Gardener News July 2023

News Gardener News

Proudly Serving the Agricultural, Gardening, Landscaping & Nursery Communities TAKE ONE

THIS IS NO ORDINARY PLANT

Yucca flowers develop on extremely tall stalks (that look like asparagus) in masses of white and cream

By Tom Castronovo Executive Editor/Publisher Gardener News

Once a year (more or less) healthy yucca plants send up a tall, sturdy stalk topped with billows of fragrant, bell-

shaped flowers.

Many yucca plants wait until early summer when temperatures are warm

enough in order to bloom, and it’s possible to have two blooms in the same year even if the first doesn’t come until

mid-summer.

The statewide average temperature of 59.3° was 1.9° below (Cont. on Page 22)

Tom Castronovo/Photo

and sometimes blush pink.

Over the years I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet a few of the United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) officials. It all started with Troy Joshua, then it was King Whetstone, and finally Bruce Eklund.

I look forward to meeting Charles Walker the next time I’m in New York. NASS is the federal statistical agency responsible for producing official data about U.S. agriculture and is committed to providing timely, accurate and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. I’ve learned a lot from these guys.

From time to time I share some statistics that are produced by USDA NASS in Gardener News.

This month I am sharing some statistics from the Commercial Floriculture Survey, which provides the number of growers, area of production, quantity sold, prices, value of sales for floriculture commodities, and average number of agricultural workers per farm or ranch.

This survey is a census of over 10,000 commercial floriculture operations that annually produce and sell at least $10,000 of fresh cut flowers, potted flowering plants, foliage plants, annual bedding and garden plants, potted herbaceous perennials, cut cultivated florist greens, and propagative (unfinished) floriculture material. Annual sales include wholesale and retail sales of items surveyed.

A data series for five cut flowers began in 1956 in five states, and today the survey covers six floriculture categories plus propagative material for each category in all 50 states. The 28 main producing states are published individually.

Here is a short summary of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania that was released on May 26, 2023 for 2022.

By

Around The Garden

By Tom Castronovo Gardener News

the Numbers and Horsepower Agriculture License Plates

The 2022 value of floriculture sales in Connecticut is up 2% from the 2021 valuation according to King Whetstone, acting state statistician for USDA’s NASS, New England Field Office. The total crop value for all growers with $10,000 or more in sales is estimated at $167 million for 2022, compared with $164 million for 2021.

Number of Producers: The number of producers for 2022, at 171, is up 3% from the 2021 count of 166.

Area Used for Production: Total covered area for floriculture crop production was 24.9 million square feet in 2022, up slightly from the 2021 area of 24.8 million square feet.

The 2022 value of New Jersey floriculture sales was $342 million, fourth highest in the U.S., according to Bruce Eklund, state statistician of the USDA’s NASS, New Jersey Field Office. This production was from 272 growers, the Nation’s eleventh highest. For production in the open, New Jersey was third at 4,769 acres.

The 2022 value of floriculture sales in New York is up 35% from the 2021 valuation according to Charles Walker, state statistician of the USDA’s NASS, New York Field Office. The total crop for all growers with $10,000 or more in sales is estimated at $244 million for 2022, compared with $181 million for 2021.

Number of Producers: The number of producers for 2022, at 596, is down slightly from the 2021

count of 600.

Area Used for Production: Total covered area for floriculture crop production was 25.1 million square feet in 2022, up 29% from the 2021 area of 19.5 million square feet.

The 2022 value of floriculture sales in Pennsylvania is up 11% from the 2021 valuation according to King Whetstone, director of the USDA’s NASS, Northeastern Regional Field Office. The total crop value for all growers with $10,000 or more in sales is estimated at $209 million for 2022, compared with $188 million for 2021.

Number of Producers: The number of producers for 2022, at 741, is down 5% from the 2021 count of 782. Pennsylvania leads the nation in the total number of floriculture operations.

Area Used for Production: Total covered area for floriculture crop production was 24.8 million square feet in 2022, up 10% from the 2021 area of 22.6 million square feet.

The USDA’s NASS conducts hundreds of surveys every year and prepares reports covering virtually every aspect of U.S. agriculture. Production and supplies of food and fiber, prices paid and received by farmers, farm labor and wages, farm finances, chemical use, and changes in the demographics of U.S. producers are only a few examples.

Let’s move on to horses and license plates.

The Assembly recently put some horsepower behind legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Kevin J. Rooney to create license plates honoring the state animal and supporting therapeutic riding programs. The measure passed the full Assembly unanimously.

“The monies generated from the sale of this license plate will not only help our beautiful state animal, the horse, but also people with special needs and veterans who benefit from programs that combine riding and therapy,” said Rooney (R-Bergen). “Deserving residents experiencing disabling mental and physical health conditions will be able to experience a horse’s healing gifts thanks to this bill.”

National statistics show that about one in five people, or approximately 1.7 million New Jersey residents, have a disability. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, about seven out of every 100 veterans, or 24,500 of New Jersey’s 350,000 vets, suffer from some form of posttraumatic stress disorder.

“More than a million New Jerseyans have a condition that could be improved by working with a horse. This bill could have a very meaningful impact,” Rooney added.

Therapeutic riding is an equineassisted activity that improves a person’s balance, flexibility, coordination, and muscle strength. People benefit cognitively, physically,

Gardener News

emotionally and socially. For military veterans, it helps reduce PTSD and depression symptoms. The therapy has also shown to be effective for people with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, learning disabilities, trauma and brain injuries.

“New Jersey has more horses per capita than any other state in the nation, so it is fitting to permanently commemorate them on a state license plate that will support their welfare and riding programs for residents in need,” said Rooney.

Under the bill (A203), motorists interested in obtaining the state animal license plate through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission would pay a $50 application fee and a $10 renewal fee.

The New Jersey Senate has an identical bill in the Senate Transportation Committee (S2884), sponsored by Senator Anthony M. Bucco.

A big thank you goes out to Assemblyman Rooney for promoting therapeutic agriculture in the Garden State.

Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News . Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News , which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration, and education to the agricultural, gardening, landscaping and nursery communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

NEWS FROM THE NJ STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

Thank You Douglas H. Fisher

One of my first introductions to the Gardener News occurred while supporting a couple state organizations. I was working through a New Jersey Agriculture Leadership Development Certification and was presented with an opportunity to take a seat on the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture.

From nursery representative as the owner/operator of Copper Creek Nursery, to President of the State Board, those years have offered me opportunities to work behind the scenes to evaluate and award grants for the advancement of agricultural studies and marketing support. Additionally, the position offered me the chance to meet and influence the public sector on critical legislation related to agricultural commodities. Then, a couple weeks ago, I was asked to write a piece on Secretary Fisher, which for me is a true honor.

Douglas H. Fisher, appointed Secretary of Agriculture for NJ in 2009, is stepping down from his post on July 1, 2023. Doug is the seventh person to hold this post since 1916 and has served under three administrations, which is a testament to his commitment to the State of New Jersey and the constituents he serves. Secretary Fisher has taken an “all in” stance to bring together farmers, gardeners, contractors, and most recently urban agriculturalists.

The Secretary himself is an avid gardener, which is one of the main

reasons he contributed monthly to the Gardener News and his articles will be missed. Doug’s column featured articles like his aggressive fight of the Spotted Lantern Fly. With NJ being a bordering state of Pennsylvania where the pest was first discovered, he pursued resources from both state and federal levels to eradicate the pest. Another featured article articulated work done on behalf of farmers, nurseries, and garden centers, ensuring they were designated as “essential businesses” during COVID so they could stay open. The pursuit offered New Jersey residents who “garden” access to the products they needed, as well as highlighted the benefits to mental and physical health of residents who were restricted from moving off their properties. No other state around New Jersey made this move, and Doug was complimented on his foresight for this pursuit.

One of Doug’s consistent themes throughout his tenure has been on the topic of promoting New Jersey growing as well as protecting New Jersey’s soils. Doug has put many hours into increasing the number of growers who participate in the Jersey Grown (Fresh) promotional programs as well as developing a Jersey Natives branding program. Between a stance where that soil in New Jersey must be preserved and advocating for Agri-tourism, Doug has supported business growth that in-turn keeps NJ farms financially viable. Doug’s pursuit of

programs on behalf of agriculture has contributed to the growth of the commodity within the state, ranking food and agriculture as the third largest industry in New Jersey according to the NJ.gov press release last August.

While New Jersey ranks 40th out of the 50 states in the United States according to NJFuture.org, the ranking has not dampened Secretary Fisher’s pursuits. Doug was a strong supporter of the federal government with the declaration of hemp as a legal agricultural crop. He envisioned New Jersey’s role as encouraging farmers here to plant “fiber hemp” versus flower hemp. With the current flower hemp market glutted in recent years, the shift in focus to fiber hemp will allow for expansion into Petroplastics in packaging, building materials and other items.

During Secretary Fisher’s time as Secretary of Agriculture, he received numerous awards as a leader, like the Thomas W. Kelly New Jersey Food and Council Government Service Award. Doug has been a role model for young NJ residents and received an Honorary American FFA Degree. As mentioned earlier in this article, Doug has been “all-in”. He gave his time and talents through numerous hours at any time of the day to organizations, clubs and businesses, offering insight as to how to align public pursuits with those in the private sector with gentle guidance and cooperative conversation. Doug

has supported the State Board of Agriculture in the capacity of a servant leader – ensuring that all pursuits are in the best interest of the State of New Jersey.

