April 2, 2022

Resources to Increase, Expand Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they are launching a Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance Program (MPPTA) to provide technical assistance to meat and poultry grant applicants and grant-funded projects.

“Processors and applicants involved with the Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) program and the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) can access this technical assistance. USDA also announced it is now accepting applications for $23.6 million in competitive grant funding available through the MPIRG program.”

For more information, please read the press release at

https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2022/03/25/usda-announces-more-resources-increase-and-expand-meat-and-poultry

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock
April 1, 2022

In-Person Private Applicator Exam Scheduled

Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education has announced an in-person session of the Private Applicator exam, exclusively for our farmers and growers, to be hosted on Wednesday, April 6 at the Burlington County office of Rutgers Cooperative Extension at 2 Academy Drive, Westampton, NJ 08060.

Each session (10:00 am and 12:30 pm) can accommodate up to 30 people, so if the demand is there, 2 sessions will be held that day. Only private applicator exams will be offered for this in-person testing event.

All examinees must be preregistered by the end of the day Monday, April 4 (details below), no walk-ins are allowed and no refunds will be given. If you register for April 6 and do not come to take the exam you will have to re-register and pay again.

All examinees must be registered ahead of time in PACER. Growers should register for an online exam, pay the $50 fee online, and then contact Jill Sullivan by phone at 848-932-7443 or by email by the end of the day on Monday, April 4 to say they want to take the exam in-person. Jill will provide registered growers with the time of the exam and location. This will also allow Jill time to create the exam answer sheets for Wednesday, April 6 and create a registration list.

For those who need help registering in PACER, there will be a second date announced for later in April, again at the Burlington County RCE office. Jill has created a registration document that you can print out, complete, and fax to Jill at 732-932-1187 or complete the information requested in the MSWord document and then email the completed form to Jill at pacer@njaes.rutgers.edu and she will register the grower and then call for the sensitive information (SSN and credit card information). The registration form is currently available through your local RCE office.

Thanks to Melissa Bravo, RCE of Salem County, for inquiring for an in-person test opportunity for our growers, to OCPE for accommodating this request and offering this opportunity for our growers, and to Burlington County RCE for hosting these exams.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , ,
April 1, 2022

Weed Science Webinar Series

Weed Science Webinar Series

USDA – ARS and the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA) are co-hosting 10 webinars on weed science and research. Beginning April 5, presentations will be given by ARS weed science research experts.

The webinars will occur every Tuesday from 2-3p.m. Eastern Time (ET) and include an interactive Q&A session.

Register Here Today!

Two people conducting research in a field

Weed Science Webinar Series Schedule

April 5
ARS Weed Science: Past, Present, and Future: Steve Duke, Principal Scientist at the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi, Steve Young, National Program Leader – Weeds and Invasive Pests, WSSA Representatives and ARS Administrators

Meeting Information:

Zoom Meeting Link

Webinar ID: 831 3320 1055

Passcode: 825921

Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.

Theme I: Tactics

April 12
Integrated Weed Management in Cropping Systems: Marty Williams, Ecologist at the Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit in Urbana, IL

April 19
Non-Crop Systems: Advancements in Weed Biocontrol Tools: Melissa Smith, Research Ecologist at the Invasive Plant Research Laboratory in Fort Lauderdale, FL

April 26
New Technology for Weed Identification and Control: Steven Mirsky, Research Ecologist at the Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory in Beltsville, MD

Theme II: Mechanisms

May 3
Role of Plant Physiology in Weed-Crop Competition: Dave Horvath, Research Plant Physiologist at the Sunflower and Plant Biology Research Unit in Fargo, ND

May 10
Molecular Basis for Controlling Invasive Plants: Matt Tancos, Research Plant Pathologist at the Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit in Fort Detrick, MD

May 17
Addressing Herbicide Resistance with Alternative Chemistries: Scott Baerson, Molecular Biologist at the Natural Products Utilization Research Unit in Oxford, MS

