Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Committee | |
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Ed Merry
Chris Comstock
Allison Lavine
Emily Brennan
Charles J Susick II
Kevin Peterson
Joe Castrechino
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Arkport
Bath
Savona
Avoca
Bath
Corning
Prattsburgh
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Legislative Representatives
Hilda Lando
Fred Potter
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2024 Cash Rent and Custom Harvest Rates
Almost daily, Cornell Cooperative Extension receives calls and requests for average rates in our region for land rents and custom harvest activities. CCE put together a survey, funded by New York Farm Viability Institute, to help provide regionally accurate answers to these important questions.
Please fill this survey out to help provide us with the most current information!
We will add additional information, resources, and survey results on this page throughout the Spring of 2024!
If you have any concerns, please email landrental@cornell.edu or contact Katelyn Walley kaw249@cornell.edu or Nicole Tommell nt375@cornell.edu.
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It’s Time to Check In On Your Farm Biosecurity
Recently there have been reports of cattle and goats testing positive for HPAI, or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, and Minnesota. This is in addition to positive testing poultry flocks across the nation. State and Federal officials are still investigating the new cases. With the increased threat for spread from migratory birds and across species, we’re reminding farmers to tighten up on your biosecurity practices. You should report any animals that seem “off” to your herd veterinarian. Milk and meat from affected cattle are confirmed to be safe with proper cooking and pasteurization. HPAI is mainly spread through migratory birds (fecal oral) and direct contact with infected individuals (respiratory).
Brush Up Your Biosecurity:
- Monitor animals for any signs of illness, including a drop in milk production, a drop in feed intake, lethargy, or unexplained death.
- If you’re moving animals from other areas (ie – custom heifer growers, grazing agreements, rental arrangements) you should work with your herd veterinarian to develop a quarantine protocol to keep “new” animals separate from the main herd.
- Clean and disinfect feeding and watering equipment and housing regularly.
- Avoid using water where wild birds, particularly waterfowl, might have come into contact with an open source (pond, outdoor troughs).
- Limit farm visitors and vehicle traffic to designated areas on the farm away from animals and feeding/watering equipment while keeping a plan in place to wash and disinfect vehicles, equipment, footwear, and clothing, as needed.
Photo: Tires, undercarriage, and the roll-off container are disinfected and washed as a biosecurity precaution. USDA APHIS photo by Mike Milleson.
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This designation opens access to emergency loans through the FSA that most farms will qualify for, with a demonstrated loss, at the current FSA loan rate (3.75%).
Farms that would like to apply should contact their local county FSA office.
BATH SERVICE CENTER415 W MORRIS STBATH, NY 14810-1038 Phone: (607) 776-7398
If farms need help navigating the process, please feel free to reach out to Katelyn Stoll, Farm Business Management Specialist at 716-640-0522.
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Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) for Meat and Poultry Processors
The Cornell Agricultural Marketing Research Program (CAMRP) will offer a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Training Program for Meat and Poultry Processors at the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, NY.
The course is taught by Penn State University instructors Martin Bucknavage, Senior Extension Program Specialist, and Jonathan Campbell, Associate Professor and Extension Meat Specialist. The training course covers the fundamentals of HACCP for meat and poultry processing operations. It provides participants with hands-on experience in developing a HACCP plan.
The course is recommended for plant management, HACCP coordinators, quality assurance/control personnel, sanitation management, line supervisors, and line operators employed by meat and poultry processing plants. The course is certified by the International HACCP Alliance and meets USDA requirements for HACCP training.
Course Registration
The course registration fee is $550 per person ($525 if you register by March 1, 2024.) A discounted registration fee of $400 per person is available for companies registering 3 or more employees. Limit of 24 registrants per session, register early. Registration includes coffee and bagels in the morning and lunch each day.
Register Here By April 5th!
Discount for NY Processors
A grant from the USDA Northeast Extension Risk Management Education program provides New York Meat processors and their employees a $200 discount (limited funding, first-come, first-served until funds run out). Eligible recipients must work at a NY custom-exempt or USDA-inspected meat processor. Contact Matt LeRoux, Extension Associate, (mnl28@cornell.edu) for a discount code.
