**USDA Check Presentation Ceremony**

***\$230,000 in USDA Grants to be Awarded to Benefit New Jersey
Farmers***

**October 17, 2006**

***Update of October 9, 2006***

**[Location]{.underline}**

Rutgers EcoComplex Environmental Research and Extension Center,
Bordentown, NJ

-   Directions: <http://ecocomplex.rutgers.edu/about_us_directions.php>

    **[Date and Time]{.underline}**

October 17, 2006

-   Pre-Meeting and Tour of Rutgers EcoComplex for Under Secretary Dorr:
    9AM -- 10AM

-   Presentation Ceremony in EcoComplex Auditorium: 10:30AM -- 12noon

-   Lunch and Networking Session: 12:00 -- 12:45PM

    **[Agenda]{.underline}**

    ***Welcoming Remarks***

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-   **Andrew M. G. Law *-- ***New Jersey State Director - USDA Rural
    Development

    ***Brief Presentations***

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-   **Thomas C. Dorr**, Under Secretary for Rural Development, USDA

-   **Christopher Smith**, US Congressman, New Jersey 4th District

-   **Fred Butler,** Commissioner, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
     

-   **Charles M. Kuperus** - New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture

-   **Richard Nieuwenhuis**, President, New Jersey Farm Bureau

-   **Margaret Brennan**, Associated Director, New Jersey Agricultural
    Experiment

> Station

-   **Santo John Maccherone**, Owner, Circle M Farms, previous recipient
    of 2 Value Added Producer Grants from USDA

-   **Torrey Reade**, Owner, Neptune Farm, previous recipient of
    renewable energy grant from USDA

    ***Check Presentations from USDA,* Andrew Law and Thomas Dorr**

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-   3 Award Recipients of USDA Value-Added Product Market Development
    Grant

    -   Sheppard Farms, Inc. - \$30,000

    -   John W and Joan C. Bradway - \$25,000

    -   Central Valley Farm - \$20,000

-   2 Awards of USDA Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency
    Improvements Grant

    -   Malcolm Cooper, Springfield NJ - \$43,620

    -   RedSkye Farms , Stow Creek - \$42,075

-   1 Award of USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant - \$70,000

    -   NJ Department of Agriculture with Rutgers Food Innovation Center

        **[Additional Information Regarding Grant
        Recipients]{.underline}**

        -   [3 Award Recipients of USDA Value-Added Producer Market
            Development Grant]{.underline}

            -   **Sheppard Farms, Inc**. (Thomas Sheppard) Cedarville,
                NJ, 856-447-3668

                -   ***Award of \$30,000** will be used to develop a
                    business plan for marketing packaged fresh-cut
                    asparagus*

            -   **John W and Joan C. Bradway**, Salem, NJ, 856-935-5698

                -   ***Award of \$25,000** will be used to create a
                    variety of value-added entrée products prepared from
                    farm products and served at a farmer's market*

            -   **Central Valley Farm** (Edward and Linda Huff), Asbury,
                NJ, 908-479-6195

                -   ***Award of \$20,000** will be used to conduct a
                    marketing analysis of organic dairy products
                    produced from milk produced by Central Valley Farm*

        -   [2 Awards of USDA Renewable Energy Systems and Energy
            Efficiency Improvements Grant]{.underline}

            -   **Malcolm Cooper**, Springfield NJ, 609-518-6739

                -   ***Award of \$43,620*** *will be used to assist with
                    purchase of 16 kWh solar photovoltaic project, which
                    will address approximately 50% of the business's
                    electrical load.*

            -   **RedSkye Farms** (William Skye), Stow Creek, NJ,
                856-451-7707

                -   ***Award of \$42,075*** *will be used to assist with
                    purchase of a 19.8 kWh photovoltaic system. System
                    will supply 25.3 kWh of the electric usage of
                    RedSkye Farms and generate additional farm income
                    through the sale of excess electricity and the
                    marketing of NJ Solar Renewable Energy Credits*

        -   [1 Award of USDA Rural Business Enterprise
            Grant]{.underline}

            -   **NJ Department of Agriculture**

> **with Rutgers Food Innovation Center**

-   ***Award of \$70,000** will be used to survey community farmers
    markets throughout New Jersey, identify best practices, and develop
    a statewide marketing strategy for farmer's markets, which will
    result in increased profitability for NJ farmers*