Gardener News November 2022

Gardener News

Awards, Landscape Industry Updates and a Special Recognition

Association (NJLCA) held its 22nd Annual Golf Classic at Crystal Springs Golf Resort in Hamburg, Sussex County, NJ on October 11. The outing,

which raises funds for the NJLCA Education Fund, had over 100 participants and a variety of sponsors to make it one of the most successful

outings to date. The NJLCA Education Fund, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization provides scholarships to NJLCA members and their

families, as well as any student interested in pursuing an education in the Outdoor Living Industry. Over the past 22 years,

Legislation has been sponsored in the New Jersey Assembly to prohibit the sale and use of gas-powered lawn equipment in NJ; provide CBT and gross income tax credits for the purchase of certain zeroemission lawn equipment.

Assemblyman Herb Conaway, Jr. and Assemblywoman Mila M. Jasey’s Assembly Bill Number is A3906.

Hey folks! The supply chain is not ready.

I wonder if these two legislators realize the cost to transition to battery-powered equipment.

Will the state, counties and municipalities be required to make the transition as well? I think the tax payers will go crazy when they see the costs to purchase battery-powered equipment in their budgets.

Is this legislation going to effect golf courses? I can’t even imagine what greens fees will be.

I wonder if these two legislators have thought about a recycling plan for the batteries and what that will cost. As we all know, you can’t just throw batteries in the trash.

How many batteries will a landscape contractor need to get through the day? Batteries do not last forever, so charging them while out in the landscape can be difficult. And while contractors typically have a fuel gauge on a gasoline-powered tool to see when it is nearing empty, battery-powered tools do not have that, so they die without giving a warning. If the battery on a contractor’s tool dies, he or she may have to return to the truck to get a new one, and then go back to the area he or she was working on and finish the task. And we all know time is money.

Here is my biggest concern about a total switch over –the loss of jobs in the power equipment industry – and the loss of mom and pop businesses. Battery-powered tools require less maintenance because they do not have as many parts to maintain, including exhaust ports, carburetors, air filters, and spark plugs. Another maintenance issue that batterypowered tools do not face is a clogged muffler. This is a common problem with twocycle equipment and is typically the result of improper mixing of the gas and oil. Different types of equipment require different mixing ratios.

Around The Garden

N.J. Landscaping Legislative Interference

Here are a few more obvious advantages that come with battery-powered lawn care equipment: low noise and no emissions.

Here is the bill’s statement.

This bill would prohibit, beginning three years after the bill’s effective date, the sale or distribution of gas-powered lawn equipment within the State for use or operation in New Jersey. The bill would also prohibit, beginning five years after the bill’s effective date, the use of gas-powered lawn equipment within the State. The bill would authorize the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to extend the timeframe of the prohibitions established by the bill if it finds that prohibiting the sale or use of the equipment is not costeffective or technologically feasible.

As defined in the bill, “lawn equipment” means any mechanically powered equipment or device that is used for, or intended to be used for, the mowing of grass, the cutting or chipping of trees, tree roots, or tree branches, or the clearing of leaves or other vegetation from lawns, sidewalks, public streets or public highways. Under the bill, “lawn equipment” would include, but not be limited to, lawn mowers and lawn mower attachments, lawn edgers, leaf blowers, leaf vacuums, mulchers, chippers, pruners, trimmers, chainsaws, power washers, and snow blowers. As defined in the bill, “gas-powered lawn equipment” means lawn equipment that has a two-stroke or four-stroke engine and uses gasoline or a gasoline and oil blend as fuel, and “zero-emission lawn equipment” means lawn equipment that is powered by a battery, fuel cell, or other means of energy production that does not result in the emission of carbon dioxide.

Any person who violates the bill’s provisions would be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $500 or more than $1,000 for each offense.

In the case of a continuing violation, each day during

which the violation continues would constitute an additional, separate, and distinct offense.

The bill authorizes State and local law enforcement agencies to have the exclusive authority of enforcing the bill’s provisions. The bill also incentivizes the enforcement of the bill’s provisions by permitting any penalty recovered to be retained by the enforcing government entity.

The bill would allow the DEP to extend the timeframe of any prohibitions provided for in the bill for additional periods, not to exceed one year upon a finding, adopted by rule or regulation, that it is not costeffective or technologically feasible to prohibit the sale or use of gas-powered lawn equipment within the time frame required pursuant to the bill’s provisions. An extension would expire after one year unless the DEP determines another extension is necessary.

The bill would require the DEP to adopt, no later than three years after the bill’s effective date, rules and regulations consistent with federal law, as necessary to implement the bill’s provisions. The bill would require the DEP to consider the following when determining cost-effectiveness or technological feasibility:

(1) total emissions from gaspowered lawn equipment within the State;

(2) expected timelines for zero-emission lawn equipment development;

(3) increased electricity demand from added charging requirements from zero-emission lawn equipment;

(4) demand and usage of lawn equipment by both commercial and residential lawn and garden users; and

(5) expected availability and affordability of zeroemission lawn equipment.

The bill would also provide a tax credit under the corporation business tax and the gross income tax for certain costs incurred in the purchase of zero-emission lawn equipment. The tax credit would be made

available for a period of five years.

Specifically, the amount of credit allowed to a taxpayer pursuant to the bill would be as follows: (1) for the purchase of an electric-powered trimmer, pruner, leaf blower, or power washer, 25 percent of the cost of the zero-emission lawn equipment device or $50, whichever is less; (2) for the purchase of an electric-powered chainsaw, 25 percent of the cost of the zero-emission lawn equipment device or $100, whichever is less; and (3) for the purchase of an electric-powered walk behind lawn mower or snow blower, 25 percent of the cost of the zero-emission lawn equipment device or $150, whichever is less.

To qualify for a credit under the bill, a taxpayer would be required to apply to the DEP for a certification that provides: (1) that the lawn equipment device purchased by the taxpayer is a zero-emission lawn equipment device and is eligible for the tax credit; and (2) the amount of the tax credit. The bill would require the DEP, in consultation with the Director of the Division of Taxation, to adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to implement the bill’s provisions. The bill would also limit the cumulative total of tax credits awarded pursuant to the bill to $500,000.

Finally, the bill would require, no later than four years after the effective of the tax credits provided pursuant to the bill, the DEP to prepare and submit to the Governor, the State Treasurer, and the Legislature a report that, at a minimum, summarizes the effectiveness of the tax credit in incentivizing the purchase of zero-emission lawn equipment and provides recommendations for whether or not the tax credit should be extended.

Gas-powered lawn equipment emits high levels of air pollutants, including but not limited to, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, hydrocarbons, unburnt gasoline, and fine particulate matter. The emissions from certain

gas-powered lawn equipment contribute to the formation of ozone, smog, and acid rain, and can even exceed the emissions from vehicles used for the same amount of time.

In addition to environmental consequences, gas-powered lawn equipment is also associated with certain adverse health effects including heart and lung disease. Certain gaspowered lawn equipment, including leaf blowers, are also associated with occupational health concerns. For example, gas-powered leaf blowers generate noise at a decibel level capable of causing hearing loss in a short amount of time.

There are affordable alternatives to certain gaspowered lawn equipment that are less polluting and safer to operate. Technology is also advancing to develop zeroemission equivalents to all gaspowered lawn equipment. The bill’s phase-in of its provisions would also provide time for zero-emission lawn equipment technology to improve prior to the bill’s prohibitions on the sale and use of gas-powered lawn equipment taking effect.

A battery-powered motor produces zero emissions. But, battery power can’t tackle the same sort of workload that gas power can. Or at least not yet!

In the future, I hope that battery-powered equipment will deliver the capability to be full gas replacements. Until then, being prepared with a mix of battery-powered equipment and gas equipment makes sense.

Protecting the environment is great. Personally, I enjoy the aromatic smells of nature. I think this legislation needs to be more thought out.

Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News, which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration, and education to the agricultural, gardening, landscaping and nursery communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

In November in the Northeast, we find ourselves in a space where the last gasp of just about anything we knew was growing through the summer and into the early fall has totally abated. However, the best of many fall favorites that our farmers have produced are still in full force in the marketplace. Pumpkins, winter squashes, cranberries, apples, beets, leaks, sweet potatoes and more are now taking center stage. And oh, how we love them all!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so we have a little time where we can take advantage of all these New Jersey favorites while they are still here for the picking and, if already picked, the buying.

As I have written many times before, we in our state have so much to be thankful for when it comes to what is produced in the precious earth that is the lifeblood of these crops.

It is during this time of year, when thankfulness is forefront in our consciousness that I think of all the work our farmers have put into the year’s planting, tending, harvesting, and marketing so many amazing agricultural products. The cold of winter,

NJ Dept. of Agriculture

More to do in the Garden State

and yes, that includes some likely snowstorms, will soon be upon us, and the memories of this season’s harvest, hopefully, will remain for us to savor as we burrow in for the cold season.

Late fall is a great time to get in some final visits to our state’s many and varied farm operations, whether you’re setting out to pick a pumpkin (still a great autumn decoration, even after Halloween’s ghouls and goblins have lain down to rest) or just getting in one last chance to have your kids visit a farm where they can enjoy seeing livestock or trying foods they haven’t yet enjoyed.

In the words of some old TV commercial pitchmen, “But wait, there’s more!”

Even the end of autumn and the beginning of winter

doesn’t mean that New Jersey farmers’ role in offering you great products has reached a final conclusion. There are still many more memories to be had, even in winter, on our farms, and many farmers have planned events to entice us all.

You can find winter activities like sleigh rides, cider-making, creating wreaths for your holiday decorations, or drying and canning the products produced for fall harvest.

Some locations like the Howell Living History Farm can be great places to visit during the late-fall and early-winter months. The colder weather gives visitors a chance to experience and appreciate how farmers and settlers from earlier ages dealt with the onset of New Jersey’s often fierce winters.

