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 16, 2020

USDA Good Agricultural Practices, Harmonized and Harmonized Plus Audits

Wes Kline reports the New Jersey Department of Agriculture is now scheduling audits.

  • There had been an extension for audits before May 31, but there will be no additional extensions.
  • If you had an audit last year and need to schedule a renewal, or if you need a new audit, now is the time to make an appointment.
  • Anyone wanting an audit should have gone through food safety training which is held each year December through March.  The auditor will want to see that you have had some type of training.
  • To schedule the audit, email Chris Kleinguenther at christian.kleinguenther@ag.state.nj.us.
Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
June 15, 2020

Tonight’s Webinar for Ag Employers – Updated Agenda

Understanding & Implementing NJ’s COVID-19 Guidance For Migrant & Seasonal Farmworkers, Employers & Housing Providers
Tue June 16, 2020
7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
All NJ agricultural employers are invited to learn directly from NJ Departments of Health, Labor and Agriculture who will discuss expectations for implementation of the “NJ COVID-19 Guidance for Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers, Their Employers & Housing Providers” document in a Webex webinar hosted by Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

This event requires registration and there will be a follow-up survey.

Agenda (Updated)
Welcome
  • Rick VanVranken & Wes Kline, Agricultural Agents, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Introductory Remarks
  • Secretary of Agriculture Doug Fisher, NJ Dept. of Agriculture
Introduction of Speakers
  • Asst. Secretary of Agriculture Monique Purcell, NJDA
Overview and Expectations for Implementing COVID-19 Guidance for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers, Agriculture Employers and Housing Providers.
  • NJ Dept. of Health
    • Amanda Medina-Forrester, MA, MPH, Executive Director, Office of Minority & Multicultural Health &
    • Siobhan Pappas, Ph.D., Coordinator, Childhood Lead Program
  • NJ Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development
    • Christine Blumauer, Policy Advisor, Office of the Commissioner
  • Comments from Federally Qualified Health Center representatives
    • Michelle Blanchfield, MPH, Zufall Health
    • Bridget Hogan, Ocean Health Initiatives
Moderated Questions & Discussion between each presentation
Reaction & Summary
  • Pete Furey, Exec. Director, NJ Farm Bureau
The webinar will end with a quick follow-up survey to assess your understanding and implementation of these guidelines. It will be completely anonymous.

The NJDOH partnered with the NJDA and the NJDOL to create this guidance for agricultural employers focusing on precautions to help protect farm employees from COVID-19 on New Jersey farms and in farm labor housing. This webinar will review these guidelines. Questions from participants will be taken and addressed during the webinar.

Register

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
June 11, 2020

Webinar Scheduled for Ag Employers – Understanding & Implementing NJ’s COVID-19 Guidance For Migrant & Seasonal Farmworkers, Employers & Housing Providers

Cover 5-20-2020 NJ DOH Interim Guidance for Migrant-Seasonal Farmworkers
Tue June 16, 2020
7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
All NJ agricultural employers are invited to learn directly from NJ Departments of Health, Labor and Agriculture who will discuss expectations for implementation of the “NJ COVID-19 Guidance for Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers, Their Employers & Housing Providers” document in a Webex webinar hosted by Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

This event requires registration and there will be a follow-up survey.

Agenda
Welcome
  • Rick VanVranken & Wes Kline, Agricultural Agents, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
Introductory Remarks
  • Secretary of Agriculture Doug Fisher, NJ Dept. of Agriculture
Introduction of Speakers
  • Asst. Secretary of Agriculture Monique Purcell, NJDA
Overview and Expectations for Implementing COVID-19 Guidance for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers, Agriculture Employers and Housing Providers.
  • Amanda Medina-Forrester, MA, MPH, Executive Director, Office of Minority & Multicultural Health, NJ Dept. of Health
  • Christine Blumauer, Policy Advisor, Office of the Commissioner, NJ Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development
Moderated Questions & Discusson
Reaction & Summary
  • Pete Furey, Exec. Director & Ben Cassella, Field Representative, NJ Farm Bureau
The webinar will end with a quick follow-up survey to assess your understanding and implementation of these guidelines. It will be completely anonymous.

The NJDOH partnered with the NJDA and the NJDOL to create this guidance for agricultural employers focusing on precautions to help protect farm employees from COVID-19 on New Jersey farms and in farm labor housing. This webinar will review these guidelines. Questions from participants will be taken and addressed during the webinar.

