title

New Jersey Farm Bureau News

Ag Matters Online

In Memoriam – 2024

21 Nov 2024, Posted by admin in Meetings and Events, News, State News

We, the delegates to the 106th Annual Meeting of NJ Farm Bureau gathered in
Cherry Hill, NJ hereby mourn the passing and recognize the lifetime accomplishments
of our fellow Farm Bureau members and NJ agriculturalists listed below.

Wally Johnson, Retired Farmer – Monmouth County

Evans Neale, Farmer – Gloucester County

Dan Farrand, Farmer – Morris County

Dorothy Pettit, Farmer – Burlington County

James Durr, Farmer – Burlington County

Bill Brooks, Farmer  – Salem County

Bob Hughey, Former NJDEP Commissioner

Fred and Jean Wainwright, Jr., Farmer – Burlington County

Joe & Donarose Atchison, Parents of Joe Atchison, III – Asst. Secretary of Ag

Congressman Bill Pascrell, New Jersey’s 9th Congressional District

Congressman Donald Payne, New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District

Assemblyman Chuck Haytaian, Former New Jersey Assembly Speaker

Elizabeth Infante, Mother of Michelle Casella – County Ag Agent-Gloucester County

                                   Mother-in-law of Ben Casella – NJFB staff

Sam Alloway, III, Farmer – Burlington County

Janice Krowicki, Co-owner of Krowicki Farm and Greenhouses – Ocean County

Chris Kleinguenther, Staff – NJ Department of Agriculture

Edward Kralovich, Farmer – Somerset County

Michael Thompson, Husband of Liz Thompson – NJFB staff

Ginny Murray, Mother of Al Murray – NJFB consultant

Franklyn Wooden, Beekeeper – Hunterdon County

Robert Best, Sr., Farmer – Warren County

Sam Race, Farmer – Farm Bureau director – NJDA Soil Conservation official

John Rigolizzo, Jr., Former NJFB president; farmer – Camden County

Frank Zamensky, Sr., Farmer – Burlington County

Steve DuBois, Farmer – Salem County

Mary Duffield, Farmer – Gloucester County                          

(November 18, 2024)

For its 2024 public hearing on water issues, the NJ Clean Water Council has chosen to seek public input on the impacts of the PFAS family of chemicals, also known as “forever chemicals.”  The virtual meeting (Microsoft Teams) will be held on Tuesday, December 17 from 10am-1pm.  The goal of the hearing will be to focus on challenges and potential/known solutions to better address PFAS in the water cycle.

Click here for the public hearing announcement.

More information about PFAS can be found at the council’s website:  www.dep.nj.gov/dwq/pfas/

Statewide Farmland Preservation Formula

08 Nov 2024, Posted by admin in News, State News

The SADC recently added two important documents to its website for the new formula value. One is a summary report of the outreach and research that was done, key findings and the valuation for the new formula.  Click here to read the summary.

The second is the presentation that was presented at the last SADC meeting on such.  Click here for the presentation.

Both documents detail the potential for farmland owners to receive up to 90% of the fee simple value through four categories of features.  Landowners will continue to receive their normal easement value based on two appraisals and certified by the SADC as they do now. However, the formula will be based on the farm’s fee value. 50% of the fee value will be used as the basis, and then additional value will be added based on the farm’s characteristics and more to compensate for additional voluntary deed restrictions if the owners choose that option. It is also important to note that the concept is preliminary and that final regulations have yet to be adopted.

For more information reach out to Ashley at the Farmhouse.

Hurricane Helene Farm Relief Effort

In the wake of the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene, Farm Bureau organizations in and near the affected region are providing resources to assist their fellow farmers. States where agriculture was heavily impacted include Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee. The damage from flooding and wind is extensive and will take weeks and months to recover. New Jersey Farm Bureau members have expressed an interest in helping. See below for a list of suggestions for those looking to assist. This information will be periodically updated, be sure to check back.

