Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Committee |
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Ed Merry
Chris Comstock
Allison Lavine
Gary Mahany
Cody Lafler
Kevin Costello
Joe Castrechino
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Arkport
Bath
Savona
Arkport
Bath
Corning
Prattsburgh
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Legislative Representatives
Hilda Lando
Fred Potter
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Susan Walker is our new Agriculture Educator here at CCE Steuben. She is a Steuben County native with experience working at the NYSDEC Region 5 and as an Extension Associate with Cornell University. Susan is looking forward to working with all of you. You can reach her at smw272@cornell.edu and at 607-664-2574.
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Free COVID-19 Test Kits and Masks! |
We have COVID-19 Test Kits and KN95 Masks at our office that were given to us to distribute from Steuben County Public Health. Please contact us at 607-664-2300 or email amz65@cornell.edu if you would like us to put some aside for you. You can also stop into our office at the Steuben County Building Annex at 20 East Morris Street in Bath.
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Help Stop Avian Flu – Take Down Your Bird Feeders! |
Cornell Cooperative Extension shares why taking down bird feeders can help stop
the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
by Amy Barkley, Livestock and Beginning Farm Specialist with the SWNY Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
SOUTHWEST, NEW YORK (March 18th, 2022) Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is a serious, fatal disease of poultry that is at top of mind for many. Since the beginning of the year, it’s been identified in over 350 wild birds in 20 states, including New York. New York has also had 3 cases of HPAI to date in backyard poultry flocks, which resulted in the death of 268 birds. It is up to us as good friends and neighbors to help protect domestic poultry flocks. One of the ways that we can do this is to take down our wild bird feeders for a little while.
While this disease is mostly carried by wild waterfowl, research has shown that other wild bird populations can carry it too, especially if they share nesting and feeding grounds with wild waterfowl. These populations include perching birds and songbirds. For this reason, we are recommending that folks that feed wild birds who also have poultry at home or who work with poultry take down their bird feeders until the threat of the disease has passed.
It is uncertain as to when it will be safe to put feeders back out, but scientists believe that case loads should decrease over the summer months. The highest risk of spreading the disease is now, during the spring migration. That said, this is a disease of the colder months, and we may see cases spike again during the fall migration.
For those who have poultry at home, taking down bird feeders is especially important. Additional ways to protect flocks include a.) keeping your flock away from wild birds, especially wild waterfowl b.) keeping people who aren’t responsible for poultry care away from your flock, and c.) if you must visit other poultry or areas that wild birds frequent, change into clean clothing and footwear before entering poultry housing.
This disease can cause unusual deaths and illness in both wild and domestic birds.
Correction: A previous version of this article recommended that all people with bird feeders should take them down until the threat of HPAI has passed. This statement has been amended to recommend that only those who own or work with poultry take down their feeders.
SWNYDLFC is a partnership between Cornell University and the CCE Associations of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Steuben counties. Their team includes Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management (716-640-0522); Camila Lage, Dairy Management (607-422-6788); and Amy Barkley, Livestock Management (716-640-0844). CCE is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.
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New York State Proactively Bans All Fowl Shows and Exhibitions to Safeguard Against Avian Flu
The ban will remain in effect until further notice. The Department is continuing close monitoring of HPAI in New York State and plans to reassess the Notice of Order in late May to determine whether it should remain in place through the summer fair season.
NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Update 3/26/2022
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The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets today announced that it has issued an order to ban all live fowl shows and exhibitions in New York State to help prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to the state’s poultry population. Commissioner Richard A. Ball issued the order as a result of the continuing spread of strains of HPAI in the United States, including detections in New York State. The current outbreak has impacted 17 states so far and is rapidly expanding nationwide.
Commissioner Ball said, “Avian influenza is a very serious threat to all poultry and breeds of fowl, and is continuing to spread in the United States. By banning fowl shows and exhibitions in New York until further notice, we are taking a commonsense step to limit the co-mingling of birds to slow the spread of this disease in New York State and help keep our birds safe. Our poultry industry is a significant part of New York’s agricultural industry and steps like these are our best line of defense against the disease.”
