As part of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) the New Jersey Department of Agriculture in coordination with Rutgers Cooperative Extension are again offering an OFRR to any operation that has taken the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Training. The PSA training is required for fresh produce operations to comply with FSMA with sales over $25,000. We have been doing OFRRs over the last two years (approximately 100) and want to continue this service during 2021. So, what is the OFRR? It is a walkthrough of the farm operation to assess where it may need for make changes to comply with FSMA prior to an inspection. Generally, two individuals will be on the assessment team one from Extension and one from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. These reviews take approximately 2 hours and is scheduled to fit into the grower’s time. To schedule a review email Charlotte Muetter at charlotte.muetter@ag.nj.gov. She will then contact the farm operation to schedule the review.
Vegetable Crops Edition
Seasonal updates and alerts on insects, diseases, and weeds impacting vegetable crops. New Jersey Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations updates between annual publication issues are included.
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On-Farm Food Safety Talks for the Busy Grower
The Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety Team has developed three video presentations. Clip on Three On The Go Webinars For the Busy Grower to view the three videos listed below.
Introduction to Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and USDA Audits. Find out the differences between FSMA inspections and USDA audits. Who do they apply to and who does the inspection or audits?
Building Your One-Way Street: Backflow Prevention and Your Farm. Learn what backflow is, how to evaluate your operations and how to prevent problems with backflow to protect your packed produce.
How to Use Best Practices for On-Farm Recordkeeping. Tried and true strategies for organized record keeping that complies with FSMA and will prepare you for USDA audits.
What water test do you need and how often do you need to do it?
FSMA Produce Safety Rule compliance, third party audit standards, and general best practices all include the need for irrigation, harvest, cleaning, sanitation, handwashing, pesticide application, drinking and postharvest water testing. Not all tests are the same, but all cost money, so make sure what your paying for meets your needs.
Here are the questions we commonly get from produce growers and answers that we hope you find helpful:
What water test do I need for a water source that is used only for irrigation of crops and/or pesticide applications?
– This water should be tested for generic E. coli, acceptable results give you a number answer of 126 CFU (colony forming units) or MPN (most probable number) or less. You do not want a presence/absence (P/A) test. A P/A test would not be sufficient for a third-party audit requirement or the FSMA PSR.
-Most water testing labs on the NJ Water Testing Lab Map (link below) offer the EPA 1603 analysis, which satisfies both the FSMA PSR anticipated requirements and third-party audit requirements.
-Other acceptable analysis methods are described on the
Produce Safety Alliance Water Analysis Method Requirement fact sheet.
-Well water sources used for irrigation should be tested once a year.
-Surface water sources should be tested at least three times during their period of use, ideally when starting irrigation, mid-season, and close to harvest. Surface water sources include irrigation ponds (spring fed, well fed, or other ponds), streams, rivers, and other bodies of water that are exposed to the surface.
-Municipal water sources used for irrigation should have a copy of the water testing record on file. These testing records are often found online or are available upon request. Made sure that generic E. coli is listed on the report.
What water test do I need for a water source that is used during the harvest process? Handwashing water? Cleaning and sanitizing use? Postharvest washing and cooling water?
[Read more…]
What Farmers Need to Know about the Latest Relief Bills
Recent COVID-19 relief programs have impacts for farmers.
- The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. The New Jersey Department of the Treasury has also extended income tax payments from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. This relief does not apply to estimated tax payments that are due on April 15, 2021. These payments are still due on April 15. Source: Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov) and New Jersey Department of the Treasury (https://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation)
- The American Rescue Plan Act ($1.9 trillion) – March 11, 2021
- Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers –
- Requires USDA to make payments of 120% of outstanding loans as of January 1, 2021 to socially disadvantaged farmers.
- $1.01 billion in outreach, training, education, technical assistance, grants and loans, and funding to educational institutions to help land access to socially disadvantaged farmers.
- Nutrition assistance to millions through additional funding for nutrition assistance programs (SNAP, WIC, school lunch programs, senior nutrition, nutrition assistance for the territories).
- Supporting farmers and strengthening the food supply chain.
- Increases food available for distribution through food banks, nonprofits, or restaurants to help feed families in need and at the same time supports farmers by purchasing their products.
- Provides grants and loans to reimburse or purchase personal protective equipment, test kits, and other measures to keep essential food workers safe.
- Invests in infrastructure and retooling support for food processors, farmers markets, food banks, local food systems, and producers to build resiliency in the food supply for the long term.
- Funds the monitoring of COVID-19 in animals and reduces overtime inspection fees paid by small meat and poultry processors, supporting livestock and animal health.
- Strengthening infrastructure, housing, and health care in rural America.
