GOVERNOR SIGNS FARMLAND PRESERVATION BILLS
TO MARK EARTH DAY

Following a nature hike at Fosterfields Living Farm, Morristown, with area students, Governor Christie Whitman got an early start on Earth Day festivities by signing three bills that will provide $22.5 million for the acquisition of development easements on 57 farms in 14 counties. In her comments the Governor stressed the importance of retaining a strong agricultural land base in New Jersey. She also reiterated her determination to have a plan for a stable funding source for the Farmland Preservation Program ready to present to voters in November.

NJDA APPROPRIATIONS HEARINGS HELD The appropriations hearings concerning NJDA's FY99 budget proposal were held this month. The $18,106,000 recommended for FY99 will enable the department to continue the priority programs and services our constituencies rely on and will allow us to begin two important initiatives.

The first of these is a $2 million conservation cost-share program which will provide financial assistance to farmers for the installation of soil and water conservation practices to control soil erosion, sedimentation and non-point source pollution from a variety of agricultural sources. The program is critical to New Jersey farmers' efforts to meet state water quality goals established for DEP's watershed planning areas.

The second new initiative which is recommended for FY99 is a $50,000 biosolid/fertilizer testing program. This funding will allow us to expand the department's current agricultural chemistry program to include biosolid-based fertilizers. We propose to provide an additional level of testing for these materials, when used as fertilizers or soil conditioners, to ensure compliance with their stated label guarantees and to guard against other materials making their way into the fertilizers.

With the level of funding recommended for FY99 the department will find new markets both at home and abroad for Jersey Fresh farm products and processed foods, particularly in Canada and western Europe; continue implementation of sound soil and water conservation practices which prevent soil erosion and help keep our water clean; and produce and distribute beneficial insects which destroy harmful agricultural weed and insect pests and reduce the need for chemical pesticides and herbicides. In addition, we will proceed with the implementation of the New Jersey Aquaculture Development Plan and maintain the department's vigilance over the health of New Jersey's livestock.

I also stressed to members of both committees the critical need for a stable funding source for farmland preservation as demand continues to outstrip available funding, all of which will be fully committed by the end of FY98.

1998 NURSERY FILM RECYCLING PROGRAM BEGINS The 1998 greenhouse and nursery film collection and recycling program has begun and will run through mid-July. The guidelines (available on the department's web site or from the Division of Rural Resources) are similar to those used in last year's pilot project but stress the need for good quality control when growers bundle the film to insure that the film is as clean as possible, thereby providing the recycling market with quality material.

Growers can haul the plastic to any of four approved collection sites located in Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington and Cumberland Counties or contract with a third party to move the material. Because this is a recycling project, the transporting vehicle does not have to be registered as a solid waste hauler with the NJDEP. Growers who don't generate large enough quantities of plastic film to make the effort cost- effective are encouraged to work with other growers to accumulate a sufficient amount of the material to make it worth the trip to the collection site.

Both white and clear films used in nurseries for over-wintering plants as well as clear multi-season (two-year, three-year and four-year) greenhouse covers can be recycled but only nursery & greenhouse film can be brought in for recycling. It must be free of lathing, staples and saran tape. Loads containing other agricultural plastics, such as bags, mulch film, shrink film, stretch film or ground cover, will be rejected at the collection site.

This year a portion of the recycling effort will be underwritten by a $25,000 grant from NJDEP. Grant funds will be distributed to the approved collection sites based on the volume of film they collect and recycle from New Jersey growers only. Grants will not be provided for film collected by out-of-state growers.

JERSEY FRESH COMMERCIALS REVISED Governor Whitman and I completed the update of the Jersey Fresh spring television commercial that will air through mid-June to incorporate the state's new slogan, "New Jersey & You ... Perfect Together." Similar updates are planned for the summer and fall commercials. The commercials will run from now through November throughout the tri-state area and into eastern Canada, interspersed with the seasonal infomercials on specific commodities in season. Reinforcing the televised messages will be ads in trade and daily newspapers as well as targeted radio spots.

AGRICULTURE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES MANUAL The State Soil Conservation Committee has developed "On-Farm Strategies to Protect Water Quality," an Agriculture Best Management Practices Manual for planning and installation of non-point pollution control practices on farmland. The manual was prepared in cooperation with USDA/Natural Resources Conservation Service and the New Jersey Association of Conservation Districts. This self-help guide identifies sources of, and measures for controlling, soil erosion, sedimentation and nutrients from storm water runoff.

DEER FENCING APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH MAY 29 Applications are now available for deer fencing under a joint initiative of NJDA and DEP. NJDA has added $300,000 to DEP's Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife's (FGW) 1998 deer fencing program to maximize distribution of effective fencing to farmers. FGW will purchase and distribute the fencing and farmers will be responsible for installation and maintenance. The fencing will be six feet high, topped with two strands of high tensil wire and have a service life of approximately 20 years. Applications for the supplemental deer fencing program are available from any County Agricultural Cooperative Extension office, FGW and NJDA offices in Trenton, or at the FGW field offices in Hampton, Robbinsville, Sicklerville and Oxford. Applications must be returned to FGW or postmarked no later than May 29. For further information, farmers can contact FGW at (908) 735-8793 or (609) 292-6685.

