By Heather Cooper •
‘Core Pesticide Topics in Agriculture’NJDEP Approved Credits [4 units – CORE] [3 units – PP2, 1A, 3A, 10] 1[ unit – 3B, 6B, 8C]Date: 10/20/2025 (Monday)Location: Cumberland Cooperative Extension – Cumberland CountyAddress: 291 Morton Ave. Millville, NJ 08332Time: 5:30pm sign-in, 6:00-8:15pm lectures (please arrive prior to 6:00pm)Cost: $30 fee per participant – only cash or […]
By Heather Cooper •
This is the chance for eligible fresh fruit and vegetable growers to recover some of their expenses for implementing food safety practices on their farms.For 2025: Eligible specialty crop operations can apply for Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC)by working directly with the local Farm Service Agency office. You may also call 877-508-8364 tospeak […]
By Heather Cooper •
Conservation Service (NRCS) in New Jersey is now accepting applications for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program – Wetland Reserve Easements (ACEP-WRE). Applications that meet eligibility and ranking criteria for ACEP-WRE received by October 17, 2025, will be considered for FY2026 funding. ACEP-WRE helps landowners, land trusts, and other entities protect, restore, and enhance wetlands through […]
By Heather Cooper •
Plant & Pest Advisory – August 26, 2025 – Kate Brown The Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education will host a course on ‘Spanish for Ag andHorticulture Workforce’ from January16-March 6, 2026. This is an online, self-paced course withapproximately 21hours of course content designed to help participants study conversational Spanishand gain technical vocabulary specific to […]
By Heather Cooper •
HAMILTON SQUARE, N.J., August 12, 2025 – The United States Department of Agriculture’s(USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in New Jersey is now accepting FY2026applications for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Agricultural ManagementAssistance (AMA) program and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).While NRCS accepts applications year-round, New Jersey producers and landowners should applyby October […]
By Heather Cooper •
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed extending the deadlinefor the traceability rule (Section 204) under the Food Safety Modernization Actuntil July 2028. The rule was to go into effect in 2026, but FDA is allowing moretime for the industry to comply based on the complexity of the rule. Theextension only relates to implementation. […]
By Heather Cooper •
Fall and winter are the prime time for food safety training. We will be startingin October with basic hands-on training for anyone starting to farm or wantinga basic refresher. That is followed by a two-day online Produce Rule Training.This training is required for most fresh fruit and vegetable growers before theNew Jersey Department of Agriculture […]
By Heather Cooper •
Plant & Pest Advisory – July 11, 2025 – Andy Wyenandt In 2004, cucurbit downy mildew re-emerged in the US with a vengeance causing significant losses in cucurbit production. In most years prior to this, concern for CDM control was minimal, since the pathogen arrived late in the growing season (in more northern regions), or […]
By Heather Cooper •
Plant & Pest Advisory – July 8, 2025 – Andy Wyenandt Cucurbit powdery mildew (CPM), caused by Podosphaera xanthii, is one the most important diseases ofcucurbit crops throughout the world. The pathogen is an obligate parasite, just like cucurbit downy mildew, meaning it needs a living host in order to survive. In northern regions that […]
By Heather Cooper •
Plant & Pest Advisory – July 11, 2025 – Andy Wyenandt As the summer heats up in New Jersey, the control of Phytophthora blight in cucurbit plantings canbe extremely difficult (even with the use of fungicides) as hot, wet weather has set in these past fewweeks. Mitigating losses to Phytophthora blight in cucurbit crops begins […]
By Heather Cooper •
Plant & Pest Advisory – June 18, 2025 – Michelle Infante-Casella With higher temperatures increasing hatch times and spring grains like wheat and rye have dryingdown, thrips may be more prevalent in vegetable crops, especially when small grains are adjacent tovegetable fields. Thrips are very small and often missed if casually looking at a plant […]
By Heather Cooper •
Plant & Pest Advisory- May 20, 2024- Kate Brown The chart below from OSHA outlines symptoms and signs that may indicate heat stress. Notethat common signs and symptoms include muscle pain, weakness or fatigue, dizziness, heavysweating, and rapid heart rate. Employers and workers should become aware of symptoms related to heat stress and heat illness.In […]
By Heather Cooper •
Hemant Gohil and Daniel Ward – May 16, 2025 – Plant and Pest Advisory New Jersey’s high deer population significantly threatens vineyards, particularly those near wooded areas. Deer are a pest, especially on young vines and in the early growing season when food sources arescarce, and tender shoots are emerging. If the vineyard is close […]
By Heather Cooper •
Plant & Pest Advisory – May 27, 2025 – Andy Wyenandt Basil downy mildew has been confirmed in greenhouse grown sweet basil in centralNew Jersey. This is the first confirmed report of BDM in the state and region thisgrowing season. All basil growers are encouraged to scout their fields or greenhouseson a daily basis. For […]
By Heather Cooper •
The formula is now active! Farmland owners who have been in the process of preservingtheir farms and waiting for the formula offer can now anticipate moving forward.SADC staff will coordinate all necessary updates to prior agreements, survey,title, and other documents in preparation for closing! For interested landowners, the SADC has issued a new Guide & […]