Rutgers University | New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station | Pesticide User Responsibility

September 3, 2024

The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program launches a new website

The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program is a multidisciplinary group of Rutgers faculty and staff committed to designing and conducting applied agrivoltaics research and outreach for stakeholders in New Jersey and throughout the region.

The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program (RAP) was initiated over 3 years ago with the signing and passage of the Dual Use Solar Act by the New Jersey legislature. In 2023, Agrivoltaics research installations were established at three Rutgers-New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Stations (NJAES). One at the Clifford E. and Melda C. Snyder Research and Extension Farm in Pittstown, NJ; one at the Animal Farm on the Rutgers New Brunswick (SEBS) Campus, and one at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC) near Bridgeton, NJ. Members of the Rutgers RAP Team in collaboration the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, NJ Department of Agriculture, and NJ-DEP are now in the process of implementing the Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot Program.

The agrivoltaics research at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC) near Bridgeton, New Jersey has been designed to study the effects of agrivoltaic (AV) systems on the production of specialty crops and soybeans. This year eggplant, pepper, fresh-market tomatoes, and soybeans are being grown under three three different treatments: single-axis tracking array with one row of panels, single-axis tracking array with two rows of panels, and no panels (conventional production as a control) to determine the effects caused by the presence of the panels on specialty crop and soybean plant growth and yield.

At the Clifford E. and Melda C. Snyder Research and Extension Farm in Pittstown, NJ the effects of a single-axis tracking array with one row of panels on hay production is being studied.

At the Rutgers SEBS Campus Animal Farm in New Brunswick, New Jersey, which hosts equine and livestock facilities, the AV research has been designed to study pasture forage production and animal grazing patterns in combination with vertical bifacial solar panels.

For more information on the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program and more AV resources please visit the new website by clicking here. Stakeholders interested in keeping up the what’s going on can now subscribe to the new website and have information send directly to their email account. Just go to our contact page and follow the instructions to subscribe! 

The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program in collaboration with the American Farmland Trust will be holding upcoming workshops for those stakeholders in New Jersey interested in learning more. Please click here for more information on these upcoming events.

Filed Under: Agrivoltaics, Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape Tagged With: ,
August 9, 2024

Agrivoltaic farmer trainings in New Jersey!

The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program and the American Farmland Trust are excited to host our inaugural agrivoltaics farmer trainings in New Jersey! This Technical Assistance Program for Agrivoltaics (TAPAS) will introduce the dual-use of land for both agricultural and solar energy production, and explore the opportunities it may present for greater farm viability in New Jersey.

There are three training events, but due to limited capacity, we are encouraging participants to only register for one training session so we may train as many producers as possible. The in-person events have a capacity of 20 participants. Register today to secure your spot as soon as possible! While these trainings are exclusively held for farmers and ranchers, we will have other opportunities in the future for non-farmer participants to learn from our team of experts.

Training Opportunities

Session 1: Full-day training intended for specialty crop farmers on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center, 121 Northville Rd, Bridgeton, NJ 08302

Session 2: Half-day training intended for livestock producers or those who focus on grazing and forage on Tuesday, August 27 at the Round House next to 65 Sheepfold Lane, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Session 3: A virtual training for all types of producers on Tuesday, September 10 from 5-7:30 pm ET

For more information and to sign up for one of these training sessions please click here.

Filed Under: Blueberry, Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Cranberry, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Organic Production, Tree Fruit, Vegetable Crops, Wine Grape, work shop Tagged With: ,
November 20, 2023

Stakeholder Meeting for the DUAL-USE SOLAR ENERGY PILOT PROGRAM

Wednesday, November 29th at 10:00 a.m.

The Dual-Use Solar Energy Act aims to facilitate solar projects on working farmland, while keeping the farmland in continued agricultural production. The pilot program seeks up to 200 MW generating capacity from dual-use solar in the first 3 years, with additional capacity if program is extended. The Pilot Program will serve as the basis for a permanent dual-use program in New Jersey.

The Board of Public Utilities (BPU), in conjunction with the NJ Department of Agriculture and the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program have written a draft proposal for the rules that will implement the Dual-Use Solar Energy Act. The draft (straw proposal) is now open for public comment, with the intent of gathering stakeholder input.

For more information about the proposal and the Stakeholder Virtual Meeting, click the following link:
https://www.nj.gov/bpu/library/Dual%20Use%20Solar%20Energy%20Pilot%20Straw%20Proposal.pdf

To participate in the virtual meeting, you must register for the meeting at least 48 hours before the scheduled date. If you would like to speak during this Stakeholder Meeting, you must register via this form:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9uOqbekdSrW25I3I4FeUKw

The BPU is also accepting written or electronic comments. All public comments should be
filed under Docket No. QO23090679 In the Matter of the Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot Program.
The deadline for comments on this matter is 5 p.m. Eastern Time on December 13, 2023.

You can learn more about Agrivoltaics at the Rutger Agrivoltaics Program Website:
https://ecocomplex.rutgers.edu/agrivoltaics-research.html

 

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , ,
August 21, 2023 and

Snyder Farm Twilight Tour & Meeting, Wed. August 23, 2023

collage of hemp, a drone and agrivoltaic installation at Rutgers Snyder Farm

Twilight Tour and Meeting*
Fiber Hemp Production
Drones in Agriculture
Agrivoltaics Research

Date/Time:
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
6:00 – 8:00 PM

Location:
Snyder Research and Extension Farm
140 Locust Grove Rd.
Pittstown, NJ 08867

This program is offered to assist producers, and anyone interested in learning more about Fiber Hemp Production and current Agrivoltaics research in NJ.

Topics Include:

  • Tour of Rutgers Fiber Hemp Plots
    See what the hemp is going on with production and management. Is hemp viable in NJ?
  • Drone sprayers and ground driven sprayers in agriculture
    Learn how drones can be used in agricultural production. Learn the requirements for applying pesticides using drones.
  • Tour of Rutgers Agrivoltaics Research Plot
    Learn about current and planned agrivoltaics research at Rutgers. Are agriculture and solar energy production compatible?

For more information contact:  RCE, Sussex County  973-948-3040

*Pesticide credits pending

Filed Under: Christmas Trees, Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Nursery, Strawberry, Tree Fruit, Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , ,
March 17, 2021

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.

Filed Under: Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Landscape, Nursery, & Turf, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , , ,