and you would want to verify it was received.

If you need more assistance with pesticide licenses, contact the NJDEP. Contact information in the photo below.Zoom in of a reciept

Best wishes and we hope this information is helpful in renewing your NJDEP Private Pesticide Applicators License.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Nursery, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: ,