The New Jersey Agricultural Society announced July 20 its newly enhanced team to launch the 10th class of its New Jersey Agricultural Leadership Development Program in November. The society welcomes two new staff members from the agricultural community…
Archives for July 2015
Gypsy Moths Return With a Vengeance
Just one year removed from a relatively quiet season, the Garden State is once again under siege from a familiar perennial pest – the gypsy moth. In South Jersey, Atlantic County recorded more damage this year alone than the rest of the state combined in 2014, according to the state Department of Agriculture’s 2015 gypsy moth survey… The 12-day aerial survey that began on June 17 revealed an estimated 290,696 acres of such trees throughout the state that had suffered damage from the hungry gypsy moths – about 220 times more than last year’s 1,330-acre defoliation total… Hemant Gohil, a Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agriculture Agent serving Gloucester County, said he’s received some reports from residents about moth damage. “One lady told me that her swimming pool was full of gypsy moth caterpillars crawling around,” Gohil told Gannett New Jersey. “She said they could not use it for weeks.”
Spiders in N.J.: Entomological Consultant at Rutgers Explains Arachnids
Curious about those eight-legged, eight-eyed wonders quietly living in nooks and crannies of your home or weaving expansive webs outdoors?… The Daily Record met with Eugene Fuzy, entomological consultant for Rutgers University in New Brunswick, to learn more about the spiders most prevalent in New Jersey, the ones considered most dangerous based on their venomous bite, and superstitions and misperceptions about these magical and beneficial creatures… “I’ve been fascinated with spiders since I was three years old. I was asthmatic as a kid and couldn’t have furry pets, so a Colorado potato beetle was my first pet and then I moved on to spiders. As a naturalist, I love spiders because they’re so unique, visually active and create such amazing webs,” said Fuzy.
Community Greenhouse a Growing Effort in Camden County
The late July heat is blooming inside the Camden County Community Greenhouse, but the volunteers seem unfazed… The once-abandoned greenhouse at the Lakeland complex in Gloucester Township will yield 15,000 flowering plants this year to beautify the county’s park system and public buildings… “We’re growing most of the annuals for the parks, and we’re starting to do perennials, too,” says Becki Szkotak, a program associate with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Camden County… The extension is the county’s partner in programs at the greenhouse; since it reopened in March 2014, the facility has become a centerpiece of the Sustainable Camden County program… Rutgers oversees the Master Gardeners program statewide. Pitching in at the greenhouse is a way for participants to fulfill certification requirements.
New City School Names Alexis Wright Next Head of School
Alexis Wright has been unanimously selected by New City School’s Board of Trustees to serve as the next Head of School. Alexis comes to New City School from Bank Street College of Education in New York, NY, where he has served as Dean of Children’s Pro…
Alumni Story: Daniel Mascarenhas (SEBS ’13) – Pairing Science and Service
Like many first-year students, Dan Mascarenhas was unsure of his life’s course. In high school, he had volunteered with the Emergency Medical Squad (EMS) in his hometown of Moorestown, New Jersey, as a community service activity and gravitated to “the high intensity and personal dedication required to serve and help patients in need.” So it […]
Showplace Farms Shutdown Clouds Horse Racing
Showplace Farms, a training center here that houses more than 400 horses, will close on Oct. 1, officials said Tuesday in an announcement that clouded what was supposed to be a celebration this week of New Jersey’s horse-racing industry… Showplace Fa…
THE GARDENER STATE: They’re Baaack!
I first noticed them when visiting my son’s family in West Milford, then again when I visited the NJ Botanical Gardens in Ringwood State Park. They seemed to be everywhere, from crawling as youngsters to flying as adults. The trees were providing less shade than was expected for mid-June or July. It became obvious to this arborist and forester – they were back, and with a vengeance… By “they” I mean the dreaded gypsy moth – as young hairy caterpillars eating leaves and then as adult moths looking to lay eggs for next year’s onslaught… “The Department of Agriculture’s intense surveillance program is designed to keep gypsy moth populations at bay,” New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher said. “When populations increase dramatically like this year, we will aggressively survey to determine the severity of next year’s gypsy moth problem and recommend spraying in areas where it is warranted.”… This article was written by Nicholas Polanin, associate professor, agricultural agent II, Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension of Somerset County.
When Can We Expect a Break From This Oppressive Heat?
There is hope on the horizon for the sweaty masses of New Jersey. It’s distant, but it’s there. The state is just going to have to endure another week of hot weather first… Until then, however, forecasters predict more unpleasantly hot conditions as a high pressure system remains parked to our south… “There’s going to be a couple of fronts that pass through, so there’s going to be subtle changes to humidity,” said David Robinson, the state climatologist at Rutgers University. “It’s not the prototypical, really powerful heat wave. But it is enough to put temperatures persistently five to 10 degrees above normal for the longest period of time we’ve seen in two summers.”
Volunteers Needed for Cumberland 4-H Programs
Cumberland County is home to 4-H club programs in New Jersey in areas such as robotics, herpetology, life skills, marine science, beekeeping, arts and crafts, leadership and cooking; as well as traditional 4-H animal science programs such as horse, livestock and small animals… “In order to sustain and grow our program, we need the investment of caring adults who are interested in supporting our youth. 4-H alumni are ideally suited to assist in growing the program,” county 4-H Agent Julie Karavan said. “Traditionally, we think of 4-H volunteers as 4-H club leaders who make a commitment to lead a club which meets once per month. However, 4-H also needs screened, trained volunteers to assist periodically in other roles as well, including advisers, judges, project leaders, program delivery, chaperones and speakers.”… The Cumberland County 4-H program hopes to establish community clubs, working in a range of project areas at locations in the county beyond the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Center in Rosenhayn.