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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May 26, 2020

Last “Ask the Ag Agent” Webinar Tonight at 7:00PM

The last springtime Rutgers Cooperative Extension, “Ask the Ag Agent” weekly 1-hour sessions for farmers will take place tonight 5/27/20 at 7:00PM. We realize the season is well underway and most farmers are out in the fields. With the regular sessions ending for now, please reach out to your local County Agricultural Agent at anytime for assistance. We are open for business, and as times have changed we have changed with them.

This last online webinar/call in event will begin promptly at 7:00PM with an open forum to discuss ag-related questions about production, marketing, regulations and any other topics farmers wish to discuss.

Thank you to all who joined each week over the past two months and thank you to the Ag Agents and Extension Specialists who have participated. Bill Bamka, Stephen Komar, Meredith Melendez and Michelle Infante-Casella created and hosted this forum one week after the State of NJ went into lockdown and it has been quite the journey. Please join us for one last session for spring. All are welcome.

To access via WebEx on a computer go to https://go.rutgers.edu/rc9n3kxt

Join by phone
+1-650-429-3300 USA Toll
Access code: 799 743 872 # and then # again to join

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With:
May 26, 2020

Reminder for Tonight’s On-Farm Direct Marketing, Farmer Panel Webinar

Tonight at 7:00PM – Last Session for the On-Farm Direct Marketing May Webinar series.

Covid directionsFarmer Panel: Tracy Duffield-Duffield’s Farm Market, Dave Specca- Specca’s Pick-Your-Own Farm and Jess Niederer – Chickadee Creek Farm and CSA will discuss what they have changed on their farms due to COVID-19.

Please join us online at https://go.rutgers.edu/k0d59m8h

or

On the phone 1-650-429-3300 with Access code: 226 795 368 # and then # again.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: ,
May 22, 2020

COVID-19 and Animals

Currently, there is no evidence that animals play a significant role in spreading SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.  Based on the limited data available, the risk of animals spreading COVID-19 to people is low.  In some rare situations, people may be able to spread the virus to animals.  Further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by the virus, and the role animals may play in the spread of COVID-19.  The clinical spectrum of illness for the SARS-CoV-2 virus remains largely undefined in animals.  Animals may present with respiratory or gastrointestinal clinical signs based on the presentation of other coronaviruses more commonly found in animals as well as other emerging coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-1 infection.   Clinical signs expected to be compatible with possible SARS-CoV-2 infection in mammalian animals may include fever, coughing, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, lethargy, sneezing, nasal/ocular discharge, vomiting,and diarrhea.

Although there have been limited reports of domestic companion animals testing positive for COVID-19, the risk of transmission from animals to humans is thought to be low. Routine COVID-19 testing is not recommended.

Please see the following factsheet from the State Department of Agriculture Division of Animal Health :

COVID-19 and Animals.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety
May 20, 2020

JUST RELEASED – INTERIM COVID-19 Guidance For Migrant & Seasonal Farmworkers, Their Employers, & Housing Providers

Cover 5-20-2020 NJ DOH Interim Guidance for Migrant-Seasonal FarmworkersNJ Dept of Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher just announced, “At 3:30 today, we just received final approval to release the attached official guidance on migrant seasonal farmworker housing.”

The New Jersey Department of Health is partnering with its sister agencies New Jersey Department of Agriculture and New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development to assist agricultural businesses and farm workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please review the attached document carefully. This is titled INTERIM CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 (COVID-19) GUIDANCE FOR MIGRANT AND SEASONAL FARMWORKERS, THEIR EMPLOYERS, AND HOUSING PROVIDERS.

Adopt these recommendations carefully for the protection of not only your workforce, but for you, your family and the entire ag community.

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,
May 20, 2020

Wednesday Discussions: Ask the Ag Agent

Last night on “Ask the Ag Agent” we discussed The NJ Department of Health’s “Interim Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Guidance for Migrant and Seasonal Farmworkers, Their Employers, and Housing Providers” guidance document. We will continue to facilitate discussion on “Ask the Ag Agent” forum for this topic and others next week. Please feel free to bring up any ag-related topics for discussion on this forum.

“Ask the Ag Agent” weekly 1-hour sessions for farmers will be hosted weekly and continue each Wednesday until May 27th. The online conferencing/call in events will begin at 7:00PM with an open forum to discuss ag-related questions about production, marketing, regulations and any other topics farmers wish to discuss. All are welcome. Events are hosted by William Bamka, Stephen Komar, Meredith Melendez and Michelle Infante-Casella – Agricultural Agents.

To access via WebEx on a computer go to https://go.rutgers.edu/rc9n3kxt

Or, Join by phone
+1-650-429-3300 USA Toll
Access code: 799 743 872

For additional Rutgers Cooperative Extension educational programs check out https://events.rutgers.edu/njaes/

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Fruit, Organic Production, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: ,
May 19, 2020

NJMVC Further Extends Driver License, Registration, and Inspection Expiration Dates Due to COVID-19

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission Chief Administrator Sue Fulton, on Monday, May 18th, announced additional extensions to driver license, registration, and inspection expiration dates in the continuing efforts to mitigate COVID-19 and safeguard public health.

Effective immediately, the following documents, if expiring between March 13 and May 31, have been extended to July 31. Documents expiring June 30 are extended two months to August 31, and those expiring July 31 are extended to September 30.

• All Standard driver licenses (including permits) and standard non-driver IDs
• Privately owned and commercial vehicle registrations (including Farmer and Farm Use registrations)
• Vehicle inspections
• Purple Heart/Disabled Veteran placards
• Temporary tags

“Get it done online now, if you’re able,” Fulton suggests. “We do anticipate that volumes will spike once we reopen and when we reach the end of these extensions. Our job is to serve customers in the most efficient way possible and one way we can do that is by steering people to our expanded list of online services.”

On March 13, the NJMVC initially announced two-month extensions for licenses, registrations, and inspection stickers expiring in March, April, and May, timelines that have now been pushed back.

The NJMVC encourages customers to utilize online services, which have been expanded during the COVID-19 crisis. In most cases, customers can renew a license, replace a lost license, change an address, renew a registration, and complete other transactions through the NJMVC’s Online Services portal.

Customers also should check NJMVC.gov for the latest information and updates.

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