Theme III: Impacts

May 24
Spread and Distribution of Invasive Plants: John Madsen, Research Biologist at the Invasive Species and Pollinator Health Unit in Albany, CA

May 31
Climate Change Effects on Weeds and Management: Dana Blumenthal, Ecologist at the Rangeland Resources & Systems Research Unit in Fort Collins, CO

June 7
Restoration for Managing Invasive Plants: Roger Sheley, Ecologist at the Range and Meadow Forage Management Research Unit in Burns, OR

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , , ,
March 28, 2022

Are you familiar with the federal soil quarantine map, associated pests of concern

During soil testing season, we often get calls about what laboratory to send samples to and what to test for. You may not know that under certain circumstances USDA-APHIS may have a quarantine for a particular plant or animal pest that can be carried in soil, and movement of soil from that region is restricted and requires a permit. This includes all territories of the United States such as Guam, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. APHIS also restricts the movement of domestic soil from areas within the continental United States that are under quarantine for specific plant pests and adjoining countries. For example, currently soil cannot enter the U.S.  from Canada if from the following areas of Alberta: A farm unit and associated land located near the municipality of Fort Saskatchewan; and a farm unit and associated land located near the municipality of Spruce Grove; British Colombia: That portion of the municipality of Central Saanich on Vancouver Island, ease of the west Saanich Road; Newfoundland and Labrador: The entire Island of Newfoundland; and Quebec: The municipality of Saint- Amble.

The Federal Domestic Soil Quarantines Map provides an overview of the plant pest quarantines that affect the movement of soil. USDA recently updated their Federal Domestic Soil Quarantine Map on February 10, 2022 which is available as a pdf at:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/newsroom/stakeholder-info/stakeholder-messages/plant-health-news/federal-domestic-soil-quarantine-map-2-10-22

This map contains a lot of information that is useful for producers, growers and consumers who are purchasing plant materials that may contain soil to be mindful of the presence of significant plant pests of concern that have not yet made it to New Jersey, and to do their part to not bring them here. While many are limited to infestations along the west coast and gulf coast, others are closer to home. For example, the golden nematode is a potato nematode that is quarantined in some parts of western New York State. The pale cyst nematode is another potato nematode of concern that is quarantined from a small area of Idaho and the island of Newfoundland, Canada.

Others like the imported fire ant continue to spread and are now found in hot spots in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Puerto Rico. Quarantine efforts thus far have been able to limit the spread of witchweed to locations in South and North Carolina.

If you have specific questions about bringing in soil from any of these areas denoted in this USDA soil quarantine map or about these quarantine pests, contact the USDA-APHIS NJ state office, state plant health director at (609) 259-5244 or for more contact information see https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/planthealth/ppq-program-overview/sphd/new+jersey

 

Filed Under: Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops
March 21, 2022

NJ Pesticide Credits. March 24th Weed Management Webinar

For NJ applicators in 10, 1A and PP2

4 category credits.

A virtual workshop will be held on March 24 from 8 am to 11 am for farmers interested in learning how to use integrated weed management (IWM)) techniques to control  troublesome weeds in their fields. This is the fifth year for the workshop series, which is a collaborative effort between the University of Maryland, Virginia Tech, and the University of Delaware.

Education regarding weed identification and integrated management strategies continues to be critically important to enable early intervention and effective management options.  2022 is shaping up to be especially challenging with anticipated shortages of many commonly used herbicides. The 2022 workshop series will provide tactics to manage important weeds given limited herbicide availability and increased input prices. Material covered will target row-crop production systems, but tactics learned may be applicable to other systems. These workshops are free, but participants will need to register at https://go.umd.edu/IWM.

Pesticide credits will be available for MD, DE, NJ and WV. Two hours of CCA continuing  education credits will be offered for each session.

For more information, contact Kurt Vollmer at (443) 446-4260 or Ben Beale at (301) 475- 4481.

If you are attending from NJ, contact Melissa Bravo to upload your pesticide license and photo i.d. at 856-340-6582. This meeting counts as an ‘in person’ meeting as long as you stay on camera. If you cannot stay on camera the entire time, no credits will be awarded. 