Register

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
June 10, 2020

Important Update on Registration of Low-Volatility Dicamba Herbicides

On June 3, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling that vacates current U.S. registrations of of three dicamba herbicides, XtendiMax (Bayer), Engenia (BASF) and FeXapan (Corteva). The Court ruled in favor of a petition challenging the EPA’s 2018 registration decision. The ruling comes after a group of environmental organizations filed a petition with the Court challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s . Other dicamba-containing products are not concerned by this ruling.

The subsequent action by the EPA provides, among other things, that “growers and commercial applicators may use existing stocks that were in their possession on June 3, 2020, the effective date of the Court decision. Such use must be consistent with the product’s previously-approved label, and may not continue after July 31, 2020.”

Click here for the EPA’s full order – see page 11 for key details.

The EPA’s order addresses the use, sale, and distribution of existing stocks of  low-volatility dicamba products impacted by the Court’s ruling.

 

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , ,
June 9, 2020

USDA – Farm Service Agency – Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP)

USDA is providing critical support to our nation’s farmers and ranchers through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). CFAP provides vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities with financial assistance that gives them the ability to absorb sales declines and increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The attached fact sheet provides an overview of the program.

For more information about the CFAP program, visit farmers.gov/cfap or contact your local FSA office. To find your local FSA office, visit offices.usda.gov.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: ,
June 8, 2020

NJ Motor Vehicle Commission Announces Plans to Reopen in Stages Starting June 29th to Limited In-Person Transactions

The State of New Jersey announced on Friday 6/5/20, plans for a phased reopening of MVC facilities to the publicTruck hauling sod following closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The reopening will proceed in a way that safeguards public health and safety, bringing many changes and improved efficiencies to Commission operations.

MVC workspaces have been extensively overhauled during the COVID-19 closure to add Plexiglas barriers and other social distancing measures. MVC employees are returning to the agencies prior to the public openings, for health & safety briefings, hardware and software reboots, and training on new protocols.

Going forward, everyone who enters the MVC agency will be required to wear a face covering. That includes customers as well as employees. If a customer cannot wear a face covering, MVC will make other arrangements for their transaction.

In order to limit crowds and speed services during the phased reopening, some agencies have been designated as Licensing Centers and some as Vehicle Centers. Lists of Licensing Centers and Vehicle Centers, as well as information on transactions, will be posted soon at NJMVC.gov.

Drop-off and pick-up transactions will be processed starting June 15, but only the following:
• At designated Licensing Centers, MVC will be processing and validating permits from driving schools and high schools on a drop-off basis.
• At designated Vehicle Centers, MVC will be processing registration and title work from dealers. License plates can also be surrendered by drop-off at these agencies in a designated area.

MVC will also be processing registration/title transfers for private sales by a new combination online and mail-in procedure. Customers will be able to sign up for this option at NJMVC.gov. More detail will be provided in the next few days.

These activities will clear a three-month backlog from our March 15 closure:

  • Road tests and the issuing of new licenses and permits are tentatively expected to start on June 29 (subject to change), with some additional transactions like out-of-state transfers and private sales registrations, but still on a limited basis to prevent crowding.
  • The Commission has tripled road-testing capacity, adding 11 courses and reassigning over 100 Safety Specialists to serve as road test examiners for 30 to 60 days. This takes MVC from an average of 5,800 road tests per week to about 16,300. MVC expects the backlog to be cleared by the end of the 60 days.
    Those whose road tests were canceled during the shut-down will be contacted by MVC and provided a secure link to get the first appointments.
  • At designated Licensing Centers starting June 29 (tentative), MVC will be processing new licenses and permits, out-of-state transfers, and REAL ID for those whose appointments were canceled.

At designated Vehicle Centers starting June 29 (tentative), MVC will be adding individual registration and title transactions.

Transactions with NJMVC that can be done online will not be available in person at this time.

NOTE EXTENSIONS ARE STILL APPLICABLE: All driver licenses, non-driver IDs, vehicle registrations, inspection stickers, and temporary tags expiring before May 31 have been extended to July 31. Documents expiring in June or July are extended by two months. Most renewals, replacements, changes of address, and other transactions can be processed online at NJMVC.gov.

To obtain a farm vehicle certificate, contact your local Rutgers Cooperative Extension office in your home county. Most RCE county offices do not allow public access currently for face-to-face interaction. However, they may have other means of providing you a certificate. For more information on farm vehicle regulations with NJMVC and farm vehicle certificates see the NJFB New Jersey Motor Vehicle Regulations for Farm Vehicles and Equipment.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With: ,