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 11, 2021 Nick Polanin
Resuming In-Person RCE Programming – A Guide for Attendees
Rutgers Cooperative Extension has announced the resumption of in-person programming beginning this month. Extension professionals across all program areas have the option to offer in-person programming, limited at this time to outdoor events with no more than 25 total in attendance. This includes farm and field visits, twilight meetings, and pesticide applicator recertification events. Resuming in-person events doesn’t mean that online or hybrid events will end; both are essential tools for successful RCE programming.
These RCE guidelines and expectations are for all participants to follow to attend these events:
Voluntary Participation – Participation at in-person RCE activities is completely voluntary – there is no requirement for attendance.
Health Screening Form – Attendees will be required to bring a completed RCE Health Screening Form, which can be be accessed at https://go.rutgers.edu/RCE.healthform. Once completed, please take a screenshot of the big green checkmark or print out a copy to show when you arrive before being allowed to attend.
Face Masks – Every participant will be required to wear a face mask / covering over their mouth and nose at all times. Arrive wearing your mask, and make sure to keep it in place during the entire event.
Physical Distancing – Everyone will be required to practice physical distancing, staying at least 6 feet apart.
Hygiene & Sanitation – Everyone who attends is expected to practice good hygiene habits. Participants should wash or sanitize their hands when they arrive and before they leave, and as needed throughout the activity. You are encouraged to bring your own hand sanitizer to limit shared surfaces.
What to Bring With You – Food will not be provided and sharing food is not permitted. Make sure to bring your own refreshments, filled water bottle, tools/equipment, notebook and writing tool, camp chair, etc. depending on the event you’re attending.
All participants are expected to follow these rules and procedures to help make every RCE in-person event safe and enjoyable for everyone. Please be sure to check the NJAES Calendar of Events and the RCE office in your county for upcoming events.
February 24, 2021 Rick VanVranken
2021 NJ Ag/VGANJ Convention Virtual Educational Sessions – Thursday
Day 4 is here already. Thank you for participating this week. We hope this has been a useful program for you.
Please use the following links for Thursday’s sessions.
Access for all morning sessions begins at 9am Thursday Feb 25 here: https://go.rutgers.edu/a6s5d8nq with presentations beginning at 9:15am.
All morning sessions will be in ‘breakout rooms’ accessible from the main Zoom session. Afternoon sessions will each have a unique link to allow us to track attendance better for those seeking pesticide credits.
As always, all links are also available for all sessions at vganj.com/schedule or go directly to the agenda page here https://go.rutgers.edu/yw2aminv.
NOTE that if you missed Wednesday’s wonderful Tribute to New Jersey Farmers, it is posted front and center at vganj.com/convention.
The program and links for Thursday’s sessions are:
2021 NJ Ag/VGANJ Virtual Convention – Educational Sessions Agenda
Thurs Feb 24, 2021 – 9:15am-11:45am
Access ALL MORNING sessions HERE
https://go.rutgers.edu/a6s5d8nq
Grapes I
9:15-9:30am-Welcome & Intro
9:30-10:00am-Frost Protection in the Vineyard
10:00-10:30am-Panel Discussion – New Jersey Grape Growers’ Response to Frost Events
10:30-10:45am-Preventing Herbicide Drift & Injury to Grapevines
10:45-11:15am- Wine Grape Varieties for North New Jersey
11:15-11:45am- Alternative Wine Grape Varieties to Consider
Through the Looking Glass – Future Technologies for NJ Farms
9:00-9:15am-Welcome & Intro
9:15-9:45am-Applications of Cold Plasma in Hydroponics
9:45-10:15am-Farm-IT – Cost Effective & Open-Source Management Solutions for Small Farm Operations
10:15-10:45am-Agriculture & Solar – History and Status of the Massachusetts Solar PV Dual-Use Program
10:45-11:15am- Controlled Environment Agriculture – A Tool to Understand Flavor Profiles and Consumer Demand for Baby Leafy Greens
11:15-11:45am-From the Horizon to the Far Out – Production Enhancing Ag Technologies
General Vegetables & Herbs I
9:15-9:30am-Welcome & Intro
9:30-10:00am-Bacterial Leaf Spot Populations & Copper Resistance Development in Vegetable & Tree Fruit Crops in NJ
10:00-10:30am-Understanding Bacterial Leaf Spot Populations on Tomato & Pepper
10:30-10:45am-What’s New from Industry/Break
10:45-11:15am-Update on X10R Bell Pepper Varieties in NJ
11:15-11:45am-Grafting Tomato & Peppers for Controlling Bacterial Wilt & Root Knot Nematode
Thurs Feb 25, 2021 – 12:00pm-1:00pm
Access AFTERNOON sessions individually
Pesticide credit sessions require logging in within 10 minutes of start and remaining through the entire session to be eligible for credits.
