Investments

Bank Of America Investment The federal government is listing 16 New Jersey counties - including most in the southern part of the state - as agricultural disaster areas, a situation caused by too much wet weather this year.

Suffolk County is the easternmost county in the state of New York. Suffolk County has a population of 1.4 million people and a median household income of $65, 288. Suffolk and Nassau counties together are generally referred to as "Long Island" by area residents as distinct from the New York City boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn. Suffolk County, with its expansive vineyards and wineries on the north fork of the island, is the leading agricultural producer in the state of New York in terms of dollars.

Investment Opportunity Rain and other forms of precipitation left fields too muddy to be plowed on time, delayed harvests, increased plant diseases, reduced yield and quality, and left farmers scrambling to meet their financial obligations for 2003.

A 1, state area, county officials say. Tentatively called Delaware River, Equine, Agricultural and Marine (DREAM) Park, - which stretches from the Delaware River to U.S. - marks the prime location because of its proximity to Pennsylvania and Delaware. "The main thing there is it's nice that it's riverfront and everything, but the location is what's important there, " Carmen Trifiletti, Gloucester County Improvement Authority project coordinator, said. "We want to become a regional equestrian area."

Banc Of America Investment Farmers now are looking at their bottom lines and making decisions on how extensively they plan to plant next year.

Meanwhile, the demand for golf in Morris County remains high, with about 16, time system, said Rene Klose, director of golf for the county.

Banking Investment "Many growers borrow (money) to get started in the spring," said Cumberland County Agricultural Agent Wesley Kline. "Now, they have to figure out how much they can afford to borrow, what risk they really want to take, do they need to cut back on acres or change crop mix."

Despite the amendments, which primarily exempt agricultural activities from most of the Highlands regulations, some farmers in Warren and Hunterdon counties still are not happy about the legislation. In a telephone interview last week, Kuperus said there are 35, 000 acres of farmland in the core preservation area and more than 153, 000 acres of farmland in the Highlands region. But too often the Highlands is thought of in terms of forested areas and reservoirs, not the farms that complement those areas, he said.

Investment Solution Strategic "It was a very difficult year for farmers," said Paul Hlubik, executive director of the federal Farm Services Agency New Jersey office.

The 16, foot house off Cold Soil Road sits in the middle of what is still technically a farm, although the fields have not been cultivated in several years. The development rights on 84 acres were bought in the 1990s by the Mercer County Agricultural Development Board for nearly $10, 000 an acre, with a slice of land carved out for the new house. The owner, E. Bruce DiDonato, keeps a small herd of cows.

Investment Banking Services The agency issued the disaster declaration this month at the request of Gov. James E. McGreevey. The disaster was declared for Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Salem, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties.

Bank Investment The declaration makes farmers in those counties eligible for low-interest loans from the federal government to help them meet debts incurred this year.

Alternative Investment New Jersey wasn't alone in having counties named as agricultural disaster areas because of bad weather: The designation also was made this month for numerous counties in Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Virginia.

Online Investment Services The main problem in New Jersey was precipitation, with agriculture officials saying farmers encountered some form of wet weather for more than half the year, and rain totals exceeding normal ranges in just about all the affected counties.

Accompany Essential Investment No statistics were available from state or federal agriculture officials regarding things like crop yields or market prices.

Investment Company Agricultural agents in several southern New Jersey counties said rain delayed planting for two to three weeks.

Investment Management Solution When crops did appear, significant portions were blemished or damaged by fungus.

Investment Management Services Kline said crops such as parsley and cilantro were spotted, making much of the yield "almost unmarketable" and driving up labor costs to clean up the vegetables enough for sale.

Guide Investment Stock "It almost makes it not worth harvesting," he said.

Investment Manual Solution Cape May County Agricultural Agent Russell Blair said the rains washed away protective fungicides and insecticides, leaving crops even more vulnerable to damage.

Investment Stock Fruit crops also were hurt, he said, because the wet weather reduced the time needed for pollination.

Essential Investment Solution Southern New Jersey farmers:

Citicorp Investment Services # Had to import pumpkins from Maryland and Pennsylvania when their crops were damaged by fungus.

Fool Guide Investment Motley # Produced tomatoes with shorter shelf lives because the fruit was soft from so much water.

Fidelity Investment Services # Offered watermelons with soft rinds.

Investment Management The delay in planting also pushed back harvest times so that New Jersey farmers had to compete with goods from other markets, including, depending on the time of year, the Carolinas, Ohio, Michigan and some Canadian provinces.

Francisco Investment San With so much available on the market, Kline said, "it pushed the prices down" for New Jersey farmers.

Mellon Investment Services Hlubik said the loans offered by the federal government at least would help New Jersey farmers pay off their 2003 operating costs.

Finance Investment Farmers and agricultural officials now are hoping for a better year in 2004.

Investment Manual Science "Farmers are resilient and determined," Hlubik said.

Investment Advisory Services Information about the loans is available from the following Farm Service Agency offices:

Advice Investment # Atlantic, Cumberland and Cape May counties: 1317 S. Main Road, Building 3, Suite A, Vineland, (856) 205-1225.

Guide Investment # Gloucester, Camden and Salem counties: 51 Cheney Road, Suite 2, Woodstown, (856) 769-1126.

Chase Investment Services # Burlington and Ocean counties: Tiffany Square, 1289 Route 38, Suite 200, Hainesport, (609) 267-1639.

Firm Investment By Thomas Barlas
The Press of Atlantic City - 12/25/2003

Topic: Agriculture

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