For those looking to enjoy a

New Jersey Growers Reap Record Wheat Yields

New Jersey growers harvested 1.54 million bushels of wheat in 2022 on 22 thousand acres, for a record average yield of 70.0 bushels per acre, according to Bruce Eklund, state statistician of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service,

New Jersey Field Office. The second highest yield was 67.0 bushels per acre in 2020 and 2021. New Jersey’s first official wheat estimate was for 1866 with an average yield of 13.5 bushels per acre on 130 thousand acres.

Bill Freeing Raw Honey from Cottage Food Regulations

Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Steven Oroho that would exempt raw, unprocessed honey from Department of Health cottage food regulations was approved on October 17 by the New Jersey Senate.

“For far too long, beekeepers have been subject to unnecessary government red tape that prevents them from easily distributing fresh, unprocessed honey,” said Oroho (R-24). “My legislation will exempt raw honey from these needless Department of Health regulations so that beekeepers and

farmers can get their product to the public in an efficient manner.”

Under Oroho’s bill, S-2697/A-3991, honey that is raw and has not been processed, infused, or pasteurized will not be considered a “cottage food product” and will therefore be exempt from Department of Health food regulations.

Under current law, cottage food product means non-TCS food that a cottage food operator prepares. A non-TCS food does not need time and temperature controls to remain safe for consumption.

more indoor activity, you can find farms in this state where you can learn broom-making, authentic spinning of wool, making pine-cone broth, or just enjoying a Rutgers Master Gardeners class to prepare you for next year’s efforts at growing some of your own food or beautiful flowering plants right in your own yard.

Of course, one of the great farm visits in the winter can be trekking out to a Christmas tree grower and cutting a fresh, live tree to have in your home. Don’t let Clark Griswold and his “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” antics deter you. You’ll know exactly which tree is just big enough and “squirrel-free enough” to take into your home.

It can be tempting in winter, sometimes, to just hunker down in our homes and go out into the colder conditions only

when we absolutely must. But experiencing the offerings of a farm as they themselves prepare to bring their year to a close can be an absolutely invigorating experience. So, take advantage of all the things our farms still have to offer. They’ll keep you from entering too much of a winter-dormancy stage during the deep, dark, winter months approaching us once again.

Also use these days to begin planning your own garden, and what you will plant as spring approaches, and we return to more moderate conditions.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Editor’s Note: Douglas H. Fisher is New Jersey’s Secretary of Agriculture. He is the department’s executive officer, secretary to the State Board of Agriculture and a member of the Governor’s cabinet. Secretary Fisher fulfills executive, management and administrative duties prescribed by law, executive order or gubernatorial direction. He can be reached at 609.292.3976. For more info, please visit: http:// www.state.nj.us/agriculture

The New Jersey Assembly Oversight, Reform and Federal Relations Committee Reports Favorably Assembly Bill No. 285 (1R)

This bill establishes in the Department of Agriculture the “New Farmers Improvement Grant Program,” to provide matching grants for farm improvements to beginning farmers investing in diversification of their farming operations and innovations for the sustainability of those operations. The bill defines “beginning farmer” as a person who desires to engage in farming and has never farmed before, who has engaged in farming in the State for 10 years or less as of the effective date of the bill, or who qualifies as a first time farmer pursuant to federal law at 26 U.S.C. s.147(c)(2).

To date, the State of New Jersey has spent $1.148 billion to preserve farmland in the Garden State. Currently, the average age of a farmer in the United States is 57.5 years. The national average age has increased by 1.6 percent annually since 1994, on average, according to the 2017 Census of Agriculture conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture. The average age of a New Jersey farmer is 59.7 years, according to the same report. The State-wide average age has increased more drastically at 2.72 percent annually since 2002, on average.

Support NJ Agriculture

When you’re shopping for

stock, you know the trees, shrubs, plants and

for trees, flowers quality, and Garden soil

shopping for GROWN know the trees, and flowers for quality, pest free, and the Garden

checked for quality, disease, are pest free, and accustomed to the Garden State’s climate and soil conditions.

and

Atlantic County

Phone: 609-625-0056

Bergen County

Phone: 201-336-6780

Burlington County

Phone: 609-265-5050

Camden County

Phone: 856 216 7130

Cape May County

Phone: 609-465-5115

Cumberland County

Phone: 856-451-2800

Essex County

Phone: 973-228-2210

Gloucester County

Phone: 856-224-8040

Hudson County

Phone: 201-915-1399

Hunterdon County

Phone: 908-788-1339

Mercer County

Phone: 609-989-6830

From the Director’s Desk Rutgers Outreach

RU Ready to Farm?

The Small Farm Dream

Have you ever found yourself out in the garden, drenched in warm sunlight, a basket of freshly picked produce on one side and a pile of just-pulled weeds on the other and thought, “what if I did this for a living?” You are not alone. The dream of owning a small farm is an enticing one. Many gardeners have been ensnared by visions of vibrant vegetable rows and flourishing flower fields where they can spend their days making a living from the land. Those who decide that they want to make that leap from gardener to farmer will quickly find themselves wondering where to begin. Making these dreams a reality requires more than just hard work and a green thumb. Wouldbe farmers must cultivate knowledge and skills that go far beyond growing a delicious tomato. To have a chance of succeeding as a farmer, they must learn about evaluating land and soil, dealing with pests and diseases, planning and managing a business, marketing their product, and much more. The complexity of farming can be daunting, even overwhelming for someone just starting out, and without a clear path and guidance, they may be discouraged from even trying. This is where the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station’s Beginner Farmer Training Program, launched in 2021 with a USDA-NIFA grant, comes in. The Program

year two. At this stage, students collectively work with the program team to plan, produce, market, and deliver a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)-style produce share. Year three provides students with access to small plots of their own at a farm business incubator with shared equipment and infrastructure. By this point, they will be farming on their own, with the advice and support of the program team, as needed.

Community

Building networks and connecting farmers to the larger agricultural community is one of the most valuable aspects of the program. RU Ready to Farm provides beginner farmers with access to an extensive network of experts and successful farmers for both advice and assistance. They also work with a cohort of other beginner farmers with whom they can continue collaborating after they graduate from the program. Students are encouraged to get involved with their local agricultural committees, go to meetings, and get to know the experienced farmers in their area. The farming community is filled with folks who are happy to share their knowledge, wisdom, and occasionally, equipment. Building these connections is vital for beginner farmers, and meeting and working with others who share their interests is at the heart of this program.

Middlesex County Phone: 732-398-5260

Monmouth County Phone: 732-431-7260

Morris County Phone: 973-285-8300

Ocean County Phone:732-349-1246

Passaic County Phone: 973-305-5740

Salem County Phone: 856-769-0090

Somerset County Phone: 908-526-6293

Sussex County Phone: 973-948-3040

Union County Phone: 908-654-9854

Warren County Phone: 908-475-6505

This Rutgers Cooperative Extension program, known as RU Ready to Farm, seeks to empower new and beginner farmers of all ages and backgrounds, and help them find the path to a farm of their own. The program is directed by Middlesex County Agricultural Agent Bill Hlubik with co-principal investigators, Monmouth County Agent Bill Errickson and Rutgers Gardens Director Lauren Errickson. Brendon Pearsall is the program coordinator and is closely supported by Linnea Eberly and Alex Sawatzky. The three-year program arc provides students with a gradual, step-bystep approach into farming for profit, without requiring them to quit their day-job. Year one combines online classes with in-person farm tours, and provides students with a broad overview of the challenges and opportunities of farming in New Jersey. These classes offer a wealth of information and resources for those who are already farming or homesteading, as well as the curious gardener who is wondering if farming is right for them. Those who complete year one have the opportunity to continue to the more intensive, hands-on experience of

Program Director Bill Hlubik reflected on the growth he has witnessed throughout the course, following the 2022 CSA season. “I am amazed with the energy and passion displayed by our two groups of over 80 beginner farmer students over the past two years. There is a bonding and sense of community evolving within our groups that provides the core energy to drive program success. It is truly an uplifting experience to see students transform the knowledge gained in the classroom and on farm tours into their first successful CSA.”

The love of working outside, growing plants, and getting their hands dirty are the defining features of the students in RU Ready to Farm, so it’s no surprise that many of them started as enthusiastic gardeners. If you’d like to join our community and find out if farming is right for you, get in touch with our team at beginnerfarmer@njaes.rutgers.edu, or find us online at https://rubeginnerfarmer.rutgers.edu/ Registration for the next year one cohort opens in April 2023. Reach out now to be added to our waiting list and keep up to date with the latest news.

Editor’s Note: Written by Bill Hlubik, County Agent; Brendon Pearsall, Senior Program Coordinator; and Linnea Eberly, Program Assistant, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Rutgers Cooperative Extension.

Snyder Farm’s Open House and Great Tomato Tasting Returned with Wagon Rides, Research…and Rutgers Tomatoes!

Rutgers Clifford E. & Melda C. Snyder Research & Extension Farm welcomed more than 600 visitors to its annual Open House and Tomato Tasting event on Aug. 31, Visitors were treated to a wagon ride tour of the current research being conducted at the farm, including hard cider apple variety trials, organic insect control for sweet corn, hemp for fiber, disease

resistant basil breeding, yacon as a specialty crop, and the future site for agrivoltaics research.

Faculty and staff, along with Rutgers Master Gardener volunteers, were on hand to address questions about the research and to answer home gardening inquiries. The tomato tasting featured more than 50 varieties of tomatoes.

Rutgers-led Study on Bees Shows How Different Species Pollinate the Same Plants Over Time

Rutgers has conducted the first study showing how many more species of bees are needed to maintain crop yields when a longer-term time frame is considered.

