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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Governor Hochul Announces Significant Growth of New York’s Agricultural Education and FFA Programs
During National FFA Week, Governor Hochul Announces Number of Agricultural Teachers Increased by More Than 75 Percent Since 2016
FFA Chapters and Membership Continue to Grow with 200 Chapters Across the State Today
Governor’s 2024 State of the State and FY 2025 Budget Includes Creation of Youth Agriculture
Leadership Conference and $1.25 Million to Further Strengthen Agricultural Education Statewide
Read More Here!
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Agricultural Literacy Week
March 18-22, 2024
In celebration of New York agriculture, volunteers throughout the state will read a book with an agricultural theme to elementary students, with a focus on second grade classrooms. Farmers, FFA and 4-H members, adults engaged in a career in agriculture, and engaged in our food system, volunteer to enthusiastically engage students in a paired hands-on activity related to the book to extend learning. "I Love Strawberries" was selected for 2024. This year's paired activity will be sequencing the strawberry lifecycle. Each student will receive a guided worksheet and stickers with steps of the strawberry lifecycle. They will then be guided to think about the seed to fruit sequence and place their stickers accordingly. Students will then have the optional activity extension to journal about how/where they would grow strawberries or draw their own strawberry patch.
Would you consider funding the purchase of one or more books for schools throughout Steuben County?
The books are $12 each and will be donated to the school library after being read. For each book purchased, a classroom set of planting materials will be provided for 30 students.
Click the button below to donate!
Your support will help foster a love of reading while building knowledge of agriculture and what better way than learning to grow food!
Donors will be recognized on a special bookplate. You may choose to have your donated book sent to a specific school, or to read it yourself to your local school! Please contact us if you would like to volunteer to read a book!
Click the link below for more details and to donate!
Questions? Contact CCE Steuben, 607-664-2300
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Dairy Producers-- Dairy Margin Coverage Enrollment
February 28 - April 29th, 2024
The enrollment period for the 2024 Dairy Margin Program year begins Feb. 28, 2024, and ends April 29, 2024. For those who sign up for 2024 DMC coverage, payments may begin as soon as March 4, 2024, for any payments that triggered in January 2024.
DMC continues to offer protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed price (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.
FSA has revised the regulations for DMC to allow eligible dairy operations to make a one-time adjustment to established production history. This adjustment will be accomplished by combining previously established supplemental production history with DMC production history for those dairy operations that participated in Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage during a prior coverage year. DMC has also been authorized through calendar year 2024. Congress passed a 2018 Farm Bill extension requiring these regulatory changes to the program. Read more.
Find out more here.
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New York Equine Industry Grows to $7 Billion Economic Impact
According to the New York State Equine Economic Impact Study (a ‘breakout study’ from the American Horse Council National study), the New York equine industry contributes $7 billion to the state’s economy and has a total employment impact of 52,319 jobs. These figures document growth in both economic and employment impact since the prior study conducted in 2016 ($5.3 billion and 42,400 jobs). The economic impact figures land New York in the top 10 states for equine economic impact and reinforce the importance of the New York equine industry as a significant contributor to the overall economy of the state.
Continue reading the original full article by Karin Bump on American Horse Publications, here.
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Energy Efficiencies Within Southern Tier Agriculture
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
6:00pm – 7:30pm
Online Webinar
Cost: Free
The webinar will provide helpful information specifically for agricultural producers / agribusinesses to become familiar with how energy efficiencies can help save money and increase productivity. Topics include:
- Learn about various statewide programs that can assist in identifying how to save energy both within the farm homestead as well as in barns and agricultural equipment.
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Learn what an energy audit is and how it helps identify improvements for energy efficiencies.
- Overview of energy efficiency technologies within agricultural production.
- Grant and financing opportunities for upgrading equipment or renewable projects.
The webinar will be held via Zoom. It is free to attend but registration is required.
To register, visit: https://ccetompkins.wufoo.com/forms/registration-southern-tier-agenergy-webinar/.
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NYS Agricultural Assessment Cultivates Climate Crisis Solutions
By Blaine Friedlander, Cornell Chronicle
New York’s farmers are facing more extreme weather caused by climate change and they are learning to adapt, according to the agriculture chapter of the new statewide climate impacts assessment, led and written by two Cornell researchers.
“We need to be adapting,” said Deborah Aller, extension associate in the Soil Health Program, School of Integrative Plant Science Soil and Crop Sciences Section in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). “These one-in-100-year weather events, for example, are becoming a lot more frequent and extreme. We need to increase agriculture’s preparedness and farmers’ ability to respond rapidly to the impacts.”
Continue reading the full article HERE.
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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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GAPs Online Course
GAPs Online Produce Safety Course schedule
- March 6 - March 26, 2024
- 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: 3/6/2024 - 3/26/2024
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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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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Looking for Support for Livestock, Dairy, Field Crops, Farm Business Management, Grape Production, Vegetable, Greenhouse, or High Tunnel Production?
Enroll in a Steuben County Extension Program!
Field specialists in the Southwest Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program, Finger Lakes Grape Program, and Cornell Vegetable Program can assist and support your needs in a variety of ways!
Enroll through CCE Steuben and learn more here.
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Do not let cow comfort stand between you and extra milk pounds.
Read more from Dairy Specialist, Camila Lage by clicking the image below.
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The January Dairy Market Watch can be accessed here. Check back for February's DMW to drop. 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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NYS Spotted Lanternfly Outreach Zoom Meeting
Tuesday March 26th, 2024
10 AM
It’s time to get caught up on the new locations SLF have been found, recent work in the state, and what we might expect this growing season.
Zoom Link for the March 26th meeting.
https://cornell.zoom.us/j/93530523142?pwd=ZE9POTluSUhZMlRJdjNUNlZPZmV1QT09
(A reminder with an agenda and full Zoom invitation will be sent via this listserv in March.)
New Spotted Lanternfly webinar recording available:
Review of Spotted Lanternfly Updates and Findings in PA Vineyards
Penn State has a team of research and extension specialists that have collaborated for several years to learn more about SLF's biology, population dynamics, feeding hosts, and impacts. This webinar provides a review of SLF in the context of recent research and observations and impacts on grapevine health and commercial vineyard management.
View webinar here.
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Webinars from the IPM Toolbox Series
The Use of IPM in Beekeeping to Control Parasitic Varroa Mites
March 11, 2024 – 11:00 a.m.
Register HERE
Presenter: Dr. Robyn Underwood
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.
Kosher, Halal and Insects: How do they relate?
March 25, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. (EST)
Register HERE
Presenter: Dr. Joe Regenstein
Kosher and halal food regulations are an important part of the food industry. Both religious systems are concerned about the practices of modern agriculture including the role of insects and similar animal species. This talk will introduce these dietary laws and then look specifically at how each religion views insects in the food and feed context.
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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.
A preview of the 2024 events:
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Master Forest Owner Volunteer Training for 2024
Tuesdays at 6:30pm-7:30pm, March 26th -May 7th
Fill out the 2024 training application here.
Learn more here.. If you have any questions about the MFO program, you can learn more at www.CornellMFO.info or from Program Director Peter Smallidge at pjs23@cornell.edu or 607-592-3640.
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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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