I have had the privilege of working with Secretary Fisher these past four years. He was a mentor to me as I took on the position of State Board President, and a trusted advisor over these past months as critical legislation has been discussed by the Board. I recently had the opportunity to sit one-on-one with Doug. Doug’s advice to me is to think differently, and to stay true to a pursuit even in a political environment. I want to take this opportunity to wish Secretary Doug Fisher the very best as he enters a new chapter in his life. My hope for him, his wife Bonnie, and three children, Susan, Eric and Carly, is that Doug can get back to his passion of gardening and sit back and watch all the programs he initiated and built blossom.

Editor’s Note: David DeFrange is currently a member of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. The State Board of Agriculture is an eight-member body established by the New Jersey Legislature to set the broad agricultural policies of the Department of Agriculture. The Board is a part of the executive branch of State Government. DeFrange can be reached at (609) 292-3976.

New Jersey Department of Agriculture Announces

Deer Fencing Grants for Unpreserved Farms

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture announced the Department is now accepting applications for cost-share grants for the installation of deer fencing on unpreserved farms. Unpreserved farm owners or operators in New Jersey may receive up to 50 percent matching funds ($20,000 maximum, no more than $200 per acre) if their application is approved. Grants will be awarded on a first-come, firstserved basis until all funds for the

fiscal year are expended.

This program is possible because of legislation (P.L.2021, c.451), which provided funding in Governor Murphy’s budget for deer fencing.

In 2019, New Jersey Farm Bureau commissioned a study to assess whitetailed deer populations in eight New Jersey counties. The report concluded that deer densities per square mile are on average 4-5 times greater than safe and sustainable numbers. That survey was conducted by wildlife

habitat planning and management consultancy Steward Green using drone-based thermal imaging technology, trained wildlife biologists and infrared analysts to perform an in-the-field analysis to estimate deer populations in seven study areas encompassing more than 12,730 acres, or approximately 20 square miles. The areas surveyed were in Atlantic, Cumberland, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Passaic, Somerset, and Warren counties. Steward Green’s

survey revealed that there are on average approximately 80-100 whitetailed deer per square mile in the areas covered by the study.

For more information about the NJDA deer fencing grant go to https:// www.nj.gov/agriculture/grants/.

There is deer fencing available for farms enrolled in the State Agriculture Development Committee farmland preservation program. More information can be found at https:// bit.ly/453c4Xa.

RUTGERS NJAES/RCE

Rutgers Outreach

The Woody Plants of Summer: Native Plants

July 27, 2023 | 9:00am – 3:30pm

Early Bird Fee $195 | New Brunswick, NJ

Learn about some of New Jersey's most useful plants in a course that combines classroom lectures with hands-on experience at Rutgers Gardens

Featured Topics:

American Wisteria Black Chokeberry Climbing Hydrangea Hop-Hornbeam

Moosewood Paw Paw And much more!

This class is a great source of information for anyone who wants learn how to appreciate and identify these popular landscaping plants.

*Don't delay; the early bird discount ends July 20 Register early to save $15!

Provided by Brian Schilling Director

Science and Management of New Jersey’s Marine Fisheries

New Jersey is a major player in marine fisheries in the U.S. The state’s commercial fishing and seafood industries rank fourth in the nation with a combined economic impact of approximately $3.7 billion annually, based on the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) reports on the Fisheries Economics of the United States. Commercial fishing and seafood support more than 53,000 jobs in New Jersey and provide highquality seafood for local, national, and international markets. Our most valuable commercial fisheries target species such as sea scallops, surfclams, ocean quahogs, squid, summer flounder, blue crabs, black sea bass, and tilefish.

England Fishery Management Councils and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. On the state level, these include the New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council and Shellfisheries Council. In the case of highly migratory species of tunas, sharks, and billfish, fisheries management is conducted internationally by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) that includes 52 different countries.

and management of our marine fisheries, most stakeholders are not well prepared to get involved.

Atlantic County

Phone: 609-625-0056

Bergen County

Phone: 201-336-6780

Burlington County

Phone: 609-265-5050

Camden County

Phone: 856 216 7130

Cape May County

Phone: 609-465-5115

Cumberland County

Phone: 856-451-2800

Essex County

Phone: 973-228-2210

Gloucester County

Phone: 856-224-8040

Hudson County

Phone: 201-915-1399

Hunterdon County

Phone: 908-788-1339

Mercer County

Phone: 609-989-6830

Middlesex County

Phone: 732-398-5260

Monmouth County Phone: 732-431-7260

Morris County

Phone: 973-285-8300

Ocean County Phone:732-349-1246

Passaic County Phone: 973-305-5740

Salem County

Phone: 856-769-0090

Somerset County

Phone: 908-526-6293

Sussex County Phone: 973-948-3040

Union County Phone: 908-654-9854

Warren County Phone: 908-475-6505

Concurrently, marine recreational fishing in New Jersey annually has an economic impact of approximately $1.5 billion and supports more than 14,000 jobs, including approximately 1 million anglers who participate both for recreation and to harvest their own seafood. The species most commonly caught by anglers include summer flounder, striped bass, black sea bass, tautog, bluefish, and blue crabs. Collectively, New Jersey’s fishing industries play a significant role in the tourism of coastal counties and the culture of the Jersey Shore and the entire Garden State.

Given the value of New Jersey’s fisheries, it is critical that appropriate management measures are developed to ensure the long-term sustainability of both our marine resources and the industries and coastal communities reliant on these resources. Fishery management has become increasingly complex and the process relies heavily on science that advances each year. For example, there are multiple entities responsible for managing our marine fisheries to meet biological and socio-economic objectives, including regional federal bodies, such as the Mid-Atlantic and New

The mainstay of the science used to inform fisheries management are stock assessment models that estimate fish population abundance and mortality rates. Stock assessments have been compared to counting the number of trees in a forest, but with added difficulties due to the inability to observe the animals because they are underwater and typically moving around. Therefore, conducting stock assessments is inherently difficult and uncertain. In addition, the science involved with stock assessments includes an “alphabet soup” of acronyms in an effort to shorten scientific terms, and complex computer models that can take hours to perform their calculations–both of which can confuse even experienced scientists.

As a result, it is difficult for stakeholders to understand and get involved with fisheries issues, including the processes involved with setting management measures, such as quotas, closed seasons or areas, and fishing gear restrictions that have major impacts on these industries. For example, there are several ways that stakeholders could get involved, from commenting on proposed management measures, joining the industry advisory panels or committees that inform management bodies, participating in cooperative research to address fisheries issues, or having an improved understanding to educate others. However, without adequate knowledge of the science

In response, Rutgers Cooperative Extension has annually hosted an Introductory Fisheries Science for Stakeholders (IFISSH) course, serving more than 500 participants since 2018, including 86 participants in the 2023 course that ended in early May. The IFISSH course includes guest lectures from approximately 20 different experts in their fields to educate participants on fisheries biology, oceanography, climate change, stock assessment, fisheries management, and current issues like offshore wind energy development. Recent IFISSH participants have reported going on to use the information they learned to become involved on Advisory Panels for management bodies such as the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and New Jersey Marine Fisheries Council. Also, representatives from local fishing clubs or writers of their own publications have used the knowledge gained from IFISSH to educate their constituencies on the biology and management of New Jersey’s marine fisheries. Recent college graduates or early-career biologists frequently enroll in the IFISSH course to learn more about fisheries science and New Jersey’s local fishing industries to aid in their professional development and careers.

The IFISSH course therefore serves as an excellent example of how Rutgers Cooperative Extension offers valuable sciencebased, educational programming that meets the needs of New Jersey residents and improves the quality of lives, businesses, and communities. If you are interested in the IFISSH course or would like more information about New Jersey’s marine resources and industries, contact Douglas Zemeckis via email at zemeckis@ njaes.rutgers.edu or by phone at 732-349-1152.

Editor’s note: This month’s contribution was written by Dr. Douglas Zemeckis, Rutgers Cooperative Extension agent in fisheries, aquaculture, and coastal resource management for Ocean, Atlantic, and Monmouth counties.

Rutgers Master Gardeners of Hunterdon County Celebrate Class of 2023 Graduates

14 Hunterdon County residents recently graduated from the Rutgers Master Gardener training program and have begun their internship under the guidance of RCE faculty and staff, and Certified Rutgers Master Gardeners. Rutgers Master Gardener volunteers are individuals with many backgrounds, experiences, talents and skills who, after receiving horticultural training and certification from Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension, share their knowledge with the community through many various volunteer activities and outreach opportunities.

The Rutgers Master Gardener program of Hunterdon County is now accepting applications for the incoming class. No prior training or education in horticulture is needed! Classes will begin in October 2023 and will be held on Tuesdays from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Opportunities to attend class virtually and/or in-person are available. Email gardeners@co.hunterdon.nj.us for an application.

The Rutgers Master Gardener Helpline is once again staffed by trained volunteers who research and assist the public with their home and garden questions, using research-based Rutgers recommendations. The Helpline is open to the public and there is no fee for this service.

