April 29, 2020

USDA ‘Farmers to Families Food Box Program’ Info Webinar TODAY at 2pm for Farmers, Shippers, Suppliers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will host a webinar on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at 2 p.m. ET, for farmers, shippers and other suppliers interested in learning more about the Farmers to Families Food Box Program. This webinar is an opportunity for these parties to learn how to supply produce, dairy and meat products to vendors supplying food boxes to non-profits and other entities feeding hungry Americans.

Register for the Webinar HERE.

Additionally, AMS, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and the Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE), published Frequently Asked Questions for non-profit organizations seeking to receive food through the Farmers to Families Food Box Program.

Frequently Asked Questions are answered here.

More information is available on the Farmers to Families Food Box Program webpage.

Additional questions may be submitted to USDAFoodBoxDistributionProgram@usda.gov.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Field, Forage & Livestock, Fruit, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , , ,
April 28, 2020

NJ Dept of Agriculture Memo RE: Labor Housing Guidance Forthcoming

We’ve been asked to share the attached memo from NJDA Secretary Fisher regarding guidance on ag labor housing as it relates to COVID 19.

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,
March 22, 2017

DEP and NJDA Extend Allowance of Controlled Open Burns to Protect Crops from Frost Threats

(17/P23) TRENTON – With the state expected to experience more freezing temperatures tonight and Thursday night, the Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Agriculture will again allow farmers to do controlled open burning or use specialized torches known as smudge pots to protect flowering crops from damage.

The two agencies previously authorized precautionary and voluntary use of smudge pots on March 10 due to below-freezing temperatures forecast through that weekend.

Temperatures are expected to drop to the low 20s tonight and Thursday night through most of the state. The expected freeze follows unusually warm temperatures in recent weeks that coaxed some economically important fruit tree crops to bud much earlier than normal.

Peach, blueberry and apple crops are particularly susceptible. Damage from freezing weather now can significantly reduce yields of these crops later in the season. There are concerns in particular about early varieties of peaches that are at a stage where buds are about to flower. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit Tagged With: , ,
March 7, 2017

Farm-to-School/Farmers Market Nutrition Survey Looking for Mid-Atlantic Produce Growers

Fruit or vegetable farmers in the Mid-Atlantic region (PA, NJ, DE, MD, VA, WV, and DC) that have participated or have considered participating in:

  1. Farm to School sales or activities, OR
  2. Farmers’ Market Nutrition Incentive programs (like FMNP & SNAP matching programs)

are invited to participate in a survey about their choices to participate or not.

Megan Lehnerd, a PhD student at the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition, is conducting a study to learn more about why farmers choose to participate or not participate in these programs. The survey will take between 20 and 30 minutes to complete.

If you complete the survey, you can choose a $25 gift card to either Amazon or Johnny’s Selected Seeds. For more information or to take the survey, visit: http://sites.tufts.edu/farmersurvey or contact Megan at megan.lehnerd@tufts.edu.

Megan Lehnerd, MS
Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy
Tufts University

Filed Under: Fruit, Vegetable Crops Tagged With: , , , ,
September 14, 2016

Plasticulture Strawberries – Ultra Niche Crop Series

ultra-niche-strawberry

Learn how to grow, market and sell plasticulture strawberries.  Production basics, food safety considerations, post harvest handling specifics, budgeting and buyer preferences.

September 28, 2016  5:30 – 8:00 p.m. at three locations:
– RCE of Somerset County, Bridgewater
– RCE of Cape May County, Cape May Court House
– Rutgers EcoComplex, Columbus

For more information call Jenny Carleo, Agricultural Agent at (609) 465-5115 or email Jennifer
Matthews at jmatthews@aesop.rutgers.edu
To register go to Eventbrite link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ultra-niche-crops-plasticulture-strawberries-tickets-26609094518
To join the mailing list for future classes go to The Ultra-Niche Crop Project

Filed Under: Commercial Ag Updates, Fruit Tagged With: ,
August 18, 2016

Fruit IPM for 8/18/16

 

Peach:

Oriental Fruit Moth (OFM): Trap counts still show captures above the treatment threshold of 6/trap. Treatments are needed anywhere trap counts exceed 6 males per trap, even at this late stage of the season on any variety that is at least 7-10 days away from harvest. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blueberry, Fruit, Tree Fruit, Wine Grape Tagged With: , , ,