(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats John Burzichelli, Matt Milam and Eric Houghtaling to establish a statewide program for the cultivation, handling, processing, transport, and sale of hemp and hemp products in the State in accordance with federal law was approved by the Assembly Agriculture Committee on Thursday.

The bill (A-5322) would repeal New Jersey’s hemp pilot program, and replace it with a permanent program, administered by the Department of Agriculture.

Click here to read the complete story from insidernj.com

JERSEY FRESH STRAWBERRIES IN SEASON

16 May 2019, Posted by admin in Local Farms and Food, News, State News

(SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP) – New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher today visited Specca Farms in Springfield Township in Burlington County to highlight the Jersey Fresh strawberry picking season.

“Strawberries are one of the first fruits of the New Jersey growing season and signal that many more Jersey Fresh produce items are on the way,” Secretary Fisher said. “Jersey Fresh strawberries are picked ripe and the taste is second to none. If you want them, now is the time as the season will come to a close in a few weeks.”

Click here for the complete story from the NJ Department of Agriculture.

NJ State Board of Ag announces position on minimum wage

13 Dec 2018, Posted by admin in Economics and Prices, Local Farms and Food, News, State News, Uncategorized

The New Jersey State Board of Agriculture recently announced their positions on the minimum wage issue. Click here to read it.

NJFB to celebrate 100 years! Meeting Agenda now available.

07 Nov 2018, Posted by admin in Meetings and Events, State News

New Jersey Farm Bureau will hold its 100th annual meeting on Monday-Tuesday, November 12-13 at The Princeton Westin at Forrestal Village in Princeton, NJ.

Election of officers and presentation of the annual financial report will take place at the Annual Business Meeting after lunch on November 13 (Tuesday). Officer positions subject to election this year are president and second-vice president.

The annual banquet will be held Monday evening, November 12 at 7:00 pm, with special recognition of the organization’s centennial anniversary. All Farm Bureau members are cordially invited and welcome to attend the banquet and any portion of the convention. If you plan to join us for any of the meal functions, please reserve them ASAP! Because we are celebrating our centennial, we expect a larger than normal crowd, and could sell out.

NJFB Staffer Ed Wengryn has prepared a fact sheet on New Jersey’s Paid Sick Leave law.

Click here for the fact sheet.

US Ag Secretary Perdue to attend NJFB Annual Banquet!

22 Oct 2018, Posted by admin in Meetings and Events, News, State News

NJ Farm Bureau is excited to announce that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has accepted our invitation and will be attending our 100th Annual Banquet on Monday, November 12! AFBF President Zippy Duvall will also be joining us.

This is shaping up to be a great centennial celebration, and all members are welcome! Call the Farmhouse (609-393-7163) to reserve your banquet tickets today!

US Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue

AFBF President Zippy Duvall

New Jersey Market Facilitation Program Meetings – Aid to assist farmers from economic effect of retaliatory tariffs

04 Sep 2018, Posted by admin in Economics and Prices, Meetings and Events

On August 27th the Farm Service Agency announced details of the Market Facilitation Program (MFP) to assist farmers with the economic effects of retaliatory tariffs on their bottom line. The New Jersey Farm Service Agency will be holding informational meetings throughout New Jersey to educate farmers about MFP and to allow them to sign up for the program. For more information on MFP, including eligible crops and initial payment rates click here or see the MFP Fact Sheet by clicking here.

Please note: Beginning September 4th of this year, MFP applications will be available online at www.farmers.gov/mfp. Producers will also be able to submit their MFP applications in person, by email, fax, or by mail.

FSA will be taking applications at each meeting and you may apply at the event even if you are not serviced out of that office. We recommend, but do not require, that you bring with you verifiable or reliable production evidence for eligible crops for which harvest has been completed (i.e. wheat)

Meeting Information:

North Jersey: Wednesday, September 12th at 9:00 AM

Frenchtown Service Center – 687 Pittstown Rd, Frenchtown, NJ 08825
908-782-4614 ext 2

Central Jersey: Thursday September 13th at 7:30 PM

Freehold Service Center – 4000 Kozloski Rd, Freehold, NJ 07728
732-462-0075 ext 2

South Jersey: Tuesday, September 18th at 9:00 AM

Woodstown Service Center – 51 Cheney Rd, Woodstown, NJ 08098
856-769-1126 ext 2

Questions:
For information contact your local office if you have any questions.

Preserving land alone won’t keep farming in New Jersey

11 Jul 2018, Posted by admin in National News, News

Farming makes New Jersey a better place in many ways. One is obvious during this early part of the harvest season, when residents can indulge in fresh and locally grown blueberries, peaches and soon tomatoes. Those are highlights on many people’s annual food calendars.

Add many vegetables and the apples and cranberries to come and there’s enough good food grown to make farming the third-largest industry in the state, with much of it here in South Jersey.

Farms counterbalance the spreading urban landscape and give the state a pleasant mixed character. Even though people live in the fourth smallest and most densely populated state, they are never far from counties with a rural flavor.

Read the rest of the opinion piece from the Press of Atlantic City by clicking here.

New Jersey presents special challenges to farmers

18 Jun 2018, Posted by admin in Local Farms and Food, News, State News

Farmers face huge challenges from nature, and they accept that. Weather can freeze a crop in the bud, parch it in a drought or drown it with too much rain.

But farmers in New Jersey, the most densely populated state in the nation, say the biggest problem they face is interference from nonfarmers. They voted it their No. 1 issue at the 2017 New Jersey Farm Bureau annual meeting.

New Jersey Farm Bureau News

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Burzichelli, Milam & Houghtaling Bill Establishing Pathway to Hemp Industry Clears Assembly Panel