The proceedings from the 2025 New Jersey Agricultural Convention educational sessions are now available online. Visit the Vegetable Crops Online website for this year, and previous years, proceedings.
Potato and Tomato Disease Forecasting
Growers who are interested in using disease forecasting models should chose the location from the report that is closest in proximity to their farming operation.
In addition, regularly check the Cornell NEWA website @http://newa.cornell.edu/ where this information is compiled from. From the NEWA site menu click on Pests Forecasts, select your weather station, and click on the specific disease, set accumulation start date, and a table of daily and total DSVs will be generated.
Related Websites
November 27, 2024 Michelle Infante-Casella
Get Ready for the 2025 NJ Ag Convention – February 3-6
It is that time of year again to sign up for the annual NJ Agricultural Convention, co-sponsored by the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. Visit the VGANJ website at https://vganj.com/convention-tickets to register.
For 2025 there are new and exciting opportunities to learn about all aspects of the agricultural industry at the educational sessions and from vendors at the trade show. If you came last year, you also saw many new improvements to the convention – more vendors, more educational sessions, a complimentary lunch (limited free tickets) on Tuesday highlighting “what’s new from industry”, a complimentary hot buffet at the Tuesday happy hour/charity auction, youth programs for FFA, and co-convention events with the NJ Department of Agriculture. These offerings and more are coming for 2025. New events like Monday afternoon workshops, a livestock session, an agricultural policy session, an environmental session, and others are confirmed for this coming year. Licensed pesticide applicators will see an increase in recertification credits on the program for 2025.
To check out the educational programming and NJDEP recertification credits for pesticide applicators see https://go.rutgers.edu/ConvProgram2025 – this is a draft program. Also, note that some events need special sign-up so read the program carefully to see what events need pre-registration.
NJ State Board of Agriculture information for the convention is coming soon. Check out their website at Department of Agriculture | Conventions.
If you have any questions about the VGANJ registration, go to https://vganj.com/#contact. If you need more information about the educational programs please contact the Rutgers Co-Chairs for the convention – bamka@njaes.rutgers.edu Bill Bamka, Agricultural Agent in Burlington County, or minfante@njaes.rutgers.edu Michelle Infante-Casella, Agricultural Agent in Gloucester County.
June 16, 2024 Michelle Infante-Casella and Kate Brown
Beat the Heat: Water and Sports Drinks for Hydration
Article By: The Rutgers Farm Health and Safety Working Group: Kate Brown, Michelle Infante-Casella, Stephen Komar and William Bamka
When it comes to hydration, the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends an adequate daily fluid intake of about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men and about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women. Even with this guidance, the amount varies from person to person. Also, when temperatures are hotter and when workloads increase so should drinking water, to prevent dehydration and to help maintain the proper body temperature especially when sweating.
Regular intake of water throughout the day and during the evening, at recommended amounts may help prevent a person from becoming excessively thirsty and also prevent dehydration. The choice of drinking sports drinks that contain electrolytes may be considered when a person’s activities dramatically increase, when they excessively sweat, if they show signs of dehydration, and/or heat stress.
Most sports drinks are designed to replenish glucose, fluids, and electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium) lost during strenuous exercise or heavy workloads. Sports drinks may contain carbohydrates in the form of sugar, usually glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, or sucrose. Some contain no sugar and are “sweetened” instead with low-calorie sweeteners. The amounts of sugar and electrolytes in sports drinks are intended to allow for quick hydration and absorption.
It is important to note, persons with diabetes should be mindful of not intaking amounts of sports drinks that are high in sugar that could raise blood sugar to unhealthy levels. Additionally, persons with high blood pressure should be mindful when drinking sports drinks that are high in sodium – most are. Persons who eat a healthy diet should have enough glucose and electrolytes to maintain their health, even during extra activities and with proper water intake. Some studies show drinking too many sports drinks, especially when not performing vigorous exercise, can increase the risk of overweight/obesity and other health issues such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gout and the risk of dental cavities.
Water is the best choice to stay hydrated and it is the responsibility of each individual person to be sure they drink enough water to maintain their proper health.
March 31, 2024 Tim Waller
High Potential for Boxwood Blight in Southern NJ – beginning Tuesday (4/2)
| Boxwood Blight Risk Assessment as of 3/31/2024 | |||||||||
| Region | Location | CODE | 31-Mar | 1-Apr | 2-Apr | 3-Apr | 4-Apr | 5-Apr | |
| Southern | Upper Deerfield | NJ50 | Low | Low | Minor Risk | Minor Risk | Very Low | Very Low | |
| Southern | Bridgeton | D4116 | Low | Low | Minor Risk | High Risk | Very Low | Very Low | |
| Southern | Millville Airport | KMIV | Low | Low | Minor Risk | High Risk | Very Low | Very Low | |
| Southern | Greenwich | NJ05 | Low | Low | Minor Risk | High Risk | Very Low | Very Low | |
| Central | Howell / Freehold | NJ10 | Very Low | Very Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | |
| Northern | High Point | NJ59 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low | |
| Su | M | Tu | W | Th | F | ||||
| Please check YOUR LOCAL risk (click here) | |||||||||
There is a potential for boxwood blight infections this TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY throughout much of SOUTHERN NJ – especially Bridgeton/Upper Deerfield areas. Incoming rains, coupled with consistent temperatures may initiate boxwood blight infections this week.