Participating State Farm Bureau Relief Organizations:

Florida Hurricane Relief Fund
https://floridafarmbureau.org/news/hurricane-helene-relief-fund-open/

North Carolina Hurricane Relief Fund
https://www.ncfb.org/

South Carolina Hurricane Relief Fund
https://www.scfb.org/resources-recovery-hurricane-helene

Georgia Hurricane Relief Fund
https://www.gfb.org/storm-relief

Tennessee Hurricane Relief Fund
https://tnfarmbureau.org/tn-disaster-relief

How you can help:
-Funds can be donated through any relief initiative links listed above.
-Collect supplies (items needed include: Small bales of hay and straw bagged animal feed, fencing (including all parts to assemble), large bales, small & large generators, and kerosene heaters- other supplies not listed also being accepted-inquire within).
– Supply drop off: For NJ contributors, donation drop off locations are available; for further questions contact Melissa at NJFB.

Hurricane Relief Coordinator Melissa (609-393-7163) or email Melissaw@njfb.org.

Testimony as Prepared by Linda Pryor, American Farm Bureau Federation

United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security

 

September 11, 2024

Chairman Duncan, Ranking Member DeGette and members of the Committee, my name is Linda Pryor. I am a third-generation farmer in western North Carolina. My family’s farm is diversified and fairly unique. We primarily grow apples and corn, along with hay, and we raise beef cattle. In addition to being a farmer, I am a wife, mother and the primary grocery shopper for my family. My farm business has become much more difficult to operate as my input costs have risen in recent years, and I know I’m not alone in that. As the USDA numbers released last week show, this will be the second consecutive year of negative growth for the farmers and ranchers.

 The agricultural sector is facing unprecedented challenges due to rising costs to operate, particularly increased petroleum prices. These costs impact more than what we pay at the gas pump, they also increase the cost of crop inputs like seed and fertilizer, farm machinery parts, produce packaging and other essentials. Farmers are experiencing financial hits from both ends of the production process – our input costs are significantly higher than they were just a couple years ago – even when adjusting for inflation, farm expenses are up 9.5% if we’re going back to 2019 – but the price people are able to pay for the food we grow has not kept pace with our production cost increases. One of the primary drivers of the increased costs is energy. Expensive energy makes everything else consumers want and need more expensive. We need affordable, diverse, scalable, reliable and long-term energy solutions for farmers to ensure that grocery shelves remain stocked with affordable options for American families.

 The cost to run my family’s farm has surged over the last few years. The fuel cost increase to operate our equipment and trucks has created a noticeable hardship for my farm since 2021, when we spent $57,000 for diesel and gasoline, compared to 2023 when we spent $83,600. Fuel prices have increased nationally by close to 30% since 2021, while the sale price for my corn and apples has decreased since 2021. This disparity threatens the economic sustainability of American farms. I do not know any farmers who have gone out of business due to lack of hard work. They go out of business due to lack of cash flow. Farmers are price-takers, not price-makers, and I am no exception. I cannot determine what my crops are worth and charge accordingly.

 According to USDA, 70% of agricultural products are dependent on trucking. On my farm, 100% of our products are dependent on trucking, both to receive the materials that we need to operate and to move our crops off the farm. Trucking fresh produce requires dependable on-demand energy to operate. An hour-long stop for a battery charge is not workable with most agricultural products.

 Once apples are harvested, we must move them quickly to avoid deterioration, and the apples that I grow go to multiple outlets. Some are sold for processing and become baby food, applesauce or other apple-based products. Some are sold to a company that slices and packages them for food service, and some go to a facility that prepares them to be sold fresh in grocery stores. The over 5 million pounds of apples that we grow travel an average of 775 miles just to their first destination. This same concept applies to our cattle once they are loaded: time is of the essence!

 During harvest season we operate two-to-three tractor trailers ourselves and truck the 150,000 bushels of corn that we grow. Those trucks will leave our farm at 5:00 a.m. and travel 208 miles round trip to the mill in Newberry, South Carolina. Once they return to our farm, we use them to move the corn out of the field as it is harvested, transport the corn to our bins for storage, which may be up to 50 miles round-trip depending on the field location, and reload them for the next morning. We keep these trucks going until at least 9:00 p.m. Using diesel allows us to keep moving throughout those long days, rather than having to figure out how and when to charge an electric truck. The rural nature of farming means that we rarely have access to a location where electric trucks or equipment could be charged, and tractors/equipment often stay in a field or orchard for several days at a time.

