From the NJ Senate Republicans

NJ State Senator Latham Tiver (R-Atlantic, Burlington) announced that he’ll be introducing legislation to help farmers mitigate the harm of agricultural emergencies after a deep Spring freeze devastated crops for New Jersey farmers and businesses.

The legislative bill package would authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to declare an agricultural emergency and establish a six-month sales tax holiday on fertilizer to take effect during such emergencies (S-4353). Additionally, the legislation would direct the Department of Agriculture to identify available funding sources, including any federal, state, and private funding sources, to help affected farmers (S-4354).

“Our agricultural community took a major beating from April’s catastrophic deep freeze, damaging developing crops and putting farmers and agricultural businesses behind the eight ball,” said Senator Tiver. “Farmers represent the lifeblood of our State, and this package of legislation will help our Garden State growers mitigate damage during unprecedented weather events so they can continue producing the best Jersey Fresh products families across New Jersey rely on every day. When we stand for farmers, we stand with the very meaning of the Garden State.”

Read drafts of the bills online (S-4353) here and (S-4354) here.