The future of agriculture depends on young people who can champion the industry, communicate its value, and help shape its direction. Fourteen New Jersey 4-H members from eight counties have been selected for the 2027 NJ 4-H Agriculture Ambassador Program, a statewide leadership initiative preparing teens to represent and promote agriculture across New Jersey, and […]
Extension
How Rotting Food in the Kitchen and a Whiff of Vinegar Led to a ‘Happy’ Agricultural Accident
Rutgers scientists have identified natural repellents against an invasive blueberry pest, a scientific breakthrough that was accidentally discovered when fruit flies invaded their laboratory. The accident, more than a decade in the making, could one day transform how commercial crops are protected. “As a kid, this is what I thought science was – you stumble […]
Rutgers Professor Ramu Govindasamy Receives Distinguished Service Award from Food Distribution Research Society
Recognition honors more than two decades of leadership, scholarship and service in agricultural marketing and food distribution Ramu Govindasamy, professor in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics (FARE) at Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, was presented the Frank Panyko Distinguished Service Award by the Food Distribution Research Society (FDRS), one of […]
Rutgers 4-H Kicks Off Resilience Action Teams Initiative in Northern Jersey
The Rutgers Department of 4-H Youth Development and the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve (JCNERR) formally began their new educator-community climate resilience initiative for the greater Jersey City and Newark areas this past July at Liberty Science Center and the Liberty State Park Nature Center. The year-long program is designed to support Resilience Action […]
National 4-H Career Night Opens Doors to Veterinary Science
A virtual career exploration program coordinated by Rutgers Cooperative Extension connected 186 young people from 20 states with veterinary professionals, offering a closer look at careers in animal health and veterinary medicine. Melissa Bright, 4-H agent in Somerset County and past chair of the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals Animal Science Working […]
Mosquito Waste Reveals Viruses Hiding in Plain Sight
A new approach to capture waste from mosquitoes could strengthen early warning systems for emerging health threats When public health researchers want to know whether diseases such as COVID-19 or polio are circulating in a community, they can look for genetic evidence in wastewater. Entomologist Dana Price wondered whether the same principle could be applied to […]
Second Annual Summer School on Sustainability Governance at Rutgers
Week-long program brought together researchers working on ocean and fisheries governance, energy justice, Indigenous land rights, food systems, and climate policy from institutions across the United States and the globe From August 24 to 28, the Department of Human Ecology at Rutgers University–New Brunswick hosted its second annual Summer School on Sustainability Governance, bringing nearly […]
Agriculture and Natural Resources Faculty and Staff Garner National and State Honors
The 2026 Annual Meeting and Professional Improvement Conference, hosted by the National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA), was held in Denver, Colorado. The meeting was attended by more than 1,200 extension educators, agricultural agents and specialists across focus disciplines that included agriculture, horticulture, forestry, natural resources, community development and youth programs like 4-H. Faculty […]
Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Days Showcase Innovation and Industry Collaboration
Turf professionals from across the United States and abroad gathered this summer for the 2026 Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Days, where they explored the latest advances in turfgrass science and management while engaging directly with Rutgers researchers, faculty, staff, and students. The annual educational outreach events highlighted cutting-edge research and practical solutions for golf courses, […]
Rutgers 4-H Program Builds STEM Confidence in New Jersey Youth
Twenty-two middle school students from the Trenton area concluded five weeks of discovery, innovation, and hands-on learning by showcasing their summer projects during the closing celebration of the sixth annual Rutgers 4-H STEM Pathfinders Summer Academy. Held from July 13 through August 13 at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County, the academy immersed youth in […]