For more information about course content, contact Martin Bucknavage at mwb124@psu.edu or by phone at 814-867-1839. Questions about the NY discount or the location at Cornell University can be direct to Matt LeRoux, mnl28@cornell.edu
This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2022-70419-38562
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An Opportunity for MeatSuite Farms Who Have Remit their Beef Checkoff Dollars
This May, during National Beef Month, there will be two social media giveaways courtesy of grant funding from the New York Beef Council (NYBC). We will be buying meat from up to four NY MeatSuite beef farmers for this partnership. Please make sure your farm is compliant with the Beef Checkoff program in order to be eligible for these promotions. All it takes to be compliant is to remit your private treaty checkoff dollars from 2023 - $1 for each head marketed direct to consumers.
Here is information from the NYBC about Beef Checkoff dollars at work and forms to remit. If you are wondering if you are up to date with remitting your checkoff dollars, contact NYBC at ascoones@nybeef.org. We are excited for this opportunity to partner with the Beef Council on MeatSuite promotion and draw more consumer's eyes to the site.
For all MeatSuite farms, be sure to follow MeatSuite on Instagram and Facebook for regular farm spotlights and giveaway opportunities.
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Applications for USDA Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production Grants Due April 9
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for grants to support urban agriculture and innovative production. Applications for USDA’s Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production grants are due April 9, 2024 via grants.gov.
“This grant program has proven very popular and impactful in recent years, and we look forward to partnering with more communities nationwide to strengthen local food systems and increase access to healthy foods,” said Terry Cosby, Chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which leads USDA’s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (OUAIP). “These projects will add to the important work communities are doing to build food security in underserved areas.”
Read the full article here.
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Alfalfa Scouting
Do you grow alfalfa? We want to scout your fields! SWNYDLFC is looking for alfalfa fields to scout throughout the region. Scouting involves measuring alfalfa heights to estimate NDF value and measuring potato leafhopper populations.
Contact Katelyn Miller at 716-640-2047 or km753@cornell.edu if you’re interested.
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Looking for Pesticide Credits?
Remember to always refer to NYSPAD! All opportunities with credits must be registered so you can search upcoming opportunity in Steuben and other nearby Counties to find ones that fits your schedule most conveniently!
If you need help contact CCE Agriculture Dept, 607-664-2574.
Steuben County will be offering a Field Crops event with Pesticide Credits in Fall 2024 and a Small Fruits Event in June 2024 also offering credits.
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Agritourism Workshops Monthly!
Are you thinking of starting an agritourism business or are you currently operating one?
Join the monthly lunch-hour, workshop virtual series and learn how to grow your agritourism business!
Each session will focus on specific topic to help aspiring agritourism entrepreneurs grow their knowledge and profit through this exciting on-farm business.
Pre-registration Required: Register for the Zoom Webinar here!
Price: Free
All workshops will be recorded and links shared. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Sponsor: Cornell Cooperative Extension Agritourism Program Work Team
Past topics and recordings
2024 Schedule:
January 9: Agritourism for Maple Syrup Operations
February 13: Grants for Agritourism Operations
March 12: Staffing your Agritourism Operation
April 9: Working with your Local Tourism Office
May 14: Overview of Agritourism Business Plan in AgPlan
June 11: How To's: Livestock Operations (not a petting zoo)
July 9: Urban Agritourism
August 13: TBA
September 10: Handling Difficult Customers
October 8: Creating Value-Added
Items/Experiences
November 12: Implementing Outdoor Recreation on the Farm
Please contact Lindsey Pashow lep67@cornell.edu or 518-569-3073 with any questions.
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How is climate change impacting NY? Cornell researchers and industry experts weigh in
by: Jacob Mack, Ithaca Journal
New York State recently released its Climate Impacts Assessment, which breaks down how climate change will impact the state economy, with some help from Ithaca’s Ivy League University, Cornell.
A team of nine climate scientists and industry experts — including two Cornell researchers, Deborah Aller and Allison Chatrchyan — authored the agriculture chapter of the report, which warns how warmer winters and greater heat stress for animals and crops, among many other emerging environmental factors, will increase production costs.
The report called climate change a “threat multiplier” for the state’s farmers, many of whom were already facing tight profit margins and labor shortages and projects that average temperatures will increase in all regions of the state by about 5 to 11 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century, making New York’s climate more like Virginia’s by 2030.
Read the full article here.
