DEER FENCING PROGRAM CONTINUES

Distribution of deer fencing continued this month while Ag Extension Offices and New Jersey Farm Bureau were advised that the program deadline has been extended through the end of the year to maximize the amount of fencing distributed to the farm community. To be eligible for fencing, applicants must be active New Jersey farmers generating $40,000 or more in annual gross sales of agricultural products and must own the land on which the fence is to be erected. Program applications can be picked up at County Extension Offices, local Fish and Game Offices or the Snyder Research Farm or obtained by calling Fish and Game at (609) 292-6685. The department suggests that farmers request as much fence as they actually need on the application because, while the standard distribution is a maximum of 30 165-foot rolls, the program administrator may allow for up to 15 additional rolls. Fence is eight feet in height including two strands of wire to top the six-foot fencing. All fence must be installed within one year of receipt.

Farmers can also obtain deer repellant from the Division of Fish and Game at no charge.

1999 GREENHOUSE & NURSERY FILM RECYCLING PROGRAM SET

This year, New Jersey growers recycled almost 285,000 pounds of greenhouse and nursery film. The volume collected was lower than expected due in large part to an early spring. The department is already at work establishing collection sites for the 1999 program which will run from February 1 through June 1.

NJDA WARNS OF EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS

A total of six cases of Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) were confirmed in horses residing in Burlington and Ocean Counties during August and September. None of the horses was properly vaccinated to prevent disease. NJDA issued two press releases and worked with reporters in counties where equine deaths occurred to generate publicity concerning this fatal disease and remind owners to vaccinate their horses appropriately. A disease alert was also faxed to members of the New Jersey Association of Equine Practitioners, reviewing the five confirmed equine cases.

In addition to the five equine encephalitis cases in August, an outbreak of encephalitis was confirmed at an emu farm in Cumberland County over the Labor Day weekend, with five of approximately 13 emu on one farm dead or euthanized over a five-day period. A pheasant farm in Ocean County also experienced losses, apparently caused by the encephalitis virus, over the Labor Day weekend, as did a quail farm in Atlantic County and a pheasant farm in Warren County last week.

REAL PROPERTY APPRAISAL MANUAL COMPLETED

Modifications to the New Jersey Real Property Appraisal Manual - Farm Building Section have been completed by the Department of Treasury and will be effective with 1999 tax assessments. When using the Manual to assess pre-engineered post and frame agricultural structures, local tax assessors will have the most current cost data available. In order to accommodate existing structures throughout the state which are not pre-engineered post and frame, the original traditional building costs have been retained in the Manual, however, the Manual stresses that assessors should apply functional and economic obsolescence, and, if warranted, physical depreciation in setting the assessment.

FARM BUILDING CODE STANDARDS PUBLICATION AVAILABLE

In cooperation with the Department of Community Affairs, NJDA has completed the updates to the Fact Sheet for Commercial Farm Buildings - Standards Under the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code. The revised document includes up-to-date information on the Farm Building Code and offers a more in-depth interpretation of the rule. Copies of the document will be available shortly from the department and will be provided to local construction code officials by DCA.

NJDA EARNS FEDERAL FARMLAND PROTECTION GRANT

For the third year in a row, NJDA successfully applied for a grant under USDA's Farmland Protection Program, administered by NRCS. This year, $1.4 million was awarded to New Jersey which will be used to purchase development easements on 16 farms covering 2,444 acres in 14 counties, including two fee-simple purchases being coordinated by the SADC. New Jersey is one of 19 states sharing the last $17 million remaining under the federal program which was included in the 1996 Farm Bill. In the two preceding years, New Jersey was awarded a total of $1.2 million under the program.

REINVENTING AG EDUCATION UPDATE CONFERENCE SLATED FOR SEPTEMBER 25

The Reinventing Agricultural Education for the Year 2020 state implementation conference will be held this Friday at the National Conference Center in East Windsor. The conference will highlight local visions and unveil New Jersey's state vision and plan for the future of agricultural education in the Garden State. The conference will also provide information on the process for a local plan of action to lead local programs to their preferred future.

FALL FOOD AND WINE FESTIVALS UNDER WAY

The Garden State Wine Growers Association annual Fall Wine & Cheese Classic was held at Waterloo Village in Stanhope with 5,000 attendees sampling wine and learning about the industry during the two-day festival.

The 4th Annual South Jersey Fall Food & Wine Festival will be held November 1 in Cherry Hill with 26 of South Jersey's finest restaurants, 10 food and wine-related exhibitors, and 11 New Jersey wineries participating. Sponsors of this event include the New Jersey Wine Industry Advisory Council, Garden State Wine Growers Association, the New Jersey Restaurant Association, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Garden State Cable TV, PHILADELPHIA magazine, CUISINE magazine, and SOTV. Media sponsors are donating more than $45,000 worth of advertising for the event.

GYPSY MOTH EGG MASS SURVEYS SHOW FIVE MUNICIPALITIES NEED SPRAYING

Gypsy moth egg mass surveys have been completed in eight municipalities in the southern portions of the state and five towns, involving 745 acres, qualify for aerial treatment next spring. They are Medford Township, Burlington County, 515 acres; Berlin Borough, 20 acres, and Pine Hill Boroough, 40 acres, in Camden County; Carney's Point Township, 75 acres, and Oldman's Township, 95 acres, Salem County. Egg mass surveys are continuing in three other municipalities where defoliation occurred last spring, and additional spray blocks are expected.

5-A-DAY WEEK MARKED

Following Governor Christie Whitman's proclamation of September 13 through 19 as 5-A-Day Week in New Jersey, to coincide with the national observance of the week, NJDA coordinated with the Department of Health and Senior Services and Farmers Against Hunger to prepare a special display at the Trenton Downtown Association's Capitol City Farmers' Market. The display featured 5-A-Day recipes reflecting this year's theme, "Taste A World of Variety," complete with a recipe sampling of greens donated by Farmers Against Hunger (FAH) and prepared by a Trenton restaurant. FAH also passed out apples.

AGRI-TOURISM TOUR HELD FOR TRAVEL REPORTERS

In cooperation with the New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism, NJDA coordinated a two-day travel and tourism industry press tour of the agri-tourism industry for media representing consumer and trade interests. Eight media members visited two pick-your-own farms, two living history farms, two wineries, the organic gardens of the Ryland Inn, and the U.S. Equestrian Training Center.