County residents can reach the Helpline by calling 908788-1735, by visiting in-person, or via email gardeners@ co.hunterdon.nj.us Rutgers Master Gardeners staff the Helpline Monday through Friday 9 am to noon, and Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Learn more on our website at https://hunterdon.njaes.rutgers.edu/garden/ and follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/

RCEofHunterdonCounty

Rutgers Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity program provider and employer. Contact your local Extension Office for information regarding special needs or accommodations. Contact the State Extension Director’s Office if you have concerns related to discrimination, 848-932-3584.

Rutgers Master Gardeners Team Up with the Yale Club to Beautify New Jersey’s State Botanical Gardens

On May 13, Aki Liao, president of the Yale Club of North Jersey and Rockland County, along with Yale alumni and their families, joined Skylands representatives, and Rutgers Master Gardeners to help rid Skylands—the New Jersey State Botanical Gardens—of invasive mustard weed.

The idea was hatched by Katie McEwan, a Rutgers Master Gardener whose husband, Bob McEwan, is a member of the Yale Club of North Jersey and Rockland. They came up with the concept of a ‘Yale Day of Service,’ working alongside Rutgers Master Gardeners to the benefit of Skylands.

Joel Flagler, extension agent for Rutgers Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources as well as a Rutgers and Yale alumnus, guided the work and then led the group on a tour of some of Skylands most wonderful formal gardens on a spectacular day.

Ken Merz, president of the Skylands Association, welcomed the group of approximately 30 volunteers and expressed the wish to make it an annual event, noting that the Yale-Rutgers Connection is a good one and well-worth cultivating. And Skylands was the perfect setting!

Announcement: Ming-Yi Chou is an Assistant Extension Specialist in Turfgrass Pathology

Announcement by Don Kobayashi, chair of the Department of Plant Biology

On behalf of Department of Plant Biology and the Center for Turfgrass Science, please join me in welcoming Ming-Yi Chou, who has recently joined the faculty as an Assistant Extension Specialist with expertise in turfgrass pathology.

Dr. Chou’s extension program will focus on evaluating and developing efficient cool-season turfgrass disease management measures, including cultural practices, disease prediction models, synthetic fungicides, and biorational agents. His research will focus on plant-soil-microbe interactions in turfgrass, with an emphasis on how these interactions and coevolution collectively contribute to disease suppression. Ming-Yi completed his Ph.D. in Horticultural Biology at Cornell University, and received his post-doctoral training successively in University of Wisconsin-Madison and Great Lakes Bioenergy Center in Michigan State University studying plant-soil-microbe interaction with emphases on pathogen suppression microbes in turfgrass and beneficial microbes for bioenergy crops. Prior to joining Rutgers, he was a Research Scientist in turfgrass pathology program at University of Wisconsin-Madison, examining dollar spot suppressive microbiome and building snow molds predictive models.

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 production with solar photovoltaic infrastructure on the same land (called agrivoltaics or dual-use solar).

RAP, a multidisciplinary team of 15 Rutgers personnel, faculty and Rutgers Cooperative Extension agents, is investigating this emerging agrivoltaics technology, which has the potential to keep farmland productive and produce clean energy.

Margaret Brennan-Tonetta, senior associate director of Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) and director of the Office of Resource and Economic Development, said, “Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station has made a large

commitment to investigate the opportunities for dualuse Solar by installing agrivoltaic R&D systems at three of our research farms. By working closely with NJBPU and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, I am confident that we can utilize this new technology to not only generate clean energy, but also improve farm viability and sustainability.”

RAP is investigating the scientific merit of this emerging technology to be installed at the Rutgers Animal Farm in New Brunswick, Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Bridgeton, and the Clifford E. & Melda C. Snyder Research and Extension Farm in Pittstown.

The team will provide public research and technical assistance through the Rutgers EcoComplex “Clean Energy Innovation Center,” Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers Cooperative Extension and other applicable schools and units within the university.

New Jersey’s Dual-Use Solar Energy Pilot Program

will allow for the installation and operation of up to 200 Megawatts of direct current (MWdc) of solar electric capacity over three years, extendable by NJBPU to up to 300 MWdc over five years. Individual solar projects would be limited to 10 MWdc. The pilot program and the results from its associated research requirements will inform a permanent program that includes standards for construction and operation of dual-use solar energy projects.

The pilot program will provide incentives to solar electric generation facilities, located on unpreserved farmland, which plan to maintain the land’s active agricultural or horticultural use.

Agrivoltaics can provide farmers with an additional stream of revenue, assisting with farm financial viability by enabling continued agricultural or horticultural production of land while also increasing the statewide production of clean energy.

In the Chef’s Corner

By Andy Lagana Chef

Grilled Skirt Steak Roulades with Jersey Corn on the Cob and Compound Butter

Summer greetings to our Gardener News readers. I adore this weather, and have a recipe for this month that is just perfect for this time of year – Grilled Skirt Steak Roulades with delicious Jersey Corn on the Cob and Compound Butter.

Skirt steak is a cut of steak from the belly of the cow. It is long, flat, and prized for its flavor rather than tenderness. Although it is from a different part of the animal, its general characteristics and uses cause it to be confused with flank steak. Jersey corn is some of the very best corn you will ever eat! The combination of varieties, soils and management practices that state farmers use help to grow the most delicious sweet corn in the nation.

Ingredients needed for the steak pinwheels are 3 – 3 ½ pounds of skirt steak (three skirt steaks), 2 sheets of plastic wrap, salt and pepper to taste, 12 slices each of a quality prosciutto and provolone cheese, 4 ounces of fresh spinach, 6 ounces roasted red peppers, 9 wooden skewers approximately 5-6 inches long, your favorite BBQ rub and 1 tbsp. of extra virgin olive oil.

To start, cut the three skirt steaks so that they are all the same length. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Lay the plastic wrap or a large zip lock bag over the steak and pound until thinner. Then, lay down four slices of prosciutto on each skirt steak, followed by four slices of provolone cheese on

Producers Can Now Go “Whole Hog” on New Heat Stress App for Pigs

By Jan Suszkiw USDA/ARS

HotHog, a new smartphone application (“app”) that predicts heat stress in pigs, is now available for download and use, a team of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and university scientists recently announced.

each – leaving about an inch at the end.

Next, top the cheese with the fresh spinach and roasted peppers. Roll up the skirt steak tightly and skewer to make three pieces. Cut between the skewers to get three roulades per steak. Season the rolled up skirt steak with your favorite BBQ rub and drizzle good olive oil.

Prepare the grill for two zone or indirect grilling with the target temperature inside the grill of 350 degrees on the hot side, and the burner off on the indirect heat side. Grill 3-4 minutes on each side on the hot side then move to indirect heat. Close the cover and cook until the internal temperature is around 140 degrees. Remove them from the grill and allow to rest tented with foil for a few minutes. Brush lightly with some extra BBQ sauce with a little extra seasoning after slicing into pinwheels.

For the fresh grilled corn with compound butter, you will need one stick of high fat grass fed salted butter (I like Kerigold), 2oz. fresh minced sage, 2oz. fresh minced rosemary, 2oz fresh thyme off the stem, 2 cloves of fresh macerated garlic, 2 oz. fresh minced oregano, 8 shucked corn ears and wax paper.

Leave the butter out until it reaches room temperature, and then combine the butter, garlic and fresh herbs. Lay the butter out onto the wax paper and twist paper on each end until you have a roll. Then, place the butter in

the refrigerator. Blanch the corn in boiling water for 3 minutes. Remove and shock the corn (meaning, plunging it into ice water to stop the cooking process). Grill the corn on high heat while your meat is resting. Add a nice slice of the cold compound butter and rub it into corn with a fork.

Along with the steak and corn, I like to make roasted potatoes, which are the perfect substantial side to a steak dinner. Start with thoroughly washed and dried golden baby potatoes. Toss olive oil, garlic and fresh rosemary together along with the potatoes, and then transfer to a baking sheet. In an oven preheated to 400 degrees, these potatoes should be perfectly roasted in about 20 minutes. Make sure to shake the baking sheet often so they do not burn. You will have potatoes with a creamy interior and a crispy exterior once done.

I hope that you will be sitting outdoors for this meal. There is nothing like taking in a cool summer Jersey evening with your grilled favorites and the sun staying high while dining. Now, what to drink with this dinner? So many options fit the bill nicely. I lean towards full-bodied reds with some herbal characteristics. This dish is great with red blends like Rhone Style Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre blends. Cabernet Franc is also an ideal pairing with this meat, and one we often turn to. Tempranillo is also a tasty choice.

Available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, HotHog taps into local weather data to predict the relative comfort or heat stress levels of pigs on an hourly, daily or weekly basis. Swine producers can then use this information to take pre-emptive measures, like ensuring plenty of drinking water, cooling the pigs with fans or mists, and limiting transport to early morning hours.

Annually, heat stress in pigs costs the U.S. swine industry an estimated $481 million in revenue losses. Ensuring the positive welfare and productivity of pigs (a top source of animal protein worldwide) will be even more critical in the face of global climate change— particularly during the summer months and in tropical regions, noted Jay S. Johnson, an animal scientist who leads the ARS’s Livestock Behavior Research Unit in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Pigs are especially vulnerable to heat stress because they cannot sweat. In modern production settings, pigs cope with heat through panting, while the caregivers adjust ventilation rates, utilize sprinklers, and ensure free access to abundant, cool water for the animals to drink. Without such measures, pigs may start to eat less, grow slower, produce less lean muscle, produce less milk and experience other health, productivity or fertility problems.