The ban will remain in effect until further notice. The Department is continuing close monitoring of HPAI in New York State and plans to reassess the Notice of Order in late May to determine whether it should remain in place through the summer fair season.
As the HPAI outbreak spreads in other parts of the United States, several additional states have taken the step to ban poultry exhibitions and/or gatherings of poultry, including Arkansas, Iowa, and Georgia.
HPAI in New York State
To date, five flocks in New York have tested positive for HPAI. HPAI has also been detected in wild birds, including snow geese and wild ducks across New York State. There has been five confirmed cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Cayuga County in wild bird populations (Cases Posted Here). There have been no confirmed cases in domestic flocks in Cayuga.
The Department is working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on a joint incident response and is also collaborating with partners at the Department of Health and Department of Environmental Conservation. Additionally, Department officials are reaching out to poultry and egg farms across the state to ensure best practices are being implemented and to prepare for potential additional avian influenza cases in New York.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these recent HPAI detections in birds do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the United States.
The detections of HPAI in New York prompt reminders for commercial and hobby poultry farmers to increase their biosecurity measures to help prevent the spread of the disease. Poultry owners should keep their birds away from wild ducks and geese and their droppings. Outdoor access for poultry should be limited at this time.
Additionally, the Department encourages all poultry producers, from small backyard to large commercial operations, to review their biosecurity plans and take precautions to protect their birds. Poultry biosecurity materials and checklists can be found on the USDA’s “Defend the Flock” website. Best practices include:
Discourage unnecessary visitors and use biosecurity signs to warn people not to enter buildings without permission.
Ask all visitors if they have had any contact with any birds in the past five days.
Forbid entry to employees and visitors who own any kind of fowl.
Require all visitors to cover and disinfect all footwear.
Lock all entrances to chicken houses after hours.
Avoid non-essential vehicular traffic on-farm.
After hauling birds to processors, clean and disinfect poultry transport coops and vehicles before they return to the farm.
Report anything unusual, especially sick or dead birds, to AGM.
To report sick birds, unexplained high number of deaths, or sudden drop in egg production, please contact the Department’s Division of Animal Industry at (518) 457-3502 or the USDA at (866) 536-7593.
(Image: Washington State Department of Agriculture, Creative Commons)
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Navigating, Valuing, and Negotiating Land Leases
FREE Webinar
April 4, 2022
7pm - 8:30pm
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As the cost of owning land rises, and farm profitability tightens, now's the time to evaluate the role that leased and rented land plays on our local farms - and our bottom lines.
Join Farm Business Management Specialist, Katelyn Walley-Stoll, to learn more about the considerations and resources that are available for evaluating and executing your land lease options. Topics of discussion include written lease agreements, determining "fair" rental rates, and communication strategies.
This will be held virtually via a free interactive Zoom webinar. You will receive instructions to join the webinar prior to the event. We will be distributing a recording and session slides/resources to all registered participants.
Funding for this event and scholarship support is provided by a Farmland for a New Generation New York grant.
For any questions, concerns, or accommodation requests, please contact Katelyn Walley-Stoll at kaw249@cornell.edu or 716-640-0522.
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"Shearing Day Success, Less Stress"
Tuesday, April 5th 2022
6:30 - 7:30 pm
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To help alpaca producers prepare for the upcoming shearing season, the Animal Fiber subgroup of the CCE Livestock Program Work Teams is hosting a "Prepare for Shearing Day - Alpaca Edition" webinar on Zoom.
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The 2022 Cornell List of Sheep Shearers Is Now Available
Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
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While all shearers on this list work with sheep, many work with other species.
If you would like to be added to this list, please contact Tatiana Stanton at TLS7@cornell.edu.
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Camila Lage, Dairy Management Specialist
Cornell Cooperative Extension’s SWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program
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Decision-making is very important when observing a cow’s delivery. We must know what to look for, when to intervene, and if we can help the cow ourselves or if professional assistance is needed. Click here for more information and check out the English and Spanish versions of an infographic created for this article!