Respiratory Protection Requirements of WPS-Labeled Pesticides
https://go.rutgers.edu/idc7d8nj
(1 hour for 2 CORE credits)
Pat Hastings
Session will highlight the requirements of the federal WPS and New Jersey Worker Protection regulations covering use of respirators for pesticide applications.
Thurs Feb 25, 2021 – 1:00pm-3:45pm
Grapes II
https://go.rutgers.edu/9ryhlfx9
1:15-1:30pm-Welcome & Intro
1:30-2:00pm-Understanding Risk and Evaluating Growing Practices in the Face of Emerging Invasive Pathogens
2:00-2:30pm-Application of CRISPR-Gene Editing to Improve Grape Disease Resistance
2:30-2:45pm-What’s New from Industry/Break
2:45-3:15pm-Spotted Lantern Fly Update
3:15-3:45pm-Pesticide Safety and Regulation Update for 2021
Integrated Pest Management
https://go.rutgers.edu/jci205ae
1:15-1:30pm-Welcome & Intro
1:30-2:00pm-Refining Your Disease Management Program for Pumpkin and Winter Squash
2:00-2:30pm-Battling Corn Earworm in Sweet Corn
2:30-2:45pm-What’s New from Industry/Break
2:45-3:15pm-Invasive Jumping Worms – Are There Any Risks to Agriculture?
3:15-3:45pm-The Plague of Peppers – An Unexpected Tale of the Pepper Weevil in Ohio
General Vegetables & Herbs II
https://go.rutgers.edu/1ag4acby
1:15-1:30pm-Welcome & Intro
1:30-2:00pm-Understanding & Controlling Cucurbit Downy Mildew in 2021
2:00-2:30pm-Managing White Flies & Thrips in Field Vegetables
2:30-2:45pm-What’s New from Industry/Break
2:45-3:15pm-Alternaria Diseases of Brassicas-an Emerging Problem in the Mid-Atlantic
3:15-3:45pm-Pepper Anthracnose-Appetite for Destruction
February 23, 2021 Rick VanVranken
2021 NJ Ag/VGANJ Convention Virtual Educational Sessions – Wed
Please join in via the following links for Wednesday’s sessions.
Access for all morning sessions begins at 9am Wed Feb 23 here: https://go.rutgers.edu/vdh6okge with presentations beginning at 9:15am.
Like Monday and Tuesday, once you’ve logged in you will be directed to ‘breakout rooms’ for each of the morning sessions. When the Wednesday morning sessions end, please return to the main room for a ‘Tribute to New Jersey Farmers’ by Vegetable Growers Association president John Banscher beginning at noon.
All links are also available for every session at vganj.com/schedule or direct link to the agenda page here https://go.rutgers.edu/yw2aminv. NOTE that the morning sessions are all through the same link, but afternoon sessions each have a unique Zoom link that will be seen directly next to the agenda for that session.
This is the program and links for Wednesday’s sessions:
2021 NJ Ag/VGANJ Virtual Convention – Educational Sessions Agenda
Wed Feb 24, 2021 – 9:15am-11:45am
Access ALL MORNING sessions HERE
https://go.rutgers.edu/vdh6okge
Soil Health/Cover Crops
9:30-10:00am-Soil Health 101
10:00-10:30am-Soil Organisms, Their Functions & How to Increase Beneficial Microbes in the Soil
10:45-11:15am-The Great Debate – Residue Management Pros & Cons
11:15-11:45am-Cover Crop Selections for Vegetable Crop Production
Creating Value-Added Products & Services to Increase Profits
9:15-9:30am-Welcome & Intro
9:30-10:00am-Growing Beer & Agritourism at the Bullock Farm
10:00-10:30am-Snapping Turtle Farm – Direct Marketing Ideas for a Changing Consumer Landscape
10:45-11:15am-On-Farm Cold Press Juices & Other Value-Added Products on the Marchese Family Farm
11:15-11:45am-Creating Value Added Products at the Rutgers Food Innovation Center
11:45am-Bringing it All Together Roundtable
Food Safety
9:15-9:40am-Welcome & What’s New from Industry
9:40-10:10am-Produce Safety Research Update
10:10-10:40am-Navigating Food Safety in the Pick Your Own Patch
10:40-11:10am-Postharvest Priorities to Reduce Produce Safety Risks
11:10-11:40am-Audit & Inspection Updates
VGANJ Tribute to New Jersey Farmers
John Banscher, President
Join VGANJ President John Banscher in a celebration of all New Jersey’s
farmers recognizing your essential work throughout the 2020 pandemic.
please return to main session room after breakout sessions end
https://go.rutgers.edu/vdh6okge
Access AFTERNOON sessions individually
Wed Feb 24, 2021 – 1:15pm-3:45pm
Pesticide credit sessions require logging in within 10 minutes of start and remaining through the entire session
to be eligible for credits.
