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.
Subscriptions are available via EMAIL and RSS.
Quick Links:
NJ Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations
Rutgers Weather Forecasting - Meteorological Information important to commercial agriculture.
EPA Update on Next Steps for Chlorpyrifos
Free webinar series: Agritourism Business Planning with AgPlan
Draft your business plan this winter! For seven weeks, from February 13 through March 26, we will guide business owners and managers through the process of developing your business plan using AgPlan. Each week will cover a different section of the process. If you do your homework in between sessions, you’ll have a business plan drafted by the end of March. You can register here.
- Feb 13, 2024 01:00 PM
- Feb 20, 2024 01:00 PM
- Feb 27, 2024 01:00 PM
- Mar 5, 2024 01:00 PM
- Mar 12, 2024 01:00 PM
- Mar 19, 2024 01:00 PM
- Mar 26, 2024 01:00 PM
Free webinar: Marketing Planning for Farms
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County will host Marketing Planning for Farms, a free webinar for farmers, on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The informational talk geared to local farmers on the importance of marketing and participants will learn to identify the components of a marketing plan, develop goals and tactics, analyze markets and customers, and evaluate results.
Registration is required for this free program, please, go to https://go.rutgers.edu/xmkjv0n2. For more information, please contact us at 609-465-5115, ext. 3601 or email capemayag@njaes.rutgers.edu.
Free webinar: Business Planning for Agritourism Enterprises
Date and time: January 23, 2024 at 01:00 PM
This free webinar will cover key steps for business planning and introduce you to a new online tool. We’ll provide a general overview of business planning for agritourism as well as information about registering for an online training series in February and March for those who would like to develop a business plan this winter with guidance from Extension business planning experts.
FDA Releases New Tools for the Food Traceability Rule Under Food Safety Modernization Act
On November 30 the Food and Drug Administration rolled out new tools and FAQs that will continue to inform stakeholders about the Food Traceability Rule and help covered entities come into compliance. The rule is a key component of Section 204(d) of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). This final rule was issued in November 2022 and will cover most growers who sell fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Food Traceability Rule is designed to facilitate faster identification and rapid removal of potentially contaminated food from the market, resulting in fewer foodborne illnesses and deaths. Foods subject to the final rule’s requirements appear on the Food Traceability List (FTL).
Featured in this update are the following:
- New webpage about traceability lot codes, including examples of how Key Data Elements (KDEs) could appear on invoices and bills of lading.
- Video highlighting some technological components of product tracing systems.
- Examples of a traceability plan
- New Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- New supply chain examples for deli salads
- Information on how to apply for a waiver or exemption, if eligible
These featured tools are accessible from the FDA’s traceability webpage, along with:
- Supply chain examples for different commodities
- Fact sheets
- Guide to Getting Started with the Food Traceability Rule
- Translations of the codified portion of the rule as well as many of the supporting materials and tools
- Interactive tool that explains Critical Tracking Events and Key Data Elements
- Interactive tool that identifies partial and full exemptions to the rule
- FAQs
The compliance date for all persons subject to the Food Traceability Rule is January 20, 2026. In September, FDA announced that routine inspections under the Food Traceability Rule will not begin until 2027, to give covered entities additional time to work together and ensure that traceability information is being maintained and shared within supply chains per the requirements of the rule.
Need Fit Testing for Your Respirator? Workshop on February 8, 2024
WORKSHOP: WPS RESPIRATORY PROTECTOIN TRAINING, FIT TESTING & RECORD KEEPING
Organizer and Host: PATRICIA HASTINGS Email: hastings@njaes.rutgers.edu
Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM (PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED-SPACE LIMITED)
As part of the 2024 New Jersey Agricultural Convention and Trade Show, Rutgers Cooperative Extension is hosting educational sessions and workshops on Tuesday, February 6 through Thursday, February 8 at Harrah’s in Atlantic City. On Thursday morning pesticide applicators have a tremendous opportunity to be trained in respirator safety and fit testing. This workshop requires a separate registration (see instructions below to register) along with registration with VGANJ for the convention and trade show (available online or in person at the registration desk in the trade show area). For total list of educational events at the convention click here for Rutgers Educational Sessions. For more information about registering for the convention scroll to the bottom of the page on the Vegetable Growers Association of NJ’s Website.
Workshop Description: Revised WPS requires that agricultural employers provide all handlers (including family members) using a pesticide which requires respiratory protection with:
1) medical evaluation
2) fit testing of all tight-fitting respirators and
3) training per the requirements of 40 CFR 170.507 (b)(10).
This workshop aims to build the capacity of NJ agricultural establishments to protect their pesticide handlers from respiratory hazards. At this workshop, growers/applicators/their employees will receive class instruction and hands-on training in how to correctly select respiratory protection using the pesticide label statements of products used on their farm, train, and fit test others; and document the results to meet the requirements of the Revised WPS in NJ. Participants will be trained in pairs in how to properly conduct a qualitative fit test so that they can perform fit tests on the farm for as many masks and applicators as needed on their own. In rare cases, pesticide labels require respirators that legally require quantitative fit testing. Quantitative fit testing will be performed for those participants that need it. Training in the use of quantitative fit testing will not be provided to participants.
Workshop Pre-Requisites:
• Registration is given priority to growers/applicators/and their employees needing to expand capacity in respirator training, fit testing, and recordkeeping. Limited to the first 30 participants registering.
• Prior to fit testing or using a respirator, OSHA requires that the respirator user be medically evaluated. Each applicant must submit with their registration form a fully completed medical clearance by a physician or other licensed health care provider per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1910.134(e)(6)9i.
• ALL attendees must pre-register by completing the 4-part registration form (including Part 4). Use the QR Code (right) to register or go to https://go.rutgers.edu/pesticideworkshop
Part 1: Participant Information
Part 2: List of Pesticides Used Which the Pesticide Label Requires Respiratory Protection
Part 3: Fit Testing Pre-requisites
Part 4: Submitting Your Respirator Workshop Pre-Registration Form
Day of the Workshop:
1) participants must be clean-shaven; use no lotions, aftershave, or makeup; or wear jewelry that interferes with the respirator sealing surface; certain facial hair such as mustaches are acceptable if they do not interfere with the inhalation or exhalation valve function.
2) Must bring respirator(s) they wish to be fit tested with fitted with N, R, or P filters; other makes models, and sizes of respirators will be available if fit cannot be achieved. Ordering information will be provided.
3) Each participant will receive a Workshop Certificate plus a completed “Fit Test Record” and “Respirator Training Record” form and wallet card.
PRESENTERS:
Respiratory Protection for Pesticides, Patricia D. Hastings, Rutgers Pesticide Safety Education Coordinator
Medical Evaluation and Fit Testing, Robin Tutor-Marcom, PhD, Director, NC AgroMedicine Institute
NJDEP PESTICIDE CREDITS FOR ATTENDEES: CORE-8 CREDITS