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Opportunities and Pitfalls of Managing and Feeding Cows in Automatic Milking Systems
Wednesday, April 6th 2022
12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
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The adoption of an automated milking system (AMS) - more commonly known as robotic milkers - is increasing exponentially worldwide, mainly due to increased labor costs and interest in expanding the use of technology in production systems. The success of AMS management relies heavily on feed management and strategies that can maximize cow traffic, production, and health at the lowest possible cost.
Two experts in AMS, Dr. Gregory Penner, and MSc. James Salfer, will share the most recent high-quality research information on nutrition and feed management for dairy cows in AMS.
COST: FREE
Registration closes at 11:59 p.m. on April 5, 2022.
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Introduction to Rotational Grazing for Livestock Farmers
Thursday, April 7th 2022
1:00 - 3:00 pm
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This FREE virtual workshop, held through zoom, will give an introduction to multi-paddock rotational grazing for livestock farmers. Discover the many
benefits of rotational grazing and
learn some of the practical skills and methods needed to implement it on your farm. Guest speakers will be grazing experts, Brett Chedzoy from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County, and Troy Bishopp from Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District. Both speakers will share their practical experiences on using rotational grazing to reduce feeding costs, increase animal health and performance, improve the land and keep livestock farming "profitable and enjoyable." There will be time for group discussions and questions following both presentations.
Registration is required to attend.
to register for this event.
For more information, contact Joshua Vrooman, Ag Community Educator, at jwv33@cornell.edu or 315-963-7286 ext. 200.
(Stock photo via U.S. Department of Agriculture, Flickr/Creative Commons)
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Nationwide Database Search Engine for Livestock Insecticides
Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
New York was recently added to a national insecticide search engine for livestock.
This is a search engine that allows you to find insecticides for all species of livestock.
You can search by species of livestock, species of pest, application type and preferred formulation.
It is very easy to use! Give it a try!
VetPestX - Pesticides for control of Insect Pests of Animals
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Dealing With Lice on Ruminant Species
Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
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There are a few parasites that producers will interact with over the course of keeping stock. One of those is the humble louse. Lice are small, about the size of a pinhead, and can be hard to spot unless either a.) you’re looking for them or b.) they’re in such large numbers that they are causing discomfort to the animal. There are two types of lice: those which consume dead skin (chewing lice) and those which consume blood (sucking lice). Animals with heavy infestations may not gain well, lose weight, drop in milk production, present with anemia, and/or have areas of hair rubbed off where they are trying to scratch the always present itch. Of course, chewing lice don’t cause anemia because they don’t suck blood, but they do result in discomfort. The economic threshold for treatment is achieved once 10 lice or more per square inch are counted on any one animal in the herd or flock.
Once an infestation is identified, the first bit of good news is that it’s relatively easy to treat, but takes dedication on behalf of the stockowner. The second bit of good news is that lice are obligate parasites. This means that they can’t live without their hosts. If your favorite cow leaves some lice when she scratches against a pen support, those lice will die in the environment unless they find another cow to call home. While producers get the relief of not needing to treat the barn, they do need to aggressively treat all the animals of the affected species on the farm. This is because lice easily transfer from animal to animal, so if one animal is infested, consider that they all have lice to varying degrees. When treating, we need to think of the louse’s biology. These critters take about 1-2 weeks to hatch from eggs. That means that one treatment of insecticide, depending on the label’s treatment timelines, may not be enough if that insecticide is only active for a week. For this reason, it’s important to treat multiple times, in strict accordance with the label’s scheme for lice. Remember that chewing and sucking lice may need different treatment strategies; chewing lice are not susceptible to systemic insecticides because they don’t consume treated blood!
Once the lice are controlled, you’ll need to check 10-30 individuals in the herd for signs of nits (eggs attached to the hair) and/or adult lice every 2-4 weeks. If either of these are seen at a rate of 10 nits or lice per inch, you’ll need to repeat the whole herd treatment. There is a chance they’ll come back once eradicated, but vigilance and repeated treatments will keep them controlled. It’s also a good idea to isolate and treat any new animals you buy in (if you do) for that 4-6 week period before introducing them to the herd as a precaution.
