New Jersey Farm Bureau News

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Longtime Medford feed store is set to close

08 Jan 2016, Posted by admin in Local Farms and Food, Miscellaneous, News

More than a decade ago, Kirby Bros. stopped blending corn, oats, and bran and topping the concoction with molasses to satisfy the cravings of horses that had long been part of the South Jersey landscape. The 100-pound bag of horse feed, priced at $13.60, was the biggest seller, said Chuck Kirby, who inherited the 140-year-old family business and mill in Medford and operated it with his wife, Jan, and their son, Chaz.

As farms started to disappear, Chuck Kirby said, it made more sense to import livestock feed from Pennsylvania for their customers and to introduce a new line of food for pets, birds, and wildlife as suburbanites moved into the area.

Click here to read the full story from philly.com.

NJFB submits comments on Water Quality Management Planning rule

08 Jan 2016, Posted by admin in News, Science and Environmental Issues, State News

Farm Bureau submitted comments recently on NJDEP’s proposed revisions to the Water Quality Management Planning (WQMP) rule. This rule guides development statewide by providing a framework for municipal and county planning agencies to identify areas suitable for current and future wastewater infrastructure. The original version put forward by former Gov. Jon Corzine’s administration with rural landowners was highly problematic for its attempted use of large lot regulation under septic density schemes. As with the pending updates to the Flood Hazard rule, NJDEP’s current proposed overhaul of its WQMP rule seeks to streamline water management planning by eliminating duplicative regulatory requirements and enabling local planning entities more discretion in making site-specific determinations that balance environmental protection and economic growth.

Click here to read NJFB’s WQMP Comments

Annual Meeting agenda now available online

06 Nov 2015, Posted by admin in Meetings and Events

The agenda for the NJFB 97th Annual Meeting is now available on the NJFB Annual Meeting Website.

Information about policies, the hotel, and meals can also be found on this site.

NJFB Annual Meeting website

NJFB Young Farmers Annual Meeting November 15th

29 Oct 2015, Posted by admin in Meetings and Events, News, Young Farmers

The NJFB Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Committee will hold their annual meeting on Sunday, November 15th at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village (201 Village Blvd, Princeton). The meeting begins at 10AM. Topics on the agenda include Natural Resource conservation Planning for you farm; food safety rules; and farm business planning, among others. We are also fortunate to have the National YF&R Chair, Jon Hegeman, as our guest for this meeting.

All young farmers and ag enthusiasts (ages 18-35) are encouraged and welcome to attend! A complimentary lunch will be provided. Please be sure to RSVP to Liz Thompson at 609-393-7163 or at lizt@njfb.org by November 9th, so we can provide the hotel an accurate count for lunch.

Click here for a complete agenda. 2015 YF&R Annual Meeting agenda

Movie Night on the Farm!

17 Aug 2015, Posted by admin in Meetings and Events

Friday, August 21 – New Jersey Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) hope you will join them for a viewing of Farmland, The Movie.

Time: 6:00 PM for food and lawn games; 8:00 PM for the movie

Location: Etsch Farms, 556 Buckelew Ave. Monroe, NJ (Middlesex County

$10 per car – proceeds will benefit NJ YF&R

Click the image below for all of the details.

Reminder: Don’t forget to file your Farmland Assessment applications by August 1!

08 Jul 2015, Posted by admin in News, State News

Farmland owners are reminded that their farmland assessment applications (FA-1) are due not later than August 1. Submitting an application late is grounds for denial.

Recent changes to the law are in effect for this year. Information about farmland assessment can be found on the NJFB website at: https://njfb.org/issues-policies/information-for-farmers/

Heat Stress Advisory

23 Jun 2015, Posted by admin in News, Weather

At this time of year, heat stress becomes a symptom that you need to be aware of during the hot days of summer. Farm workers should be monitored to prevent a heat illness. OSHA has some helpful tips on preventing heat stress, and what to do if you or one of your employees shows symptoms. Click on the following links for more information.

Protecting Workers from Effects of Heat – an OSHA fact sheet

Protecting Workers from Heat Stress – an OSHA Quick Card

Somerset County Farmland Assessment Meeting – May 14

04 May 2015, Posted by admin in Meetings and Events

Farm Bureau will host another informational meeting on the upcoming changes to New Jersey’s Farmland Assessment law. This latest meeting in the series will be held Thursday, May 14, at 7:00PM at the Somerset County 4-H Center, 310 Milltown Road, Bridgewater, NJ 08807.

Anyone with farmland assessment may be interested in this meeting. It may be of special interest to those with smaller acreage, as those with parcels of 7 acres or smaller will face additional changes.

This meeting is FREE to all paid NJFB members. The fee for non-members is $20. Please call 609-393-7163 to register by May 8.

Rutgers feeder pig auction – May 2nd

28 Apr 2015, Posted by admin in Meetings and Events

Rutgers will be holding a feeder pig auction May 2, 2015. Registration begins at 6:30AM! Not only will they have feeder pigs but there will be some market weight animals up for auction. Location: Livestock Granary Building off Sheepfold Lane on the Cook Campus in New Brunswick. Contact for more information: Clint Burgher (848) 932-9415.

Second Sussex-Warren Farmland Assessment meeting scheduled for April 16

07 Apr 2015, Posted by admin in Meetings and Events

Due to overwhelming response for the April 9 meeting, Farm Bureau will host a second informational meeting on the upcoming changes to New Jersey’s Farmland Assessment law at the Tranquility United Methodist Church, 2 Kennedy Drive, Andover, NJ – located at the corner of Kennedy Road (Rte. 611) and Decker Pond Road (Rte. 517). The second meeting will be held on Thursday, April 16, at 7:00PM.

If you were planning on attending the April 9 meeting, but have not registered yet – please attend the April 16 meeting instead. Anyone with farmland assessment may be interested in this meeting. It may be of special interest to those with smaller acreage, as those with parcels of 7 acres or smaller will face additional changes.

This meeting is FREE to all paid NJFB members. The fee for non-members is $20. Please call 609-393-7163 to register by April 13.