Scholarship Opportunity for HS Senior to Study Agriculture

The Greater Vineland Chamber of Commerce offers a scholarship to graduating high school seniors pursuing further studies in ag related fields. The fund was created from proceeds of their Annual Jersey Fresh Festival and continues to be supported by their Annual Dandelion Dinner. I don't see any residency restrictions, so it appears open to anyone. You can download the application here.--Rick VanVranken

Pesticide Container Recycling - Hammonton, May 6

Karen Kritz of the NJ Dept of Ag sent this reminder about pesticide container recycling at Helena Chemical Co, Hammonton, next Friday, May 6. -- Rick VanVranken

Think you'd like to try direct marketing?

You can identify every
market in the Garden
State by clicking on
this map.

There are 97 community farmers' markets in New Jersey according to the USDA's Ag Marketing Service National Farmers' Market Directory. Most are looking for new farmers each season. If you've been considering selling directly to consumers but don't know if you're cut out for it, farmers' markets offer low cost opportunities to give it a try.

Rick VanVranken

Late Blight Found in Wisconsin Grown Seed Potatoes

Dr. Amanda Gevens, Plant Pathologist at University Wisconsin, confirmed the late blight pathogen, Phytophthora infestans, in seed potatoes grown in Wisconsin on April 12, 2011.
Late Blight Alert - April 16, 2011

Growers who get seed from Wisconsin should be watchful this season inspecting crops on a regular basis and adhering to spray schedules when risk of disease infection and/or spread is high.


Mel Henninger
Andy Wyenandt

Late Blight Found on Tomato and Potato Transplants in CT

Late blight has been found on tomato and potato transplants in a commercial greenhouse operation in CT. 
The tomato plants were grown from seed collected on the farm last year and the potatoes were purchased from an organic seed source from out-of-state. None of the transplants in question were shipped and have been destroyed. 
This is the first report of Late blight this season in the Northeast. We will be watching the situation closely and keep growers up to date.

Andy Wyenandt
Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology

National Leafy Green Marketing Agreement

The Agricultural Marketing Service will post the USDA proposal to create the National Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement on their website at 4:15 pm EDT today April 26.  The rulemaking notice will be published in the Federal Register on April 29.  There will be a 90 day comment period for the public to voice their opinion.  USDA will take an additional 90 before making a final ruling.  Go to http://www.ams.usda.gov/ to obtain a copy of the proposed agreement. 

North Carolina Cucumbers Recalled Due to Salmonella