Middlesex County Board of Agriculture

06/06/2026

Middlesex County Board of Ag congratulates Haley Poulsen as our 2026 scholarship winner! The Board is proud to support Ag studies!

05/26/2026

Some of our Middlesex County farms featured in the listing of CSAs by the New Jersey Agricultural Society!

04/28/2026

One of the great benefits of farmland you might not have thought of!!

Farmland assessment matters.

By taxing land based on its agricultural use rather than development value, Farmland Assessment helps keep farms in production, and it benefits communities too. Farms require very few municipal services, yet often contribute more in property taxes than they cost.

04/26/2026

Future of agriculture discussed by NJ Farm Bureau President and the WSJ. Support your local farmers now more than ever.

Thousands across the U.S. are closing the book on farms that have been in their families for generations, either by selling to a larger entity or declaring bankruptcy.

It has transformed food production and local communities. Critics of farm consolidation say it’s also led to less crop diversity, presenting risks for the broader food system.

The disappearance of small farms has carried steep consequences for rural America, upending the transfer of wealth—long attached to the land—between generations. And the tough economics are making the search for successors more challenging.

Children of farmers today have more opportunities to work beyond agriculture than they did decades ago, and families are typically smaller, shrinking the pool of possible candidates.

“When farmers owned the land and lived on the land, they took care of the land and they formed communities that worked together and solved problems and took care of everybody,” says fifth-generation farmer Don Guinnip, 74. “You’re not going to have that in the future.”

The natural choice to take over Gunnip's farm, his son and daughter, left for college and now work in corporate fields. His siblings made the same decision years earlier.

“It’s disappointing to me,” Guinnip says, holding back tears.

🔗 Read more: https://on.wsj.com/4e8tDvY

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day from Middlesex County Board of Agriculture!

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18WGf7LAjv/?

04/12/2026

You will soon see some of these banners around Middlesex County farms reminding you to share the road with our hard-working farmers!!

We’re excited to share that our new Motor Vehicle Safety initiative has launched, and you can now spot our signs posted throughout the Garden State!

Take a moment to look for the signs as you’re out and about. A small reminder can make a big difference in keeping our roads safer for all.

Stay alert, drive smart, and let’s make safety a shared priority.

03/30/2026

Some pics from the NJFB, NJDA, VGANJ, and the Ag Society event on March 30th at the Rutgers Eco Complex — NJ Department of Ag Secretary Wengryn, Middlesex Board of Agriculture former President Caroline Etsch and current Secretary Joyce Chagnon.

“Rooted in Resilience: Women Cultivating the Future of Agriculture.”

Great discussions from ag leaders, farm women panel and amongst attendees. No shortage of tales of resilience in the AG community!

03/30/2026

Our Middlesex County Board was well represented at this event- Caroline Etsch, Midge Hauser and Joyce Chagnon enjoyed the morning and left inspired!!

What an incredible morning celebrating the strength, leadership, and impact of women in agriculture at Rooted in Resilience: Women Cultivating the Future of Agriculture!

Held at the Rutgers Eco Complex, this special event brought together an inspiring group of leaders, farmers, and advocates from across New Jersey to recognize the vital role women play in our state’s agricultural community.

Attendees heard powerful insights and personal stories from panelists, highlighting the challenges they’ve overcome, the progress being made, and the opportunities ahead for the next generation of women in ag. We were proud to have New Jersey Farm Bureau represented on the leadership panel by our Executive Director Liz Thompson, who shared her perspective and experience advocating for agriculture across the state.