The year was 1968. Beehive hairdo’s were the rage, as were cars with lots of shiny chrome. New Jersey was lush with diners, drive-in movies and roadside farmstands. And the Jersey tomato reigned supreme. In 1968, there were a number of “Jersey tomato” varieties on the market–products of prior decades of breeding tasty, tangy tomatoes […]
NJAES – Addressing Tomorrow’s Challenges Today: Commercial Agriculture
Sustainable farming on the urban fringe New Jersey is an anomaly in U.S. agriculture. One of the smallest states, it is nonetheless a top 10 producer of numerous commodities. Agricultural production per acre is more than three times higher than the national average. Ensuring a vibrant and robust agriculture means focusing attention on developing novel […]
State Board of Ag Honors Dan Kluchinski Posthumously with Distinguished Service Award
Rutgers Cooperative Extension agricultural agent Dan Kluchinski was honored posthumously on February 7 with a Distinguished Service to Agriculture Citation by the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture during the New Jersey State Agricultural Convention in Atlantic City. New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher said, “While we are saddened by Dan’s recent passing, […]
Rutgers Agribusiness Scholars Program Grows through Matching Donation Challenge from Clearing Corporation Charitable Foundation
With the graying of New Jersey’s and the nation’s farmers, many are posing the question – who will be the next generation of growers? Beyond that lies a diverse structure of agricultural-affiliated industries that face a similar conundrum. A recent National Institute of Food and Agriculture/Purdue University study projects that, in the coming years, there […]
Rutgers ‘Ultra-Niche’ Crops Team Wins ASHS Extension Education Materials Outstanding Video Award
The Rutgers Ultra-Niche Crops team proudly accepted the 2017 Extension Education Materials Outstanding Video Award for their “Winter Lettuce” production from the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS). The team included Robin Brumfield, Jenny Carleo, Hemant Gohil, Ramu Govindasamy, Jeff Heckman, Jennifer Matthews, Meredith Melendez, Jess Niederer, Peter Nitzsche, Nicholas Polanin, C. Andrew Wyenandt, […]
Rutgers Faculty and Staff Achieve National and Regional Awards at 2017 NACAA Conference
The National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) is the professional organization for Extension educators and other professionals who work in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and natural resources, 4-H youth development, community development, administration, aquaculture and Sea Grant, and related disciplines. Each year, NACAA recognizes members for outstanding work programs, communications, and service through its awards […]
In Memoriam: Daniel Kluchinski (1963 – 2017)
Daniel Kluchinski, 54 of Rocky Hill, NJ passed away on October 16 with his husband at his side after an incredible fight with cancer. Dan is survived by his husband of 29 years–W. J. “Brad” Bradhering, his parents–Joseph and Florence Kluchinski, his brothers (and sister-in-laws) Dave (Dawn) and Don (Carol) Kluchinski and six nieces and […]
Rutgers to Conduct Climate Master Volunteers Feasibility Study
By Amy Rowe, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension Reprinted from Green Knight newsletter, August 2017 Rutgers University was recently awarded a one-year planning grant to determine the feasibility of a Climate Master Volunteer program. The study will be undertaken to analyze the need for this type of volunteer education program and […]
Composting Gone Wild: Teaching Community and School Gardeners Proper Composting Techniques
By Michele Bakacs, Environmental and Natural Resources agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Reprinted from Green Knight newsletter, August 2017 Note: This article is based on a poster presentation given at the 2017 National Association of County Agricultural Agents conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, which was the first place winner in the poster competition. Community and […]
Rutgers Collaborates with AeroFarms Project Funded to Enhance Taste and Nutritional Quality in Leafy Greens
AeroFarms, a leading indoor vertical farming company headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, was awarded a Seeding Solutions grant of $1 million from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, a nonprofit organization established under the 2014 Farm Bill. Scientists from Rutgers and Cornell universities will collaborate with AeroFarms in research using the tight controls of […]
