January 15, 2019

2019 NJ State Agricultural Convention & Trade Show – Feb 5, 6, 7

Harrah’s Resort & Waterfront Conference Center – Atlantic City

  • Rutgers Cooperative Extension agents and specialists have finished the educational sessions with topics covering a wide range of topics.
  • The Vegetable Growers Association says the trade show is just about sold out with industry vendors from near and far.
  • The NJ Dept of Agriculture has shared the preliminary schedule for the State Board of Agriculture’s policy sessions.

The only thing left is for you to register and join us in Atlantic City. Registration/membership details and hotel reservations can be found on the VGANJ convention website.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops
January 2, 2019

RU Ready to Farm – Beginner Farmer Workshop at NJ Ag Convention

Rutgers Cooperative Extension is hosting the RU Ready to Farm Beginner Farmer Workshop during the New Jersey Agricultural Convention & Trade Show at Harrah’s Resort & Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City on Thursday, February 7, 2019 from 8:30 am – 4 pm. Please share this with anyone interested in starting a farm, those new to farming, or established farmers looking for new opportunities. All are welcome to attend.

Topics covered in this workshop include:

  • Resources on land availability in the state
  • Tips on where to access capital
  • Shared experiences from successful farmers
  • Insight on what to look for when assessing potential farm properties
  • Methods of effective marketing and promotion of farm products
  • Current organic and conventional agricultural regulations

For the program agenda and to register for this workshop, click here.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Vegetable Crops
September 21, 2018

Webinar on Best Practices for Pesticide Aerial Application

 

Office of Pesticides Programs Updates

 

 

Register for September 27 Webinar on Best Practices for Pesticide Aerial Application

EPA is hosting a webinar titled “Best Practices for Aerial Application” on September 27, 2018, from 2 – 3:30 pm ET. This webinar is tailored for growers, pesticide applicators, pest management professionals, and other interested stakeholders who work in crop production.

Webinar presenter, Dr. Bradley Fritz, is an agricultural engineer from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and serves as the Research Leader of the Aerial Application Technology Research Unit at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. The presentation will cover different methods of aerial application, best practices for reducing spray particle drift when using aerial application equipment, nozzle selection, and the use of adjuvants as they relate to aerial application.

Register for the webinar.

Learn more about reducing pesticide drift.

 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops
May 31, 2018

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Gloucester County Has New Office Location

County Agricultural Agents, Michelle Infante-Casella and Hemant Gohil have a new office location in Gloucester County. The Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) Office in Gloucester County relocated last week. The new location is now at the Shady Lane County Complex, 254 County House Road, Clarksboro, NJ 08020. The entrance is on the right side of the main 3-story brick building, under the numbers 254; follow the sidewalk with gray brick pavers.

Front-side of a building

Entrance to the RCE of Gloucester County Offices down the sidewalk on the right.

The office also has a new phone number and Agricultural Agents and other staff can be reached at 856-224-8040 (Agriculture and Natural Resources is extension 1). This new complex provided by Gloucester County offers more office space and multiple options for educational programs. To the left side of the complex is a 4-classroom building, formerly the Gloucester County Fire Academy, that is now operated by Rowan College of Gloucester County, that can be utilized for extension education and other county-related events. The main office building has 3 conference rooms for small group meetings. RCE will still have access to the main auditorium at the former facility in Clayton. For more information about Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Gloucester County see http://gloucester.njaes.rutgers.edu.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape
March 15, 2018

Survey of the Current, Critical or ‘Hot Topic’ Insect Pests of the Northeast

In the spring of 2017, vegetable and field crop entomologists of the Northeast States were surveyed for a current snapshot of what they considered to be ‘hot-topic’, or, critical insect (and slug) pests in their state or region.  The responding states included New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.   The results of the survey, including both native and invasive pests, are listed in the accompanying table. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Vegetable Crops
January 30, 2018

Be Counted – 2017 Ag Census Includes Questions On Value-Added Sales & Agritourism

Bruce Eklund, NJ State Statistician for the U.S.D.A’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, shared this reminder to please complete the Census of Agriculture by Feb 5, and

for winery operators, direct marketers and other value-added and agritourism operations, be sure to pay attention to a few special questions:

  • Include wine and other value-added product sales under (Section 24) Practices (Item 2);
  • Other Income From Farm-Related Sources (Section 32) includes Agri-tourism (Item 4); and
  • Production Expenses (Section 30) are important as it shows this contribution from agriculture to the general economy.

With the once every five year census started, your participation is important to accurately represent the New Jersey’s specialty crop industries. USDA/NASS mailed 2017 USDA Census of Agriculture questionnaires to known farmers in December.

If you have any questions regarding the survey, or if you may have been overlooked, please call 1-888-424-78288 or 717-787-3904, or visit https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/, where you you can complete the survey online. Growers who have already completed the survey online format found that it saved time!

Remember that individual responses to the Census of Agriculture are required to be kept confidential by law, and only aggregate data are used for publication. Census results are important in showing the economic impact and significance of agriculture for your County, your Congressional District, and New Jersey. Agricultural advocates will use your combined information to inform decision makers and the public about the importance of agriculture.

More information on the Ag Census is available at:

http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/news/press/2017/approved/press171206.html

and… https://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Partners/index.php.

Please help by reminding your neighbors and thank you for taking the time to be counted.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape