by Justin Shield

Is your business prepared for an NJDEP inspection? Navigating New Jersey's environmental regulations can be daunting, but ensuring compliance is crucial to avoid hefty fines and operational disruptions.

Whether you own one of the 2,500+ lawn care service businesses in NJ or are a certified applicator, you know the importance of compliance with New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) regulations. The NJDEP conducts routine inspections to ensure that businesses and applicators adhere to the standards for pesticide use in the Garden State. Failing an inspection is not only costly, but could potentially damage your business reputation.

Are you recording mix ratios correctly?

Do you know what documents you are REQUIRED to provide upon request?

Are you documenting employee training?

At this year's Lawn, Landscape, and Sports Field Day, attendees are invited to an invaluable opportunity to attend an NJDEP mock inspection while earning credits! As part of our core session, you can see a mock inspection with Spencer Kerkhof from the NJDEP, where he will cover common violations and offer tips on how to best prepare and PASS an inspection.

This will not be your typical 60-minute PowerPoint presentation. Attendees can expect a demonstrative session that covers everything from application records to an inspection of a service vehicle, to learn what regulations need to be followed. Attendees are encouraged to participate and take the opportunity to ask any questions they have to ensure their business is following all compliance regulations.

This core session will take place on Wednesday, July 31st, at Adelphia Farm, beginning at 2 pm at the Hart Pavilion. We look forward to seeing you at the 2024 Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Days!

The region enjoyed warmer than average temperatures last week and into the weekend before things cooled off on Monday and now remain seasonal. While warmups like we saw last week are not uncommon in March, the extended 5- to 6-day duration of warm weather has Forsythia in full bloom across much of the region. What does this mean for emergence of summer annual weeds like crabgrass? Read More...

The soil that supports our lawns, sports fields, golf courses, and other land uses begins to recharge (store) with water as the evapotranspiration rate drops off during autumn and continues to decline to a very low rate during winter.   Read More...