The New Jersey Green Industry Council (NJGIC) is continuing the scholarship program initiated by the New Jersey Agribusiness Association in memory of Edward A. Platz.  This program promotes the tri-state area’s Agriculture and Green Industry students and assists them with their education.

Edward A. Platz is the founder of Plant Food Company, Inc. (originated under a different name) in 1946.  He was very involved in the Turfgrass and Agriculture Industry, starting the first Liquid Fertilizer Formulation Company in the state.  Mr. Platz passed in 1977.

Eligibility

Applicants to the New Jersey Green Industry Council Scholarship Program must be…

• Enrolled at and in the academic rank of sophomore, junior, or senior at any accredited 4-year college or university in the United States, and enrolled in any two-year or 4-year Green Industry Program when receiving the scholarship
• Possess an academic rank of sophomore, junior, or senior at that time
• Applicant must be majoring in an Agriculture or Green Industry subject area (i.e., Plant Science, Animal Science, Agronomy, Entomology, Ornamental Horticulture, Turf Science, Golf Management, Nursery, etc., or related field)
• New Jersey resident
• Demonstrate an intention of pursuing a career in production, agriculture, or the Green Industry

Awards

The NJGIC will award two (2) $3000 scholarships in memory of Edward A. Platz.  Payment will be made September 22^nd at the NJGIC Annual Golf Classic at Forsgate Country Club.  Attendance is not a considering factor in determining the scholarship awardees.

Procedures and Deadlines

Applicants must submit the following…

• Completed application
• Official copy of transcripts from all colleges attended
• Two (2) letters of recommendation with at least one academic letter. Letters of recommendation are to be sent directly to the Executive Director of NJGIC.
• A 1-2-page typed essay stating current education and career goals
• A one-paragraph answer to the following question…

What has been your most important extra-curricular or community activity, your most important contribution to it, and what has your participation in it meant to you as an individual?

• All information must be postmarked no later than Monday, August 1, 2022.

Applications

Initial Application, Please

Detailed Recipient Info, Please

Selection of Recipients

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of academic record, potential to succeed, leadership and participation in school, community, and personal activities, honors, statement of education and career goals, and an outside appraisal.

Final selection of recipients is made by the NJGIC Board of Directors.  All applicants will be notified of the selection by August 15, 2022.

Revisions

NJGIC Board of Directors reserves the right to review the conditions and procedures of the Scholarship Program and make appropriate changes at any time.

Additional Information

Questions regarding the NJGIC Scholarship Program as well as all applications and letters of recommendation should be addressed to:

Lori Jenssen
(c) (908) 310-9722
Email: njgic.director@gmail.com
NJGIC︱P.O. Box 341︱Califon, NJ 07830

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Mike Caprio, Regional business consultant, Lawn Doctor, Holmdel, N.J.

The post Five Questions: Mike Caprio appeared first on NJGIC.

To download the scholarship application, please Click Here

EligibilityApplicants to the New Jersey Green Industry Council Scholarship Program must be…

• Enrolled at any accredited 4-year college or university in the United States when receiving the scholarship
• Possess an academic rank of sophomore, junior, or senior at that time
• Applicant must be majoring in an Agriculture or Green Industry subject area (i.e. Plant Science, Animal Science, Agronomy, Entomology, Ornamental Horticulture, Golf Management, Nursery, etc., or related field
• New Jersey resident
• Demonstrate an intention of pursuing a career in production, agriculture, or the Green Industry

AwardsThe NJGIC will award two (2) $1500.00 scholarships in memory of Edward E. Platz. Payment will be made in August of 2019. Recipients are encouraged to receive their awards in person at the regular meeting of the NJGIC Board of Directors held on the campus of Rutgers University. Attendance is not a considering factor in determining the scholarship awardees.Procedures and DeadlinesApplicants must submit the following…

• Completed application
• Official copy of transcripts from all colleges attended
• Two (2) letters of recommendation with at least one academic letter. Letters of recommendation are to be sent directly to the Executive Director of NJGIC.
• A 1-2-page typed essay stating current education and career goals
• A one-paragraph answer to the following question…

What has been your most important extra-curricular activity, your most important contribution to it, and what has your participation in it meant to you as an individual?

• All information must be postmarked no later than June 26, 2019.

Selection of RecipientsScholarship recipients are selected on the basis of academic record, potential to succeed, leadership and participation in school, community, and personal activities, honors, statement of education and career goals, and an outside appraisal.Final selection of recipients is made by the NJGIC Board of Directors. All applicants will be notified of the selection by July 26, 2019.

To download the scholarship application, please Click Here

RevisionsNJGIC Board of Directors reserves the right to review the conditions and procedures of the Scholarship Program and make appropriate changes at any time.