Gestating sows are among a swine herd’s most vulnerable members, and when heat-stressed, they may give birth to fewer and smaller piglets. Heat-stressed gestating sows may also give birth to in utero heatstressed piglets that have a greater risk of health and other complications in their postnatal life.

According to its developers, HotHog is the first decision-support tool of its kind to predict thermal stress based on behavioral and physiological data collected from heat-load studies of swine—and more precisely, from non-pregnant breeding females and mid- and lategestation sows. This is what differentiates the app from other decision-support tools that are now available to swine producers.

“Additionally, many thermal indices currently in use were originally developed for use in non-swine species and may not accurately predict thermal comfort and stress in pigs,” added Johnson. The HotHog app was developed, tested and released with collaborators from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC); Purdue University (Purdue) in West Lafayette, Indiana; and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Future updates to HotHog will include Spanish translation, push notifications and thermal predictions for boars, nursery pigs and growing-finishing pigs, among other groups. The app will apply these updates through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store updates, Johnson said.

Editor’s Note: Andy Lagana is a Chef at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, Sussex County, N.J. For more information on its culinary program, visit www.CSResort.com.

By Hubert Ling

You probably have never heard of the life-of-man plant, and you may also not be familiar with its more famous, common name: American spikenard (Aralia racemosa). Aralie is a French–Canadian girl’s name and racemosus means having stalked flowers arranged in a spike.

Actually spikenard has a spreading, complex, compound raceme called a panicle. This article will help familiarize you with a striking NJ native which “carries the cool essence of our rich woodlands.” (hillsidenursery.biz)

Spikenard is in the Araliaceae family along with ginseng and sarsaparilla. Each year spikenard emerges from the ground; large compound leaves expand and a shrub-like mound 3-5 (-10) feet tall forms rapidly. These large, mildly ginger-scented plants, need to be protected from strong

How often do we hear the phrase, ‘The Devil is in the Details’? It is a phrase I often hear when the topic turns to garden design. One design detail that always provides the gardener with surprise and beauty are flowers appearing from bulbs we forgot planting. It was on a trip to Stonecrop, the home and garden of financier and horticulturist Frank Cabot (1925-2011) that I was first introduced to the bulb Prospero autumnalis, commonly known as Autumn Squill. With floweradorned stems reaching 8-12” tall in July into August, Autumn Squill is a small ‘Detail’ that adds big ‘Beauty’ to the garden!

Despite its small stature, Prospero autumnalis native expanse stretches from the United Kingdom South to Portugal and East to Turkey and the Caucasus. With roughly 12 species, it is currently placed within the subfamily Scilloideae, which in turn is placed within the Asparagaceae or the Asparagus family. Being a member of the subfamily Scilloideae is logical as it was originally placed within the genus Scilla in 1753 by the Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778). The name Scilla, also penned by Linnaeus, comes from

Life-of-man Plant?

winds. By July, spikenard is graced with numerous spikes composed of countless small, greenish-white flowers with five triangular reflexed petals. There are also five prominent white stamens which surround a single short style. The flower stalks are very densely covered with hairs which gives them a frosty look, and the flowers are followed by small green berries which ripen in fall to dark maroon, edible berries. In late fall, the leaves turn yellow or an interesting pink, with the veins painted in yellow, and then the entire above ground portion of the plant shrivels down to the thick, overwintering, underground rhizome.

With a common name of life-of-man, you might suspect that Aralia racemosa was highly esteemed as a general cure-all and you would be right. Many Native American tribes and early country practitioners made extensive use of the fragrant rhizomes and berries of life-of-man.

These plant products were used for food and drink and for all kinds of internal and external problems. However, since American spikenard is slow growing and an uncommon plant in NJ, unless you are growing it yourself, these plants must not be harvested in the wild. In addition, some people exhibit an allergy to this plant and its products. Hopefully the development of much more effective alternative medications will allow this conspicuous plant to survive in the wild. Spikenard is found in scattered locations in Eastern North America from Canada south to Georgia and west to Arizona. In NJ, it occasionally appears as a single plant in most northern counties; however, it is relatively uncommon and I have only seen it twice in the wild in NJ.

Spikenard tolerates rocky and clay soil, drought, deep shade, and mildly basic soil. It is also reasonably resistant to rabbits and deer. The plant is a long lived perennial and

grows best in deep, slightly acid, fertile, humusy, moist soil in semi-shaded areas at the margins of wooded areas.

Spikenard can be propagated by root cuttings, transplanting suckers, and by seed. The seeds should be removed from the fruits which may inhibit germination. Give the cleaned seeds a three month cold, moist treatment or plant them outside as soon as they are ripe. Spikenard does not have any serious diseases, but sometimes there are minor infestations of spider mites and aphids. Wear gloves when handling the plants because they may cause a skin rash.

Although a mature spikenard plant can grow to a full height of several feet in a few weeks, the thick storage rhizomes take years of slow growth before they can support above ground growth of 4-5 feet. Reproduction in this plant is slow and only if conditions are just right, so you have little to fear that it will take over your yard.

Morris County Park Commission

By Bruce Crawford Horticultural Manager

The Beauty is in the Details

the Latin of the same name and the Greek Skilla. It was a name used in the distant past by botanists and naturalists such as Theophrastus (371-287 BC) to describe a bulbous plant. Although the plant described by Theophrastus and others was a different bulb, Linnaeus adopted the name for this ‘new’ group of bulbs. The species epithet describes how it blooms during late summer and into the early fall.

The genus name of Prospero was published posthumously in The Genera of Plants in 1866 by the English botanist Richard Salisbury (1761-1829). Salisbury suggested shifting four species of Scilla native to North Africa to the genus Prospero. The inspiration for the genus name remains a mystery, although it has been suggested the district in Italy named San

Prospero was the inspiration, while others consider the magician Prospero in Shakespeare’s the Tempest provided the namesake. However, he did not entertain changing the name of Scilla autumnalis that remained untouched until 1982. At this time, the genus was under much scrutiny by the Austrian botanist Franz Speta (1941-2015). Speta noticed many species of Scilla were sufficiently unique to be teased out, and he suggested placing this species into the genus Prospero, which is now accepted by most in the botanical community.

Although largely unrecognized by most gardeners, Prospero autumnalis is certainly worth searching out in catalogues or specialty nurseries. The narrow, straplike foliage is ¼” wide by 6-8” long and appears in mid-

The large spikenard plants provide dense cover for small animals on dark forest floors. Spikenard flowers are sought out by bees and beetles; birds and bears are attracted to the berries.

Because of the thick, deep rhizomes, mature spikenard plants are difficult to transplant. Also you should carefully chose a good shady location where this large plant will not shade out smaller companions. Spikenard grows well with Jack-in-the-pulpit, wild geranium, Greek valerian, trillium, yellow wood violet, and Solomon’s seal. Consider this plant if you have the room, and be amazed year after year as it apparently grows from nothing into a five foot “bush” each year.

Editor’s Note: Hubert Ling is Horticultural Co-Chair of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. He can be reached at milhubling@ verizon.net.

a few seedlings annually. Plants are hardy in zones 5-8. Due to their mid-summer bloom time, plants are best located along the edge of beds near walls or walkways where they can best be appreciated.

March, only to mostly vanish by July. Starting in late July in Northern New Jersey, the flower stems emerge, often accompanied by a few fresh leaves. Each bulb produces from one to four flowering stems, stretching to 12” tall. They are topped by floral racemes that range from one to four inches long and contain from 5-30+ bright pink or violet flowers, often with a green tip. Each flower has three petals and three sepals that look identical and are termed tepals. The buds are a bright purplish pink, capped in a bright Leprechaun green. As the six tepals open, they reflex backward and develop into a star-shaped flower nearly 3/8” in diameter with outstretched yellow anthers.

Plants grow best in full sun and well-drained soils and increase in size through producing offsets and

Unlike February and March, when the blooms of smaller statured bulbs are easily seen amongst the winter-bare landscape, smaller blooming bulbs in summer can be easily overlooked. Of course, it took a gentleman like Frank Cabot, the founder of the Garden Conservancy to appreciate the value this bulb brings to a garden. Its beauty and unexpected appearance during mid-summer is a detail gardens both need and require. All the more reason why for the Garden, ‘The Beauty is in the Details’, is far more appropriate than the devil!

Editor’s Note: Bruce Crawford is a lover of plants since birth, is the Manager of Horticulture for the Morris County Parks Commission, and a Past President of the Garden State Gardens Consortium. He can be reached at BCrawford@ morrisparks.net

Summer is here and so are a lot of brown spots. What is causing this? Your lawn looked so good this spring. Is it fungus, insect damage, drought stress or Fido? When your lawn is under summer stress, more “brown spots” may appear.

Fungus in a lawn occurs when the “disease triangle” is completed. Disease develops from the interaction between a susceptible plant host (the grass), a disease-causing organism (the pathogen), and an environment that favors the pathogen to infect and incite disease on the host. That environment usually includes heat and moisture. This is similar to getting athletes foot, a fungus that is caused by the warmth of the body, moisture from sweating and working out, and darkness from the foot being covered by socks and shoes. There also is a “disease management” triangle you can follow to reduce fungus in your lawn. Once you have identified the fungus, you can manage it by manipulating the host, the pathogens and/or the environmental conditions. You can manipulate the host plant by using better quality disease resistant grass species

Now that we are entering the month of July, which is traditionally the hottest month of the year here in the Garden State, it is time to start getting our cool season vegetable seeds and plants ready for planting. Of course, we have spent the last couple of months tending to our warm season vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, and squash, and we might even be harvesting some of these. But now is the time to start thinking about a couple of months down the road.

