OCEAN COUNTY – Due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation the office of the Cooperative Extension of Ocean County Agricultural Services on Whitesville Road in Toms River is closed to the public. However, we are continuing to offer tick, insect, and plant identification services through email. We can also assist you with general horticultural questions and help you locate any agricultural resources that you may need.
Tick and insect inquiries and photos should be emailed to Susan Emhardt-Servidio at sservidio@co.ocean.nj.us. Please email a well-lit, clear photo of the tick or insect along with your name, town, and phone number. If you are sending a photo of a tick to be identified, please photograph the top of the tick (shield) and the bottom of the tick (belly). Susan will provide you with a tick ID, a list of tick testing labs, and a link to a Rutgers tick information page.
Plant identification or plant problems can be emailed to Patti Dixon at pdixon@co.ocean.nj.us. Please email clear photos of the plant, including the whole plant, a close up, and the location where it is growing. If there is a specific plant health issue you would like identified, make sure to take a photo of the problem area on the plant. Please include your name, town, and phone number in the email.
At this time, we are not accepting soil samples for pH testing at the office, and the soil lab at Rutgers is closed until further notice.
For general horticultural questions and other inquires you can call 732-505-4563 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Rutgers Cooperative Extension is here to provide our county residents with research based information. We will do our best to answer your questions in a timely manner. Please be patient as we attempt to provide quality service during these challenging times.
