Statewide Farmland Preservation Formula

P.L. 2023, c.245 became law on January 8, 2024. The law authorizes the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) to adopt rules establishing a Statewide Farmland Preservation Formula (“Statewide Formula”) as an alternative method for the valuation of farmland to be acquired for Farmland Preservation Program (FPP) purposes. The SADC has adopted an Interim Policy (P-56) for processing applications submitted for preservation in advance of the adoption of the Statewide Formula.  

The Committee encourages those interested in farmland preservation not to wait to apply for preservation until after the Statewide Formula is adopted. The continued submission of applications will enable eligibility reviews, approvals, and additional processing that will speed up the process to closing once the Statewide Formula is adopted. For additional information and links go to our guidance section.

On October 24, 2024, SADC staff presented a formula concept, developed in conjunction with the SADC’s Future Program Subcommittee, to the full Committee.

Click here to read a summary of the draft Statewide formula, and the outreach process used to develop the draft.

A subset of the slides presented to the Committee can be found by clicking here.

For Discussion Purposes Only. These formula concepts are preliminary and subject to change. Final regulations have not yet been adopted.

For more information, please contact the coordinator for the County the farm is in or SADC Chief of Acquisition Stephanie Kreiser at Stephanie.Kreiser@ag.nj.gov or (609) 913-6612. 

Next Generation Farmer Program

The SADC is actively developing a “Next Generation Farmer Program” to help new and beginning farmers address the challenges they face when getting started and establishing new operations. The overall goal is not to duplicate existing efforts but rather collaborate with partners to create a coordinated, comprehensive system to identify, train, equip, and support the next generation of farmers in New Jersey.

The ‘Next Gen’ Team is currently seeking input from the agricultural community to help guide its efforts and the recommendations that will be included in a NJ Next Generation Farmers Report in Spring 2025. Recommendations could include new programs, resources, and changes to policies, regulations, or statutes that could enhance support for next generation farmers and improve overall agricultural viability in NJ.

To share your experiences, have your voice heard, and help shape the development of the program, click here to take one of our brief surveys.

The program is looking to hear from next generation farmers (new and beginning as well as generational family farmers), established farmers, agricultural service providers, and others.

For more information, please contact the Next Generation Farmer Program team: Senior Coordinator Brendon Pearsall at Brendon.Pearsall@ag.nj.gov or (609)-913-6610, or Assistant Coordinator Jessica Brandeisky at Jessica.Brandeisky@ag.nj.gov or (609)-913-6611.

Soil Protection Standards

STATE AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Notice of Proposed Substantial Changes Upon Adoption to Proposed New Rules Establishing Soil Protection Standards on Preserved Farmland

N.J.A.C. 2:76-25, Soil Disturbance on Preserved Farmland; N.J.A.C. 2:76-25A, Supplemental Soil Disturbance Standards

PUBLIC NOTICE

Take notice that the New Jersey State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) is proposing substantial changes upon adoption to new rules establishing soil protection standards on preserved farmland originally proposed in the New Jersey Register on August 7, 2023, at 55 N.J.R. 1573(a).  The notice of proposed substantial changes upon adoption was published in the New Jersey Register on July 15, 2024, at 56 N.J.R. 1213(a). (Click here).

For more information on the proposed Soil Protection Standards rules (baseline soil disturbance maps, proposed rules, public hearing recording, and additional resources), click here.

Meetings

December 5, 2024 SADC Regular Meeting Agenda (click here)

Please note this is an in-person meeting open to the public.  Meeting wil begin at 9am at 200 Riverview Plaza, 1st floor, Trenton NJ.

For the convenience of the public, the meeting will be televised via TEAMS.  Please refer to the linked agenda for the public comment instructions.  

 

Announcements

Special Occasion Events

P.L. 2023, c.9 became law on February 3, 2023. The law recognizes the positive effects that holding special occasion events (SOEs) on preserved farms can have, under certain conditions. For more information, see the SOE law, SOE Guidance Documents, and Initial Report Submitted to the Governor and Legislature in July 2024.

Job Opportunities

There are no job opportunities at this time.

If you have any questions or would like to be notified when these jobs open for applications, please send your resume to Heidi.Winzinger@ag.nj.gov .

All SADC jobs are listed on the following websites:

Order Your Farmland Preservation Sign Today!

Preserved Farmland Owners - Order Your Farmland Preservation Sign Today!