Small and Beginning Farmer Workshop

With modifications, low cost backpack sprayers are an accurate, efficient tool for your small operation.
In this workshop, John Grande, Director Rutgers Snyder Research Farm, teaches more effective ways to use a backpack sprayer: increase sprayer accuracy, successfully apply alternative organic products, create greater farmer/operator ease, make better use of precious time and money, and improve safety.

When: Tuesday, February 7th 2012 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Where: Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, 930 Spruce Street Lawrenceville, NJ 08648

Topics Included:

• Backpack sprayer calibration - John Grande,
  Director Rutgers Snyder Research & Extension Farm
• Hand tools for weed control - Ed Dager,
  Farm Supervisor Rutgers Snyder Farm
• Surround trial results: apples, potatoes, & eggplant - Win Cowgill,
  Hunterdon Co. Ag Agent  
• Crop insurance options for small farms -
  Garden State Crop Insurance Education Initiative

For more details and registration visit:
http://events.rutgers.edu/pdfs/2_7_2012.pdf

-Meredith Melendez

Upcoming Conferences - North American Direct Marketers and New Mex Chile

For NJ farm marketers, the North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association's annual conference expands the programming that used to be available at our old MADMaC show, and again this year, will be hosted in our old territory in Williamsburg, VA, Feb 10-16, 2012. Details about the event and registration materials can be found at http://nafdma.com/VA2012/.

Likewise, if you'd like to learn about all things pepper, check out the 2012 New Mexico Chile Conference to be held Feb 6 & 7 in Las Cruces, NM. Details on their website at http://www.chilepepperinstitute.org/conferences.php.

Before that, of course, we'd like to see you in Atlantic City, Jan 17-19, for the combined 2012 Atlantic Coast Agricultural Conference & Trade Show and NJ Ag Convention.


Wishing you the best for the holidays and for a prosperous New Year!

--Rick VanVranken