*Image: Infestation of a cow with Linognathus lice, Alan R. Walker, WikimediaCommons/Creative Commons
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Inspired by Annie’s Project – Let’s Elevate Your Marketing
Tuesdays in April (5th,12th,19th & 26th)
11:30 am - 1 pm
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Annie’s Project is taught by trained facilitators and is designed for farm women who have been in farming, or agri-business, or part of the food system for three to five years, and want to develop their understanding, interpretation, and opportunities in sustainable agriculture. (Stock photo via U.S. Department of Agriculture, Public Domain)
This workshop will take participants through a four week journey addressing all aspects of their farm marketing. By the end of the four weeks participants will —
- Learn how to conduct a brand audit of their farm or business and make updates/changes based on the audit
- Create a marketing strategy statement which reflects their target customer
- Create a social media strategy which meets their business goals
- Understand and evaluate which e-commerce platform makes the most sense for their farm, or products
- Learn to take great pictures
- Understand how targeted communication pieces can help meet their goals
The cost is $60 for the four-part series and registration is limited to enhance group discussions. Sessions will not be recorded. The cost includes copies of all presentations and worksheets, and support from a variety of community partners.
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Forage and Pasture Management Workshop
Saturday, April 23, 2022, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
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Please join CCE Allegany, CCE Chautauqua, and CCE Livingston Counties; along with the NWNY & SWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Teams on Saturday, April 23, 2022 from 9:30am - 3:30pm at the Pioneer High School in Yorkshire, NY for the Forage and Pasture Management Workshop.
This is a regional program involving several agencies that provide educational information and outreach to farmland owners. Presenters are brought in from both private and public sectors to provide participants with up-to-date information. Exhibitors from agricultural related business, organizations and agencies will also be on hand to address farmland owner questions.
The Keynote session will be Getting the Most out of Your Pastures and Hayfields without Breaking the Bank presented by Dan Steward from WNY Crop Management. Following the opening presentation there will be three concurrent sessions with 3 tracks to choose from per session. The Stored Forage Track will include Stored Forage Economics, Making Quality Hay and Baleage Panel, and Analyzing Forage Reports to Match Livestock Needs. In the Pasture Track: Setting up a Grazing System, Handling Livestock Safely and Equine Pasture Management. For the 3rd Equipment Track: Selecting and Purchasing Used Equipment, Tractor and Equipment Maintenance and Tractor Safety.
The registration fee is $40 for adults and youth rate (14–18 year-old) is $20; pre-registration is required.
Discounted Early Bird Registration deadline: Friday, April 8, 2022.
Image: Tiia Monto, Wikimedia/Creative Commons
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NYCAMH Holding Respirator Fit Testing Clinics in NWNY
April 7th - May 13th
Amy Barkley,
Livestock Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
NYCAMH is once again holding their annual respirator fit testing clinics throughout the state. These clinics are designed to meet all Worker Protection Standard (WPS) requirements for pesticide handlers who are required to use a respirator when applying certain pesticides (including certified private and/or commercial applicators). Below is the list of dates for clinics being held in DEC regions 8 & 9.
April 7 Orleans County
April 8 Niagara County
May 12 Ontario County
May 13 Yates County
To schedule an appointment, growers should contact NYCAMH directly at 800-343-7527 or FitTest@bassett.org.
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GAPs Online Training
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April 6, 2022 – April 26, 2022 - Course Full
- June 8, 2022 – June 28, 2022
- July 6, 2022 – July 26, 2022
- September 7, 2022 – September 27, 2022
- October 12, 2022 – November 1, 2022
Implementing Good Agricultural Practices is a 3-week web-based course intended to improve your understanding of GAPs to guide assessment of risks and implementation of practices to reduce risks on fresh produce farms. Taking this course will not result in your farm being "GAPs Certified". GAPs certification is done by a third party (e.g. USDA, Primus, Global GAP) and involves the successful completion of an on-farm audit.