- $500 million in Community Facility Program funds to help rural hospitals and local communities broaden access to COVID-19 vaccines & food assistance.
- $100 million through September 2022 in rental assistance for low-income and elderly borrowers.
- $39 million through September 2023 to help refinance direct loans under the Single-Family Housing Loan Program and the Single-Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants.
- Investments into rural communities by expanding internet connectivity and establishing a homeowner assistance fund to assist struggling homeowners with mortgage payments, property taxes, property insurance, utilities, and other housing related costs.
- PPP Extension Act of 2021
- Passed the House March 18, 2021. Still needs to go through Senate and to the President before it becomes law.
- This bill extends by 60 days the Paycheck Protection Program, established to support small businesses in response to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019), through June 30, 2021. Currently, the program is set to expire on March 31, 2021.
- For the final 30 days of the program (i.e., from June 1 until June 30), the Small Business Administration may only process applications submitted prior to June 1, and it may not accept any new loan applications.
- The revised formula, introduced in an interim final rule March 3, allows Schedule C filers to use gross income instead of net profit in calculating the maximum amount they can receive in a PPP loan. Because many Schedule C filers report little, if any, net profit, they can qualify for significantly larger PPP loans using gross income in the formula.
- The formula change does not make the change retroactive and allow Schedule C filers who received PPP loans based on the old formula to apply for the difference between what they received and what they could have received using gross income instead of net profit.
- If I file a 1040 using Schedule F, can I get a PPP loan?
- Yes, if your farm or ranch meets the size standards set by the SBA:
- Farmers who fill a Schedule F were eligible for a PPP loan if:
- Their business meets SBA’s “alternative size standard.” The “alternative size standard” is currently: (1) maximum net worth of the business is not more than $15 million, and (2) the average net income after Federal income taxes (excluding any carry-over losses) of the business for the two full fiscal years before the date of the application is not more than $5 million. For all of these criteria, the applicant must include its affiliates in its calculations.
- Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers –
The PPP Extension Act of 2021 is not yet law but can be very beneficial for farmers. My suggestion is to consult with your professional tax advisor, pay taxes that are due, but do not file until we see if the PPP Extension Act of 2021 becomes law.
The United States Small Business Administration (SBA https://www.sba.gov) has FAQs that are constantly being updated to explain these programs and can be very useful for you and your tax advisor.
USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA is establishing new programs and efforts to bring financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and producers who felt the impact of COVID-19 market disruptions. The new initiative should offer assistance to New Jersey farmers because the USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers will reach a broader set of producers than in previous COVID-19 aid programs. The Department will develop rules for new programs that will put a greater emphasis on outreach to small and socially disadvantaged producers, specialty crop and organic producers, timber harvesters, as well as provide support for the food supply chain and producers of renewable fuel, among others. Existing programs like the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) will fall within the new initiative and, where statutory authority allows, will be refined to better address the needs of producers.
USDA will reopen sign-up for CFAP 2 for at least 60 days beginning on April 5, 2021.
The payments announced today (under Part 3, below) will go out under the existing CFAP rules. Other USDA Pandemic Assistance for Producers will utilize existing programs, such as the Local Agricultural Marketing Program, Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach, and Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, and others to enhance educational and market opportunities for agricultural producers. Rules are being developed, so monitor https://www.farmers.gov/ for updates.
Part 1: Investing $6 Billion to Expand Help & Assistance to More Producers
At least $6 billion from discretionary funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act and other coronavirus funding that went unspent by the previous administration will commence this spring. These efforts will include assistance for:
- Dairy farmers through the Dairy Donation Program or other means:
- Euthanized livestock and poultry;
- Biofuels;
- Specialty crops, beginning farmers, local, urban and organic farms;
- Costs for organic certification or to continue or add conservation activities
- Other possible expansion and corrections to CFAP that were not part of today’s announcement such as to support dairy or other livestock producers;
- Timber harvesting and hauling;
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other protective measures for food and farm workers and specialty crop and seafood producers, processors and distributors;
- Improving the resilience of the food supply chain, including assistance to meat and poultry operations to facilitate interstate shipment;
- Developing infrastructure to support donation and distribution of perishable commodities, including food donation and distribution through farm-to-school, restaurants or other community organizations; and
- Reducing food waste.
Part 2: Adding $500 Million of New Funding to Existing Programs
USDA expects to begin investing approximately $500 million in expedited assistance through several existing programs this spring, with most by April 30. This new assistance includes:
- $100 million in additional funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, administered by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), which enhances the competitiveness of fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops.