In the paper, which was recently published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, scientists said biodiversity of the bee population is critical to maintaining the ecosystem function of crop pollination, which is critical to humanity’s food supply.

“We found that biodiversity plays a key role in the stability of ecosystems over time,” said Natalie Lemanski, lead author on the study and a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS). “You do actually need more bee species in order to get stable pollination services over a growing season and over years.”

The team on the study focused on various populations of bees at dozens of farms in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and California and found that many more bee species were not only needed for pollination than expected over an entire flowering season, but even more were needed over multiple years.

The researchers said they discovered different bee species pollinated the same types of plants at different times of the year. They also found that different bee species were the dominant pollinators on the same kind of plants in different years. Because of natural fluctuations in bee populations, researchers said, all bee species present were needed to maintain a minimum threshold of pollination during lean years.

“This research shows that abundance [of a species] matters, but bee diversity matters even more,” said Michelle Elekonich, the deputy division director of the National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Biological Sciences, which funded the study. “It’s not the same bees that are abundant at a given point in time, and variety is necessary to provide balance during a growing season – and from year to year.”

Lemanski said the study offers substantiation

to a long-standing concept ecologists refer to as the “insurance hypothesis.” The idea is that ecosystems probably benefit when nature “diversifies the portfolio,” supporting multiple species of a category of a plant or animal, rather than relying on one dominant species.

“We found that two to three times as many bee species were needed to meet a target level of crop pollination over the course of a growing season compared to a single date,” Lemanski said. “Similarly, twice as many species were needed to provide pollination over the course of six years compared to a single year.”

The researchers based their analysis on their own extensive observations of bee visits to flowers and measurements of the quantity of pollen grains deposited on individual flowers over weeks and months within a given calendar year and then over multiple years. They collected the data, with permission of farmers, at 16 blueberry farms in South Jersey, at 25 watermelon farms in Central Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania and at 36 watermelon farms in the Northern Central Valley of California.

“The magnitude of increase in species needed over multiple years was remarkably consistent among crop systems when considered over the same interval of time,” Lemanski said. “In addition, the fact that the relationship between timescale and the number of species needed did not level off suggests that even longer time series, spanning multiple seasons, may further bolster the need for biodiversity to ensure reliable ecosystem service.”

Rachael Winfree, a professor in the Rutgers Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources at SEBS, was the senior author on the paper, which was also written in collaboration with Neal Williams of the University of California-Davis. Funding was provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Research Initiative.

This article first appeared on Rutgers Today.

Research at Snyder Farm often generates excess fresh fruits and vegetables, and once research data has been collected, excess produce has been donated to community organizations to help feed the needy. This year’s Open House marked the milestone of two million pounds of fresh produce donated to charity over the last 25 years.

NJAES Awarded USDA Grant to Research Nickel Plant Nutrition and Soil Fertility

Nickel is one of the 18 chemical elements classified as essential for plant growth, development and reproduction. However, crops require nickel in only very small amounts. Until recently there has been very little research and extension focus on nickel soil fertility and plant nutrition.

In February 2022, Joseph Heckman, extension specialist in soil fertility, postdoc Alon Rabinovich, and James Polashock, USDA-ARS, were awarded a USDA-SARE grant to study the role of nickel nutrition in cranberry plant health and crop production. Most of their research on nickel nutrition is being carried out at the Rutgers Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension.

Nickel is known to play an important role in the function of several enzymes in plants. The mineral may also help to protect plant health. Some studies suggests that nickel may improve fruit quality and protect against blossom end rot.

Nickel is a component of the enzyme urease, which enables plants to convert urea into a form of usable nitrogen for plant mineral nutrition. Urea is the most widely used commercial source of nitrogen fertilizer by farmers. Thus, nickel, although only required in small amounts, has a very important role in plant mineral nutrition.

In addition to research on nickel nutrition of cranberry, the team is also surveying New Jersey soils and crops. They began by focusing on sampling tree crops (pecan, hazelnut, apple, and peach) because woody perennials are generally more susceptible to nickel deficiency. Much of the original field observations of nickel deficiency were with pecan orchards in the state of Georgia.

Because northern varieties of pecan are grown in New Jersey, the team set out in May 2022 to sample pecan trees growing in Hunterdon, Middlesex and Monmouth counties, where they collected pecan leaf tissue samples and soils from under the trees.

In the Chef’s Corner

By Andy Lagana Chef

Winter Squash

Greetings Gardener News family. Starting this month, ‘In the Chef’s Corner’ will be authored by various Crystal Springs Resort chefs and culinary staff to provide more extensive viewpoints and recipes. I am excited to have the baton passed to me as we head into the holiday season. I become nostalgic thinking about all of the traditional dishes that have been handed down through generations in my family. One of my favorite ingredients at this time of year is winter squash.

While thought of as a vegetable, winter squash is technically a fruit since it contains seeds and develops from the flower-producing part of a plant.

The seasonal naming of winter squash is due to it having a thicker skin vs. the summer version, which allows it to last much longer after it is picked, making it appropriate for cold weather storage and consumption. This longevity factor made it a popular crop with Native Americans and early settlers.

Winter squash needs approximately three months to grow in frostfree temperatures and rich soil that drains well. Most growers time their planting for a harvest in late summer or early fall. Since these squash have a tendency to overtake the garden, it is best to grow them along an edge so that they can spill outward. Winter squash should stay on the vine until they are fully mature, which allows for a maximum harvest with the longest possible winter shelf life.

A broad range of colorful winter squash is now available in supermarkets and farmers markets. When shopping for squash, it is best that you look for one that is solid and heavy. Squash that seem light may be dehydrated inside from having been stored too long. Also be wary of squash with no stem attached.

Cutting a winter squash can present a challenge. A serrated knife is highly recommended since the combination of the hard but smooth skin could result in a kitchen accident if you are not fully paying attention.

To help prevent these challenges, supermarkets offer pre-cut squash, though the price tag can be high vs. purchasing the uncut item. While squash skin is edible, some of the tougher skins are not appealing. I use these when making stock in the interest of using the whole food and reducing kitchen waste.

In addition, let’s not forget the seeds. If you like roasted pumpkin seeds, then you will also love roasted squash seeds. Just rinse, pat dry, toss with some oil and salt (spice them up with some black pepper or cayenne, or add a fall twist with cinnamon and nutmeg), and put them in the oven at 275 degrees for 25 minutes or until the seeds turn golden brown. They make for a flavorful, low cost snack.

On to some of my preferred varieties, which are delicious and versatile during this season. One of my favorites is acorn squash, also known

as pepper squash. It is small with orange-yellow flesh, a mild, somewhat sweet and nutty flavor, and an edible skin. Although not as popular as butternut squash, it is versatile in that its flavor works well with both sweet and savory ingredients.

Speaking of butternut squash, it is often considered the sweetest of winter squash and has a bright orange flesh with few seeds. This variety came into existence in the mid-1940s by an American grower who thought that there was not a tasty squash big enough for a family to eat. The name butternut came about as the inside was found to be as smooth as butter and sweet as a nut. I like it simply roasted, in a risotto dish, in bisque or as the star ingredient of a pie –move over pumpkin!

One of the most interesting varieties of the bunch is spaghetti squash. This medium-sized fruit has a moist flesh, and when cooked develops strands that resemble spaghetti. A whole, uncut spaghetti squash will keep for two to three months when stored in a cool place away from sunlight. This squash has a chewy texture with a mild neutral flavor, and I like to roast or steam it, scrape out the strands, and then eat it as I would a favorite spaghetti dish. Whether with a classic marinara sauce, paired with a protein, or tossed with vegetables for a healthy primavera, this member of the squash family is versatile and satisfying.

Editor’s Note: Andy Lagana is a Chef at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, Sussex County, N.J. For more information on its culinary program, visit www.CSResort.com.

USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Celebrate 50-year Partnership

The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) are celebrating 50 years of working together to provide timely, accurate and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. This golden anniversary of partnership was recognized at the September 2022 NASDA Annual Meeting in Saratoga Springs, New York. “Out of all the great things about this partnership, the most important to recognize is that our hardworking NASDA enumerators remain steadfast and passionate about building relationships with producers to ensure that they are represented in statistics about American agriculture,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “The stronger the response, the stronger the data, and the better-informed decisions can be about farm policy and programs, research, technology and rural development, education, and other services crucial to the success of our producers. NASDA enumerators do an incredible service for NASS, the producers, our nation, and the world.”

NASS works closely with state departments of agriculture to support their agricultural statistics needs and reduce duplication with federal programs. NASDA provides vital, grassroots support for the NASS mission by employing thousands of part-time enumerators who assist farmers and ranchers with ag census and survey responses through telephone and in-person interviews. This partnership allows NASDA staff to focus on data collection, which is essential for accurate data reports, while NASS staff concentrate on survey integrity and data analysis.

Over the past 160 years, NASS has conducted thousands of surveys and prepared reports to capture an accurate picture of U.S. agriculture. Since the establishment of the nation-wide cooperative agreement between NASS and NASDA in 1972, NASDA’s connection with farmers and ranchers has meant better survey response rates.

“Today, we are celebrating NASDA and USDANASS’s work of telling the story of America’s farmers and ranchers for half a century. Through the Census of Agriculture and the many surveys USDA-NASS and NASDA conduct and collect, we can understand the collective impact of thousands of farmers across the nation,” said NASDA CEO Ted McKinney. “Equally important, with high-quality, impartial data, we have grown our ability to produce safe and nutritious food for everyone. NASDA looks forward to years ahead of working with USDA-NASS to ensure agriculture leads the way toward a healthy and resilient world.”

The largest data collection for USDA and partnership effort with NASDA, the 2022 Census of Agriculture, begins this November. For more information about these organizations, visit nasda.org and nass.usda.gov.