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GAPs Online Course
GAPs Online Produce Safety Course schedule
- April 3 - April 23, 2024
- June 5- June 25, 2024
- August 7 - August 27, 2024
- October 9 - October 29, 2024
Course Registration
More Course Information
Note: Online delivery course is a three-week course that can be completed at your own pace. The online course is expected to take 15-30 hours for successful completion.
Remote delivery course is a course led in real time by instructors delivered with video conferencing software, such as Zoom or Webex.
Online delivery course | NY, USA: 4/10/2024 - 4/30/2024
Online delivery course | NY, USA: 5/1/2024 - 5/21/2024
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State Agriculture Department Monitoring Cases of HPAI in Farm Animals in Midwestern and Southern States
No Detections of HPAI in Dairy Cattle or Goats in New York State
Alerts Veterinarians to the Situation in Texas, Kansas, and Minnesota, Urges Them to Contact the Department if Any Signs or Symptoms of Illness are Suspected in New York
Reminds Consumers that Pasteurized Milk and Dairy Products and Properly Cooked Meat are Safe
Read More Here.
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Are you thinking about starting a small farm? Do you already have a farm that you're looking to expand? Invest in your professional development and you'll see the returns in your business. Cornell Small Farms Program offers in-person trainings, workshops, and online courses for aspiring, new and experienced farmers.
Some options for 2024 are listed below, and you can read more and enroll HERE.
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The most recent Dairy Market Watch can be accessed here. Past Dairy Market Watch issues can be accessed here.
Dairy Market Watch is an educational newsletter to keep producers informed of changing market factors affecting the dairy industry. Dairy Market Watch is published at the end of every month, funded in part by Cornell Pro-Dairy, and is compiled by Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Business Management Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops Program.
For those that get printed newsletters, it is included as an insert with each edition.
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State Department of Agriculture Announces 2024 New York State Community Gardens Soil Testing Program | The Department announced soil testing is available through the 2024 New York State Community Gardens Soil Testing Program. | | | | |
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DEC Contact: Lori Severino (518) 402-8000
PressOffice@dec.ny.gov
DEC ANNOUNCES FALCONRY, WILDLIFE REHABILITATOR, AND LEASHED TRACKING DOG EXAMINATIONS
Registration Deadline is April 10 for Online Exams on April 12
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that examinations for individuals seeking a license to practice the sport of falconry, become a volunteer wildlife rehabilitator, or use leashed tracking dogs to find wounded or injured big game animals are scheduled for April 12. DEC is offering the examinations online and at no cost to participants to increase access to the examinations.
The registration deadline is April 10. To register, visit the 2024 Special Licenses Exams Registration website. Applicants will receive email acknowledgement of registration; an additional one-time link to access the website on the date of the exams is sent to registrants at a later date. The link to the exam registration webpage can also be found on each of the individual license webpages at Division of Fish and Wildlife Special Licenses and Permits.
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USDA Asks Residents to Look for Invasive Egg Masses
Help the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) stomp out invasive pests this spring! Challenge your detection prowess: Look for spotted lanternfly and spongy moth egg masses on vehicles, trees, and other outdoor surfaces during the winter and early spring. If you find them, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recommends smashing and scraping the invasive egg masses off into a plastic bag, sealing it, and disposing of them in the municipal trash. Pressure washing is also an effective way of removing egg masses from hard, outdoor surfaces.
The spotted lanternfly and spongy moth are economically and environmentally destructive invasive insects. Together, they attack or defoliate hundreds of tree and plant species. Both the spotted lanternfly and the spongy moth are able hitchhikers in their egg mass life stage.
Continue reading the full article here.
Contacts:
Cecilia Sequeira, (301) 851-4054
K.Cecilia.Sequeira@usda.gov
Suzanne Bond, (301) 851-4070
Suzanne.M.Bond@aphis.usda.gov
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USDA Researchers Use an Edible Blue-Green Algae to Protect Honey Bees Against Viruses
Scientists at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) developed an edible antiviral treatment that can be used to protect honey bees against Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) and other viruses, according to a recent study published in Sustainable Agriculture.
Honey bees are important agricultural pollinators. However, viruses, including DWV, are linked to the deaths of millions of colonies worldwide. DWV, like other viruses, is most often spread by Varroa mites who carry the disease inside them and infect bee colonies. Infection typically causes deformity and death in bees, especially in the pupae and brood. These colony losses devastate beekeeping industries and pose a major risk to agriculture and the global food supply.
