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December 28, 2023

Amended – Invasive Species Bill S2186 – Update

click here for the – Amended Invasive Species Bill s2186

Per NJNLA – Green Industry Updates

“Invasive Species Bill Progresses out of Committee

For the past year, the NJ Nursery & Landscape Association has been advocating for the nursery and landscape industries with respect to a bill that proposes to ban the propagation, sale, export or import of a select group of plants that are widely considered to be invasive. Similar legislation has already been enacted in neighboring states, and throughout the country.

The bill also creates an Invasive Species Council, which will be responsible for making recommendations on future regulated plants.  In cooperation with other organizations and stakeholders, the NJNLA testified in favor of an amended version of the bill; one that provides additional representation from the industry and designates the NJ Department of Agriculture to be the primary agency tasked with rulemaking and regulation. This bill has now passed out of the Senate Environment & Energy Committee and will now need to pass both houses (Senate and Assembly) before going to the Governor’s desk.

Please feel free to reach out to NJNLA at any time” – njnla.director@gmail.com 

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf
December 28, 2023

New NJDEP Septic Permit for Farms – Public Comment Period is NOW – aggregate volume of sanitary sewage greater than 2,000 gallons per day

Please be aware that the public comment period for the below draft ENDS on January 19th – 2024. 

If you would like to comment on the proposed draft – please do so before the end of the comment period; contact the NJDEP Ground Water Permitting unit at dwq_groundwater@dep.nj.gov pertaining to the following:

  • Category: GFSD – Discharge to Ground Water – Sanitary Discharges at Farms (GP)
  • NJPDES Permit No.: NJ0347833; Program Interest No.: 50577

as per draft – read full version here – Click here for a PDF copy – New NJDEP Septic Permit for Farms

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf
December 22, 2023

EPA Launches New Program to Incentivize the Development of Novel Mosquito Control Products

[US EPA. December 21, 2023].  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a new program, the Vector Expedited Review Voucher (VERV) Program, to incentivize companies to develop novel or unique mosquito control products to help prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, dengue, and Zika. The Agency is required to implement this program […]
Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops
December 22, 2023

EPA Registers Novel Pesticide Technology for Potato Crops

[US EPA. December 22, 2023].  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has registered biopesticide products containing the new active ingredient Ledprona for three years, a timeframe that is consistent with EPA’s approach to other novel biopesticide products. Ledprona is a new type of pesticide that relies on a natural mechanism–called RNA interference (RNAi)–used by plants […]
Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops
December 19, 2023

EPA Update on Next Steps for Chlorpyrifos

[EPA Pesticide Update .Posted 12/19/2023]. In light of the November 2, 2023, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision to vacate the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2021 final rule effectively prohibiting the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on food or feed crops, EPA is issuing an update on its intended next steps. Background In April […]
Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops
December 5, 2023

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-SPACERespirator Mask 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/pesticideworkshopQR Code
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

Filed Under: Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Nursery, pesticide credits, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: ,