There are many herbs and flowering plants mentioned in or associated with the Bible that grow well in New Jersey gardens.

Among my favorites is the oldest known textile fiber, flax. Linum usitatissimum was extensively cultivated in Bible times for home furnishings, clothing, ship sails, and burial practices. The process for making cloth from flax by retting is arduous, but it’s delicate blue, five petaled flowers with slender 2-4’ tall stems are easy on the eye. Planted in full sun, flax will bloom here through October. Even the angels were clothed in raiment of linen.

And if you are worried about clothing, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin,” (Matthew 6:28) and plant an anemone. Bible scholars believe that Anemone coronaria, the Windflower, is the “lily” referred to here. A bulb, its poppy-like blooms erupt in early spring. In Hebrew, the flower is called Kalanit, meaning beautiful like a bride. Immánuel Low, a Hungarian Rabbi and botanist, named it in his masterwork, “The Flora of Jews,” which tried to identify all the plants mentioned in Jewish sources.

Matthew made another plant suggestion with Brassica or mustard, when he likened the kingdom of heaven to a grain of

I can remember quite a few years ago, when I used to see television commercials for the purpose of recruiting young men and women to sign up and join the United States Navy. They would show planes landing on aircraft carriers and ships sailing into the sunset, and use terms such as “exotic ports of call” and “see the world!” These slick commercials were meant to glamorize the naval experience.

After being bombarded by these ads for years, one night I happened to come across a documentary about life aboard an aircraft carrier. It had a lot of footage you would expect to see, such as the captain on the bridge, fueling jets, taking off and landing, etc. But they also went down into the bowels of the ship and interviewed one of the two men whose sole job was to clean all of the urinals aboard the aircraft carrier. If my memory serves me correctly, he would have to work a twelvehour shift where he would not see the light of day, going from urinal to urinal to urinal. He also said something to the effect of, “When I joined the Navy, I

The Garden Historian

Plants of the Bible for your New Jersey Garden Part II – Herbs and Flowers

mustard seed. “… indeed, it is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof,” (Matthew 13:31-32). Brassica juncea produces brown seeds that can be made into a Dijon-style mustard. Brassica alba makes traditional yellow mustard. Place the not quite mature flower heads in a paper bag. The pods will open in 1-2 weeks and a gentle shake will shake loose the seeds. If you’re growing it for the greens, try Brassica juncea.

Coriander, Coriandrum sativum, is as close to manna as you may be able to grow in your New Jersey garden. Its seeds have been compared in form and color by many Bible scholars to the plant which sustained Israelites in the desert for 40 years, (Exodus 16:35). Plant this annual in the

spring for both the cilantro leaves and its manna-like coriander seed. ‘Leisure’ and ‘Cruiser’ are two cultivars which mature early.

If you are a dreamer like me, or a member of a dysfunctional family (hand up again), Rosa ‘Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors’ may be the rose for your Bible Garden. It’s a climber, so give it room as it can reach 12’, with dark green, glossy foliage and 4”, 12-petaled semi-double flowers. It’s thorny and its fragrance is slight, but its colorations more than make up for that. This floribunda is a repeat bloomer that never blooms the same color twice. Even the same flower can change within a single day, with shades ranging from cherryred to deep gold to orange. Truly an amazing technicolor dreamrose!

Ladies Bedstraw, Galium verum, is considered a manger herb and is thought to be the bedding upon which the newborn baby

Jesus lay. It belongs to a genus of about 400 species. Gallium verum flowers have a honey scent and were used to color cheese yellow. The dried plant material was used to stuff mattresses as it acted as a vermifuge. Because of its association with the Virgin Mary, it was considered good luck to use Lady’s Bedstraw in the mattresses of expecting mothers. What a meaningful gift a pillow stuffed with dried Ladies Bedstraw might make for an expectant mother.

The great King Solomon’s signet ring is behind the name of Solomon’s Seal, an herbaceous perennial whose thick, fleshy rhizomes bear rounded scars at its base. It is the resemblance of these scars to the two inverted triangles that were the symbol or seal of King Solomon that gave rise to its common name. The ring is described as having given Solomon the power to speak

The Town Farmer

I Didn’t Sign Up for This

didn’t envision doing this.” And I am sure that the recruiters didn’t play up that possibility either.

Every occupation has certain aspects to it that are less than desirable. And no job is exempt from this. Do people become doctors because they enjoy interacting with and healing patients, or do they do it because they enjoy dealing with insurance companies and their never ending morass of rules and regulations? Are future lawyers drawn to the legal profession because they like the idea of arguing a case in front of a jury, or because they really enjoy spending time on their own doing their own billing and managing their office staff?

Of course, agriculture and farming are no different from any other industry when it comes to this. There are many aspects of the profession that are enjoyable. But then there are plenty of necessary tasks and responsibilities that, if they are not accomplished proficiently and in a timely manner, could potentially lead to the downfall of the operation.

My downfall has always been paperwork. I have always hated it. I know some people love putting together elaborate spreadsheets and flow charts to track receipts, expenses, and everything else under the sun. But that is not for me. I have always been one who operates in the moment. And when one

task was finished, it was time to move on to the next one. Write up a report to document what happened so that I might be able to refer to it later when it is time to file taxes? I’ll do it later, which by the way, loosely translates to, “The Jets have a better chance of going to the Super Bowl than this has of being written up properly.”

I guess everyone has their own internal priorities that they are forced to deal with. I get much more satisfaction from a nice looking field of pumpkins than I do from having an organized and clean desk. While I wait all winter to get out in the fields and start planting in the spring, I am never chomping at the bit to get

with animals and it came to be seen as an amulet. Many cultivars grow taller than 3’, but I like Polygonatum humile. Delicate in appearance, it rarely grows more than 8-12″ tall and is an excellent choice for woodland, wildflower, and partialshade gardens.

Perhaps you found a plant here with a story that connects you to the most read book in history, or are reminded of a favorite passage or lesson. Every garden needs periodic refreshing, and these plant suggestions add more than mere ornamental beauty.

Editor’s Note: Lesley Parness offers a variety of presentations and workshops for garden clubs, plant societies, and horticultural gatherings. Recently retired from her position as Superintendent of Horticultural Education at the Morris County Park Commission, and with four decades of teaching environmental science and garden education, her focus now is garden history. A complete listing of her talks can be seen at lesleyparness. com and she can be reached at parness@verizon.net. This column will appear in the paper every other month.

started on the latest Department of Agriculture survey or Department of Environmental Protection compliance report. If I wanted to do those types of things, I would have become an accountant. Doesn’t growing, harvesting, and selling sound much more fun than planning, tracking, and documenting? I know it does to me. But I am also aware that not everyone thinks the way that I do. And thankfully, these types of people are able to pick up the slack where I fall short. Well, I guess it’s time to wrap this column up. I have some paperwork I have to finish…

Editor’s Note: Peter Melick is co-owner of Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick and a 10th-generation New Jersey farmer. Peter is Mayor of Tewksbury Township, Hunterdon County, NJ. He also served as a director for the New Jersey Farm Bureau and is a past president of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Peter has also been featured on NJN, News 12 New Jersey and on the Fox Business Network.

Bobcat Company Celebrates Completion of Manufacturing Facility Expansion in Statesville, N.C.

Bobcat Company, a global leader in the compact equipment industry, celebrated the completion of its Statesville manufacturing facility expansion with a ceremonial ribbon cutting on October 13, 2022 attended by company leaders, employees and community members. The $70 million investment makes the location the company’s largest manufacturing facility in North America and will add hundreds more jobs in Iredell County over the next five years.

The 600,000-square-foot expansion increased the footprint to more than 1 million square feet on a more than 150-acre campus, located at 1293 Glenway Drive, Statesville, north of Charlotte, North Carolina. This investment enables the Statesville operation to also serve as a key manufacturing hub to help meet a growing demand for Bobcat products by increasing production

capabilities and efficiency.

Construction on the project began in July 2021 and took roughly fourteen months to complete.

The expansion adds space for manufacturing and warehousing; research and development; an automated paint line; parts control and storage; shipping and receiving docks; open air space for product testing and quality control; additional parking; shipping and delivery entrance; and finished goods inventory storage.

The manufacturing space includes new stateof-the-art technology to improve production efficiencies and streamline operations across Bobcat’s North American locations.

Production of the Bobcat mini track loader (MTL) will shift from the Bismarck, N.D., facility to Statesville by late 2022. The new MTL production lines are designed to produce 35 units

per shift, which will mean a new Bobcat MT100 will finish production every 10.8 minutes.

Additionally, the Bobcat compact tractor line has been assembled in Statesville since its launch in 2019, and will continue to be assembled in this facility, thus growing the company’s grounds maintenance equipment production at this site. The Statesville location also produces generators, light towers and air compressors.

In addition to its operations in Statesville, Bobcat has an extensive presence throughout the U.S. The company employs nearly 5,000 people at 13 facilities in seven states. Among its other facilities, Bobcat has engineering, research and development centers in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Arizona; a training facility in Colorado; and manufacturing facilities in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Carolina.

Unique Plants

“CLE”

September is trade show month for those of us in the garden center world. The focus this time of year is more “hard goods” or durables (e.g. fertilizers, pottery, grass seed, animal repellents, etc.) than it is plant material. Starting in Atlantic City, New Jersey and moving west towards Ohio, there are several shows where I look forward to engaging with vendors, shopping new product lines, and further educating myself on all things horticulture. However, the show I most look forward to is in Cleveland, Ohio. A little secret here, Cleveland is awesome, particularly the Lake Erie waterfront at North Coast Harbor downtown. Once called the “mistake on the lake,” today Cleveland boasts several major cultural institutions, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame being my favorite! Always on a tight timeline, this year my wife and I took time out to walk along the shore of Lake Erie and take in more than just a trade show.