Certain crops thrive in cooler temperatures and do not perform as well during the hottest months of the summer. Lettuce is an excellent example of this. We usually start planting lettuce transplants in the field in mid-April. These transplants can tolerate a light frost and thrive in the cool, damp conditions that are usually associated with April and May. As the plants start to mature in late May and early June, the weather is warmer and temperatures that are too hot can cause the lettuce to bolt and become bitter. One way we have found that can

Turf ‘s Up

By Todd Pretz Professional Turf Consultant

What’s up with your lawn?

and varieties. If you apply a fungicide, be sure it is labelled for the disease you are trying to control and follow all label directions. You can try cultural controls such as aerating or raising your mowing height during stressful times. You can trim tree branches in order to get better air flow over shaded lawn areas where fungus occurs.

Lawn insects are very active during summer months. This is due to their natural life cycle; they flourish during hot summer days. Some like the heat and dryness and some need moisture to reproduce abundantly. Insect populations may be significantly higher this year due to the mild winter we experienced. Normal winter

cold weather can reduce the life cycle of many lawns’ insects, but not this past winter. Surface lawn insects include ants, fleas, ticks, and chinch bugs. Soil insects include billbugs, grubs, sod webworms and cutworms. Be sure to identify the insect you are trying to control to apply the correct insecticide, following all label directions. Timing of applications and watering, or not, are critical to successful insect control. What about heat and drought stress? Well, we can’t control Mother Nature, but we can better prepare our lawn to withstand some levels of heat and drought each summer. The best defense is following a sound lawn care program throughout the years. This includes using quality

grass seed, sharp mower blades, and raising your mower height during summer months. Also, fertilize your lawn properly prior to summer to increase root depth and drought resistance. Don’t water every day in the spring, which promotes shallow roots and also creates a false sense of security; your lawn thinks it will rain every day, but it doesn’t in this part of the world. We are not living in the rain forest, so why water every day? The lawn needs about one inch of water weekly during the growing months from March to November to look its best. Less frequent, longer waterings are best to drive grass roots deep into the ground to find moisture during drought periods. Has Fido been contributing

The Town Farmer

By Peter Melick Agricultural Producer

Cool Season Vegetables in July

ameliorate these conditions is to use white plastic mulch. This white mulch does a good job of reflecting the sun and heat away from the plants, and allows the plants to grow in a cooler environment than if they had been planted on black plastic or on bare soil.

We usually stop planting lettuce for a few weeks in early to mid-June as it is too difficult to get good quality lettuce during July. It usually takes four to six weeks from transplanting to harvest. But then we start planting lettuce transplants back into the field in the second week of July on white plastic mulch. These plants will then mature sometime in mid- to late August when the days start to get shorter and

nights are cooler, and heavy dews will hopefully keep the foliage moist and tender. I know that there are some new varieties that do better in hot conditions, and some growers try and keep a steady supply of lettuce throughout the season, but I prefer to grow lettuce when there is a little more margin for error and the growing conditions are a little more forgiving.

Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and other cole crops are at their best during the fall here in New Jersey. Like lettuce, these crops do not perform as well when they have to mature during the hottest weeks of the year. They also prefer maturing in some of the cooler months such as September and October. While some of these

to your brown spots? I know we love our dogs, but they do leave their “presents” behind (is that a pun?). Male dogs tend to find a fire hydrant, mail box or tree to do their business while female dogs squat and leave too high of a concentration of urine, which can kill the grass. Apply water quickly to urine spots as soon as possible if at all possible. This will dilute the concentration in the hopes of saving the grass. Rake and seed areas that are obviously dead. While chicken, turkey and cow manure are dehydrated and granulated to use for growing crops, it’s tough to do this with your dog deposits. Rake and seed dead areas as best you can. Enjoy a nice picnic this summer on your lawn, or go to the beach and forget about it for a while.

Editor’s Note: Todd Pretz is Vice President of Jonathan Green, a leading supplier of lawn and garden products in the northeast. For more information, please visit: www.jonathangreen.com

varieties can be grown very successfully when they are planted early in the spring, a week of one-hundred-degree temperatures around harvest can wreak havoc on some of these crops. While cabbage is almost bullet proof when it comes to high temperatures around harvest, broccoli and cauliflower can have some quality issues if the weather gets too hot when they are maturing.

In order to harvest these crops during optimal weather conditions in the fall, we start planting these transplants in mid-July. We then stagger plantings for a month or so and use varieties with different maturity dates to try and spread out our harvest of these crops from late September

into November. While a light frost will not bother these crops too much, a hard freeze before they fully mature can be devastating. Therefore, it pays to be vigilant and constantly monitor the weather once we get into November. For us, it is very tempting to leave these in the field as long as possible. Not only do yields increase, but in some years, we are able to take advantage of the increased demand for these products that comes with Thanksgiving. But every year is different, and all it takes is one cold night to lose a crop. Happy Summer and Good Luck!

Editor’s Note: Peter Melick is co-owner of Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick and a 10th-generation New Jersey farmer. Peter is Mayor of Tewksbury Township, Hunterdon County, NJ. He also served as a director for the New Jersey Farm Bureau and is a past president of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Peter has also been featured on NJN, News 12 New Jersey and on the Fox Business Network.

While many perennials come and go in popularity in the garden, the catmints, Nepeta, have stood the test of time. Certain perennials like Heuchera, Helleborus, Carex, Baptisia, and Echinacea have had periods of being very “in vogue” in the garden. While catmints have not been coveted and collected like the aforementioned, they have had a year-in and yearout popularity over decades unlike most other perennials. In 2007, Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’ was selected by the Perennial Plant Association as the perennial of the year. This was in large part due to the versatility of this plant in the garden and landscape. Even though the catmints are not native in the United States, they have most likely maintained their popularity due to Nepeta being an iconic English garden plant. They are drought resistant, have beautiful silvery foliage and blue flowers, are one of the few plants that can truly be considered deer resistant, and if you are a cat lover you know that some catmints or catnips have a euphoric effect on cats, especially Nepet a cataria. The leaves and stems of many catmints, especially N. cataria, have nepetalactone oil which when vaporized triggers various responses in cats. Like other members of the mint family, Lamiaceae, including Agastache, hyssop;

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

By Andrew Bunting Vice President of Horticulture

The Catmints

Salvia , sage; Lavandula , lavender; Monarda, beebalm; and Thymus, thyme, they are characterized by fragrant foliage

In my home garden, Nepeta racemosa ‘Walker’s Low’ is intermittently planted with the smokey purple spikes of Salvia ‘Caradonna’.

‘Walker’s Low’ has silverygrey aromatic foliage that is clump-forming and is covered in spikes of sky blue flowers to two feet in May. While the ‘Caradonna’ from time to time will get browsed by the deer, the ‘Walker’s Low’ is completely deer resistant. Over the course of the summer, the foliage can get discolored and look at little “ratty”. This is easily remedied by giving this perennial a “haircut” in late summer. I simply gather together all the stems and using my pruners cut the entire clump back to six inches from the ground. Quickly the stems will resprout and your clump will be attractive and manageable for the rest of the growing

season.

‘Six Hills Giant’ is even more robust than ‘Walker’s Low’, reaching a similar height but with an even greater spread. ‘Junior Walker’ is more compact than ‘Walker’s Low’. Nepeta x faassenii ‘Kit Kat’ is another compact selection.

All of the aforementioned catmints or catnips are spreading types. They can be effectively used in large masses as a quasigroundcover, but are equally effective used to cover ground around other perennials. At the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College Rose Garden, it is used as underplanting for many of the roses and can be treated in such a way under other masses of ornamental shrubs. In the vegetable garden it can be effectively used as a plant to edge walkways and pathways.

Other more upright species exist as well. Nepeta govaniana has soft sulfur yellow and grows to about two feet tall. Growing a

little tall and with a more robust stature is Nepeta sibirica ‘Souvenire d’Andre Chaudron’ which reaches three feet tall, and the comparable N. yunnanensis which tops out at four feet tall.

With increasing deer pressure in the garden, and drought throughout the growing season becoming more and more impactful, we need to have a good selection of ornamental plants to combat these impacts. All of the Nepeta species and cultivars have proven to be completely resistant to deer browsing. And most of the types are also very resistant to drought.

The spreading types are a great accent to any landscape or perennial garden. The upright types like N. sibirica and N. yunnanensis combine beautifully with other perennials like Salvia ‘Caradonna’, the fine foliage of the ironweed, Vernonia lettermannii ‘Iron Butterfly, ornamental grasses such as the Mexican feather grass,

Nasella tenuissima ; switch grasses, Panicum virgatum and the prairie dropseed, Sporobolus heterolepis

Many of these selections are easily accessible at local garden centers or local growers or mail order nurseries that focus on the production and sale of herbs. A lot of local municipalities also have herb sales in the spring.

