REGISTER BY FRIDAY: Pesticide Certification Testing NEXT Thursday 10am at NJACTS for New & Renewing New Jersey Applicators!
REGISTER & STUDY NOW: Pesticide Certification Testing Thursday 10am at NJACTS for New & Renewing New Jersey Applicators!
Requirements for Private Pesticide Applicator Certification and Licensing
USDA is requesting input on rodent control in agriculture (due Monday January 23rd)
Recent Agriculture Bills Passed in NJ Senate and Other News
Bill A1929 Aca (1R)
Session 2022 – 2023 – signed in to Law, September 22, 2022.
“Directs Department of Agriculture to establish New Jersey Minority, Women, and Underserved Farmer Registry.”
For more information see: https://njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2022/A1929
For a synopsis of this bill see, https://wrnjradio.com/bill-assisting-minority-women-farmers-signed-into-law/
Bill A285. Session 2022 – 2023. ASSEMBLY, No. 285. Establishes “New Farmers Improvement Grant Program” to provide matching grants for farm improvements to beginning farmers.
For more information see, https://njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2022/A285/bill-text?f=A0500&n=285_I1
For a synopsis of this bill see https://wrnjradio.com/committee-clears-bill-that-will-create-grant-opportunities-for-new-farmers/
Other Bills of interest to New Jersey Farmers. Bill Text: NJ S757. “Authorizes special occasion events at certain commercial farms on preserved farmland, under certain conditions.” https://legiscan.com/NJ/text/S757/id/2608677.
For more on this bill and it’s implications, from the Secretary of Agriculture. “Please click the video below to hear from Secretary Douglas H. Fisher regarding an important bill, S757/A2772, which will allow additional, nonagricultural special occasion event to be held NOT JUST on preserved farm wineries – but on ALL preserved farms.”- January 13, 2023. Secretary of Agriculture.
Women farmers. For additional resources on agriculture business, finance, market, and biosecurity planning, see the late registration option for Annie’s Project. The next session is Wednesday, January 18th. Contact the project coordinator for late registation options via the instructions in: https://sites.rutgers.edu/annies-project/wp-content/uploads/sites/753/2023/01/Poster_2023_AnniesProject_Online.pdf
Pennsylvania Advises PA Poultry Owners to House Poultry Indoors
Poultry owners, please be aware of the advisory in Pennsylvania copied below regarding the continued spread of High-Path Avian Influenza.
The appropriate New Jersey letters are found in the following links:
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Letter for Veterinarians
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Letter to Poultry Owners
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Letter to Live Bird Markets
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Letter to Poultry Distributors
“January 9, 2023
Pennsylvania Poultry Industry
Dear Pennsylvania Poultry Producers,
As you know, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) (H5) has been circulating in the wild bird population in the United States and was identified in commercial poultry in early 2022. On April 14, 2022, the first case of HPAI H5 was detected in a commercial layer flock in Pennsylvania. Since then, the virus has continued to spread into backyard flocks and commercial poultry facilities across the United States, affecting 47 states to date. More than 57 million birds have been lost due to HPAI. More than 4.5 million birds have been lost in Pennsylvania, and a total of 38 Pennsylvania flocks have been affected. Identification of new cases has continued across the United States. The most recent case of HPAI has been reported in the US as recently as January 4th. Wild bird detections continue in multiple states. These recent cases should act as a reminder that a virulent strain of Avian Influenza virus continues to circulate in the wild bird population and still threatens commercial and backyard poultry. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture first recommended that organic producers move poultry indoors in February 2022. At this time, we recommend that all poultry [In PA] be maintained indoors. Producers are also encouraged to implement strict biosecurity practices, monitor bird health, and report any unexplained mortality and morbidity [In PA] to the Department at 717-772-2852 (24/7).”
[state added by Melissa Bravo for clarification for plant pest advisory post]
Thank you,
Kevin D. Brightbill, DVM | State Veterinarian | Director
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture | Bureau of Animal Health and Diagnostic Services
2301 North Cameron Street | Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: 717.705.1626 | Fax: 717.787.1868
www.agriculture.pa.gov
kebrightbi@pa.gov
