NJF headlines

Warren County celebrates year in ag


By RICHARD SKELLY AFP Correspondent WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, Warren County — A diversified crowd of about a hundred livestock, hay and straw, dairy and vegetable-fruit farmers from around Warren County gathered at the Draught House here in January for the annual meeting of the county Board of Agriculture. Honorees included longtime, born-and-raised county farmers Erich and Anna Sodtalbers. Warren County Board […]

Farm’s next generations weigh future at event


By JANE PRIMERANO AFP Correspondent NEW BRUNSWICK — As the average age of working farmers creeps up toward the average age at which most people have long since traded their work tools for golf clubs or fishing rods, some farmers (or their families) are thinking about succession planning. Britt Long, an attorney specializing in farm law, estate planning and administration, […]

NRCS, NJDA reps meet with NOFA participants


By JANE PRIMERANO AFP Correspondent NEW BRUNSWICK — Representatives of the NRCS and NJDA met with farmers at the NOFA-NJ Winter Conference in New Brunswick on Saturday, Jan. 27, to provide information on how both agencies can help with the sometimes complicated problems of small farms. Sandra Howland of the Department of Agriculture animal waste management office discussed an online […]

Conference puts focus on mental well-being


By JANE PRIMERANO AFP Correspondent NEW BRUNSWICK — Farmers don’t complain much. Not about weather, prices, recalcitrant critters; only occasionally about clueless neighbors and voracious deer. While that’s seen as a positive trait, it also means farmers aren’t always good at communicating or taking care of themselves which can cause them to miss out on an opportunity to take care […]

Brinton explains ‘harvesting sunlight’ to attendees


By RICHARD SKELLY AFP Correspondent NEW BRUNSWICK — Will Brinton, founder of the Woods End Soil Lab near Augusta, Maine, presented the keynote address at the 34th annual winter conference of organic farmers in New Jersey, NOFA-NJ. Brinton has a strong Rutgers connection as earlier in his career he worked with Nobel Laureate Dr. Albert Schatz who worked with Saul […]

Indigenous cultivators lauded as essential


By JANE PRIMERANO AFP Correspondent NEW BRUNSWICK — Lyla June Johnston is hoping to revitalize Indigenous food systems around the United States. The graduate student at Stanford University is studying both human ecology and indigenous pedagogy and combines her studies with the traditional worldview she grew up with as a member of the Dinè and Cheyenne nations. She presents around […]

NOFA-NJ: Opportunities in value-added production


By RICHARD SKELLY AFP Correspondent NEW BRUNSWICK — A discussion moderated by Mercer County Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agent and Food Safety Specialist Meredith Melendez brought about interesting ideas smaller farmers can incorporate into their operations to boost profits through value-added goods and cottage food production. Speakers included Lindsay Napolitano of Fields Without Fences in Stockton, N.J. and Melanie and Stan […]

We need to learn from history (Editorial)

The January edition of the USDA’s biannual cattle inventory report shows the nation’s cattle herd at 87.2 million head, down about 2 percent from last year, making it the lowest herd size in 73 years. That’s going to result in a high beef market in the second half of this year, analysts say. If realized, the bullish outlook would create […]

County hosts ‘legislative farm visit’


    From left, Burlington County farmers Bill Cutts, Roger Kumpel and Mike Haines attended the legislative farm visit at the Rutgers Marucci Center for Cranberry and Blueberry Research and tour of Haines cranberry farm. (Photo by Richard Skelly)CHATSWORTH — A healthy crowd of farmers from around Burlington and surrounding counties and key legislators came out on Oct. 19 to a […]

Hope rising from ashes for family


  HOPE TOWNSHIP — Hope is rising from the ashes at a farm in Warren County. A fire enveloped a barn at Hope Cress Farms in Hope Township on Dec. 7. The entire structure was destroyed as were a number of pieces of farm equipment and tools. Beyond the property damage was even more devastation. More than 400 chickens and […]


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