Editor’s Note: Andrew Bunting is Vice President of Horticulture for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. He is one of the most recognized horticulturists in the Philadelphia, Pa., region and a highly regarded colleague in the world of professional horticulture. Bunting has amassed a plethora of awards, including the American Public Gardens Association Professional Citation, Chanticleer Scholarship in Professional Development, Delaware Center for Horticulture’s Marion Marsh Award, and the Certificate of Merit from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. In addition, Bunting has lectured extensively throughout North America and Europe, and participated in plant expeditions throughout Asia and Africa. Learn more at https://phsonline.org/team/ andrew-bunting

Made to Move: Toro Launches New, Comfortable Vista® Shuttle

Toro is excited to expand its commercial vehicle portfolio with the all-new Vista® shuttle. Designed for the task of transporting multiple passengers comfortably and conveniently, Vista is ideal for resorts, stadiums, universities and municipalities. A HyperCell® lithium-ion, battery-powered option meets the needs of customers looking for an alternative energy solution.

Customers can choose from four, six or eight passenger options in both EFI gas and lithium-ion powertrains, with the option to add additional power on lithium units to further boost performance and keep users powered for longer. For added operator and

maintenance convenience, users can easily view speed, battery level (on lithium-ion models), fault codes and other key information on the LCD screen located on the dashboard.

The new Vista lithium option is powered by Toro HyperCell batteries — Toro’s proprietary, patent-pending lithium-ion technology. Toro has implemented rigorous standards that require every battery to pass extensive environment and third-party certification testing. The distributed Battery Management System (BMS) optimizes battery performance to enhance reliability and longevity. HyperCell batteries provide diagnostic

information to simplify and streamline any service needs. A third-party recycling program is available for batteries that reach end-of-life.

The attention to detail in the sleek and smooth design of Vista allows customers to provide a professional experience to their guests. Plus, each transport vehicle can easily be custom branded with decals, wrapped or painted, due to the use of TPO plastic in the body panels — allowing universities, stadiums and more to deck the shuttle out with their colors and logos.

Equipped for a smooth and relaxing experience during longer rides, Vista provides front and rear independent

suspension, plenty of leg room, and ample onboard storage space. The steering wheel is designed so the driver can easily get in and out of the seat. A standard, fold-down rear seat with grip texture and a lip around the edge provides easy storage for bulky items, such as bags or boxes, and holds these items in place during transport.

The parking brake activates and deactivates on lithium models, which means fewer brake adjustments and less maintenance. Hydraulic disc brakes allow for swift, assured stopping power.

For more information on the new Toro Vista shuttle, please visit toro.com/ vista.

Growing Gardeners

By Diana Dove Environmental Educator

Lead a Garden Discovery Walk for Children Before they Garden!

If you were to introduce children to a gardening program, what are some things to teach elementary-aged children before they begin to garden? First, take the children OUTSIDE for a guided kids’ discovery walk through the garden. It’s important for Growing Gardeners to explore the garden and learn basic gardening terms and safety rules before picking up a garden tool. Introduce children to connections between plants, animals, and people. This helps them develop a respect for living things in the garden and the environment.

Here are suggested tips when leading young gardeners on a Garden Discovery walk. Get their attention so they will listen and learn. Gather the group and quiet them down. Teachers and instructors have various teaching styles. Instead of using whistles or shouting in the garden, I prefer using a calm voice to keep the atmosphere relaxed and tranquil. I might hold up a plant and calmly, say, “Let me see your eyes on this plant.” Once I have everyone’s attention, we begin the garden walk. Or... I will say, “If you hear me, clap gently once.” Those listening clap once. Next, I will say, “If you hear me, clap gently twice.” Everyone claps twice and I have their full attention.

Constant observations and a flow of activity engage the attention of young children. Those children who are new to the garden need to have things pointed out to them first, until they develop their own observation skills. As young gardeners notice more things around them, they realize it’s fun and become excited to point out their own discoveries to the other

children.

A fourth grader pointed to a branch of a Bayberry shrub and said, “Look, a beehive!” I asked, “Where do you see that?” He pointed again. It was a praying mantis egg case. The children gathered around to get a closer look. Using this as a teachable moment, I described the egg case and explained why praying mantis are in the garden. Sometimes making new discoveries in the garden feels like a song. It flows with excitement and the knowledge builds. Sometimes it repeats itself just like the chorus of a song.

Explaining the Garden Rules establishes safe habits. Children need instructions about safe handling and carrying of garden tools. Show them the proper spacing so they won’t bump into each other with long-handled tools. I recommend trowels and short-handled shovels for young gardeners when available. Instructions should include not running, especially with tools or wheelbarrows. Another rule is to observe wildlife from a distance; don’t touch everything you see. Caterpillars are delicate; plucking them off a leaf as they grasp with suction cup feet may injure them. Some caterpillars with stinging hairs should not be touched at all, such as the Saddleback Caterpillar which we found on Spicebush. Children need to learn to stay on the walking paths and to weed and plant without walking all over the garden beds. It’s part of understanding and respecting living things

Help children tune in their senses by describing different ways to see and observe nature in the garden. Stay in one place for five minutes then ask children to describe

what they observed. Look up, down, and all around. Notice the clouds. Is there wind? Sketching with colored pencils on art paper secured on clip boards helps children sit longer.

“How many scents can you smell?” Smelling Honeysuckle, Bay Magnolia Tree flowers, or the blossoms on a Fringe Tree open a new world for some children who often walk by these plants. I will crumble up a leaf from the Sweetgum Tree or a Bayberry shrub and see how amazed children are to smell their sweet scents.

Wildlife sights and sounds in a garden fascinate children. Birds create melodic songs throughout the garden. Crickets and katydids serenade a summer garden before sunset. There is so much to teach when connecting plants, insects and wildlife including deer, groundhogs, black bear, squirrels, cottontail rabbits, birds, turtles, snakes, toads, ticks, spiders, spotted lantern flies, bees, butterflies, and other insects, etc. and how they interact with gardens and people.

Set up hands-on discovery stations along your garden walk because children don’t like to sit still for too long of a session. Teach and demonstrate something, then move the group to the next station while learning about plants in between stations. Station themes could include names of tools, pulling a weed with its roots, planting a flower bulb, removing a plant from its pot, measuring soil depth, life cycles and food webs in the garden, plant names, etc. Walk through the garden as if you were telling a story. A positive experience in the garden will help children become interested in becoming Growing Gardeners.

Editor’s Note: Diana is an Environmental Educator with award-winning programs for all ages who has been teaching since 1975. She can be reached at dianadove13@gmail.com She currently co-teaches, “Wildlife & Litter” programs with her husband Mike that are free to NJ groups when sponsored by Clean Communities. This includes guided nature walks, pond studies, education booths at town festivals, and outdoor programs for youth & adult garden clubs, schools, camps, libraries, and service organizations with a message about not littering. She is a former Sr. Naturalist for Somerset Co. Parks. In October, 1996 Diana founded a schoolyard, wildlife habitat garden at Memorial School in Washington Boro, Warren County, NJ. Please ‘Like” the FB page of the Karen Nash Memorial Butterfly Garden. Diana volunteers as Youth Chair on the Bd of the Garden Club of NJ and is a First Place National Winner of the NGC Youth Leader Award. She has a BS in Forestry & Wildlife Mgt, with a concentration in Biology, plus a BA in Communications from Va Tech.

As the farming season kicks into high gear, I wanted to take a moment to share some valuable information that could have a positive impact on your operations. The USDA Farm Service Agency’s Organic Certification Cost Share Program is a fantastic opportunity that can benefit your farm in more ways than one.

Organic farming has gained tremendous popularity in recent years, and for good reason. Consumers are increasingly seeking out organic produce, recognizing the health and environmental benefits it offers. By participating in the Organic Certification Cost Share Program, you can tap into this growing demand and reap the rewards. One of the most significant benefits is the higher market value that organic produce commands compared to conventionally grown crops. By obtaining organic certification, you can position your farm to capture premium prices, giving you a competitive edge in the market.

But what exactly does the Organic Certification Cost Share Program entail? It’s a partnership between the USDA Farm Service Agency and eligible organic producers that aims to alleviate the financial burden associated with obtaining and maintaining organic certification. The program provides financial assistance by reimbursing a portion of the costs incurred during the organic certification process. These costs may

Here at the NJLCA, we are getting excited (so excited we keep “wetting our plants”) and gearing up for our summer show, New Jersey Contractors Showcase Expo (NJCSE) at the beginning of next month at County College of Morris in Randolph, NJ. Exhibitors are getting their booths and demonstration areas in order and looking forward to a full house of attendees who are signing up daily. Trade Shows are always fun, but they also serve a purpose to those in the industry. They provide a chance for industry members to get together, for sure, but there is much more involved.

Networking Galore: Trade Shows bring together professionals, experts, and industry leaders from around the tri-state metropolitan area. They offer an ideal platform to forge valuable connections, expand professional networks, and collaborate with like-minded individuals. The opportunity to meet potential clients, suppliers, partners, and industry influencers under one roof is unparalleled, as we see each year at our event in the Meadowlands. What makes this more exciting is the ability to see, feel and test out the equipment and services.

Stay Ahead of the Curve: Staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends, innovations, and technologies is crucial for sustaining growth

USDA Farm Service Agency

By Bob Andrzejczak State Executive Director

USDA Organic Certification Cost Share Program: Growing Opportunities for Farmers

include application fees, inspection fees, and even the cost of transitional certification for those moving from conventional to organic practices.

