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IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 31, 2018
www.nj.gov/agriculture 
PO Box 330
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0330 

Contact:
Jeff Wolfe
P: (609) 633-2954
C: (609) 433-1785
E: jeff.wolfe@ag.nj.gov

Will Give Remarks At Luncheon

(TRENTON) - New Jersey Governor Philip D. Murphy will address the 103rd New Jersey State Agricultural Convention and Trade Show held February 6-8 at the Harrah’s Resort and Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City.  Gov. Murphy will address delegates during the New Jersey Agricultural Society Luncheon on Wednesday. The NJDA is presenting the convention in cooperation with the Vegetable Growers Association of New Jersey and Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

 The 2018 convention and trade show will open Tuesday, February 6, with educational sessions held by the Vegetable Growers Association. Highlights from the program include sessions on high tunnels, direct marketing and agritourism, vine crops, farm brewery crops, new technologies in ag, food safety, alternative crops, farm viability programs, organic agriculture and blueberries. At 4:45 Tuesday afternoon, there will be a buyers’ panel discussion. A full schedule of Vegetable Growers events is available at  http://njveggies.org/2018%20VGA%20final%20program%2018-01-08%20No.%2032.pdf

 The New Jersey State Agricultural Convention will open on Wednesday, February 7 and will include the Agriculture Address from New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher and remarks by Rutgers University-New Brunswick Chancellor Dr. Deba Dutta on Wednesday morning. New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney will be the keynote speaker at the Joint Agricultural Convention Dinner on Wednesday night.

 On Thursday morning there will be a panel discussion with various agriculture-related industry representatives, including remarks from George Szczepanski, Director of Business Development, Global Sponsorships and Events, Produce Marketing Association; and Thursday afternoon will feature remarks by Rutgers Dean of Agricultural and Urban Programs Dr. Laura Lawson on Urban Agriculture in New Jersey, and election of two State Board of Agriculture members and one member of the Fish and Game Council.

 The trade show will feature vendors and representatives offering a wide range of agricultural products and services. 

 The New Jersey State Agricultural Convention will take place at the Harrah’s Resort and Waterfront Conference Center, 777 Harrah’s Blvd., Atlantic City, NJ.

 Convention highlights for Wednesday, February 7

9:10 a.m.

Remarks from Rutgers University-New Brunswick Chancellor Dr. Deba Dutta

10 a.m.

Agriculture Address from Secretary Fisher

10:40 a.m.

Christine Myers, Region II Office of Advocacy, U.S. Small Business Administration

10:45 a.m.

NRCS State Conservationist Carrie Lindig on Seeking Farmer Feedback

12:30 p.m.

Governor Murphy address at the New Jersey Agricultural Society Luncheon

1:30 p.m.

Outlook on the Federal Approach To Agriculture and Farm Labor: Craig Regelburgge, Senior Vice President of Industry Advocacy & Research, AmericanHort

2:30 p.m.

Remarks from NJ Legislators

4 p.m.

NJ Farm Bureau Report from Ryck Suydam

4:15 p.m.

NJ FFA Speaker, Renee Stillwell, NJ FFA President

7 p.m.

NJ Senate President Stephen Sweeney at the Joint Agricultural Convention Dinner

 

 Convention highlights for Thursday, February 8

 

9:15 a.m.

4-H Youth Speaker Brittany Smith

9:30 a.m.

Latest Trends in Produce Marketing: George Szczepanski, Director of Business Development, Global Sponsorships and Events, Produce Marketing Association.

11 a.m.

Drones in Agriculture, Rutgers

1:30 p.m.

Report from Rutgers School of Environmental & Biological Sciences & NJ Experiment Station

1:45 p.m.

Urban Agriculture in New Jersey, Dr. Laura Lawson, Rutgers

3 p.m.

Elections: State Board of Agriculture and Fish and Game Council

3:20 p.m.

Closing remarks, Secretary Fisher

 

For more information about the convention, visit   http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture/conventions/2018/index.html

 

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