Kudos to fellow Rutgers Professor/County Agent William Hlubik, and congratulations to his team for getting a spotlight on our aging American farmers! The need for new farmers, and the great Rutgers Cooperative Extension and other programs out there that assist those beginner farmers, was the topic of a special segment of CBS Evening News ‘Eye on America’ last week. It’s been exciting to watch the enthusiastic students graduating from Bill’s RU Ready to Farm program with the knowledge and resources to make farming a successful career choice. Thanks to CBS Evening News for covering this important topic! You can watch the clip here:
August 5, 2024 Rick VanVranken
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Beginner Farmer Training Program In National News Spotlight
May 8, 2024 Rick VanVranken
RU Ready to Farm Equipment Demo Day at Specialty Crop Research Farm – Cream Ridge
May 6, 2024 Rick VanVranken
NJDA Announces 2nd RFP for Underserved, Beginning and Military Veteran Farmers Mini-Grant Program
Last Friday, the NJDA closed the Request for Proposals (RFP) period for our Underserved, Beginning and Military Veteran Farmers Mini-Grant Program. Due to a recent increase in interest in the program, we have decided to extend a second RFP window to members of our specialty crop community who qualify. The second RFP will be open to the public starting May 10th, with the final application deadline now May 31st @ 5PM.
A number of exciting applications from members of NJ’s specialty crop community were received during this first application period. To expedite the review process, all applications submitted prior to May 3rd will be reviewed over the next few weeks. Applicants from the first RFP period can expect a funding decision following the NJ Board of Agriculture meeting on May 22nd. Applicants who apply during the second RFP period can expect a decision following the June 26th NJ Board of Agriculture meeting.
For those interested in learning more about this program, the NJDA will be hosting a webinar to promote the Underserved, Beginning and Military Veteran Farmers Mini-Grant Program on Friday, May 10th at 11 am EDT. Please join to learn more about the program guidelines, eligibility, and application process. Q&A will follow the presentation. Registration is not required. A recording of the webinar will be available for those who are unable to attend.
More information about the program is available at the following links:
Program Webinar – May 10th at 11am.
January 9, 2023 Rick VanVranken
‘Annie’s Project’ Online Course for NJ Farmers Begins This Week – Still Time to Register
Offering important farm management lessons to help women* farmers succeed
Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) will present a new online version of the popular Annie’s Project, over the course of six weeks, one evening per week, starting this Wednesday, January 11. Registration (click here) is still open at the $100 price until the program begins and includes workshop study materials, and admission to the NJACTS (February 7~9). “Annie Goes Online: Risk Management On Your Kitchen Table,” will be offered virtually via Zoom on January 11, 18, and 25; February 15 and 22; and March 1 from 6 – 9 p.m.
The course starts this week with an insightful session on transition, and managing marketing, financial and human resource risks by keynote speaker Wenfei Uva, co-owner of Seaberry Farm – a 36-acre specialty fruit and flower farm in Federalsburg, Maryland. Uva received her Ph.D. from Cornell University in agricultural economics and was an extension leader for the Cornell Horticultural Business Management and Marketing Program from 1999-2007.
An optional all day in person tax workshop on Thursday, February 9th will be offered at the 2023 New Jersey Agriculture Convention and Trade Show (NJACTS) in Atlantic City.
“As in the previous Annie’s Project programs, this workshop is designed to educate and train new and aspiring farm women on risk management strategies and provide tools for successful business management,” says Robin Brumfield, extension specialist in farm management, Rutgers Cooperative Extension.
Financial assistance, provided by Farm Credit East, is available to those in need. Funds are available on a first-come-first-served basis to those who apply by filling out a scholarship application.
Course topics include:
- Labor recruitment and labor laws;
- business income and cash flow management, as well as personal finances;
- food safety and water use regulations;
- insurance and taxes;
- production relevant risk management related to:
- soil fertility and soil health;
- crop/livestock production budgets;
- controlled environment agriculture;
- storm water management;
- livestock-poultry disease biosecurity; and
- marketing and supply channels.
“New, aspiring, and current women farmers will gain educational training on the essentials of preparing a business plan, considered a vital roadmap to success for any business,” says Brumfield. Participants will also benefit from networking opportunities with their peers and other agricultural professionals.
*While targeting women as primary owners and partners in farm businesses, Annie’s Project training is open to all.
For more information about the program, visit Rutgers Farm Management Website. Material for this program is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2021-70027-34693.
September 6, 2022 William Errickson
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.
October 14, 2021 Rick VanVranken
Annie’s Project New Jersey Celebrates its 10th Anniversary with Important Workshop for NJ Farmers
Workshop offers important farm management lessons to help women succeed
Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) is celebrating10 years of Annie’s Project New Jersey with a free, online workshop headlined by Bridget Behe, professor and extension specialist in marketing at Michigan State University.
The training workshop, titled “Annie’s Project New Jersey 10 Years of Empowering New Jersey Farmers,” will be held via Zoom on November 4, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Registration is currently open. The workshop is free, but participants must register in order to receive the link to attend.
“As in the previous Annie’s Project programs, this workshop is designed to educate and train new and aspiring farm women and provide tools for successful business management with particular focus on successful strategies to deal with the ongoing pandemic and post-pandemic,” says Robin Brumfield, extension specialist in farm management with RCE.
“In addition, this program focuses on topics within these areas of risk that present unique challenges to urban farmers,” she explains. A 2019 article on Annie’s Project New Jersey is currently the featured success story by the Northeast Extension Risk Management Education Center.
Participants will have access to invaluable tools to help sustain their farm business, including the expertise of keynote speaker Bridget Behe, who will answer the number one question farmers have been asking us, “How can farmers turn the new customers they got during the pandemic into permanent customers?”
Behe, a sought-after speaker at state, regional and national businesses and associations, provides helpful marketing and management practices designed to improve profitability and sustainability. Her website, “Marketing Munchies,” features short podcasts that use research-based information on horticulture marketing. Her podcasts can be accessed on Connect-2-Consumer or on a favorite podcast provider. Her recent peer-reviewed publications are also available on this website.
Also addressing participants will be Brian Schilling, director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, whose presentation will focus on recent direct marketing and agritourism issues. There will be breakout sessions on the topics, Succession Planning, Marketing, and Production. The workshop will feature a panel of women farmers who will discuss what has worked and what they would change in their own operations, with a wrap-up presentation on building resilience by Brumfield.
Read more about Annie’s Project New Jersey at Rutgers. Find a detailed agenda of the workshop here.
