Financial Assistance for Food Safety Certification and Training
Main Content
This is the chance for eligible fresh fruit and vegetable growers to recover some of their expenses forimplementing food safety practices on their farms. For 2024: For 2025: Eligible specialty crop operations can apply for Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) byworking directly with the Farm Service Agency offices at your local FSA office […]
Food Safety Trainings for Fall and Winter
Main Content
This is the time of the year to update your food safety trainings. There are severaltrainings planned through February that are in person or remote. DecemberThe registration deadline is fast approaching for our December 5 and 6, 2024Remote Food Safety Modernization Act: Produce Safety Rule Training. This trainingfulfills the requirements of the Food and Drug […]
The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program launches New Website
Plant and Pest Advisory – Andy Wyenandt – September 3, 2024
Main Content
The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program is a multidisciplinary group of Rutgers faculty and staff committedto designing and conducting applied agrivoltaics research and outreach for stakeholders in NewJersey and throughout the region. The Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program (RAP) was initiated over 3 years ago with the signing and passageof the Dual Use Solar Act by the New Jersey […]
USDA Launches Assistance Network to Support Financially Distressed Farmers and Ranchers
Contact: FPAC.BC.Press@usda.gov
Main Content
Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Sept. 21, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the launch of the Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network, an initiative designed to provide personalized support to financially distressed farmers and ranchers across the nation. Through a series of Cooperative Agreements, this national network will connect distressed borrowers with individualized assistance […]
Recommendations for Early-Season (Fall) Chemical Treatments in Strawberry Crops with Known Presence of the Neopestalotiopsis Pathogen
Main Content
A new article by Dr. Phil Brennan (University of Georgia) from the Strawberry News website (UGA)has been published with information compiled by Dr. Guido Schnabel (Clemson University) and Dr.Bill Cline (North Carolina State) on managing fall-planted strawberries with the known presence ofNeopestalotiopsis. New Jersey growers who may have purchased strawberry plants this fall fromsources with […]
Rutgers – Horticulture Plant Health Educational Series
Main Content
Virtual (10/10, 10/15) & In-person (10/22/2024)We invite ALL growers and landscape professionals (nursery, greenhouse,Christmas tree, vegetable, row crops, turf management, etc.) to attend thefollowing educational sessions surrounding overall plant health topics, pestmanagement principals, and pesticide use considerations. The virtual sessions (on Zoom 10/10 & 10/15) are free and will count as“in-person”, meaning all attendees will […]
Resistance-breaking Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus in New Jersey
Plant and Pest Advisory – Andy Wyenandt – September 13, 2024
Main Content
Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) has caused significant problems for some fresh-market tomato andpepper growers in New Jersey the past few growing seasons. Although not uncommon, economiclosses these past few years have been extensive on some farms. TSWV is vectored by various species of thrips, a common vegetable insect pest that seems tobe on the […]
Southeast Strawberry Expo
Main Content
Registration is under way for the Southeast Strawberry Expo, slated for Nov. 12-14 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Atlantic Beach Oceanfront Hotel in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina. The Expo will bedivided into different events held each day.A new grower workshop will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 12, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. A farm […]
Wildlife Fencing Still Available for Unpreserved Farms
Main Content
The NJDA Wildlife Fencing Program makes cost-share funding available for the installation of wildlifefencing on unpreserved farms. Unpreserved farm owners, operators, or tenants in New Jersey mayreceive up to 50 percent matching funds ($50,000 maximum) if their application is approved. Theapplication form is available through a link below. More information about the program is availablethrough […]
ACT NOW: New Jersey Accepting Applications for 2025 Program Offerings
Main Content
HAMILTON SQUARE, N.J., Sept. 17, 2024 – The United States Department of Agriculture’s(USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New Jersey is now accepting FY2025applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), climate-smart practicesthrough EQIP funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Agricultural Management Assistance(AMA) program, the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and ConservationIncentive […]
Produce Safety Classes this Fall
Main Content
Hands-on Produce Safety Workshop: Wednesday, October 2nd from 10 am-2 pmEST. This hands-on produce safety class at the Rutgers Specialty Crop Research andExtension Center 283 Route 539 Cream Ridge, NJ is for farm owners, farm employees,farm managers, and those thinking about starting a farm. The class is focused on thevarious actions that can be part […]
What’s Up with Corn Smut!
Plant and Pest Advisory – Andy Wyenandt – August 26, 2024
Main Content
There have been numerous reports of corn smut throughout the state of New Jersey the past few weeks. Corn smut (also called common smut), caused by Ustilago maydis, is found infecting corn throughoutmost of the world. In most years, corn smut is reported in New Jersey , but reports are limited to just a few […]
Call for Comments for Potential Mancozeb Registration Changes
Plant and Pest Advisory – Janine Spies – August 14, 2024
Main Content
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released their proposed interim registrationreview decision for mancozeb in July 2024. The proposed changes include a cancellation of all uses ingrape (table, wine, juice, and raisin) along with other label changes to address spray drift and soil erosion/surface water run off risks. Mancozeb is a multisite mode of […]
Dramatic Neopestalotiopsis Disease in Strawberry Tips and Plug Plant Production Nurseries
Plant and Pest Advisory – Andy Wyenandt – August 23, 2024
Main Content
Neopestalotiopsis, a new disease on strawberry is back in the news. Please see the excellent articleby Dr. Phil Brannen from the University of Georgia August 21, 2024. Neopestalotiopsis fruit rot and leaf spot, caused by Neopestalotiopsis species, was first reportedto cause damage in strawberry fields in Florida in 2019 and 2020. This disease has since […]