Jenny S. Carleo, Agricultural and Resource Management Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County will be chairing a session at the Vegetable Growers Association Educational Sessions and Trade Show in February 2017. Carleo will Chair a session on Alternative Crops at the conference, presented by the Vegetable Growers Association in cooperation with Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension and the NJ Department of Agriculture, in Atlantic City February 7-9, 2017.
Carleo said, “This is one of largest Grower – Farmer Conferences on the East Coast and I am excited to be chairing the session on alternative crops which can be very lucrative crops for farmers in New Jersey.”
Growers from around the region are invited to attend sessions focusing on the latest in production and marketing techniques for not just vegetables but a variety of other specialty crops presented by University faculty, government agency staff, as well as other farmers.
Highlights from this year’s program include sessions on drones in agriculture, high tunnel production, new plant health technologies, and farm brewery crops. Crop sessions will focus on sweet corn, pepper, tomato, wine grape and blueberry production and an organic session will feature a panel on transitioning to organic production.
One of the East Coast’s largest agricultural trade shows highlights vendors and representatives who are offering a wide range of agricultural products and services. The conference and trade show will run concurrently with the educational program. Carleo added, “The trade show also features hard to find equipment designed specifically for small farms typical to New Jersey specialty crop production.”
Additionally, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture will be hosting their State Agricultural Convention where representatives from over 100 agricultural organizations meet to set policy for the coming year.
For informational about the programs and workshops presented throughout the year by the Agricultural and Resource Management Program of Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County, please call 465-5115, ext. 607.