While there are medicines for other bee diseases and parasites, there is currently no treatment available to help beekeepers reduce viruses in their colonies. Nearly all colonies have DWV and can often be infected with multiple viruses at any given time. Effective antiviral treatments could help to improve colony health and survival as well as crop pollination efficiency.
"We found that engineered algae diets suppressed DWV infection and improved survival in honey bees," said Vincent Ricigliano, research scientist at the ARS Honey Bee Laboratory in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. "When mixed into bee food, the engineered algae boost the bee’s immune system to fight off the targeted virus."
Read the full article here.
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What's Bugging You?
Join Live, on the first Friday of every month from Noon to 12:30 EST on Zoom.
Each month, experts will share practical information and answer questions on using integrated pest management (IPM) to avoid pest problems and promote a healthy environment where you live, work, learn and play. We’ll end with an IPM Minute and cover a specific action you can take in the next few days to help you avoid pest problems.
Watch the past Event presentations Here. Register for the 2024 events Here.
The 2024 What’s Bugging You First Friday schedule is now available on the program’s website, and you can register for multiple events using our registration form. We look forward to seeing you in 2024!
April 5th: Weed ID | Rats in Vegetable Gardens
May 3rd: No-Mow May | What to do with Grass Clippings
June 7th: Tick & Mosquito Yard Treatments | Myth: Mosquito Repellent Plants
July 5th: Japanese Beetle Management | Aphid-Eating Insects
August 2nd: Spotted Lanternfly Update | Box Tree Moth Update
September 6th: Back to School: Bed Bugs | Head Lice
October 4th: Identifying Pests in Your Home
November 1st: 2024 Tick Blitz Results | No Spray Needed
December 6th: Feed the Birds | Repurposing a Holiday Tree
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The Use of IPM in Beekeeping to Control Parasitic Varroa Mites
Access the recording of this webinar.
Learn more from Robyn Underwood, Penn State Extension Educator – Apiculture.
During this talk, you will learn about the parts of the IPM pyramid as they relate to controlling the parasitic varroa mite, widely the biggest problem in beekeeping. You will learn about breeding for mite resistance, cultural and mechanical controls, and chemical controls that are both organic-approved and synthetic. These items will be presented as a year in the life of a beekeeping operation.
More Webinars in the IPM Toolbox Series.
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The Biology and Management of Common Invasive Plants in the Northeastern U.S. and Southern Canada
Access the recording of this webinar.
Learn more from Antonio DiTommaso, Professor of Weed Science and Chair of the Soil and Crop Sciences Section in the School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University.
This presentation focuses on the biology and management (both chemical and non-chemical) of ten common invasive plants in the northeastern United States and southern Canada. Species covered include Japanese knotweed, buckthorn, swallowworts, honeysuckles, bindweeds, multiflora rose, and Japanese stiltgrass.
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Dear Readers,
FLFC is a collaborative effort between the regional CCE offices and their respective counties' visitor centers. You may have seen the logo or heard of the Agritourism Trail project in the last year or so. We are continually building and adding visitor information to the website at no cost to you. If you are interested in having your farm listed on the site, please complete the survey or reach out to Kevin Peterson, contact information below.
Did You Know?
Finger Lakes Farm Country is a regional agritourism program that combines agriculture and tourism to promote the abundance of agricultural resources in the southern Finger Lakes. Through a collaborative approach to marketing and promotion, the program creates a memorable brand for agritourism attractions and businesses in the area, while showcasing educational and recreational activities for visitors to the region.
In an effort to sustain local farms and create an environment for entrepreneurism, Finger Lakes Farm Country will promote the region’s abundant agritourism resources through a variety of marketing strategies. The Finger Lakes Farm Country region includes the counties of Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, and Yates.
Interested in Joining?
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NY FarmNet Services: Always Free, Always Confidential |
NY FarmNet is here to support farmers, farm families, agricultural service providers, veterinarians,
milk truck drivers, and others involved in the agricultural industry in New York State.
Call today 1-800-547-3276.
Reach out to them for business or personal consulting.
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Cornell Cooperative Extension puts knowledge to work in pursuit of economic vitality,
ecological sustainability and social well-being. We bring local experience and
research based solutions together, helping New York State families and
communities thrive in our rapidly changing world.
Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.
CCE does not endorse or recommend any specific product or service.
This newsletter is solely intended to educate consumers about their choices.
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