Free Webinar: Strategies to Help Ag Producers Plan During the COVID-19 Crisis

Eastern farmers and agricultural producers have experienced unprecedented challenges in handling the vulnerability of our food systems. As we move forward to plan for a new season and a new year during the COVID pandemic, there is an urgent need to seek and identify best strategies to support farmers and agricultural producers in adjusting goals and achieving prosperity. This Open Forum – January 20, 2021 at 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. – will provide practitioners, extension agents, farmers, and agricultural producers an opportunity to identify gaps, brainstorm ideas, and share examples to support each other. Presenters leading the discussions will share 1-2 best practices to assist farmers and agricultural producers, including value-added production, agritourism, and other operations types.

This event is free and open to anyone, but registration is required to get the Zoom link. Registration is available by clicking here.

eXtension is embedded in the U.S. Cooperative Extension System and serves on the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP). eXtension provides an array of opportunities for Extension professionals that foster innovation creation, the adoption of innovations at member institutions, and increased impact of Extension programs.

NJDEP & Rutgers OCPE Announce Roll Out of New Online Pesticide Exam Portal!

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Rutgers University are pleased to announce that the new online Pesticide Applicator Certification Exam Registration (PACER) system is NOW AVAILABLE for your use.  Anyone interested in taking a Pesticide exam must register through the PACER system at pacer.rutgers.edu. The registration PACER system and exams are available 24/7.   All exams […]

Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program Now Available for Eligible Producers Affected by 2018, 2019 Natural Disasters

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced that signup for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program began Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Funded by the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, this new program provides assistance to producers who suffered eligible crop quality losses due to natural disasters occurring in 2018 and 2019. The deadline to apply for QLA is Friday, March 5, 2021. [Read more…]

USDA Extends Crop Insurance Flexibilities Amid Continuing COVID-19 Pandemic

Through today’s announcement, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is extending crop insurance flexibilities for producers amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, relief provided for electronic notifications and signatures is extended through July 15, 2021; organic certification, replant self-certification and assignment of indemnity are extended through June 30, 2021. [Read more…]

Integrated Weed Management Workshops (with functional registration link)

An Integrated Weed Management workshops organized by Virginia Tech, University of Delaware, and University of Maryland will be held virtually via Zoom on Tuesday Dec. 8th (first half of the meeting) and Tuesday Dec. 15th (second half of the meeting). On both days, participants can choose the time that works best for them: 8-10 am OR 6-8 pm.  These workshops are free, but participants will need to register.

Session One: Tuesday Dec. 8th from 8-10 am OR 6-8 pm

  • Herbicide Resistance- What is It?
  • Mechanisms of Action-How to Choose Herbicides
  • Creating Effective Herbicide Plans

Session Two: Tuesday Dec. 15th from 8-10 am OR 6-8 pm

  • Integrated Management of Palmer Amaranth, Common Ragweed, and Marestail
  • Local Farmer Perspectives on Resistance Weed Management
  • Putting It All Together: Creating a Weed Management Plan

<a style=”background-color: #ffff00;” href=”https://ume.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_572VSpGgXvPk6e9″>Register here

Flyer available here

Program materials including an IWM guide, factsheets on herbicide resistant weeds, identification guides, and a special “Fight Weeds” facemask will be mailed to each participant prior to the meeting. Please include a valid mailing address.

Pesticide and CCA credits have been requested, but may not be available for all states.

Participants seeking CCA credits will need to confirm that they viewed the material to receive credit. State level programs require participants to correctly answer 4 of 5 webinar specific content questions to receive credits. Links to complete the quiz will be sent to the participants shortly after the scheduled session has been completed. In addition, a QR code (to navigate to the evaluation link) will be shared at the end of each webinar. NOTE: Only registered participants can access the questions and receive credit for attending the webinars.  Only one completed quiz will be allowed for each registered email.

NJDEP Bulletin on Pesticide Licenses Arriving Late Due to COVID: RE-ISSUED with CORRECTION

If you have previously received an email from the NJDEP or others regarding the issuance of paper licenses, please note that the first announcement has been recalled and reissued with a change as noted. This is a courtesy copy of an email bulletin sent by Art Cencetti sent to those on record with email addresses […]