 Farming is diverse across the nation and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Solutions need to be equally diverse and flexible.

 Electric vehicles and equipment may offer environmental benefits, but their adoption should only happen when it makes economic sense for the end user. Farmers and ranchers have many concerns about an electric vehicle mandate including delays for perishable crops and animals, limited access to charging points and the durability of batteries in harsh farming conditions. There are numerous reports of batteries not performing to their charged range in cold weather, and cars bursting into flames when charging in the summer heat. When managing the investments into my business, I would need to see the long-term effect of harsh farming conditions on this type of equipment to feel comfortable with the investment. When farmers make large equipment purchases, they intend to operate this machinery for many years. And many, whether they are remotely located or resource constrained, need to be able to maintain the equipment themselves. The idea of having to purchase new equipment that would be too complex to maintain on the farm is out of the question for many farmers. Transitioning to equipment that is less dependent on a reliable source of energy is impractical for most farmers.

 I value the role that technology plays on my farm and am always researching new technology. I am currently considering the purchase of a drone to apply certain products to our crops and to spread cover crop seeds. Incorporating a drone would not fully replace the equipment we currently use for these tasks, but it would greatly reduce the amount of fuel needed to complete them.

 In addition to adopting more energy-efficient technology where we can, we also follow diligent land management practices to ensure that we keep our carbon footprint as small as possible. Annually, our orchards alone sequester up to 2,500 tons of carbon dioxide, release about 2,000 tons of oxygen and have significant cooling effects. We do many things that take more time and incur more expense to ensure we are responsible stewards of the land, like planting cover crops, rotational grazing, using no-till methods and minimizing grain handling as much as possible.

 While solar energy may offer some benefits, it comes with its own set of challenges. One of those challenges is farmland loss, which pushes costs up. With less farmland, we must be creative to produce the same number of products to ensure that we keep up with the task of feeding America. Less productive agricultural land drives the value of the remaining land up even further, which can be a barrier to getting into agriculture for young farmers and ranchers looking to start their own operations. The increased value also impacts farms that are competing for leased land. Solar energy has its place in the energy toolbox, but it should not be deployed in a way that takes prime farmland out of production. If priority is placed on deploying solar on existing structures, we will be able to preserve valuable agricultural land and continue to provide food, fuel and fiber for the nation.

Addressing trade imbalances by supporting domestic production and processing could help American farmers compete with less expensive, but energy-intensive, imports. We can address trade imbalances with policies that incentivize the consumption of domestically grown and processed products, which would strengthen local economies, decrease the overall impact on the environment, and reduce reliance on energy-intensive imports. I compete against apple juice concentrate and apple puree concentrate from all corners of the world, predominantly Chile, Turkey and China. When crops travel shorter distances, less energy is required.

 While additional tools in the energy production toolbox are welcome, unfunded mandates, premature deployment of new technology and increased regulatory burdens are raising costs for everyone. Rising costs of energy and other inputs ripple through the entire food chain, from the farm fields to the grocery store shelves.

 Thank you and I look forward to your questions.

The following article was provided by American National Insurance Company.

Your home is likely one of the biggest investments you will ever make. Protecting it – and the loved ones who call it home – should always be top of mind. Yet, every year, approximately 50,000 electrical fires start behind the walls of homes just like yours. Electrical fires are often caused by damaged wires or faulty appliances or devices. These hazards can be insidious and are often hidden from view inside the walls and can wreak havoc at any time. The results of electrical fires are devastating, and lead to more deaths, injuries, and damage than any other type of fire in the home.

What if there was a way to detect electrical hazards in your home before they lead to a devastating fire?

American National has partnered with property loss prevention service, Ting, to do just that. As part of an endorsement to the Special Farm Package 10, Ting is providing participants device that can detect early warning signs of electrical hazards before they can develop into a major fire and put your home and loved ones in danger.

“We’re excited to partner with Ting,” said Michael Derkowski, Senior Product Manager for American National. “Fires are devastating.  Unseen hazards such as arcing can cause significant damage. Providing security has always been a mission of American National and this continues that legacy.”