Participating in this program not only eases the financial strain but also helps streamline the organic certification process. By providing financial support, the USDA Farm Service Agency aims to encourage more farmers to pursue organic certification, thereby expanding the availability of organic products in the marketplace. This is a win-win situation for farmers and consumers alike.

If you’re interested in taking advantage of the Organic Certification Cost Share Program, all you need to do is reach out to your local county FSA office. Our dedicated staff are ready to guide you through the application process, answer any questions you may have, and assist you every step of the way. They

possess a wealth of knowledge and experience in working with farmers like you, and they will ensure that you have all the necessary information to make informed decisions for your farm.

The Organic Certification Cost Share Program has been helping farmers across the country for several years now. However, its benefits and impact cannot be overstated. By participating in the program, you can access new markets, increase profitability, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

I am thrilled to see more farmers embracing organic practices and exploring the advantages of organic certification. Your commitment to sustainable farming not only benefits your own operations but also helps protect the environment and promotes healthier lifestyles for consumers.

I encourage you to take the next step toward organic certification

by learning more about the USDA Organic Certification Cost Share Program. Reach out to your local county FSA office today to discover how you can unlock the potential of organic farming and grow your farm’s success.

Program Deadlines

Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP) – Extended to July 14

USDA’s Pandemic Assistance Relief Program (PARP) wraps-up and fills remaining gaps in previous pandemic assistance. To be eligible for PARP, an agricultural producer must have been in the business of farming during at least part of the 2020 calendar year and had a 15% or greater decrease in allowable gross revenue for the 2020 calendar year, as compared to a baseline year.

Emergency Relief Program (ERP

The NJLCA Today

By Gail Woolcott Executive Director

Hot Fun in the Summertime!

and staying competitive. NJCSE will offer an extensive range of exhibitors, demos and presentations that provide exclusive insights into cutting-edge developments and opportunities. Attendees in the green and outdoor living industries have the chance to be at the forefront of their field and gain a competitive edge by leveraging the knowledge gained at the event.

Educational Opportunities: Trade shows often feature educational seminars, workshops, and panel discussions led by industry experts. NJCSE will offer traditional education, but what is great about this event is that we will also offer hands-on workshops and demonstrations. These sessions provide valuable educational content, sharing insights and best practices. Contractors will have the chance to deepen their knowledge, learn from industry leaders, and gain fresh perspectives on challenges

and opportunities relevant to their businesses.

Competitive Intelligence: At a trade show, attendees can gain a deeper understanding of the market landscape, industry benchmarks, and emerging trends. This knowledge can be invaluable when shaping their own business strategies and making informed decisions for future growth.

Attending the New Jersey Contractors Showcase Expo could be a transformative experience for green and outdoor living industry businesses, offering a wealth of opportunities to expand networks, gain industry insights, try out new products, and stay ahead of the competition. It is an investment that can yield significant returns and open doors to new horizons.

I always say that one of the greatest benefits of membership in the NJLCA is the relationships and knowledge obtained from the

2) Phase Two – Extended to July 14

USDA’s Emergency Relief Program (ERP 2) Phase Two fills remaining gaps in previous ERP natural disaster assistance. To be eligible for ERP Phase Two, producers must have suffered a decrease in allowable gross revenue in 2020 or 2021 due to necessary expenses related to losses of eligible crops from a qualifying natural disaster event. Assistance will be primarily to producers of crops that were not covered by Federal Crop Insurance or NAP, since crops covered by Federal Crop Insurance and NAP were included in the assistance under ERP Phase One.

Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP) –July 26

CLEAR30 for Producers with Expiring CRP Acres – July 31

Editor’s Note: Bob Andrzejczak is the State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in New Jersey. He can also be reached at 609587-0104 during regular business hours. For more information, please visit https://www.fsa.usda.gov/ state-offices/New-Jersey/ sed-biography/index

a moment to enjoy the stunning landscape throughout our gorgeous state and take advantage of the parks, botanical gardens, arboretums and of course, industry events this summer!

education and from fellow members. Furthermore, if we can get you to a meeting and actively participate, you can truly understand the value. The NJCSE is an opportunity to do this on an even larger scale, with hundreds of attendees and exhibitors, educators and experts. Plus, what could be better than food trucks for lunch!

If you are part of the landscape, hardscape, nursery, horticultural, agricultural or outdoor living industries, I urge you to mark your calendar for August 2, 2023 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at County College of Morris and secure your ticket to this exciting event. Registering is simple and can be done on the event website www. njcse.com

We look forward to seeing you and wish you a wonderful summer with a plethora of flora and fauna, the smell of freshly cut grass, and nights around the firepit! Take

Editor’s Note: Gail Woolcott is the Executive Director for the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association. Gail received the New York State Turf & Landscape Association 2022 “Person of the Year” award on December 1, 2022. Gail also received a proclamation from the Westchester County, New York Board of Legislators proclaiming December 1, 2022 as “Gail Woolcott Day” in Westchester County. Gail has also been presented with a community service award from the Borough of Fairview, New Jersey for her assistance in leading the 9-11 Memorial Park project and the Legislative Champion of the Year award from the Federation of Employers and Workers of America. She can be reached at 201-703-3600 or by emailing gwoolcott@ njlca.org.

NORTHEASTERN ASSOCIATION OF STATE

The Northeastern Association of State Departments of Agriculture convenes the following 10 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Connecticut Farm Wineries Launches 2023 Passport Program

The Passport to Connecticut Wine Country, which runs through December 31, 2023, encourages consumers to engage with the state’s more than 45 farm wineries — 38 of which participate in the passport program. Available as a user-friendly mobile app available on most devices, search CT Wine Passport to download from the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

“The Passport to Connecticut Wine Country program offers yet another way consumers can explore our great state while engaging with award-winning farm wineries,” said Connecticut Department of Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt. “We encourage residents and visitors to download the app, CT Wine Passport, plan their trips with friends and family, and start their journey to collecting stamps while making lasting memories and supporting local Connecticut businesses along the way.”

In 2022, the first year of the mobile app, more than 22,700 winery visits were recorded with over 8,500 users downloading the app. At each winery location, participants can collect a digital stamp which equals one point towards a reward level. Upon reaching a prize level, those points can be redeemed which enters the participant into a prize drawing.

In 2023, more than 100 prizes will be available,

valued at more than $10,000 total, as visitors explore Connecticut Wine Country. There are three tiers of awards – Taster (12 or more stamps), Sommelier (18 or more stamps), and Winemaker (35 or more stamps). Participants who visit all 38 participating farm wineries will also be eligible for a commemorative gift, up to 50 names will be drawn at random to recognize their support of Connecticut’s farm wineries.

For those who have traveled the state visiting farm wineries in the past, they will have the chance to visit perennial favorites along with two new wineries this year. Joining the Passport program are Worthington Vineyards in Somers and Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard in North Stonington. Worthington Vineyards was founded in 2000 and officially opened their tasting room, located in the Worthington’s Warming House, in 2022. Visitors will enjoy their more than 20 meticulously kept gardens while they enjoy an afternoon picnic with wine. Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard, purchased in 2018, is situated on 50 acres atop a hill provides sprawling views of vines, forest, and wildlife. A sister property to Saltwater Farm Vineyard, their tasting room will be opening soon.

For more information about Connecticut Farm Wineries or the Passport to Connecticut Wine Country, visit their website at ctwinecountry.com.

NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

2023 Spotted Lanternfly Treatment Funding For New Jersey Counties, Municipalities

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture is making grant funds available to counties and municipalities to battle the spotted lanternfly (SLF). Interested counties and municipalities may apply to receive funds from the Department. The Legislature has provided funding to the Department to reduce SLF populations and minimize their spread. As you may be aware, SLF is both a nuisance and an economic pest. Both federal and state staff are doing their best to reduce populations but in doing so we will need additional assistance and support from other stakeholders to make a difference. The Department has appropriated $4.9 Million for this grant program. A total of up to $50,000 per county, and up to $15,000 per municipality, subject to the availability of funds, to be encumbered on a first-come, first-served basis, will be provided to reimburse for eligible costs incurred for SLF chemical treatment activities.

In addition to this program, home and business owners can go to www.badbug.nj.gov to find information that includes a timeline for the stages of growth for the insect as well as treatment options. Along with the listed treatment options, residents and businesses can also use licensed pesticide applicators to provide treatments to kill the spotted lanternfly.

The Department asks people to check their vehicles whenever possible before leaving an area to make sure the pest is not coming along for the ride.

For more information visit https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/ news/hottopics/approved/topics220413.html

MAINE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Maine Agriculture Commissioner Elected President of NEASDA

At the 2023 Northeastern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NEASDA) Regional Meeting on June 7, held in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, Amanda Beal, the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF), was elected to serve a one-year term as NEASDA President.

NEASDA is a regional association that brings together the Commissioners, Secretaries, and Directors of Agriculture from ten states in the Northeastern region: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. NEASDA plays a vital role in influencing agricultural policies and fostering collaboration among states, federal entities, and other

stakeholders. NEASDA is a regional association of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), founded in 1916. Commissioner Beal also serves on the NASDA Board of Directors.