Additional Information

Lori Jenssen
(c) (908) 310-9722
Email: njgic.director@gmail.com
NJGIC︱P.O. Box 341︱Califon, NJ 07830

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 There have been lots of headlines about Glyphosate causing cancer and calls to ban glyphosate, does this mean it is not safe to use?

Let’s look at the facts; There isn’t a single regulatory authority around the world that has banned glyphosate for agricultural use.  Glyphosate has been around for more than 40 years, and it has been widely studied and approved as safe to use by many regulatory authorities around the world who have strict safety approval standards.  The regulators also review registrations on a regular basis.  In short, if it doesn’t meet these stringent standards it will not be approved for sale and use.

So why do people think it might cause cancer?

In 2015 one of the World Health Organization’s agencies, The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published a monograph which stated that Glyphosate was ‘probably’ carcinogenic to humans. For context, other compounds and activities that fall into this category include drinking very hot beverages, frying, hairdressing and red meat.

IARC is not saying that Glyphosate causes cancer, it is saying that it is probably carcinogenic. The conclusions of more than 800 scientific studies, regulatory agencies around the world and the World Health Organization (WHO) Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) none of whom have found that Glyphosate is carcinogenic when used in accordance with the manufacturers safety instructions.

Will there be any more court cases like the one in California?

We believe that there will be more court cases, and some are already scheduled to start, however we don’t necessarily think that the outcomes of the other cases will be the same as the recent case in California. The recent case in California is not finalized and we expect there to be further legal processes and reviews related to this case.

Will Glyphosate still be sold?  

Yes, Glyphosate will still be sold. It is registered for use by regulatory authorities and there are a variety of manufacturers that have EPA registrations allowing them to actively sell it.  The industry will continue to work with regulatory authorities around the world to maintain the scientific database for Glyphosate at the level required by the regulators. The manufacturers of Glyphosate are confident that the weight of existing scientific evidence will continue to be recognized by regulators around the world to keep the registrations for Glyphosate products.

Where can I find more information?

As one of Glyphosate’s major manufacturers, Nufarm has put together a Glyphosate factsheet which is available here ​along with links to more information about Glyphosate.

More Information on Glyphosate

You can find more information about the World Health Organization (WHO), regulatory authorities positions on glyphosate and other information and reports below.

USA (Environmental Protection Agency)

Investigation showing that IARC participant was paid £120,000 by cancer lawyers: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/weedkiller-scientist-was-paid-120-000-by-cancer-lawyers-v0qggbrk6

Reuters investigation on non-carcinogenic findings “edited out” by IARC: https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/who-iarc-glyphosate/

Investigation into concealment of draft 2013 Agricultural Health Study findings by IARC chair:https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/glyphosate-cancer-data/

Links to reviews by regulators around the world since IARC: https://monsanto.com/company/media/statements/glyphosate-report-response/

Agricultural Health Study Background — largest epidemiological study ever on pesticides and cancer: https://aghealth.nih.gov/about/

2018 Agricultural Health Study In Journal of the National Cancer Institute showing no link between glyphosate and cancer :https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/29136183/

The post Glyphosate One of the Most Effective Herbicides in the World appeared first on NJGIC.

There have been a lot of questions asked regarding the beekeeper notification legislation.  Below is a set of guidelines that will hopefully help detail some of the responsibilities of the pesticide applicator and help them to navigate through the requirements of the legislation.

1) Read the legislation. It is not long and has information that you should be aware of.  Two examples being an exemption for applications less than 3 acres and provisions for emergency applications. It can be found at this link: http://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/pcp/regulations/Subchapter%209.pdf 

2) Have a pollinator plan in place and be prepared to share it with beekeepers in your area. This can be as simple as creating a policy to not spray weeds while flowering and not spraying in high winds where spray may drift into non-target areas. These management practices can greatly decrease the chance that pollinators will be affected and may be practices that are already utilized. Explaining these policies to beekeepers may help to correct the perception that many lay people have regarding the dangers of chemical applications.

3) Find your local beekeepers and reach out to them. Look through the state list of registered beekeepers and figure out who is within 3 miles of the application site. If there is doubt whether a beekeeper falls within the range or not, err on the side of caution and add them to your contact list. Sifting through the list and determining who falls within your contact zone will be the most challenging and tedious part of the entire process. A link to the list follows: http://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/pcp/bpo/2017DEPNotificationList.xlsx

Once you have formulated a list, reach out to each beekeeper individually for an initial introduction. Explain who you are, what you do, and what your plan is to keep their pollinators safe. If the beekeepers choose to not be contacted prior to each regulated application, there is a standard waiver detailed in the beekeeper legislation that stays in effect until withdrawn by the beekeeper.

Inform your beekeepers that they will be notified via email prior to all applications in accordance with the legislation. This is generally the most convenient of approved methods of communication and provides a documented history in case any questions arise later.