NEW JERSEY FOOD INDUSTRY SUMMIT SCHEDULED The New Jersey Food Industry Summit will be held on June 10 at the Busch Campus Center in Piscataway. Key government officials, food industry executives and leaders in higher education will collaborate to chart a new course for New Jersey's $55 billion food industry. The Summit represents the second phase of a three-phase effort. The first phase involved a series of focus group meetings from which four reports on the status and condition of New Jersey's food industry were issued. The final phase will deal with implementation measures.

PAPPAS INTRODUCES FEDERAL FARMLAND PRESERVATION LEGISLATION Representative Michael Pappas has introduced the Mid-Atlantic Open Space and Farmland Preservation Act (H.R. 3566) which earmarks a minimum of $50 million from existing federal funds in the Land and Water Conservation Act Fund for block grants to Mid-Atlantic states for open space and farmland preservation. Funds could be used in New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland and applicants could be either state, county or municipal governments. The bill requires that 75 percent of the funds go to municipalities of fewer than 10,000 residents. More than 60 percent of New Jersey's municipalities would be covered by this provision.

FDA OFFERS PRELIMINARY FOOD SAFETY GUIDELINES The United States Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, has distributed a draft guidance document on food safety. The "Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables" was created to address a perceived need to improve the safety of the nation's food supply, based on an increase in reported food-borne illnesses over the past several years. The Guide addresses microbial food safety hazards and good agricultural practices common to the growing, harvesting, packing, and transporting of most fruits and vegetables that are sold to consumers in an unprocessed or minimally processed form. This document is provided as a guide only and does not supersede applicable federal, state, or local laws or regulations. Alternative approaches may be applied if they also minimize food safety hazards. Comments concerning these guidelines are due by June 29.

4-H PILOT PROJECT USES 'SMART CARD' TECHNOLOGY The department, in cooperation with 4-H managers, Rutgers University and American Card Technologies, Inc. (ACT), are developing a pilot project that will use electronic ASmart Card@ technology in place of health papers at 4-H horse shows in the state beginning October 1. There are an estimated 2,400 horses currently enrolled in the New Jersey 4-H Horse Program. The project will include implanting identification microchips in participating horses and programing credit card-sized Smart Cards with health records corresponding to each animal.

ACT will donate both the software and the Smart Cards for this project. Members of 4-H will be able to update their Smart Cards via their home computers. It will cost approximately $25,000 for microchip implantation, microchip readers, additional software and testing. This funding will be sought from industry groups.

TOURISM HIGHLIGHTS AGRICULTURAL DESTINATIONS New Jersey's wine and agricultural industries are featured in a New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism article and their annual promotional piece concerning family vacation and day-trip destinations. The "New Jersey Fun Guide" will run May 3rd as a newspaper supplement which will be distributed to the 3.2 million homes served by the state's 20 daily and 141 weekly newspapers.

HORSE PARK SEASON UNDER WAY The 1998 show season got under way at the Horse Park of New Jersey this month with the very successful "Horse Trial," the second time the event has been held at the Park. Seventy-three riders competed in the event which includes dressage, cross country and stadium jumping venues in the same day.

The New Jersey Equine Advisory Board will co-sponsor the State FFA Horse Judging Event on May 2nd at the Horse Park. Held in conjunction with the New Jersey Palomino Exhibitors Show, this will be the second annual horse judging contest for the FFA.

SIRE STAKES HORSES RANK HIGH IN USTA EXPERIMENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP RATINGS New Jersey sired three-year-old pacing colts dominate the 1998 Experimental Championship Ratings recently released by the United States Trotting Association. Overall, New Jersey sired sophomore colts took five of the six top spots, seven of the top 10, and 13 of the 30 horses rated.

Real Artist, a son of Artsplace who stands at Southwind Farm in Pennington, has been projected as the fastest three-year-old pacer for 1998 followed by Artscape, another Artsplace colt, and Sealed N Delivered, a son of Falcon Seelster who stands at Perretti Farms in Cream Ridge. Clover Hanover, a daughter of No Nukes who stands at Hanover Shoe Farm in West Amwell, is ranked 20th.

EROSION CONTROL SHORT COURSE TO BE HELD The department has arranged for Cook College to offer two short courses May 5 - 7 and May 27 - 28 on the proposed changes to the Standards for Soil Erosion and Sediment Control which will be promulgated by the State Soil Conservation Committee. Since these design standards relate to virtually all construction related land disturbance activities in New Jersey, the courses will be open to engineers, planners, architects, municipal officials and others charged with protecting water quality and controlling soil erosion, sedimentation and nutrient runoff.

COMMENTS DUE ON PROPOSED FEDERAL, STATE REGULATIONS

• USDA's proposed national organic standards and regulations -- comments are due by April 30.
• USDA/AMS proposal to reform the Federal Milk Market Orders -- comments are due by April 30.
• NJDA's proposal to extend the emergency state milk order price for another six months (through June 1999) -- comments are due by May 20.
• FDA's proposal to require HACCP programs at all foreign and domestic juice processing plants -- comments due July 6.
• FDA's proposal to require warning labels on unpasteurized, untreated juices -- comments due by May 21.