WEEK OF JUNE 2
Climate Adaptation and Mitigation for NJ Farms
The legislature is occupied with budget season in NJ. Efforts to finalize the state’s Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget dominate the focus of our state representatives. NJFDC continues to speak with state Senators to ask them to consider co-sponsorship of Budget Resolution #207, Sponsored by Senator Andrew Zwicker of District 16.
Budget Resolution #207 Appropriates $500k to grants for climate adaptation and mitigation, supporting underserved farmers in resilient practices and joining other states’ climate-smart agriculture initiatives.
You can help get this into the FY26 budget by:
Calling or emailing your NJ Senator — find their name and contact information here — and asking them to commit to co-sponsoring the resolution.
You may need to follow up a few days later to get a confirmation. Then, let NJFDC know!
Call Senator Zwicker and let him know that you are glad he took the lead on sponsoring the resolution!
Urban and Small Scale Farming Land Access
A couple of weeks ago, Senator Turner took bold leadership with Senate bill 4350! This bill would be a HUGE step in the direction toward making it possible for a thriving small and urban farming sector to establish and be sustained in NJ.
S4350 creates the “Preserve New Jersey Urban Agriculture and Horticulture Fund”. It addressed the main hurdle that Urban Agriculture faces in obtaining land to steward for food production and community food access across NJ. It would create a process for leasing State-owned urban farmland for agricultural use through a competitive application process.
With a 5% annual allocation of Corporation Business Tax (CBT) preservation funds, this program has long-term viability and is protected from annual budget cuts. This bill significantly increases opportunities for more urban and small scale (under 5-acre) farming in New Jersey which would work to close health equity gaps we face in urban communities, improving community health, food access, and the environment in urban neighborhoods.
The NJFDC Legislative and Policy Workgroup is conducting a thorough analysis of the bill and will provide updates and information on how to engage.
You can help by:
- Reading the bill, here: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S4350
- Contacting Senator Turner, Senator Sarlo, and Senator Greenstein, and/or your own state Senator to let them know what you think of the bill.