Master
Gardener Program & Helpline
Pesticide
Applicator Training
Diagnostic
Services
Agriculture
History
Agriculture and
Resource Management Department
The Agriculture
and Resource Management Department of Rutgers Cooperative Extension
(RCRE) of Middlesex County is committed to providing practical educational
programs and research that benefits county residents, especially the
35 million-dollar agricultural industry and the 45 million-dollar landscape
industry. There are over 19,000 acres of land devoted to agricultural
crop production in the county. This is approximately 10% of the total
land in the county.
The department
provides horticultural and environmental information and services to
numerous Middlesex County residents annually. Our office processes thousands
of phone calls, e-mails, letters and one on one contacts regarding the
following issues:
- identification
and control of pest problems of landscape and agricultural plants;
- nuisance animal
control;
- proper selection
and care of horticultural plants;
- procedure for
testing soils for nutrition and / or contamination problems; procedures
for testing drinking and surface water for contamination;
- tick identification
- and prevention
of Lyme Disease.
The department
works with commodity groups, government agencies and agribusiness to
conserve and manage natural resources, to promote agriculture, and to
maintain a healthy environment for county residents.
LOWER RARITAN
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT AREA
The Department of Environmental Protection has designated 20 Watershed
Management areas throughout New Jersey. The Lower Raritan Basin (WMA-9)
is developing a watershed management plan which will affect how your
water resources are regulated and utilized in Middlesex County. Ultimately,
plans from all watershed areas will be reviewed and placed into a statewide
plan for New Jersey. The Ag Department is actively involved in this
process in order to insure a safe and adequatewater supply for all Middlesex
County residents. If you would like to be involved in the process visit
the Raritan Basin website at www.raritanbasin.org
or contact the New Jersey Water Supply Authority at 732-356-9344.
IF PLANTS COULD
TALK
The television program series "If Plants Could Talk" is designed
to accomplish the following:
1) encourage the adoption of Integrated Pest Management;
2) encourage proper pesticide use and safety;
3) encourage proper plant use and culture to attain healthy garden and
landscape plants;
4) promote proper nutrition and increased consumption of fruits and
vegetables for good health;
5) promote the local agricultural industry;
6) significantly increase the number and diversity of the extension
audience.
An educational web site www.ifplantscouldtalk.rutgers.edu
was maintained to accompany the "If Plants Could Talk" television
series. The web site provides more detailed information on all topics
discussed on the television episodes. This cutting edge web site includes
educational fact sheets, slide shows and videos on horticultural and
environmental topics.
Online
Pesticide Education/Credits
Special Program
Focus
Compost Demonstration
Extension staff and volunteers conduct composting/recycling demonstrations
and educational programs. There are over 15 types of compost bins on
display at the EARTH Center which help us to promote composting and
recycling of organic materials. The extension office has received support
since 1994 from the Middlesex
County Department of Solid Waste Management in order to conduct
solid waste/natural resource programs and activities.
Services
The extension service provided important gardening resources for the
residents of the county. Available at our office are Soil Test Kits,
Pesticide Manuals for the state pesticide program and information on
upcoming extension seminars, short courses and meetings. In addition,
we perform general diagnostic work on various problems including insects,
plant diseases, tick identification, and plant identification. The
Rutgers Plant Diagnostic Lab (fee service) can do a more extensive
analysis of the problem if necessary.