“CLE” is from the IATA (International Air Transport Association) code for Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. A city famous for its landmarks, culture and food, somehow I always seem to focus on plants. My daughter says to me all the time, “Dad, can you give it a rest? All you ever do is look at plants.” For which I reply, “Olivia, my hope for you one day is to love your work half as much as I do.”

While my wife and I casually meandered around the city, I was taken aback by all the Honeylocust trees I saw. Ever-present, it was almost a monoculture of this deciduous tree doing extraordinarily well embedded in concrete walkways and asphalt parking lots. Honeylocust, Gleditsia

triacanthos, is a native from Pennsylvania to Nebraska, and an obvious choice for a rugged, urban-tolerant tree with unique features. It is a picturesque tree with pinnately or bipinnately compound foliage that is bright green in the summer and clear yellow in the fall. Reddish brown strap-shaped pods, often irregularly twisted, are an instant identification feature for this tree. And Honeylocust’s common name refers to the gummy substance that the pods contain. Many cultivars are available in today’s market, including those with little to no fruit and without thorns. ‘Shademaster’ is considered by many horticulturists as the pinnacle, but don’t dismiss ‘Skyline’, ‘Perfection’ and ‘Halka’ Amazing to me were a few of the choices planted beneath the Honeylocusts. Walking from the I.M. Pei-designed Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to First Energy Stadium, a five minute walk at most, we came across a unique plant in mass. On the backend of where the Cleveland Browns play are large masses of Blue Dune Lyme Grass, Elymus arenarius ‘Blue Dune’. Striking silverblue foliage is a standout and highly effective paired against the Gleditsia. Their wheatcolored plumes were certainly visible, and this plant’s ability to gobble up real estate quickly was showcased. Embedding in concrete to suppress the spread of their vigorous rhizomes was a good call. Another plant known to spread quickly, almost uncontrollably, is a bamboo type, Pleioblastus fortunei. Only a few blocks away from the stadium is a mass planting of this, again encased in concrete. No more than a foot high, bold whiteon-green variegated leaves showcased the Honeylocust’s

grayish-brown scaly, ridged bark. A desired groundcover bamboo by those who know how to control the plant, I was surprised to see it in Cleveland. Tolerant of subzero temperatures, this plant has a reputation of spreading by rhizomes, almost indefinitely, with regular moisture. A full sun/ part shade bamboo, this one is both heat and humidity tolerant.

Walking away from Lake Erie in search of culinary treats, we came across a Panicled Goldenraintree, Koelreuteria paniculata, clothed in dehiscent, papery capsules, and a Corneliancherry Dogwood, Cornus mas. The exfoliating, flaky bark and cupped, glossy green leaves were well represented here. Finally, walking the trade show floor, there was a “green goods” vendor showcasing their wares. Never really a fan of Weigela types, Weigela florida ‘Vinho Verde’ stopped me in my tracks. After years of positive feedback, apparently this plant will be available next year. A variegated sport, ‘Vinho Verde’ has lime green leaves with bold, black margins. A “light crop of red-pink flowers” appear in late spring, and the tidiness of this plant should make it popular in anyone’s garden. “Wondering about the name and the unusual spelling? Vinho Verde is a special wine from Portugal that’s crisp and refreshing, much like the effect Vinho Verde Weigela has in the landscape.” (Provenwinners. com)

Cleveland has plenty to offer, from the Cleveland Metroparks, Heinen’s Downtown, the Old Arcade and The Guardians of Traffic on the Hope Memorial Bridge, just to name a few. And if you’re a “foodie,” might I suggest Mabel’s BBQ and the Marble Room… trust me!

Editor’s Note: Bob LaHoff is co-owner of Hall’s Garden Center and Florist in Union County, a member of the Union County Board of Agriculture, the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, past member of Reeves-Reed Arboretum Buildings and Grounds Committee, a lifetime member of the Conifer Society and past member of the retail council for Monrovia Growers. He can be reached at (908) 665-0331.

I am a huge proponent of ground covers. They are very practical plants, providing color and texture to the ground plan of a garden, while also helping to reduce weeding and soil erosion, an attribute every gardener can appreciate! There are also selections with the added benefit of an attractive and extended floral display. However, few can compete with the colorful 5-month display provided by Ceratostigma plumbaginoides, commonly called Plumbago or Leadwort.

Ceratostigma is a member of the Plumbaginaceae, not surprisingly known as the Plumbago or Leadwort, family. The genus contains eight species native to tropical and temperate regions of Asia and Africa. The plants vary from herbaceous to woody subshrubs to shrubs. The common names refer to how the deep blue flowers resemble lead, as Plumbum is Latin for lead. The genus as well as the species name were crafted in 1833 by the Russian botanist Alexander von Bunge (1803-1890). Bunge had an incredible interest in botanical expeditions throughout his life, and during the winter of 183031, he visited Peking China (now Beijing) where he found this plant

Morris County Park Commission

Ceratostigma – Practical and Beautiful

growing in a wall. The species name comes from the Greek Kéras, meaning horn and stigma, the sticky tip of the female pistil which receives the pollen. The name stemmed from the minute, horn-like swellings on the stigma. The species epithet means it resembles the genus Plumbago.

The plants spread by underground stems called rhizomes and slowly expand to a diameter of five feet. The individual stems reach upwards of 10” tall, although some may collapse to the ground and create a matt-like appearance. The stems are clothed with 2-3” long, medium green foliage that is oval or egg-shaped. The tips of the stems contain clusters of nearly 30 flower buds which provide unabated, 1” wide gentian blue flowers from midJuly to a hard frost. The circular

flowers are 5-petaled, with each petal appearing much like the tip was snipped off by a pair of scissors, a shape botanically called obdeltate! The center of the flowers displays four spearlike dark blue anthers and a wellbranched white female style. The plants are self-incompatible and cannot self-pollinate. Since the plants sold at nurseries are often genetically identical, no seedlings are produced although the plants are well visited by pollinators, especially hawk moths.

Each flower is subtended by a lance-shaped leafy green bract, which initially covered the flower bud. As the season progresses, each bract develops colorful red margins while retaining the green center. As the cluster of bracts grows to near 30, the effect is impactful, especially as the blue flowers continue to unfurl. Come

USDA Announces Details for the Upcoming Census of Agriculture

America’s farmers and ranchers will soon have the opportunity to be represented in the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county and territory. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will mail the 2022 Census of Agriculture to millions of agriculture producers across the 50 states and Puerto Rico this fall.

The 2022 Census of Agriculture will be mailed in phases, starting with an invitation to respond online in November followed by paper questionnaires in December. Farm operations of all sizes, urban and rural, which produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural product in 2022 are included in the ag census.

“Census of Agriculture data are widely used

by federal and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations, extension educators, and many others to inform decisions about policy and farm programs and services that aid producers and rural communities,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “By responding to the Census of Agriculture –by being represented in these important data – producers are literally helping to shape their futures.”

Collected in service to American agriculture since 1840 and now conducted every five years by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Census of Agriculture tells the story and shows the value of U.S. agriculture.

It highlights land use and ownership, producer characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures, among other

topics. Between ag census years, NASS considers revisions to the questionnaire to document changes and emerging trends in the industry. Changes to the 2022 questionnaire include new questions about the use of precision agriculture, hemp production, hair sheep, and updates to internet access questions.

To learn more about the Census of Agriculture, visit www.nass.usda.gov/agcensus or call 800-727-9540. On the website, producers and other data users can access frequently asked questions, past ag census data, partner tools to help spread the word about the upcoming ag census, special study information, and more. For highlights of these and the latest information on the upcoming Census of Agriculture, follow USDA NASS on twitter @ usda_nass.

fall, the impact continues to improve as the foliage turns a bright red. The flowers, although fewer continue to open, create a stunning effect. Come heavy frosts, the foliage turns brown and drops, ending the season’s show.

The wiry stems remain throughout the winter, with the new growth appearing from the ground in mid-May. The dead stems can be cut back, but it is generally not necessary. With the relatively late emergence of the new growth, the plants are perfect for interplanting with early blooming minor bulbs, such as Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) or Bieberstein’s Crocus (Crocus tommasinianus).

Plumbago is an easily grown plant that performs well in full sun or dappled shade, but not in heavy shade. It is tolerant of sandy as well as heavier soils,

providing the soil is well-drained and not prone to becoming waterlogged. Hardy in zones 5-9, it is commonly found growing in rocky and well-drained regions in Asia. For use as a groundcover, it is best to install the plants 1’ apart to ensure a more rapid cover. In an age when the term of sustainability is repeatedly mentioned in everyday life, it only makes sense for groundcovers to become more common in the garden. They provide a host of sustainable advantages and make gardening easier! Although

Ceratostigma plumbaginoides was initially ‘found’ nearly 200 years ago, you only need to grow the plant a few months to appreciate the many benefits it brings to the garden. Once again proving practical plants can be beautiful plants!

Editor’s Note: Bruce Crawford is a lover of plants since birth, is the Manager of Horticulture for the Morris County Parks Commission, and a Past President of the Garden State Gardens Consortium. He can be reached at BCrawford@ morrisparks.net

The Farm Service Agency is Seeking to Hire Loss Adjusters Throughout New Jersey

Loss Adjusters are:

• Required to have knowledge of field crops and specialty crops, as well as a thorough understanding and execution of crop adjusting guidelines and program provisions, as applicable to Farm Service Agency (FSA) programs. Loss Adjusters are self-employed; therefore, health and retirement benefits are not provided. Loss Adjusters are responsible for paying all taxes on earned income.

• Responsible for obtaining equipment necessary to perform required inspection/ appraisal duties. Some equipment such as cameras and GPS measuring devices may be available through the FSA county office.

• Required to complete training.