Using a smart sensor that plugs into the wall and connects to your Wi-Fi, Ting monitors the electrical network in real-time and issues text and phone alerts to homeowners if an electrical hazard is detected. If necessary, a licensed electrician may be scheduled to visit the home to mitigate the hazard with a credit of up to $1,000 to cover the cost of repairs. In addition, a credit will be applied to premiums to help offset the cost of the Ting service.

In addition to smart home monitors, other steps you can take to prevent home electrical fires are: inspect and upgrade. Approximately half of homes built before 1973 don’t have an updated electrical system. If you live in an older home, you may want to have your home inspected by a licensed electrician who can make recommendations to prevent an electrical fire. Your home electrical system isn’t the only thing that can become a hazard from years of use. Appliance cords and internal wiring can deteriorate from wear and tear, and lead to a fire. Consider upgrading old appliances.

When it comes to taking a proactive approach to your home safety, you don’t want to wait until it’s too late.

Contact your American National agent or find one near you. https://an.insure/findanagent

The USDA has issued a Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment for the current Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program in New Jersey.  The proposed action is required to implement an update to the NJ CREP agreement with the objective to expand the program to up to 30,000 acres of permanent vegetative cover to address nonpoint source pollution, preserve open space, and promote on-farm conservation.  The proposal would also add new eligible practices including FSA’s Hardwood Tree Planting, Establishment of Salt Tolerant Vegetative Cover and Field Windbreak Establishment to the current practices: Grass Waterways, Permanent Vegetative Cover (Contour Grass Strips), Filter Strips, and Riparian Buffers.   Farmers who participate receive cost share funding to implement approved conservation practices plus an annual rental fee.

 

There is a 30 day comment period on the draft environmental assessment, closing on August 9.  A copy of the proposal can be found by clicking here.

Comments can be sent to Sarah Lally at the Farm Service Agency at Sarah.Lally@usda.gov

Most agricultural operations are covered by the OSHA rule to log work related injuries. OSHA work related injuries and illnesses forms are required for all business with 11 or more employees, and there are 3 forms you need to be familiar with for compliance.  If you are inspected by OSHA you will be asked for these forms.

  • OSHA 300 Log is used to post at place of business and record work related injuries and illnesses.
  • OSHA 300A form is a summary for work-related injuries and illnesses
  • OSHA 301 form is an Injury and Illness Incident Report,

 

The following link provides fillable 300, 300A and 301 forms and instructions for completing the forms.

OSHA Forms for Recording Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses

 

Additional recordkeeping and reporting information for OSHA forms Recordkeeping – Overview | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)

 

This website helps you determine if you have to submit the information electronically in the OSHA portal called Injury Tracking Application(ITA)  ITA Coverage Application | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)

YOU MUST submit 300A data if your establishment meets one of the following criteria: 

  1. 250 or more employees and is not in an industry listed in the Exempt Industries list in Appendix A to Subpart B of OSHA’s recordkeeping regulation of 29 CFR Part 1904 or
  2. 20-249 employees and is in an industry listed in Appendix A to Subpart E of 29 CFR Part 1904. (Agriculture is listed in the appendix)

YOU MUST also submit 300/301 data if your establishment(s) has 100 or more employees and is in an industry listed in Appendix B to Subpart E of 29 CFR Part 1904.

Click here for OSHA’s Field Sanitation and Drinking Water Regulations.

Click here for NJ Department of Labor Field Sanitation and Drinking Water Regulations.

Agricultural employers are encouraged to take precautions during extreme heat conditions.  There are numerous online resources that provide recommendations to limit the risk of heat stress. 

Rutgers Cooperative Extension resources for heat stress prevention.

 

OSHA resources for heat stress prevention:

 

 

Temperature resources:

  • The OSHA-NIOSH heat safety tool is a useful resource for planning outdoor work activities based on how hot it feels throughout the day. It has a real-time heat index and hourly forecasts specific to your location. It also provides occupational safety and health recommendations from OSHA and NIOSH. NIOSH/OSHA Heat Safety Tool phone app, available for iPhone and Android in English and Spanish