In 2003, Anne Nielsen became the first doctoral student in the U.S. to study the brown marmorated stink bug, which was beginning its ascendancy as an invasive species notoriously damaging to crops. Working with her mentor, Rutgers entomologist George Hamilton, Nielsen traced the stink bug’s life cycle and origins. By the time the stink bug […]
Rutgers Is Developing a Sweeter, Firmer Blueberry for New Jersey Growers
Research to find a new variety enters its final phase this summer Rutgers researchers are getting close to identifying a new blueberry variety that can produce a sweeter, firmer fruit for Garden State growers. The decade-long research project will move into its final trial this season. Of the thousands of blueberry plants evaluated for desirable […]
USDA and Rutgers Announce Distance Learning Grant for Food and Agricultural Education
On April 26, USDA and Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural experiment Station (NJAES) leadership announced a $232,378 Distance Learning grant at the university’s Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health (IFNH) in New Brunswick. Rural Development State Director Jane Asselta was joined by NJAES Executive Director Laura Lawson, and NJAES senior associate directors Peggy Brennan-Tonetta, Wendie Cohick and Brian Schilling […]
Rutgers Scientist Timothy Waller Offers Tips on How to Choose the Perfect Christmas Tree
If you are heading to a farm or the local lot after the Thanksgiving weekend to pick out your perfect Christmas tree, Timothy Waller, an evergreen researcher, has some advice for you. Waller, an agricultural agent with Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cumberland County, has been working on Christmas tree disease management and variety demonstrations as part […]
Rutgers Nursery and Ornamental Research and Demonstrations
With the help of RAREC farm crew and funding through RCE leadership, Tim Waller (Cumberland, Nursery Crops) has been diligently working to bring four Quonset-style high tunnels back into production for nursery and ornamental related research and demonstrations. Initially, the high tunnels required partial demolition, new flooring, hip and foot boards, wiggle-wire channels, 6mil plastic […]
Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program Partners with NJBPU in Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot Program
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program (RAP) have entered an agreement to develop and implement a Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot Program. The pilot program, which was announced on May 1 and will last for three years, is designed to demonstrate and study the compatibility of agricultural or horticultural […]
Rutgers Cooperative Extension Agents William Errickson and Timothy Waller Honored by Statewide Nursery and Landscape Associations
The New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA) conferred its 2021 “Educator of the Year Award” on William “Bill” Errickson, RCE agent (Monmouth County), Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Timothy “Tim” Waller, RCE agent (Cumberland County), Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, at the association’s annual dinner in October. Waller was also recognized with the […]
Rutgers “Scarlet Hot Sauce” Makes its Debut as Release from Exotic Pepper Project
The Exotic Pepper Project team of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) and School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) announced the release of a new hot sauce made from Rutgers-grown hot peppers. “Scarlet Hot Sauce” was made available to Rutgers Dining Services on October 12 in a limited first-run. The spicy concoction is a result of over two years of collaboration initiated in 2018 between the Exotic Pepper Project team, Rutgers Dining Services, […]
NJAES Leads New USDA Direct Marketing and Agritourism Project Targeting Mid-Atlantic Region
Rutgers University is partnering with New Jersey Department of Agriculture, the Pennsylvania State University, Farmer Direct Marketing Association, and other local stakeholders to lead a new project to expand value‐added marketing opportunities for small famers in the Mid‐Atlantic region of the U.S. Ramu Govindasamy, professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, is […]
A Plant Breeding Breakthrough: Downy Mildew Resistant Sweet Basil
Sweet basil used to be considered a relatively easy fresh market culinary herb crop to grow. Growers saw it as a popular and profitable enterprise. When sweet basil was later hit by Fusarium wilt, conventional growers were able to turn to fumigation, while organic growers were able to turn to emerging resistant varieties.