- $75 million in additional funding for the Farmers Opportunities Training and Outreach program, administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, which encourages and assists socially disadvantaged, veteran, and beginning farmers and ranchers in the ownership and operation of farms and ranches.
- $100 million in additional funding for the Local Agricultural Marketing Program, administered by the AMS and Rural Development, which supports the development, coordination and expansion of direct producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional food markets and enterprises and value-added agricultural products.
- $75 million in additional funding for the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program, administered by the NIFA, which provides funding opportunities to conduct and evaluate projects providing incentives to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables by low-income consumers
- $20 million for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to improve and maintain animal disease prevention and response capacity, including the National Animal Health Laboratory Network.
- $20 million for the Agricultural Research Service to work collaboratively with Texas A&M on the critical intersection between responsive agriculture, food production, and human nutrition and health.
- $28 million for NIFA to provide grants to state departments of agriculture to expand or sustain existing farm stress assistance programs.
- Approximately $80 million in additional payments to domestic users of upland and extra-long staple cotton based on a formula set in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 that USDA plans to deliver through the Economic Adjustment Assistance for Textile Mills program.
Part 3: Carrying Out Formula Payments under CFAP 1, CFAP 2, CFAP AA
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, enacted December 2020 requires FSA to make certain payments to producers according to a mandated formula. USDA is now expediting these provisions because there is no discretion involved in interpreting such directives, they are self-enacting.
- An increase in CFAP 1 payment rates for cattle. Cattle producers with approved CFAP 1 applications will automatically receive these payments beginning in April. Information on the additional payment rates for cattle can be found on farmers.gov/cfap. Eligible producers do not need to submit new applications, since payments are based on previously approved CFAP 1 applications. USDA estimates additional payments of more than $1.1 billion to more than 410,000 producers, according to the mandated formula.
- Additional CFAP assistance of $20 per acre for producers of eligible crops identified as CFAP 2 flat-rate or price-trigger crops beginning in April. This includes alfalfa, corn, cotton, hemp, peanuts, rice, sorghum, soybeans, sugar beets and wheat, among other crops. FSA will automatically issue payments to eligible price trigger and flat-rate crop producers based on the eligible acres included on their CFAP 2 applications. Eligible producers do not need to submit a new CFAP 2 application. For a list of all eligible row-crops, visit farmers.gov/cfap. USDA estimates additional payments of more than $4.5 billion to more than 560,000 producers, according to the mandated formula.
- USDA will finalize routine decisions and minor formula adjustments on applications and begin processing payments for certain applications filed as part of the CFAP Additional Assistance program in the following categories:
- Applications filed for pullets and turfgrass sod;
- A formula correction for row-crop producer applications to allow producers with a non-Actual Production History (APH) insurance policy to use 100% of the 2019 Agriculture Risk Coverage-County Option (ARC-CO) benchmark yield in the calculation;
- Sales commodity applications revised to include insurance indemnities, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program payments, and Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus payments, as required by statute; and
- Additional payments for swine producers and contract growers under CFAP Additional Assistance remain on hold and are likely to require modifications to the regulation as part of the broader evaluation and future assistance; however, FSA will continue to accept applications from interested producers.
Part 4: Reopening CFAP 2 Sign-Up to Improve Access & Outreach to Underserved Producers
As noted above, USDA will re-open sign-up for of CFAP 2 for at least 60 days beginning on April 5, 2021.
- FSA has committed at least $2.5 million to establish partnerships and direct outreach efforts intended to improve outreach for CFAP 2 and will cooperate with grassroots organizations with strong connections to socially disadvantaged communities to ensure they are informed and aware of the application process.
Agrivoltaics – Combining Solar Power & Farming in NJ — CORRECTED LINK
THE REGISTRATION LINK IN THIS POST HAS BEEN CORRECTED.
Farming under solar panels = “Agrivoltaics”.
On Wednesday, March 24th 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., Rutgers NJAES will host a webinar on “Agrivoltaics” to explore farming the ground under solar panels (photovoltaics), what’s possible and what’s not in NJ.
Please register in advance for this meeting (no cost) at:
https://rutgers.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUucuurrzkpHNGZTA7os7FizQOsd8Pv23Pu
Agrivoltaics (also called dual use solar on farmland) offers the potential to both create renewable energy and sustain the productivity and profitability of precious farmland. Properly designed agrivoltaic systems have the potential to be built in such a way that the photovoltaic panels allow for farm equipment operation and minimal impact on crop productivity.
This webinar will explore examples of Agrivoltaic systems from other parts of the world and detail the work that has been done by the UMass Clean Energy Extension Program. Participants will be able to interact with the NJAES Photovoltaic Committee and the Director of UMass Clean Energy Extension Program.