For additional information, please contact Aly Dyson, New Jersey FSA Farm Program Disaster Specialist at Alyson.Dyson@usda.gov.

Awards, Landscape Industry Updates and a Special Recognition

NJLCA has provided over $75,000 in scholarships to students.

The event at Crystal Springs Resort provided the most beautiful views to golfers at a top-rated golf course in New Jersey. Throughout the day, founder of Faith American Brewing Company, LLC and six-time Emmy award-winner Kelsey Grammer visited with golfers on the course. In addition, Mr. Grammer, Senator Steven Oroho and Assemblyman Hal Wirths joined the event at the awards dinner to talk about their support of the industry and Sussex County.

Award winners included first place team Wade Slover, Gary Cecere, Brian Ciampa and George Buniak with 11 under par. In second place were Adam Reisboard, Mike Cohen, Ricardo Vieria and Andrew Vieria with 10 under par. Longest Drive was won by Chris Markham, Straightest Drive by Eric Rochelle, and Closest to the Pin by David Huizenga. Finally, Most Honest Team was Mark Gold, Bert Maxon, Jonathan Snowberger and Dale Long.

month. It has certainly been a busy few weeks! At the end of September, the association held its second outdoor event, the Northeast Outdoor Industry Showcase and Expo. The demo area, where attendees were able to test drive and see equipment live and in person, was a hit, with the activity buzzing the enter event. The educational pavilion held over 30 nonprofit, government agencies and other organizations providing everything one would need to run a successful and lawful business. In addition, NJLCA offered credit sessions from Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. Attendance doubled from the previous year’s event, and the pumpkin chunkin catapult was a hit!

The association then held our October 2022 Member Meeting at Bobcat of North Jersey, with over 100 contractors in attendance. Dubbed the annual “snow meeting at Bobcat,” this year’s meeting did not disappoint! Speakers included experts in the

Finally, the NJLCA’s 2023 elected officers and directors were announced. They will be installed at the NJLCA’s Landscape Achievement Awards Dinner and Holiday Gala on December 13. At the same event, winning entries into the NJLCA’s Landscape Achievement Awards will be presented with plaques and crystal awards for the magnificent work they do, and special awards will be given to the Contractor of the Year, Associate of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and additional recognition awards.

The New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA), a 501(c)6 non-profit corporation, is a proven resource to the landscape contractor, green industry service provider and supplier, as well as the consumer. We are a community of

green industry professionals who are dedicated to advancing the integrity, proficiency and continued growth of the landscape and green industry. We do this through education, training and legislative advocacy. New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association represents the entire Green Industry in New Jersey including landscape contractors, landscape architects, sod growers, nurseries, growers, garden centers, horticulturists, floriculture and the industries that supply them. Through educational seminars, trade shows, social events, networking opportunities, membership meetings, magazines and professionalism in all that we do, the Association is able to fulfill its mission. For more information and to become a member, visit www.njlca.org.

In addition, Chris Mulvihill, along with Crystal Springs Resort Grounds Superintendent Craig Worts, and Crystal Springs Resort Landscape Supervisor Nicole Szeredy, were presented with a plaque recognizing Crystal Springs Resort as the only New Jersey Resort with a public garden.

The NJLCA has also held a few other successful events in the past

snow and ice industry who discussed how contractors should work to find “their” number, that is, the number they can use to estimate and bid jobs and know they will make a profit and be on par with others in the industry.

Meteorologist Robert Guarino was on hand to discuss the upcoming winter forecast and how much snow New Jersey can expect to see this winter.

Editor’s Note: Gail Woolcott is the Executive Director for the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association. She was presented with a community service award from the Borough of Fairview for her assistance in leading the 9-11 Memorial Park project and the Legislative Champion of the Year award from the Federation of Employers and Workers of America. She is currently the State Licensee Chair on the National Association of Landscape Professionals International Certification Council.

I am sure some of you wish your lawn chores were over by now after this very difficult year of growing and keeping your lawn green. Well, you can give up or do the right thing; there is still time to make your lawn better this year and also next year.

It’s not too late to apply grass seed and get some good establishment before winter sets in. We should have experienced a few frosts in October, but the soil is still very warm. Days and nights are cooler compared to this summer, and I’m sure by now rainfall has been regular this fall too. With proper preparation prior to seeding, you can still get a good stand of grass growing between now and the year’s end. We have discussed how to achieve successful seeding with proper preparation many times over the years, so I’m not going to review this now. If you are going to apply grass seed, the earlier the better. If you are seeding, this is a good time to correct drainage problems or rototill in some good quality topsoil

Turf ‘s Up

What can I still do to my lawn in November?

or peat moss to improve and loosen the soil areas that never seem to grow properly.

So, what else can you do for you lawn in November?

Have you ever taken a soil pH test? I’ve suggested this many times over the years too.

If your lawn does not seem to be growing vigorously or grass seed germinates poorly, a soil condition is frequently the problem. Cool-season grasses grow best with a soil pH value between 6.2 and 7.0

If you have never tried a soil test, why not? The proper soil pH value is the lifeblood of all plants that grow.

Fall is a great time to apply soil amendments such as limestone products with calcium carbonate, and gypsum-based products with

calcium sulfate dehydrate, to loosened soil. How can you expect a little grass plant to grow properly with the wrong soil pH value or into hard-panned clay soil? You know the story of David and Goliath. You need to help it along. If you have not fertilized your lawn since the summer or spring, please do so now in early November. Remember, in New Jersey the last day you can apply Nitrogen based lawn fertilizers is November 15 for home lawns, it’s the law! If you fertilized when seeding in early fall or fed your lawn once, do it again to promote healthy, green growth right up to this year’s end. Feeding the lawn at this time of year will pay dividends with an

early spring green-up of your lawn. Our neighbors will ask, “How did your lawn greenup so early? I didn’t see you out with your spreader this spring.” You’ll be the envy of the neighborhood.

Any crabgrass you had should have been exposed to a frost, turned purple and then dead-brown by now. Are there still some pesky broadleaf weeds in your lawn? As long as they are actively growing, you can still control them provided air temperatures are over 50 degrees regularly. Perhaps spot spray them out, or dig them out if you want to be “organic.” Dandelions seem to be present late into the fall months.

Have leaves started to

drop in your area? Are you clearing your lawn of them by raking, blowing or mulching them into the soil? You do not want leaves to accumulate and then start to mat down your lawn because they will kill the grass. Leaves provide organic matter to the soil if mulched in with your regular mowing.

Are you dealing with some traffic that created some trails in your lawn from the many Halloween visitors to your house? Don’t worry too much; these trails will probably be all better next spring with normal lawn maintenance. And you thought after November you were done with your lawn, ha-ha, wait until you see my December article. Happy Thanksgiving.

Editor’s Note: Todd Pretz is Vice President of Jonathan Green, a leading supplier of lawn and garden products in the northeast. For more information, please visit: www.jonathangreen.com

USDA Scientists Collaborate With Partners to Address Soil Moisture Challenges on Farms

The topic of soil moisture is not a new thing to Michael Cosh. He grew up on a dairy farm in northern New Jersey and understood at an early age that knowing the amount of surface soil moisture was useful when trying to prevent his truck from being stuck in the mud. But he soon learned that fickle soil moisture could tip the proverbial scales for farms that grapple with higher crop insurance and drought conditions.

Today Dr. Cosh is a research hydrologist for the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS), and he is leading the agency to inform farmers and engineers about the side effects of soil moisture so that farms have a chance to thrive under agricultural challenges.

“There can be severe financial consequences for farmers if there is too much or too little soil moisture,” Cosh said. “This means farmers cannot easily manage their crops due to ‘prevented planting.’ Prevented planting occurs when tractors cannot traverse fields to plant because the soil is too wet. When this happens, the farmer loses money and wastes resources. Likewise, a ‘delayed harvest’ occurs when harvesters cannot harvest crops at the end of the season due to soil moisture or drought. Both scenarios have

severe financial impacts on farmers, the agriculture industry, and the food on our dinner tables.”

A part of the severe financial impact includes higher crop insurance and the high cost of water for irrigation. Since 2008, the USDA’s Livestock Forage Disaster Program has offered over $7.6 Billion in assistance to farmers to offset this cost. But monitoring soil moisture can provide farmers with over 70 percent cost savings on irrigation. These challenges are some of the reasons why Dr. Cosh pulled together a research team of colleagues from federal agencies and higher education.

The research is conducted jointly with teams from the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network, the Marena Oklahoma In Situ Sensor Testbed, and the annual National Soil Moisture Workshop. The shared data are compiled from in-ground and satellite sensors that have been placed in the ground across multiple states. Station data collected by several national and state networks provide information to the National Mesonet Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The sensors accurately rate the soil’s moisture so that USDA and NOAA can determine and monitor the drought status. These

data also inform water managers in basins with significant irrigation and water usage. Some farmers directly access data from the USDA’s Soil Climate Analysis Network or NOAA’s Climate Reference Network.

Individual farmers rely upon the government’s decisions regarding the drought monitor to be accurate and in-ground monitoring is the key to that. Once the committees translate the data, farmers can prepare their soil for a pending drought, improve crop insurance decisionmaking, gauge the probability of flood and flood damage, and monitor the impact of climate change.

Additionally, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expanding soil moisture monitoring in the Upper Missouri River Basin by adding over 300 stations to the national footprint. These stations will help Midwestern and Western states, as well as local farms, to monitor their soil moisture and improve flood prediction and crop yield forecasting.

“We’re interacting with network operators regularly to develop end-user listening sessions and soil moisture standards,” Cosh said. “River forecast centers and state climatologists are some of the primary users of soil moisture information at the regional level. The

findings ultimately help certain parts of the country to better manage their water resources.”

Cosh is a leader in many of these networks, steering the teams toward successful resolutions in some of the nation’s most hard-hit agricultural areas.