The rain SHOULD temporarily subside Monday EVENING – with enough time to get a spray on commercial nursery crops.
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It is time to begin protective fungicide applications in high value areas if you have not already done so.
- If BWB is important to your business – Use the USPEST – PUSH Alerts – (click here) – to setup weekly email alerts. Create an account, watch the tutorial, and then set up your subscriptions. You select which locations (as many as you like), days you want to receive emails (pick Sunday/Monday), and what you would like to receive alerts about (BWB and a variety of other pests and diseases). Rutgers is not directly affiliated, however this is an incredible tool.
March 28, 2024 Michelle Infante-Casella
Locations for NJ Pesticide Recycling Containers – 2024
Below are the locations and dates for recycling pesticide containers in New Jersey. Individuals dropping off containers (triple rinsed, holes drilled in bottom of container or slit with a knife & sans paper booklet on container) may do so during business hours and can pick up the form with a stamped self-addressed envelope to mail NJDA to confirm participation. Completed form must be returned to NJDA. Individuals with a valid NJ DEP Pesticide Applicators Licenses will receive 1 CORE point PER CALENDAR YEAR when confirming participation in this program.
More information can be found at www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/nrc/processingsteps.html
Salem County
Helena Chemical, 440 N. Main St., Woodstown, NJ
Friday, April 19
Friday, May 17
Friday, June 21
Friday, August 23
Friday, September 20
Friday, October 18
Atlantic County
Helena Chemical, 66 Route 206 (North of the Route 30/206 intersection) Hammonton, NJ
Friday, April 12
Friday, May 10
Friday, June 14
Thursday, July 12
Friday, August 16
Friday, September 13
Friday, October 11
Monmouth County
Rutgers Fruit and Ornamental Research Extension Center
283 Route 539, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514-9634
Friday, April 26
Friday, May 24
Friday, June 28
Friday, July 26
Friday, August 30
Friday, September 27
Friday, October 25
Items that Will Not Be Accepted and Will Be Returned to the Participant:
• Pesticide containers with dried formulation on the container, pour spout or the spout threads
• Pesticide containers with any liquid residue
• Pesticide containers where the insides are caked with dried residue
• Mini-bulk, saddle tanks and nurse tanks, which can be made of fiberglass
• Pesticide containers with lids
• Containers that held any type of petroleum oil product or antifreeze
Non-Waxy Cardboard:
Helena Chemical will also be accepting non-waxy cardboard 1 p.m. to 3 p.m and during the scheduled pesticide container collection times. The clean non-waxy cardboard must be broken down and flattened. Cardboard delivered to the Atlantic County site must be tied.
Clean Non-waxy cardboard will also be accepted year-round at the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex’s Convenience Center.
More information can be found at: www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/nrc/processingsteps.html
March 28, 2024 Hemant Gohil
South Jersey Tree Fruit Twilight Meeting – I
When: April 9th (Tue) @ 5:45 pm
Where: Gloucester County Govt. Services Building: 1200 N. Delsea Drive, Bldg. # A, Clayton, NJ 08312
Pesticide credits requested: CORE (#1), 1A (#3), PP2 (#3), 10 (#3)
5: 45 pm Light Fare (Pizza, Donuts and Coffee)
6:00 pm Welcome and Updates.
Hemant Gohil, Extension Agent, RCE of Gloucester County, Rutgers NJAES
6:05 pm Field Observations from the IPM Program
Dave Schmitt, Fruit IPM Program Associate, Rutgers NJAES
6:35 pm RIMpro, a New Climate Monitoring Tool to Access Accurate Disease Prediction Models.
Janine Spies, Statewide Fruit IPM Extension Agent, Rutgers NJAES.
7:05 pm Water Testing Requirements Under the Food Safety Modernization Act for 2024
Wesley Kline, Extension Agent, RCE of Cumberland County.
7:35 pm: An Udate on the Rutgers Hazelnut Breeding Program and Eastern Fire Blight Resistance.
Thomas Molnar, Professor, Plant Biology, Rutgers University.
8:05 pm Peach Market Updates
Hemant Gohil, Extension Agent, RCE of Gloucester County.
8:20 pm Pesticide re-certification credits application.
Meeting Adjourn
Light fare will be provided. If you plan to attend, please call Joan Medany at jmedany@co.gloucester.nj.us or 856-224-8030. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Hemant Gohil at 856-224-8029 before the meeting.