Class size is limited to 25 people on a first come, first serve basis. A minimum of 10 participants must be registered for us to offer the course. Special arrangements can be made for large groups to ensure everyone is in the same class together. The course price is $225.
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Double Up Food Bucks: Application Deadline for New Vendors for the 2022 Season is Closing Soon! |
Any stores, markets, or farm stands interested in participating in the Double Up Food Bucks Program can access the application for new vendors below.
The Farm Direct (farmers markets, mobile markets, and farm stands) application can be found here.
The Brick and Mortar (small retail, corner stores, and grocery stores) application can be found here.
To be considered this application must be submitted and received in its entirety no later than Monday, April 4, 2022 at 5 p.m.
If you or anyone else may have some questions, please feel free to reach out to the Double Up Food Bucks Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator, Kristie Munson
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Earth Day Farmers' Market
April 22, 2022
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
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SUNY Corning Community College will be hosting its 14th annual celebration of Earth Day on Friday, April 22, 2022. It will be set-up in a Farmers’ Market format. With your support, we’ve been able to increase our campus community’s awareness of how to get involved in our communities, experience our natural environment, and connect to farmers producing locally grown food and natural goods.
SUNY CCC students will receive 8, $1 tokens to spend with the participants of the event.
Also new this year two tokens for each student will have an “O” on them signifying they can only given to tables not selling products (i.e. Organizations/non-profits)
**Please be sure to price your items/portion sizes according to the $1 denominations.
Students can use the tokens for the vendors’ goods, including fresh vegetables, honey, baked goods, or donate the money to a non-profit organization. No change will need to be given for purchases less than the $1 token value. In 2019 over $1700 was disbursed to our participants. The SUNY CCC Accounting Office will be mailing checks from the College for the value of the tokens your table received.
The event will be from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. Students, faculty, staff and community members will peruse the tables, visit with participants, and view exhibits at that time. Please designate what types of materials you will be bringing and if you need any special accommodations (click here to access the registration form). The event will be held inside the Lobby of the Commons Building.
All participating vendors are encouraged to arrive at 10:30 am to set-up. You may pull up into the circle by the flagpole and unload. Special parking for vendors will be available in the Chemung Building parking lot in the area designated by orange cones. A free lunch of wraps, chips, and cookies will be provided to all vendors. There is no registration fee to attend this event and no cover charge for visitors.
Please mail or email your registration form by Wednesday, April 8, 2022. All participants selling and serving food will need to provide a certificate of liability naming SUNY CCC as additional insured valued at $1 million coverage. This coverage must be on file by Wednesday, April 8, 2022.
Contact Matt Gorman, Director of Student Life, Corning Community College, 607-962-9133,
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Are you a farmer impacted by flooding in the Summer of 2021?
Two loans are available in Steuben County.
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Notice has been given that Steuben and other counties were given a natural disaster designation for the flooding events that occurred in August 2021.
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It’s Time To Rate Your Recordkeeping System!
Take this quick self-assessment from Farm Business Management Specialists Mary Kate MacKenzie and Katelyn Walley-Stoll to see how your current system works for you.
For more information about assessing your current record keeping system, contact Katelyn Walley-Stoll.
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Fertilizer Prices for 2022 Crop Will Be Near or Above Historic Highs
NDSU Extension specialist, Dave Franzen, shares tips for improving profitability during times of high fertilizer prices.
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Fabian Fernandez, Extension Nitrogen Management Specialist with the University of Minnesota Extension and Jeff Vetsch, a soil scientist, Southern Research and Outreach Center (SROC).
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Fertilizer Prices Trend Upward in Late 2021 …and Into 2022?
"Higher fertilizer prices make manure resources and crop rotation a lot more valuable and worth managing as efficiently as possible. The biggest cost in the fertilizer budget is N. Farms with accurate, up-to-date soil samples and sufficient manure storage to start the spring with full pits and maximum inventories will be able to take maximum advantage of manure N and maximum fertilizer savings. Fall and winter manure application is much less efficient as most N is lost to the environment. Accurate analysis and application of manure and optimal crop rotation become much more valuable as fertilizer prices rise."