NJ Applicators remember, attendees of online courses can earn 25% of their credits for each category from online sources.  Only those whose 5-year recertification period is ending 10/31/2022 are eligible to earn 100% of their credits online.  Attendees can check their eligibility online at www.pcpnj.org.

—

Kurt M. Vollmer, Ph.D.

Extension Specialist-Weed Management
University of Maryland
Wye Research and Education Center
124 Wye Narrows Drive
Queenstown, MD 21658
(443) 446-4260
Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops
March 16, 2022

Wondering what manure is worth right now?

Given the high costs of ‘commercial’ fertilizer components (N, P, K), many are looking at the range of nutrient credit from “unmanipulated animal or vegetable manure”1 sources.

Here is a very comprehensive calculator created by The University of Minnesota Extension for growers who keep track of all costs associated with fertilizer application.

To fine tune your estimates consider the following when calculating benefit of nutrients in manure vs fertilizer:

Manure nutrients are applied at a ton per acre rate basis to give the equivelent unit of nutrient in fertilizer that is applied at a pound per acre rate basis. Different species create vastly different nutrient credits.

On average,

Poultry manure contains the most nutrients per ton requiring the least tons per acre (1.5 to 3 tons/acre) to be equivalent to purchased fertilizer Nitrogen units of 50 lbs. (Please read the PPA post on poultry manure import restrictions due to High Path Avian Influenza)

Fresh beef manure generally requires 20 to 25 to 30 tons/acre to be equivelant to purchased fertilizer Nitrogen units of 50 lbs.

Fresh horse manure contains the least amount of Nitrogen and requires 100 tons per acre to be equivalent to purchased fertilizer units of 50 lbs, but as horse manure ages, the organic credit increases as the carbon:nitrogen ratio comes into equilibrium. Take this into consideration as aged piles many have much higher value.

  • Use an actual analysis of composted, bedding manure or fresh manure
  • Composted manure includes the shavings, straw, hay. Fresh manure is raw product, very little foreign material
  • Test aged piles separately from fresh
  • Aged piles (broken down, look like soil) can be sent in as soil test if well composted
  • Fresh samples must be sent in as fresh manure, vented properly and packaged properly so they do not cause issues in transit. Read the laboratories instructions on shipping carefully 
  • Account for cost to ship samples to lab
  • Capture in analysis the organic nitrogen credit
  • Capture in analysis micronutrient credits as these trace minerals add value to ‘manure’ beyond just the major three nutrients (N, P, K).
  • Know the common weed seeds most likely to be in fresh manure
  • Know the common weed seeds most likely viable in aged manure
  • Consider value of aged manure (organic nitrogen, soil health, worm castings, actual worms) vs fresh (hot) manure (higher N value)
  • Account for moisture content in figuring rate per acre, tons per load etc. as analysis will be on a DM basis
  • Laboratory fees range from $14.00 per test to $60.00 per test. Check current prices online before submitting sample, and use the laboratories submission form
  • Consider transporation costs
  • Consider spreading costs (manually vs manure spreader)
  • Be aware of any restrictions (days since application etc.) on using fresh or unaged manure on crops that will be harvested for human consumption (fresh market etc.) in particular be aware of FSMA Final Rule on Produce Safety that states”the final rule as of 12/02/2021 requires that untreated biological soil amendments of animal origin, such as raw manure, must be applied in a manner that does not contact covered produce during application and minimizes the potential for contact with covered produce after application. For more information on this rule, see https://www.fda.gov/food/food-safety-modernization-act-fsma/fsma-final-rule-produce-safety

 

Footnotes:

For information on what constitutes sale of a commercial ‘fertilizer’ see  https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/md/pdf/FertilizerLaw.pdf

An indepth fact sheet on manure can be found at https://ag.umass.edu/crops-dairy-livestock-equine/fact-sheets/manure-nutrient-resource

 

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops