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September 20, 2022

SARE Farmer Grants for 2023 – Webinar on October 4th

Multiple Northeast SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) grant recipient Tommye Lou Rafes, of T.L. Fruits and Vegetables in West Virginia, is sharing her experiences to help other farmers experiment with new ideas through the Farmer Grant program.

At noon on October 4th, 2022, Rafes will join Northeast SARE Grant Coordinator Candice Huber for an informational webinar to assist farmers interested in applying for up to $30,000 in funding for projects beginning in March 2023. Registration is required and participants are encouraged to submit questions ahead of the event. The Call for Farmer Grant Proposals is currently available and the online system for submitting applications is opening soon. Applications are due November 15, 2022.

Northeast SARE Farmer Grants are perfect for farmers looking to grow through new practices. Rafes first learned about SARE while attending a Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) training. One of the professors hosting the meeting was a SARE reviewer who invited the attendees to apply for a grant. Rafes knew sustainable practices like using renewable-powered high tunnels to extend growing seasons could be good for business as well as the planet. “Growing in the winter months is a completely different way than you do in the summer months,” she said. “I decided to test varieties that were successful during the winter months as well as growing conditions that could be improved so that people would be more successful.”

Grant Coordinator Candice Huber says Farmer Grants are an opportunity for farmers to try things that could improve their operations. SARE funds can cover the farmer’s time on the project, any farm workers time spent on the project, supplies that are not capital purchase, technical support, soil testing and other budgeted items. Farmer grant projects generally are for one year.

If you have an idea and you need resources to really explore it, a Farmer Grant can connect you with those resources. This webinar will be a good starting point and participants must pre-register. See below.

To sign up for the October 4th webinar at 12:00PM go to https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6516611235851/WN_RoG_IkMmSDGsduZwmFgKkA

For information about the application for SARE Farmer grants see https://www.sare.org/wp-content/uploads/Northeast-SARE-Farmer-Grant-Call-for-Proposals.pdf

For general information about Northeast SARE go to Northeast SARE Home Page – SARE Northeast

Filed Under: Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Disease Forecasting, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, Organic Production, pesticide credits, Plant Diagnostic Lab, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: ,
September 6, 2022

Rutgers Specialty Crop Research and Extension Station Field Tour

Join Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the Monmouth County Board of Agriculture for a FREE twilight walking tour of some of the current research projects that are happening at the Rutgers Specialty Crop Research and Extension Center in Cream Ridge.

Rutgers Specialty Crop Research and Extension Station Field Tour

September 20, 2022

5:30 – 7:00 pm

FREE

Location: 283 Route 539, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514

Pesticide License Recertification Credits Available

  • 1 credit CORE (BASIC SAFETY & HANDLING)
  • 2 credits PP2 (PRIVATE APPLICATOR CATEGORY)
  • 2 credits 10 (DEMONSTRATION & RESEARCH)
  • 2 credits 1A (AGRICULTURAL PLANT)

To register or for more information, contact Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County at 732-431-7260 or email Catherine.vanBenschoten@co.monmouth.nj.us

 

Agenda

5:30 to 6:00 pm: Welcome, Sign-in, and Refreshments

6:00 to 6:15 pm: “Integrated Pest Management for Beginning and Experienced Farmers”

  • Brendon Pearsall – Beginner Farmer Program Coordinator, Rutgers, NJAES, RCE

6:15 to 6:30 pm: “Low Input Native and Ornamental Plant Trials”

  • Bill Errickson – Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent III – Monmouth County Rutgers, NJAES, RCE

6:30 to 6:45 pm: “Growing Ginger and Turmeric in in Moveable High Tunnels”

  • Bill Errickson – Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent III – Monmouth County Rutgers, NJAES, RCE

6:45 to 7:00 pm: “Honey Bee, What’s in Your Pollen? Residuals and Pollen Diversity in Relation to Colony Health”

  • Chelsea Abegg – NJAES – ANR Soils and Plant Technician

7:00 to 7:30 pm: Sign-out for Credits, Course Evaluations

7:30 pm: Monmouth County Board of Agriculture Meeting

 

Descriptions of Presentations

6:00 to 6:15 pm

“Integrated Pest Management for Beginning and Experienced Farmers”

Brendon Pearsall – Beginner Farmer Program Coordinator, Rutgers, NJAES, RCE

RU Ready to Farm: Getting Rooted in the Garden State – The Rutgers NJAES Beginner Farmer Training Program has just concluded its first year of hands-on training at the Specialty Crop Research and Extension Center in Cream Ridge. The program team will discuss the process of leading 12 first-time farmers through the planning and production of a 46-share CSA program. This year featured many challenges, and the students got to put their IPM training to good use as they were confronted with various pest and disease issues. We will highlight some of the techniques used to minimize the need to spray, including mechanical controls, attracting beneficial insects, and frequent scouting.

 

6:15 to 6:30 pm

“Low Input Native and Ornamental Plant Trials”

William Errickson, M.S. – Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent III – Monmouth County Rutgers, NJAES, RCE

Selecting native and ornamental plants that are well-adapted to the growing conditions in our region can greatly reduce pest and disease issues in the landscape, leading to a reduction in pesticide use, while enhancing the ecosystem services that are provided. This presentation will showcase heat and drought tolerance evaluations of field-grown native ornamental grasses, sun and shade tolerance of container-grown native azaleas, and recent introductions to the All America Selections ornamental plant program.  Specific pest and disease challenges will be discussed in addition to managing abiotic summer stress while limiting the amount pesticides, fertilizers, and water required in the landscape.

 

6:30 to 6:45 pm

“Growing Ginger and Turmeric in in Moveable High Tunnels”

William Errickson, M.S. – Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent III – Monmouth County Rutgers, NJAES, RCE

Fresh baby ginger and turmeric are high-value specialty crops that can be produced in high tunnels in NJ. While ginger is generally a reliable low-input crop, it can be susceptible to soil-borne pathogens if specific cultural practices and crop rotations are not followed. This project evaluates ginger and turmeric production in moveable high tunnels in comparison to field grown ginger. Specific disease problems, controls, and cultural practices will be discussed.

 

6:45 to 7:00 pm

“Honey Bee, What’s in Your Pollen? Residuals and Pollen Diversity in Relation to Colony Health”

Chelsea Abegg – NJAES – ANR Soils and Plant Technician

Something is happening to the honey bees that New Jersey blueberry and cranberry crops depend on and now beekeepers are raising their service fees or refusing to bring their bees to New Jersey crops. With colony health declines during and shortly after NJ pollination services, we will discuss what factors could be influencing these colony declines and how Rutgers is working to the solve the problem.

Filed Under: Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , ,
September 2, 2022

Rabies Awareness. Be Alert to Rabies While on Vacation

During prolonged droughts, rabies cases in the wild (raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats etc.) and in feral cats and dogs is known to increase compared to prior years. As the holiday weekend ensues, and many are going to campgrounds and parks and visiting friends out of town, be alert to the presence of rabies in multiple counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and take precautions to not be bitten. If a wild animal actively chases you, do not let the animal bite you.

Livestock can and do get rabies. Cases of reports in cattle have occurred in Pennsylvania in 2022. In their March report, two cows and a horse tested positive for rabies in the state. In the last eleven years, twelve horses have tested positive for rabies in New Jersey.

2022 NJ reported rabies cases by counties link: https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/rabies_stats/rabcases2022.pdf

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/statistics/rabies-stats/

2022 PA reported rabies cases by counties. This map is from March 2022. Because in the course of a month, there has probably been a positve report of rabies in every county in Pennsylvania, assume rabies is present (still circulating in wild animals) in the county in September of 2022.  https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Animals/AHDServices/diseases/Pages/Rabies.aspx

If you are bitten by any wild animal or feral animal or even a domesticated pet or livestock, it is recommended that you:

  • Report to the local police so they are aware.
  • If a wild or feral animal, also report to Game-wildlife regional office.
  • Go to the hospital and fill out a public health notification form. This form notifies the state public health office, and a nurse will call you to advise you of the rabies monitoring period and treatment protocol.
  • Notify your local doctor as soon as possible.
  • Also, call your state reporting number so that the record of the attack is logged in their database.

Pennsylvania hotline: (717) 772-2852 / ra-ahds@pa.gov

New Jersey hotline: Contact the NJ Public Health and Environmental Laboratories, Rabies Laboratory: via email: rabies.PHEL@doh.nj.gov or. via telephone: (609) 530-8416, 671-6418 or 671-641.

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops
September 2, 2022

Rabbit Owners. Protect Wild Rabbits from Emerging Rabbit Disease

Pennsylvania has detected a case of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) case in domestic rabbits in Western Pa. This follows on the heels of a New Jersey detection in March of 2022. RHDV has been evolving and spreading in pet rabbits since cases were first detected in North America in 2000.

Because this is an emerging disease, it is possible we can limit widespread infection in domestic and wild rabbits by practicing biosecurity measures at home and not releasing or disposing of domestic rabbits into the wild.

Example Timeline of RHDV1 Strain Detections in North America | and evolution into RHDV2 Strain

  • 2000 (Iowa)
  • 2001 (Utah, Illinois, New York)
  • 2005 (Indiana)
  • 2008 (Maryland)
  • 2010 (Minnesota)
  • 2016 (Quebec, Canada) detection of the more contagious RHDV2 strain*
  • 2018 (Ohio) detection of the more contagious RHDV2 strain*
  • 2018 (Pennsylvania)
  • 2019 (Vancouver, Canada) detection of a different strain of the contagious RHDV2 strain*
  • 2019 (Washington) detection of the more contagious RHDV2 strain*
  • USDA APHIS notice on 2019 outbreak link is here
  • In recent Canadian outbreaks of RHDV2, the death rate was close to 90%.
  • 2020 Outbreak of (RHDV2) associated disease occurred in the southwestern United States following its first detection in New Mexico in March
  • 2020 (New York City, 13 cases linked to a veterinary hospital) RHDV2 strains*
  • 2022 (New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, California, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, and Oregon)
  • 2022 (New Jersey)

* This new strain is able to infect a wider variety of rabbit species including wild rabbits.

If you notice these symptoms in rabbits, isolate them and contact your veterinarian and your state’s Division of Animal Health. If you see dead wild rabbits that lack explanation, contact your state Game and Wildlife Division:

  • Rabbits die suddenly without symptoms
  • Rabbits have a fever
  • Rabbits are uncoordinated, excessively excited, have convulsions, paddling, or paralysis
  • Rabbits have difficulty breathing just before death
  • Rabbits have bloody discharge from nose or stools
  • Rabbits have eye hemorraghes

To protect the wild rabbit population, do not release domestic rabbits into the wild and do not dispose of dead rabbits in the wild.

For more information about measures in New Jersey see the state press release: https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/news/press/2022/approved/press220513.html

If you are traveling between or through states, be aware of the interstate-intrastate quarantine regarding domestic rabbit movements in Pennsylvania. The PA “Interstate and International Order of Quarantine is applicable to all States, Commonwealths and territories of the United States of America and any foreign country in which the dangerous transmissible disease RHD exists or there is a reasonable suspicion it exists.”

New Jersey residence who suspect RHDV2, should alert the NJDA, Division of Animal Health at 609-671-6400. The 24-hour number to report a foreign animal disease to USDA APHIS VS Area Veterinarian in Charge is 866-536-7593.

Biosecurity measures rabbit owners can take regarding Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease can be found at:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/fs-rhdv2.pdf

USDA APHIS Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Resources 

USDA (RHDV) Cleaning Guidance July 2020 

National Assembly of State Animal Health Officials (NASAHO) – RHDV Biosecurity Guidance 

NASAHO – RHDV Shows and Exhibitions Guidance 

 

 

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Uncategorized, Vegetable Crops
September 1, 2022

Accelerated Irrigation Funding Now Available for New Jersey Producers

SOMERSET, N.J., Sept. 1, 2022 – The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New Jersey is now accepting applications for accelerated Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) ACT NOW funding for irrigation.

Through this unique opportunity, producers and landowners can convert their existing overhead systems to low flow, high-efficiency systems such as drip or pivot which will efficiently and uniformly apply irrigation water, maintain soil moisture for plant growth, prevent contamination of ground and surface water, and improve poor plant productivity and health. Irrigation may also be combined with soil health practices to improve soil quality.

While NRCS accepts applications year-round, NRCS-NJ has established an evaluation period cut-off date for ACT NOW Irrigation funding of October 1, 2022. Applications submitted prior to the cut-off will be assessed and ranked as soon as the applicant has made treatment decisions through a conservation plan. Land offered for enrollment in EQIP must have been irrigated for at least two out of the last five years to qualify for irrigation-related conservation practices.

Based on fund availability, application assessments with a ranking score of 70 points or greater will be preapproved immediately, allowing the applicant to ACT NOW and achieve contract approval to begin practice installation without being evaluated against other submitted assessments. Application assessment ranking scores less than 70 points will be batched and funded in ranking order as funding allows.

For more details on EQIP, please contract your local USDA Service Center or visit https://www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Food Safety, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops
August 29, 2022

Back-yard Poultry Producer Alert: HiPath Avian Influenza deaths in wild birds

On August 8th, 2022, The United States 2022 Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds reported multiple confirmations of dead black vultures in Sussex County, NJ. Today, August 29, 2022, the media has released information that a hundred dead vultures were found in the vicinity of the Sussex Branch Trail in Lafayette, NJ.

Back-yard producers in Sussex County should review their biosecurity measures to prevent avian influenza from wild birds coming in contact with their flocks.

For more information and who to contact in the NJ Department of Agriculture if you have a death in your poultry flock, see the following post https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/poultry-alert-review-implement-biosecurity-measures/

For more information on who to contact in the NJDEP if If multiple birds are found dead in a small area over a short period of time, please contact either 1-877-WARNDEP or Dr. Nicole Lewis (nicole.lewis@dep.nj.gov) for assistance. https://www.nj.gov/dep/fgw/news/2022/04-19_avian_influenza.htm

Upcoming webinars and in person meetings for NJ producers (August 31 and September 26) https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/upcoming-sessions-for-backyard-poultry-owners/

Information regarding driving into a quarantine zone in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania currently has a 10 km zone along the PA/NJ border related to this detection. https://plant-pest-advisory.rutgers.edu/driving-into-high-path-avian-influenza-quarantine-zones-in-pa-know-the-rules/

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