In addition to national soil moisture networks, there are ongoing regionfocused efforts designed to solve national agricultural challenges. A consortium of state soil researchers in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama are continually increasing their monitoring programs to better capture soil moisture status across their regions. They are also exploring ways to better increase the quantity and quality of soil moisture stations in the southeast so they can capture the changing dynamics of soil moisture distribution.

Editor’s Note: The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in U.S. agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.

Just today, I was walking through Swarthmore and came upon a patch of Asclepias syriaca. This Missouri native often pops up in fields and is considered by many gardeners as a weedy species, however, it is a pollen source for many species of butterflies and a food source for the larvae state of the Monarch Butterfly. This patch of Asclepias syriaca, the common milkweed, was intentionally planted in front of a home in Swarthmore and there was a purposeful sign that reads “Milkweed for Monarchs”. In both home gardens and public spaces, there is an increasing intention on creating habitats for birds, butterflies and moths, insects and pollinators.

At PHS (Pennsylvania Horticultural Society), we developed simple principles that can be used by both the home gardener and professionals alike, Gardening for the Greater Good principles where we state that PHS encourages everyone to practice gardening as a creative catalyst for social and environmental change—for themselves, for others, and for the benefit of all living things.

One of these principles is to See Your Garden as Part of the Ecosystem, and you can accomplish this by considering the following: your garden and what you do in it are part of a larger natural system; garden in recognition of the environment all around you; and, expand

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

The Garden Paradigm is Changing

your gardening space and increase its environmental benefit by reducing your lawn, as well as pavement and other impervious surfaces. And, this can include planting habit and pollinator-friendly plants such as the mountain mints, Pycananthemum; any of the milkweed species, Asclepias; coneflowers, Echinacea ; gayfeathers, Liatris; and for fall interest, Vernonia species, ironweeds and an amazing array of native asters. Use all-organic fertilizers, soil amendments, and other treatments for any problems in your garden. Compost yard waste and food scraps, enriching your soil while decreasing material going to landfills.

Make your garden a habitat by incorporating wildlife-friendly elements like water features and safe places for wildlife to feed, rest, and reproduce. Even adding a small water feature can make a big difference. Mitigate stormwater runoff by installing a rain garden or rain barrels. Look

for manual or electric alternatives to gas-powered machines such as lawnmowers and leaf-blowers.

About a week ago I attended the Garden Study Weekend at Hollister House Garden in Washington, CT. I came to see my colleague Rebecca McMackin, who most recently was the Director of the Brooklyn Bridge Park but has left to take a fellowship at Harvard University. Her lecture was Beauty + Butterflies. Ecological Horticulture in the Concrete Jungle. When planting, she advocates for planting natives, use butterfly host plants, use local ecotype plants, never plant invasives, plant densely and use plants that will provide winter berries and seeds.

Her gardening tips include minimizing disturbance in the garden, including thoughtfully cutting back plants in the fall. Cut your plants back as late as you can and cut them back high leaving some stems for overwintering wildlife. “Leave

the leaves.” Using existing leaves can create a natural mulch in the garden or even chopped up leaves can create habitat in the garden. She suggests that we can be more accepting of chaos in the garden and that we embrace change.

On Saturday, I was giving a talk on native trees at Redbud Nursery in Media, Pennsylvania. This retail garden center only sells native plants. Around the entire border of the garden center is a pollinator garden. For many, I think this aesthetic might be described is “wild” or “natural”. This more natural aesthetic is both gaining in popularity while serving the purpose of bringing considerable ecological benefits to the garden.

Today, we have the opportunity to change our approaches to how we garden by making conscious choices to be more “ecologically friendly”. The amount of ornamental native plants or other plants with many ecological functions has

grown exponentially in recent years. This shift in gardening paradigms will continue to more positively impact the environment and could contribute to “game changing” events such as large corporate campuses, homeowner associations, etc. starting to employ these approaches on a larger scale.

Editor’s Note: Andrew Bunting is Vice President of Horticulture for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. He is one of the most recognized horticulturists in the Philadelphia, Pa., region and a highly regarded colleague in the world of professional horticulture. Bunting has amassed a plethora of awards, including the American Public Gardens Association Professional Citation, Chanticleer Scholarship in Professional Development, Delaware Center for Horticulture’s Marion Marsh Award, and the Certificate of Merit from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. In addition, Bunting has lectured extensively throughout North America and Europe, and participated in plant expeditions throughout Asia and Africa. Learn more at https://phsonline.org/team/ andrew-bunting

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Opens Green Resource Center in Norristown Farm Park to Public

On Monday October 10, 2022, The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) hosted a press conference and ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open the PHS Green Resource Center at Farm Park to the public. In 2021, PHS announced plans to establish a new Green Resource Center in Montgomery County’s Norristown Farm Park. The newly built PHS Green Resource Center at Farm Park spans 3 acres with amenities and services to benefit the local community. It includes: a 2-acre teaching farm utilizing organic growing practices, a greenhouse with heating and cooling systems powered in part by solar energy, shade area for seedlings, a wash station, a pavilion for public programming, pollinator gardens, and 45 community garden beds.

Since its construction in 2021 and first growing season in 2022, the PHS Green Resource Center at Farm Park has been busy supporting several Montgomery County institutions with its organically grown fresh produce. PHS will continue to support these organizations and others while increasing its direct support of community gardens located in both Norristown and Pottstown

to grow and share food. In total, over 6,000 pounds of locally grown organic produce has been harvested and shared with the local Norristown and Pottstown community from this growing season.

With the official opening to the public of the PHS Green Resource Center at Farm Park, PHS has several scheduled public events planned. PHS will partner with Norristown Farm Park’s Environmental Education team to offer field trips to students and other groups to teach visitors about the importance of food gardening and offer hands-on gardening education. It will also host Farm Education and Work and Learn Days where volunteers can learn about gardening, socialize, and assist with harvesting, weeding, pruning, and other light gardening activities to keep the farm healthy and productive while forming social connections with one another.

PHS’s work in Montgomery County is part of its core mission of using horticulture to advance health and well-being. Through its innovative suite of programs, PHS creates healthier living environments, increases

access to fresh food, grows economic opportunity, and helps build deeper social connections between people. PHS accomplishes this by providing gardening education, support, and resources throughout the region including Philadelphia, Norristown, Chester, and more.

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), an internationally recognized nonprofit organization founded in 1827, plays an essential role in the vitality of the Philadelphia region by creating healthier living environments, increasing access to fresh food, growing economic opportunity, and building deeper social connections between people. PHS delivers this impact through comprehensive greening and engagement initiatives in more than 250 neighborhoods; an expansive network of public gardens and landscapes; year-round learning experiences; and the nation’s signature gardening event, the Philadelphia Flower Show. PHS provides everyone with opportunities to garden for the greater good as a participant, member, donor, or volunteer. For information and to support this work, please visit PHSonline.org.

NORTHEASTERN ASSOCIATION OF STATE

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Champion Pennsylvania Christmas Tree

Selected to Grace White House for 2022 Holidays

Pennsylvania’s Agriculture Deputy Secretary Fred Strathmeyer Jr. joined White House Executive Usher Robert Downing and National Christmas Tree Association officials at Paul and Pam Shealer’s Evergreen Acres Tree Farm to select the tree that will grace the Biden White House for the 2022 holidays. The Shealers’ Schulkill County farm won the 2020 PA Farm Show Christmas Tree Competition and went on become 2022 Grand Champion at the National Christmas Tree Association’s National Tree and Wreath Contest.

“Pennsylvania growers produce one million of the nation’s most impressive Christmas trees every year,” Deputy Strathmeyer said. “We’re proud to showcase our finest growers at the PA Farm Show each January. “We’re even prouder that a Shealer tree will represent our commonwealth and focus the eyes of the nation on worldclass PA-grown product during the holidays.”

An Evergreen Acres tree was selected for the Clinton White House after the Shealer family won the Pennsylvania and national contests in 2000. Evergreen Acres was again

selected Grand Champion at the 2022 PA Farm Show with a Nordmann Fir. Find photosOpens In A New Window of Shealers’ 2020 and 2022 Pennsylvania Grand Champion trees and award-winning trees from other Pennsylvania tree farms at christmastrees.org/ farm-showOpens In A New Window.

“We were thrilled to win Grand Champion and are even more excited that Evergreen Acres will provide the White House’s official Christmas tree,” said the senior Paul Shealer, who recently passed the business to his son Paul.

“Evergreen Acres takes great pride in its trees every year, and it seems this year, as my son, Paul, and his wife, Pam, begin guiding the farm we can stand even taller!”

With more than 1,400 Christmas tree farms across the state, Pennsylvania ranks third in the nation. These tree farms cover nearly 31,000 acres and produce about one million cut trees each year. They are a renewable and recyclable resource.

With $1.9 million in sales, Schuylkill County ranked 4th in the state among 64 counties with tree farms and 25th in the U.S.

NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Yearlings of New Jersey Sires Lead Sales at Prestigious Auction

Yearlings from New Jersey sire Walner led individual sales at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale in Kentucky. Walner led all stallions in gross sales at almost $7 million with 60 of his offspring sold. Two other New Jersey Sires were among the gross sales leaders with Muscle Hill’s 38 offspring going for just over $4.7 million and Tactical Landing’s 54 offspring going for more than $3.5 million. Walner, Muscle Hill, and Tactical Landing, each stand at Southwind Farms in Pennington in Mercer County.

“The yearlings for our New Jerseybred horses are in high demand and the results at this prestigious sale continue to prove their value,” NJDA Secretary Douglas Fisher said. “The thriving horse industry here supports many agriculture-related businesses.”

