HomeArchives for Andy Wyenandt

Andy Wyenandt

Andy Wyenandt

Final harvest of the specialty crops at RAREC brings an end to a successful first year

By •

Main Content

The harvesting of the agrivoltaics specialty crops study came to close on 18 Oct. at RAREC in southern New Jersey. The work could not have been done without the dedicated volunteers of the Master Gardener Program of Cumberland County, New Jersey led by Kaylynn Hyson. Dr. Wesley Kline, Cumberland County Agricultural Agent, was instrumental in helping us harvest and train our volunteers.

Members of the Master Gardener Program of Cumberland County and undergraduate student employees posing on the last day of harvest at RAREC in southern New Jersey.

In total there were 13 eggplant ‘Palermo’, 10 fresh-market tomato ‘Red Deuce’, and 7 bell pepper ‘Turnpike’ harvests for the season. Once fruit were harvested, they were brought into our post harvest building and graded according to USDA standards. The harvest data we collected will be presented at local and regional meetings this winter and upcoming spring.

Grading and weighing of the harvested specialty crops at RAREC.

Much of the harvested fruit was donated to local food banks, churches, and senior living care facilities in the area by members of the Cumberland County Master Gardeners. In total for the season, ~ 1,300 lbs. of eggplant, 2,500 lbs. of tomato, and 2,100 lbs. of bell peppers were donated to local charities.

Much of the harvested fruit was delivered to local charities by Master Gardener volunteers throughout the season.

Articles and images can be used by Permission from the Rutgers RAPS Team only – For Permission contact RAPS at shawn.sorrels@rutgers.edu.

Agrivoltaics research a focus of the RAREC twilight meeting

By •

Main Content

The agrivoltaics research at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC) was a focus of the 2024 RAREC twilight tour on 19 Sep that was attended by stakeholders and Extension personnel from around the state. Dr. Dan Ward, RAREC Director and RAP Team member, spoke to the attendees at length about the challenges, costs, and the potential economic rewards of establishing the agrivoltaics research plots at the station and what roles the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program (RAP) Team has across the state and region.

Figure 1. Dr. Dan Ward speaking with attendees in front of the specialty crops research block at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC).

Dr. Ward answered many important questions about the logistics and potential of establishing farm land as a dual-use source of income using agrivoltiac panels and the ground beneath to grow crops. In addition with the research currently being conducted on specialty crops and soybean at RAREC, other work is currently being done at the Animal Farm on the Rutgers-SEBS campus in New Brunswick and at the Clifford E. and Melda C. Snyder Research and Extension Farm in Pittstown, New Jersey.

Figure 2. Soybean research plots being watered with overhead irrigation at the Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center near Bridgeton, New Jersey.

Members of the RAP team have worked closely with NJ-BPU to help facilitate and begin the implementation of the dual-use solar program in New Jersey as well as with the American Farmland Trust over the past three years to be the source of information for agrivoltaics research, education, and training for stakeholders in New Jersey and throughout the region.

Articles and images can be used by Permission from the Rutgers RAPS Team only – For Permission contact RAPS at shawn.sorrels@rutgers.edu.

Agri-Technology and Research Twilight Meeting at RAREC

By •

Main Content

Agri-Technology and Research Twilight Meeting at RAREC
Thursday September 19th, 2024
4 pm until dark

Location: Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC)
121 Northville Road
Bridgeton, New Jersey 08302

This year’s twilight meeting at RAREC will continue to showcase new agricultural technologies for stakeholders in the state. We will showcase the newly operating agrivoltaics system with specialty crops (fresh-market tomatoes, bell pepper, and eggplant) and soybeans growing beneath them and discuss new technologies for autonomous weeding. Specialists will also discuss their research and provide updates on fiber hemp, Christmas trees, native plants, invasive fruit pests, and vegetable disease.

Speakers:

Tim Waller, Cumberland County RCE Nursery Agent. “Nursery and Ornamental Research: Christmas Tree Pathology Studies and Native Plant Demonstrations”

Dan Ward, Director, RAREC. “Agrivoltaics for NJ: Progress and Promise”

Raul Cabrera, Extension Specialist in Nursery Production and Management. “Fiber Hemp and Weeds”

Ann Nielsen, Extension Specialist in Entomology. “Incorporating Insect Behavior into Management of Invasive Fruit Pests”

Thierry Besancon, Extension Weed Specialist for Specialty Crops. “Update on new technologies for weed management in sweet corn”

Andy Wyenandt, Extension Specialist in Vegetable Pathology. “Updates on vegetable disease control”