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New Jersey Farm Bureau News

Ag Matters Online

Deadlock over state funding threatens N.J. open space

05 Jan 2014, Posted by admin in State News

The future of New Jersey’s open-space program is at a standstill as unlikely opponents square off on how best to fund the state’s long-standing — but broke — effort to increase parkland, preserve farmland and demolish flood-prone homes and businesses. Two competing funding bills have pitted state Senate Democrats against Assembly Democrats in a deadlock that may not be resolved by the time the current legislative session ends a week from Monday.

See more in the Bergen Record.

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Wyckoffs present White House Christmas trees and meet first family

29 Nov 2013, Posted by admin in Local Farms and Food, Marketing and Promotion, National News

Leslie and John Wyckoff, right, of Wyckoff's Christmas Tree Farm in Warren County are greeted by first lady Michelle Obama, with daughters Malia and Sasha, today outside the White House in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo | SUSAN WALSH)

Leslie and John Wyckoff, right, of Wyckoff’s Christmas Tree Farm in Warren County are greeted by first lady Michelle Obama, with daughters Malia and Sasha, today outside the White House in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo | SUSAN WALSH)

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the White House. And the Obamas can thank Wyckoff’s Christmas Tree Farm outside Belvidere for that.

First lady Michelle Obama today accepted four trees from the White Township farm to be featured in the executive mansion, as well as an 18.5-foot Douglas fir from Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Lehighton, Pa., which will serve as the official White House tree for the Blue Room.

Congratulations to the Wyckoff family! Click here to read more from the Express-Times.

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Many in Congress Want to Give FDA a ‘Do-Over’ on Draft Rules

27 Nov 2013, Posted by admin in National News, Science and Environmental Issues

Among nearly 20,000 written comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on draft rules regarding produce and preventive controls are letters from lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), which is trying to nudge FDA into doing a second draft of the rules, made sure the media would notice several of the recently filed letters with return postmarks from the Hill.

Click here to read more from the Food Safety News.

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Will Lawmakers Heed Voters’ Desire to Protect Parkland and Open Spaces?

07 Nov 2013, Posted by admin in Science and Environmental Issues, State News

Open-space preservation remains a popular initiative among state voters, but state legislators and the Christie administration aren’t so enthusiastic.

Across New Jersey, seven out of 10 ballot questions dealing with raising funds to maintain parks and open space won approval from voters on Tuesday, which conservationists say again demonstrated public support for efforts to keep drinking water clean, as well as preserving parks and green spaces.

But will lawmakers follow through on voter’s wishes?Click here to read more from NJ Spotlight.

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