As President of NEASDA, Commissioner Beal will leverage her deep agriculture and policy experience and collaborative leadership style to address the evolving challenges and opportunities faced by the Northeastern agricultural community in support of a more vibrant sector.

The annual NEASDA Regional Meeting is a cornerstone event, fostering dialogue and collaboration among member states and other stakeholders. The conference covers various topics, including labor, trade, farmland protection, food safety, climate change, and

food security. The regional gatherings include educational tours of local agricultural businesses, showcasing the region’s vibrant farming and food production landscape. As President, Commissioner Beal and DACF will host the Regional Meeting in Maine in June of 2024, which will provide an opportunity to spotlight Maine agricultural businesses and initiatives underway to support their success.

Beal was also re-elected on that Wednesday to serve a second one-year term as Board President of Food Export–Northeast, a non-profit organization created in 1973 as a cooperative effort between ten Northeastern state agricultural promotion agencies and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE NEWS

VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Door-to-Door Meat Sellers Raise Concerns in Vermont

As the grilling season heats up, and especially in times of economic difficulties, door-to-door meat sellers begin making the rounds through neighborhoods in Vermont, and setting up shop in local parking lots. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) has already begun receiving reports, and some complaints, on door-to-door meat sellers. VAAFM strongly encourages Vermonters to use the utmost caution when considering purchasing meat from a door-to-door meat truck.

In the past, VAAFM has received complaints about the poor quality of the products sold by door-to-door meat sellers, as well as their misleading, and sometimes aggressive sales tactics. Concerns over the safety of the product purchased has also been at issue. Although there are several legitimate door-to-door meat sales companies licensed in Vermont, some other companies are selling meat without adhering to the appropriate requirements and without proper licensure.

VAAFM offers these tips to consumers so they can protect themselves and avoid being cheated with potentially unsafe and poor quality product:

• Ask for identification and ask to see the company’s Retail Meat License: VAAFM requires all meat and poultry vendors who sell in Vermont to be properly licensed and to carry the license with them. The license must be issued by VAAFM for the seller to be eligible to sell in Vermont. If you have a question, contact VAAFM to determine the license status of a vendor.

• Ask to see literature from the company (brochure, business card, etc. to review): Reputable companies will have a local sales office, often with a published pricing list. Often the person selling the meat is an independent contractor. It is important to get the company’s name, place of origin, address, phone number, salesperson’s full name (again, ask for identification), and the product return policy in writing – and understand it – prior to making a purchasing decision. If you do make a purchase, make sure you receive a receipt.

• Transport Vehicle: Always check to see that the products have been transported in a refrigerated vehicle. Never buy products that have been stored in the vehicle’s trunk, in an unrefrigerated vehicle, or in any kind of ordinary cooler or freezer that is unplugged. Frozen food should be stored at 0°F and fresh foods should be stored at 40°F or below at all times to prevent bacterial growth and spoilage. Unrefrigerated product may be unsafe because bacteria and pathogens can multiply rapidly during times of elevated temperatures.

• Know the price per pound: In Vermont, meat retailers are required to sell meat by the pound; therefore, be informed of the price per pound of the product in question. Don’t be fooled by a “cost per case”. Do the math ($ total price ÷ total pounds) and calculate how much meat you’re actually getting for the cost. If price per pound is not disclosed, do not purchase the product.

• Know the product you are buying: Read the label on each package. Is there a long list of added ingredients and fillers? Is the cut of meat clearly identified? Is there product inspection information? Inspection of the meat by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or by the State of Vermont is mandatory, and an establishment’s inspection number must be provided on the label, along with the species, cut of meat, Net weight, ingredients statement, and safe handling instructions. If you are being asked to buy meat in bulk, lacking sufficient labeling on each individual package of meat, you cannot be sure the meat has been properly inspected as required.

• High pressure sales tactics: Consumers should trust their instincts. If you are unsure, take a pause, and ask that they return at another time or provide you with contact information you can use at a later date. A legitimate vendor would not put pressure on a consumer to “buy now or lose the deal”.

Consumers with doubts about the safety of meat they’ve purchased are encouraged to avoid any risk and refrain from consuming it. To report a concern regarding unlicensed door-to-door meat sales, please contact VAAFM’s Meat Inspection Department at 802-828-2426.

PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Celebrating the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Unanimous Vote to Protect Pennsylvanians and Their Pets with the Dog Law Modernization Bill

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding joined supporters in applauding Senator Elder Vogel and the Senate Agriculture Committee in unanimously voting to move the Dog Law Modernization Bill to consideration.

“Senator Vogel’s bill proposes much needed modernization and standardization of Pennsylvania’s dog licensing system,” said Secretary Redding. “When this bill is passed, it will ensure the safety of our dogs and puppies in Pennsylvania, increase public transparency to ensure their pets are from trustworthy, reputable breeders, and will create opportunities for Pennsylvanians to easily purchase dog licenses online.”

“The Bureau’s primary operating funds come from the licensing and kennel fees administered through the Dog Law and with the absence of fee increases, which have not happened in 58 years, the Bureau has been financially suffering and has reported staff shortages – all of which have hindered them from efficiently performing their duties,” said Senator Vogel. “I want to thank my colleagues for supporting my legislation and seeing the dire needs of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement. My bill would return the bureau to solvency and provide additional updates to modernize the Dog Law.”

The Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement is primarily funded through individual dog license fees and kennel fees, but the current rates of those fees are no longer able to sufficiently fund the duties and responsibilities of the Bureau. As of 2023, the individual dog license fee rate has not been increased in 27 years and the kennel fees have not been increased in 58 years. Operating with a budget that relies on funds unchanged since 1996 and 1965 is not financially feasible, with the Bureau and thereby the public bearing the brunt of the effects.

Modernizing and updating the Dog Law affords Pennsylvania the opportunity to create better protections from dangerous dogs. “The State Police is in support of legislation which would enhance public safety, while allowing the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement to hire and provide more Dog Wardens throughout the Commonwealth that currently exist. Additionally, changes to the dangerous dog and quarantine requirements would assist in response and investigations to dog law violations,” said Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Mike Spada. With this bill, Pennsylvania would be taking a proactive step forward will ensure our communities are safer from dangerous dogs while reuniting lost pets with their owners more quickly.

In addition to re-homing lost dogs, the bureau monitors more than 500 dogs on the state’s Dangerous Dog Registry, compensates shelters for housing stray dogs without licenses, compensates farmers for livestock lost to stray dogs and coyotes, enforces rabies vaccination requirements, licenses and inspects kennels, and investigates contagious disease outbreaks among puppies and dogs in breeding and commercial kennels.

“Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable animals rely on the kindness and compassion of humans. Thankfully, Senator Vogel and his team have picked up the pen and made the decision to speak for them through legislation to fully restore and support the Bureau that is on the front line of combatting animal cruelty,” Said Secretary Redding.

This is No Ordinary Plant

(Continued from page 1)

the 1991–2020 normal. This ranked as the 52nd coolest May since 1895, according to New Jersey State Climatologist Dr. David Robinson. May precipitation also averaged 2.24” across New Jersey. This was 1.51” below normal, ranking as the 22nd driest on record.

I thought I would share some weather facts for blooming history in case you want to track blooming cycles. I have personally noticed that the beginning of June has been cooler than normal and drier than normal. We do need rain.

If your yucca plant flowered at the same time last year but is not flowering this year, compare this year’s weather with last year and you may have your answer. Also, make sure you know the variety.

Yucca plants are members of the Agave family and include over 45 different varieties. They have incredibly architectural forms with straight, spiny foliage radiating out

from a single point. The texture of the foliage can vary from thin, almost grass-like leaves to thick, wide leaves.

It’s probably best to keep them away from sidewalks, paths, or other areas with high foot and/or pet traffic. The deer-resistant leaves may be green, yellow, blue or variegated. Being drought resistant plants, they thrive in full to partial sun. In fact, to have the best chance to flower, yucca should be in full sunlight. They don’t like shade, and will most likely have an incredibly hard time flowering in low-light environments. Yucca should be planted somewhere with good drainage. Soil that doesn’t drain well could lead to root rot.

The yucca plant flower also has an interesting relationship with a white moth that pollinates the yucca and survives on its nectar. That said, the yucca plant will oftentimes not bloom unless this moth is present. I’ve recently seen this moth flying around the pictured yuccas around

dusk.

The yucca moth is a non-descript, small, whitish moth that blends well with the color of the yucca blossoms where it spends most of its brief adult life.

Like most drought tolerant plants, yucca doesn’t need a great deal of fertilizer.

Still, a regular, light dose of fertilizer (once at the beginning of the growing season and once again toward the middle of the growing season) will encourage a healthy plant.

The best type of fertilizer to use for the yucca plant is one organic and rich in phosphorus.

Do light pruning throughout the growing season and give your plant a more thorough pruning at the end of the growing season (usually early in October), to remove brown leaves.

You can do away with pesky insects through the use of an insecticidal soap spray.

I can’t wait to see when the yucca

flowers bloom, and how long they will last. Once all the flowers are gone, I’ll cut the entire stalk right down to its base. Just like removing dead leaves, this will allow the plant to focus energy on new growth.

In closing, I thought I’d tell you that the yucca flower is the state flower of New Mexico.

Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News . Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News , which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration, and education to the agricultural, gardening, landscaping and nursery communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

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