Muscle Hill led Day 1 of the sale with 17 yearlings going for a total of just over $3.5 million, while Walner was third with 16 yearlings at slightly more than $3 million. Walner led Day 2 of the five-day event with 35 offspring going for almost $3.4 million. The Walnersired Awaiting, out of Lonely Lady, and the Muscle Hill-sired Stardust Volo, out of Starling Volo, tied for the fourth highest selling price each at $525,000. The top seller from Tactical Landing was Fala, out of Swing it Cathy, for $375,000.

Overall, Muscle Hill offspring sold for the fourth-highest average at $124,158, while Walner’s average was sixth at $115,817.

The totals for the week were 886 yearlings sold for a total of $65,289,000, an average of $73,690 per horse.

RECYCLE THE Gardener News

Concord Stud, based in Cream Ridge in Monmouth County, was third among consignors in average with $108,714 for 14 yearlings. Concord Stud Farm is operated by David and Robin Meirs and their family and is comprised of the 249 acres.

Walner was the 2016 2-year-old Dan Patch Award Trotter of the Year, when he won 9 of 10 starts, which included a win in the Breeders Crown. In 2017, he won the Stanley Dancer Memorial Division at the Meadowlands. Walner is out of Mission Brief, a daughter of Muscle Hill.

Muscle Hill, recognized around the world, sired 2020 Hambletonian winner Ramona Hill. Muscle Hill was the 2009 Horse of the Year and was the Trotting World Champion as a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old. Muscle Hill also had a streak of 20 straight wins and set a single year winnings record at nearly $2.5 million.

Southwind Farms’ General Manager is Laura Young and her husband, Chris Pazdan, is the Farm Manager. Along with the 235 acres at the horse facility, they also farm about 800 acres in hay and grain in Hopewell Township. A second Southwind Farms equine facility is in Gilbertsville, N.Y.

The success of New Jersey race horses has led to an increase in the amount of mares that are bred here each year. The number has risen by more than 500 since 2017, reaching nearly 800 in 2021.

For more information about the Standardbred Breeders Association of New Jersey go to http://www. sboanj.com/

DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE NEWS

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Connecticut Department of Agriculture Celebrates Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Week

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CT DoAg), along with partners from the CT Farm to School Collaborative, Food Corps, and State Department of Education, visited Environmental Science Magnet School in Hartford to celebrate Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Week.

“Our Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Grant program had a tremendous response and ultimately 14 projects were funded earlier this year,” said Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt. “It is great to see these coordinated activities come to fruition and actively engage students through hands-on educational learning opportunities about where their food comes from. Our deep thanks to the awardees for their initiative to undertake these projects and make that connection for the students.”

The school hosted a program made possible by the CT Grown for CT Kids state grant program launched in 2021 with funding made available through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Projects were to develop and enhance farm-to-school programs that will increase the availability of local foods in nutrition programs, allow educators to use hands-on educational techniques to teach students about nutrition and farm-to-school connections, sustain relationships with local farmers, improve the health of children in the state, and enhance the state’s economy.

Today’s event showcased the work funded through grant recipient Lauren Little Edutainment, which included renovating the existing garden and working with school staff to develop classroom curriculum and outdoor lessons on food, nature, and farming with field trips to Keney Park Sustainability Project and the Free Center in Hartford.

Stations modeled after a farmers’ market setting allowed students to learn about record keeping, seed saving, and a taste of local, taking home a bag of CT Grown products to share with their families. All of this is a concerted effort to connect students with the land and an understanding of where their food comes from. Today’s event was one of many happening statewide throughout the week.

and Dawn Crayco of Food Corps are both members of the CT Farm to School Collaborative and shared, “The CT Farm to School Collaborative is excited to see so many schools, farms, and community organizations celebrate CT Grown for CT Kids Week with events and activities that highlight the progress we’ve made since the state statute went into effect in 2006. It has never been more important to showcase this important week, especially as we begin to see the impact of the inaugural CT Grown for CT Kids Grants Program. We have so much to be proud of - more schools are actively engaged in gardening, more cafeterias are featuring local produce, and our students are more connected with their local farms than ever before.”

To learn more about other activities and CT Grown for CT Kids grantees, visit www.ctfarmtoschool.org. The next round of grant funding is currently open with an application deadline of November 15, 2022. Visit ctgrown.gov/grants for grant guidance and application information.

Established under P.A. 21-0002,S. 364, Connecticut Grown for Connecticut Kids Grant (CTG4CTK Grant) is administered by Department of Agriculture through a combination of financial and technical assistance to help develop farm-to-school programs that will increase the availability of local foods in child nutrition programs, allow educators to use hands-on educational techniques to teach students about nutrition and farm-to-school connections, sustain relationships with local farmers and producers, enrich the educational experience of students, improve the health of children in the state and enhance the state’s economy.

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture mission is to foster a healthy economic, environmental, and social climate for agriculture by developing, promoting, and regulating agricultural businesses; protecting agricultural and aquacultural resources; enforcing laws pertaining to domestic animals; and promoting an understanding among the state’s citizens of the diversity of Connecticut agriculture, its cultural heritage, and its contribution to the state’s economy. For more information, visit www.CTGrown.gov.

The Northeastern Association of State Departments of Agriculture convenes the following 10 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Department of Agriculture and Markets Welcomed Commissioners, Secretaries, and Directors of Agriculture from Across the Country at Annual NASDA Conference

New York State hosted the annual NASDA conference in Saratoga Springs from September 26-29, 2022. The Conference brings together commissioners, secretaries, and directors of agriculture from across the country to develop national policies that address food and agricultural issues.

Commissioner Ball said, “I’m so honored to be the NASDA President this year, leading our nation in developing policies that affect our farmers and our food and beverage industries. As NASDA President, we also have the privilege of hosting the NASDA conference and showcasing New York agriculture to its more than 300 attendees. We have so much to be proud of here in New York.”

This year’s conference, which is themed “Still Growing,” focused on opportunities presented by the 2023 Farm Bill, international trade, securing a skilled, sustainable workforce for the agricultural and food industry, and other pressing issues. The conference included several panel discussions, and a committee and business meeting, where policy was debated and voted on.

NASDA is a nonpartisan, nonprofit association which represents the elected and appointed commissioners, secretaries, and directors of the departments of agriculture in all 50 states and four U.S. territories. NASDA enhances American food and agricultural communities through policy, partnerships and public engagement. To learn more about NASDA, please visit www.nasda.org.

A Native Ornamental Shade Grass

Most ornamental grasses such as little blue stem or big blue stem grow best in full sun. However, one striking ornamental native grass, river oats or Northern sea oats, thrives in partial sun or full shade. The plant is listed as native to New Jersey by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and BONAP (the Biota of North America Program), but there are no specimens of the plant in early collections in the Rutgers’ Herbarium. However, since river oats are also found in nearby Pennsylvania and Delaware, I will assume that river oats are a legitimate New Jersey native perennial plant although I have never seen it in the wild. The natural range is from Wisconsin to New Jersey, south to Florida and west to Arizona.

River oats form clumps

about 2.5 feet tall, and in summer develop large tan seed heads which somewhat resemble drooping oats. Actually river oats are more compact and form larger flattened seed heads, and they make a gentle rustling sound in gentle breezes.

River oats, Chasmanthium latifolium, can be eaten and were a standard food item of the Cocopa Indians of Mexico. You might note, however, that the website ‘Plants For A Future’ lists the edibility of this species as one on a 1-5 point scale, with five being the best; thus you might consider some other item for your breakfast. The genus name is from the Greek chasma, meaning gap, and anthēra, for flowers. These terms refer to the flowers which are separated by regular slanting gaps which creates the striking chevron pattern. The species name latifolium means having wide leaves; the leaves of river oats are up to one inch wide,

which is wide for a true grass of its size.

As the name suggests, river oats grow best in moist sites in partial shade with rich, slightly acid, deep soil. However, the plant is tolerant to moderate drought, sand, black walnut, clay, deer, and grows well in full sun if it is provided with enough moisture. The plant is resistant to wind and salt spray and therefore is a good candidate for shady coastal gardens. Some have suggested that river oats are a bit too rambunctious and like to take over. However, this rarely takes place in northern parts of its range such as NJ. If you are really concerned, you could grow these striking plants in containers. I have been growing it for many years and it is just starting to spread a little on its own and appears very easy to control in my yard. The plant are easily grown from seed or by dividing plant clusters, and are readily available from a

number of sources on the internet.

River oats provide year round interest. In spring, the vigorous blue-green shoots thrust upwards, and by May bushy clusters of vivid yellow-green, broad foliage develop. Later the unique ivory colored flattened ‘oats’ cover the plants in graceful arching sprays. These ‘oats’ later turn tan and then a purplish bronze color as the leaves become a golden yellow in fall. Collect a large bunch of the oats when they are at their peak color and they will decorate your indoors for years to come. The oats persist outside well into winter and provide food for a number of birds and mammals. River oats are the host plant for larvae of the northern pearly-eye butterfly (Lethe anthedon) and several species of skippers. In addition, the stems and leaves are used as nesting material by birds. By February, river oats present a worn, gray,

look but they have graced your yard for most of the year and have been very useful to wildlife. River oats was selected as the North Carolina Plant of the Year for 1994.

River oats have been used to edge lakes and to line stream banks to control erosion and they grow well with white turtlehead (Chelone glabra), cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphiliticus), tall meadow rue (Thalictrum pubescens), ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), and sweetspire (Itea virginica). Consider this easy to grow, hardy, fast growing plant which will add beauty and interest to your yard with very little effort.

Editor’s Note: Hubert Ling is Horticultural Co-Chair of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. He can be reached at milhubling@ verizon.net.

November 2022 Contributing Writer

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November 2022 Columnists

Tom Castronovo Todd Pretz Gail Woolcott Andrew Bunting

Brian Schilling Peter Melick Bob LaHoff Douglas H. Fisher