Small Fruit
https://go.rutgers.edu/igyafi17
1:15-1:30pm-Welcome & Intro
1:30-2:00pm-What Affects the Flavor of Strawberries & Can You Do Anything About It?
2:00-2:30pm-A Decade After Spotted-wing Drosophila Invasion in the USA: Lessons Learned
2:45-3:15pm-Double Cropping Raspberries
3:15-3:45pm-Strawberry Diseases New & Old
Creative Marketing/Agritourism
https://go.rutgers.edu/vdh6okge
1:15-1:30pm-Welcome & Intro
1:30-2:00pm-Challenges and Opportunities in Urban Farmers’ Markets
2:00-2:30pm-Utilizing Social Media for Great Customer Service
2:45-3:15pm-Expanding My Farmers Market in 2020 – Creative Marketing in Tough Times
3:15-3:45pm-Innovative Marketing Interviews with New Farmers
3:45pm- Roundtable Q&A/Adjourn
Blueberry
https://go.rutgers.edu/gjhj4ufi
1:15-1:30pm-Welcome & Intro
1:30-1:55pm- Green Drop in the Draper blueberry variety, research conclusions
1:55-2:25pm-Pest Management Highlights from 2020 – The Year in Review
2:25-2:50pm-Modern methods of blueberry virus detection
2:50-3:15pm-Update on Black Shadow Management
3:15-3:45pm- Searching for novel repellents to manage spotted-wing drosophila
February 22, 2021 Rick VanVranken
2021 NJ Ag/VGANJ Convention Virtual Educational Sessions – Tues
Day 1 is in the books. Tomorrow we start again. Please join in via the following links.
Access for all morning sessions begins at 9am Tues Feb 23 here: https://go.rutgers.edu/iexg7ly5
Like Monday, once you’ve logged in you will be directed to ‘breakout rooms’ for each of the morning sessions. While you’re waiting please listen to a few welcoming remarks from our Interim Executive Dean Dr. Laura Lawson, Director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension Brian Schilling, NJDA Secretary Douglas Fisher, and Vegetable Growers Association president John Banscher, as well as some instructions and housekeeping rules. The program sessions will begin at 9:15am.
All links are also available for every session at vganj.com/schedule or the direct link to the agenda page is https://go.rutgers.edu/yw2aminv. NOTE that the morning sessions are all through the same link, but afternoon sessions each have a unique Zoom link that will be seen directly next to the agenda for that session.
If neither of those options work, here is the agenda and links for Tueday’s sessions:
2021 NJ Ag/VGANJ Virtual Convention – Educational Sessions Agenda
Tues Feb 23, 2021 – 9:15am-11:45am
Access ALL MORNING sessions HERE
https://go.rutgers.edu/iexg7ly5
Organic Production
9:15-9:30am-Welcome & Intro
9:30-10:00am-Soil Health & Organic Sweetpotato Production
10:00-10:30am-Managing Allium Leaf Miner for Organic Onions
10:30-10:45am-What’s New from Industry/Break
10:45-11:15am-Satisfying the Sulfur Needs of Crops
11:15-11:45am-Balancing Safety and Nutrition in Organic Foods
New Orchard Establishment I
9:15-9:30am-Welcome & Intro
9:30-10:00am-Overview of Resources Available to New Tree Fruit Growers in New Jersey
10:00-10:30am-Orchard Site Selection and Pre-Plant Preparation
10:30-10:45am-Web Soil Survey – An Efficient Tool to Understand Native Properties of the Soil
10:45-11:15am-Orchard Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Basics
11:15-11:45am-Orchard Management in the Early Years – Principles & Practices
Hemp
9:15-9:30am-Welcome & Intro
9:30-10:00am-Rutgers First Hemp Trials – Observations & Future Direction
10:00-10:30am-Marketing Considerations for Industrial Hemp Production in NJ
10:30-10:50am-Laboratory Services for the Hemp Industry in New Jersey
10:50-11:15am-Hemp Diseases in NJ – What We Know
11:15-11:45am-Hemp Production in NJ – Challenges & Opportunities (Panel Discussion)
2021 NJ Ag/VGANJ Virtual Convention – Educational Sessions Agenda
Tues Feb 23, 2021 – 12:00pm-1:00pm
Access AFTERNOON sessions individually
Pesticide credit sessions require logging in within 10 minutes of start and remaining through the entire session
to be eligible for credits.
Pesticide Regulatory Review for Pesticide Applicators, Businesses,
and Agricultural Employers
https://go.rutgers.edu/cl0zmui7
(1 hour for 2 CORE credits)
Pat Hastings
A thorough review of regulatory requirements for pesticide applicator certification, recertification, and licensing
in New Jersey, including administrative changes to license renewal processes.
Tues Feb 23, 2021 – 1:00pm-3:45pm
Weed Control
https://go.rutgers.edu/p4yk2e17
(pesticide recertification credits: 4 Cat 1A; 4 Cat 10; 4 PP2)
1:15-1:30pm-Welcome & Intro
1:30-2:00pm-Weed Management Update for Row crops
2:00-2:30pm-Electrical Weeders & Potential Use in Specialty Crops
2:30-2:45pm-What’s New from Industry/Break
2:45-3:15pm-Taking Advantage of Plant Weaknesses for Improved Weed Control
3:15-3:45pm-Weed Management Update for Vine Crops
New Orchard Establishment II
https://go.rutgers.edu/iexg7ly5
1:15-1:30pm-Welcome & Intro
1:30-2:00pm-Panel Discussion-Growers’ Perspectives on Delving into Tree Fruit Production
2:00-2:30pm-Organic Apple Production – Is it Feasible in NJ?
2:30-2:45pm-What’s New from Industry/Break
2:45-3:15pm-Economics of Tree Fruit Production
3:15pm-Q&A/Adjourn
Specialty Crops
https://go.rutgers.edu/rxr924oy
(pesticide recertification credits: 1 CORE)
1:15-1:30pm-Welcome & Intro
1:30-2:00pm-Using Demographic Information to Identify Specialty Crop Markets
2:00-2:30pm-African Marigolds for Fall Markets
2:30-2:45pm-What’s New from Industry/Break
2:45-3:15pm-New Crops – RU Hot Peppers & More
3:15-3:45pm-Pesticide Safety & Regulatory Update for 2021
Tues Feb 23, 2021 – 4:00pm-6:00pm
NJ Dept Health
Training Required for Farmers/Market Managers
NJ Dept Health
Training Required for Farmers/Market Managers
February 19, 2021 Rick VanVranken
2021 NJ Ag/VGANJ Convention Virtual Educational Sessions – Mon
We’re ready to go! Are you?
Access for all sessions begins at 9am Mon Feb 22 here: https://go.rutgers.edu/bs9ohbuk
Once you’ve logged in you will be directed to ‘breakout rooms’ for each of the morning sessions, but while you’re waiting hear a few welcoming remarks from our Interim Executive Dean Dr. Laura Lawson, Director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension Brian Schilling, NJDA Secretary Douglas Fisher, and Vegetable Growers Association president John Banscher. The program sessions will begin at 9:15am.
Don’t worry if you miss where to go because you’ll be able to find every link to every session at vganj.com/schedule. Click on the black ‘schedule’ button, then on the session you’d like to join, and it will take you to the page with the Zoom link for that session. NOTE that the morning sessions are all through the same link, so if you don’t see the link next to the session, scroll to the top of the page to find it for that morning. Afternoon sessions will each have a unique Zoom link that will be seen directly next to the agenda for that session.
If you’re new to Zoom meetings, or haven’t been on one for a few months, you might need to download the newest version or update the app on your mobile device. You will be prompted to do so if you try to enter one of the rooms without it, and it should be a simple click or two to complete the update. Easy enough if you wait until you first try to get in, but we strongly recommend that you click on the link above to see if it works now rather than waiting to find out at the last minute Monday morning.
Also, if you’re new to Zoom, our IT support team at Rutgers Continuing Education Center at Atrium recommends checking out one or more of these online tutorials so you can get familiar with using it.
- Zoom Test Meeting Link: https://zoom.us/test
- Zoom How to Update: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7zERcVLUBM&list=PLKpRxBfeD1kEM_I1lId3N_Xl77fKDzSXe&index=7
- Zoom How to Join A Meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIkCmbvAHQQ
On behalf of the NJAES Extension Vegetable Working Group and colleagues coordinating these sessions, and the VGANJ officers and directors, we hope you will enjoy this virtual conference and look forward to ‘seeing’ you online this coming week. Actually, maybe not ‘seeing’ as video will be turned off for all except speakers/moderators, but that also reminds me — be sure to know how to use the ‘chat’ feature as that will be the primary mode to get questions to speakers.
Here we go!