4) Read your labels! Notification is only needed for products that are labeled to be toxic to bees. In general this includes all your commonly used insecticides. Note that granular insecticides are not labeled as toxic to bees and therefore do not require notification.

5) Notify everyone on your list at least 24 hours prior to applications in accordance with the legislation. As mentioned earlier, there are provisions to include emergency applications that may arise. Set up all your apiarists on a group email. This will save time prior to  applications, especially if you have a lot of hives around you. Be sure to include all recipient email addresses as a blind carbon copy (BCC). BCC’s hide who is on the email list and make it impossible for someone to send a message back to all other recipients.

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National Conference Center
399 Monmouth Street
East Windsor, New Jersey

• Great Opportunity For Recertification Credits
• 1A Plant: 5 credits
• 3A Ornamentals: 5 credits
• 3B Turf: 5 credits
• 7A General and Household Pests: 3 credits
• CORE: 2 credits
• PPE: Private Applicator: 5 credits
• 8B Mosquito Control: 2 credits
• PA and DE credits offered

Registration Fee $85.00

Outstanding Topics and Presenters!

For full details, Click Here

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President’s Message

Good day everyone,

I hope everyone had the opportunity to enjoy an extended weekend over the Memorial Day Holiday. Please let’s not forget to remember
the men and women that sacrificed to allow us to enjoy this Freedom that we hold dearly!

What amazes me about the Green Industry in the Tri-State area is that it can be running smoothly throughout most of the year as if on
cruise control, and suddenly hit potholes and speed bumps that seem to come out of nowhere. The main goal of the New Jersey Green industry Council (NJGIC) is to be your voice in Trenton, regarding any Legislative Actions that effect our Industry. In addition to being your voice, we look to communicate and educate our members and Allied Associations as well. I’ve recently dubbed this ACE, meaning Advocacy,
Communication, and Education. It is extremely important for our members to know how our actions help to preserve their livelihood in this great Industry.

Getting back to my original statement about the smooth running encountering potholes, we have been relatively quiet in Trenton thanks to the efforts of State Street Associates and in particular, Ed Waters. Ed keeps us informed as to what’s happening in Trenton that effects the New Jersey Green Industry. It seems like at the snap of a finger we are faced with a number of issues that the NJGIC is suddenly involved in.

To read the full newsletter, Click Here

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Good day all!  There’s an old saying in New Jersey that “if you don’t like the weather, just wait 15 minutes and it willchange”! After going
through everything Mother Nature threw at us this winter, we are finally out in the field, doing fertilizer applications,spraying weeds,  doing clean-ups, and pruning our plant material. The toughest part of our Industry is that many of the jobs need to be done at the same time,and lack of manpower has a way of raising its head creating problems. Even with that being said, we find a way to get it done in a timely manner!

One of the busiest jobs at this time of year is the applications of chemical treatments including pre-emergent crabgrass controls, post-emergent broad leaf herbicides for winter clean-up, and pre-emergents for plant beds to hopefully alleviate a lot of hand labor throughout the growing season. We all use products that are Federally, and State Registered,and were developed for specific jobs, while being safe to use if
applied according to Label Usage. In addition the applications are being made by trained and educated NJDEP Certified Commercial
Applicators that constantly train and update their knowledge through the awarding of Recertification Credits approved by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The point of my message today is twofold.

The first is to make sure you have read (and have in your possession) a copy of the latest Pesticide Label from the Company of Manufacture. Labels change! Product uses are added and some are deleted, personal protective equipment can change, as well as first-aid verbiage. The”Label” is the law of the land and don’t assume that because you read a label three years ago that it is still current.

To read full post, Click Here

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Read the full article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/30/sports/football/concussion-report-highlights-field-maintenance.html?smid&_r=0

The post Well Maintained Fields Essential to Reducing Concussions appeared first on NJGIC.

Operation Pollinator is an international biodiversity program to boost the number of pollinating insects on commercial farms. It works by creating specific habitats, tailored to local conditions and native insects.  Farmers and golf course managers across Europe and the USA are provided with targeted seed mixtures, along with innovative pesticide use practices and agronomic advice designed to benefit pollinators.  Learn about these pesticide best management practices that you can use in your turf management operations.

Caydee Savinelli is the Pollinator and IPM Stewardship Lead at Syngenta. In this role, she leads the development and implementation of strategies and tactics for pollinator health and stewardship, integrated pest management, insect resistance management and biodiversity conservation initiatives. She is also leading Syngenta’s Operation Pollinator program along with its research and implementation efforts. She has focused on pest management, product development and crop production throughout her 30 year career and has worked in the U.S., Europe and Latin America. Caydee holds a Ph.D. in entomology with a minor in Crop Science from North Carolina State University, a M.S. in Entomology from The Pennsylvania State University and a B.A. in Biology from Gettysburg College. Caydee’s interest in agriculture and entomology started in childhood during the time spent at her grandfather’s orange grove in Florida.

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