Support for Vegetable Crops in Farm Bill 2012 Debate

In a letter to Senate Ag Committe Chairperson Stabenow and Ranking Member P. Roberts, 32 senators called for the 2012 Farm Bill to build on previous specialty crop investments. The Farm Bill expires in September.

Specialty crops, which includes vegetables, are a critical component of the agriculture economy and represent nearly half of all farmgate crop value in America.
-Andy Wyenandt

Rutgers Announces the University's 20th President

Faculty, Staff, Students, Alumni, and Friends of Rutgers University:

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Rutgers’ Board of Governors, with the advice and consent of the Board of Trustees, has appointed Dr. Robert L. Barchi as the 20th president of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Dr. Barchi takes office on September 1, 2012, succeeding President Richard L. McCormick, who has provided exceptional leadership to Rutgers for nearly a decade.

Students Stand up for Farming

Farmers Fight is a student-led initiative to reconnect American society to the world of agriculture. Beginning with university students, Farmers Fight encourages consumers to ask where their food comes from, and give students, faculty, public officials, and farmers and ranchers an opportunity to
become "agvocates" for the agriculture community.

'Farmers Fight - Stand Up' <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFoGib8AfZo&feature=share> is powerful video filmed in contemporary style.

Maybe this is what area school board members [and the Dept. of Higher Ed] need to see before they cut AGRICULTURE from our schools.... If we don't teach our kids where their food, clothes, books, pencils and paper come from, WHO will?

Please share this video on any public/social networking page you can.

--Rick VanVranken

"Focus on Tomato" - New Online Resource for Growers

Plant Management Network has launched a series of free-to-view webcasts to help growers protect and manage their tomato crops more profitably and effectively.
-Andy Wyenandt

White Rot in Garlic, Leek, & Onion

This past week, a farm call to a central Jersey garlic field finds white rot, Sclerotium cepivorum. Diagnosis, prevention, and steps to avoid further crop losses are discussed:
Sustaining Farming on the Urban Fringe - News.

-Meredith Melendez & Jack Rabin

Update: NWS Freeze Warning

Extreme cold temperatures are forecasted for Monday and Tuesday evenings (March 26 and 27, 2012) that could seriously affect fruit, vegetable, and floriculture crops in bloom or near bloom around the state. Therefore, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has authorized the following procedure for open burning and/or the use of smudge pots for Monday and Tuesday to help farmers protect their crops.

Procedures for Open Burning and the Use of Smudge Pots Pertaining to New Jersey Fruit, Vegetables and Floriculture.

National Weather Service Freeze Warning Tonight

...FREEZE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT TUESDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A FREEZE WARNING...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT TUESDAY

• TEMPERATURES...DROPPING INTO THE MID TO UPPER 20S. EVEN LOCATIONS ALONG THE COASTAL STRIPS OF NEW JERSEY AND DELAWARE, AND IN THE HIGHLY URBANIZED METRO AREAS, MAY SEE TEMPERATURES DROP TO AROUND 30 DEGREES.

• IMPACTS...DUE TO AN UNUSUALLY WARM WINTER AND EARLY SPRING, THE GROWING SEASON HAS BEGUN AROUND THE REGION. ANY VEGETATION SUSCEPTIBLE TO FREEZING TEMPERATURES OVER A PERIOD OF THREE OR MORE HOURS WOULD BE AT RISK.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE IMMINENT OR HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL KILL CROPS AND OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION.

The National Weather Service is predicting freezing weather across the state this evening.
I have spoken with personnel at NJDA, who are in contact with NJDEP Commissioner Martin, to seek approval for open burning for freeze protection on farms.
I will share information as it becomes available.
-Dan Kluchinski