How to Prepare a Pesticide Container for Recycling or Reconditioning – What “Empty” Means Legally
NJ DEP issues Open Burn Permit through Tuesday, March 26, 2024
To Agriculture and Agribusiness Representatives:
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is issuing this notice concerning open burning due to colder spring overnight temperatures presently forecasted for areas of New Jersey from Tuesday, March 19, through Tuesday, March 26, 2024, which could adversely affect fruit, vegetable, and floriculture crops in bloom or near bloom around the state. The DEP intends to exercise its authority and discretion under the Air Pollution Control Code, N.J.A.C. 7:27, et seq., and other applicable authorities to permit the following procedure for open burning or the use of smudge pots to assist farmers to protect their crops in low temperatures. These cold events could adversely affect some of the fruit, vegetable, and floriculture crops. [Read more…]
Update on Xtend-specific dicamba products registration
On February 6, 2024, the U.S. District Court of Arizona vacated the registrations of three dicamba products (Engenia 5L, Xtendimax 2.9L and Tavium 3.39CS) labeled for over-the-top use in Xtend and XtendFlex soybean systems. After several days of uncertainty, we now have guidance from the EPA about use of these products in the 2024 growing season. Based on the Court’s decision, the EPA considers these products to be no longer registered but allows for use of existing stocks under limited conditions:
- Use of products: The EPA’s “existing stocks order” allows private and commercial applicators to use existing stocks that were acquired by May 31, 2024. Applications of these products are permitted until June 30, 2024, in Xtend brand soybean fields.
- Distribution and sale: The EPA order limits further distribution and sales of these products to only existing stocks that were in possession of dealers prior to February 6, 2024, to facilitate use of the product by the June 30 deadline. In other words, the major manufacturers/registrants of these products are not allowed to sell them anymore, but any dealers with an existing inventory may sell these products until May 31, 2024, and applicators may spray them, according to their label, until June 30, 2024.
- Dicamba training: To use any of these Xtend-specific dicamba products, special dicamba training must be done annually to purchase and apply them. Training is reciprocal across brands, meaning an applicator only needs to take one dicamba-specific training each year; no matter what product is used, and which organization does the training. For more information about online dicamba training options and other specifics see:
Keep in mind, other dicamba-containing products such as Clarity, Diflexx, Status, and the many generics cannot be legally sprayed over-the-top of Xtend brand soybeans. However, the use of glyphosate and glufosinate (Liberty, etc.) products can still be used depending on the variety.
Enlist E3 soybean varieties have not been affected by this lawsuit and thus registered 2,4-D choline products (Enlist One and Duo) can be used in that system. These and other 2,4-D products cannot be applied over-the-top in Xtend/XtendFlex soybean systems, otherwise major crop damage will occur.
We will continue to provide updates if more details emerge. The EPA order and summary can be found here: Existing Stocks Order for Dicamba Products Previously Registered for Over-the-Top Use on Dicamba-Tolerant Cotton and Soybean (PDF).
Deadline February 29, 2024 NJDA is offering USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Grants
The NJDA is offering USDA Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Grants. The deadline for grant submissions is February 29th. For more information visit the NJDA grant site: Department of Agriculture | Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program Grants.
Types of projects that could be funded include:
• Expanding processing capacities, including adding product types, increasing production volumes, and supporting new wholesale/retail, product lines;
• Modernizing equipment or facilities through upgrades, repairs, or retooling; (e.g., adapting product lines for institutional procurement or adding parallel processing capacity);
• Purchase and installation of specialized equipment, such as processing components, sorting equipment, packing and labeling equipment, or delivery vehicles;
• Modernizing manufacturing, tracking, storage, and information technology systems;
• Enhancing worker safety through adoption of new technologies or investment in equipment or facility improvements; Construction of a new facility;
• Increasing packaging and labeling capacities that meet compliance requirements under applicable laws (e.g. sealing, bagging, boxing, labeling, conveying, and product moving equipment);
• Increasing storage space, including cold storage;
• Develop, customize, or install climate-smart equipment that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, increases efficiency in water use, improves air and/or water quality, and/or meets one or more of USDA’s climate action goals;
• Modernize equipment or facilities to ensure food safety, including associated Hazard, Analysis, and Critical Control Points (HACCP) consultation, plan development and employee training;
• Training on the use of all equipment purchased under the grant and associated new processes.
Contact at NJDA:
Deelip Mhaske
Grants Administrator
Division of Marketing & Development New
Jersey Department of Agriculture
PO Box 330, Trenton, NJ 08625-0330
Phone: 609-913-6628 Fax: 609-984-2508
E-mail: deelip.mhaske@ag.nj.gov
NJDEP Stakeholder Meeting for Pesticide Rules Wednesday September 27 from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
NJ Department of Environmental Protection Issues Burn Permit for Frost Protection – Through April 14
(TRENTON) – With the state expected to experience colder spring temperatures, the Department of Environmental Protection has agreed with NJ Dept of Agriculture Secretary Douglas Fisher’s request to allow farmers to do controlled open burning or use specialized torches known as smudge pots to protect crops from damage beginning Friday, April 7, through Friday, April 14.
These cold events could adversely affect some of the fruit, vegetable, and floriculture crops.
Note: The NJDEP and New Jersey Forest Fire Service caution all farmers and agriculture businesses with respect to the use of open burning in high wind velocity conditions. Please take note that farmers are encouraged to utilize smudge pots is warming as necessary during higher wind conditions. Use of open burning when wind velocity is greater than 5mph is strictly prohibited, may contribute to wildfire risk, and can carry significant penalties. [Read more…]