Read the full article:
For more information about field crop and soil management, contact NNY Cornell University Cooperative Extension Regional Field Crops and Soils Specialists, Mike Hunter and Kitty O’Neil .
Kitty O’Neil, Franklin County CCE
Mike Hunter, Jefferson County CCE
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Read More on Soil Health
from Cornell Cooperative Extension,
Cornell Vegetable Program.
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Tips for Successful Frost Seeding
Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
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Frost seeding is a low input and low disturbance method of improving pastures and hayfields. If potential pitfalls are addressed prior to seed getting on the ground, it can result in a more productive stand. Below are some tips to help you have the best success with frost seeding.
Which pastures and hayfields are the best candidates for frost seeding?
The best pastures and hayfields are those which have an appropriate pH for the seed you're planting in addition to reduced vegetative matter cover. The year prior to frost seeding, the resident forage should have been grazed or mowed lower to allow for reduced resident forage vigor in the spring, thereby reducing competition with the new seedlings once they germinate.
Pastures or hayfields with bare spots are also great candidates. Bare areas have limited innate competition, and seeding them will increase that field's overall yield.
What kind of seed should I use?
Legumes (clovers, birdsfoot trefoil) are the best for frost seeding because they can survive low temperatures and naturally work their way through cracks in the snow, ice, and soil profile because of their round shape and relatively higher density. The larger, flatter, lighter seed of grasses doesn't work as well because it will be more prone to stay on the soil surface… that is, if it doesn't blow away! That said, some producers find that they can successfully frost seed timothy, orchard grass, and tall fescue.
Seeding rates are different when frost seeding
You'll want to aim for a higher rate than what's listed on the seed bag because not all of the seed is being applied directly to the soil and incorporated. There is loss associated with this type of seeding. According to numbers published by Penn State University, Pasture renovation frost seeding rates for red clover are 4-8 pounds/acre, yellow clover is 5-10 pounds/acre, white and ladino clover is 2-3 pounds/acre, and trefoil is applied at a rate of 4-6 pounds per acre.
Timing
As the name suggests, frost seeding is best done in late winter or early spring when the frost is leaving the soil. While frost seeding with snow on the ground is attractive because you can see where you've gone over the field, keep in mind that we're trying to plant a very small seed that has to make it all the way down to the soil without cold damage, being consumed by wildlife, or being blown away by wind. If you do choose to frost seed when there is snow on the ground, make sure that you can see the ground poking through the bed of snow to give the seed it's best chance.
How does soil type impact frost seeding success?
The good news for farmers in most of WNY is that our soils are prime for frost seeding. Heavier clay and silt-loam soils hold more water by nature, and therefore have a much more dramatic freeze-thaw cycle. This opens cracks in the soil to get the seed in good contact with soil. These soils are more successfully frost seeded when compared to soils that are sandier in texture.
Does soil fertility matter when frost seeding?
Fertility for legumes that are frost seeded follow the same rules of legumes that are planted any other time of the year. Clovers do best in a pH of 6 - 7, while trefoil does well in soils down to a pH of 5.5. Soils that has a pH outside of these ranges are going to result in reduced seedling vigor and quicker stand depletion.
By following these tips, whether you're a first time or seasoned frost seeder, you can experience the benefits of frost seeding. Questions on frost seeding? Contact Amy Barkley at (716) 640-0844 or amb544@cornell.edu
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Ag Energy NY – A CCE Program for Farm Energy Efficiency |
Would you like to save on your farm energy bills? There are many opportunities to reduce energy use through efficiency improvements that save labor, utility, and maintenance costs. Energy efficiency also helps buffer farms from volatile, high costs in energy market fluctuations.
Ag Energy NY is a program by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, offering a smartphone-friendly website and factsheets describing farm energy efficiency technologies, techniques, and incentives. Ag Energy NY focuses on the following farm sectors: crops and vegetables, beef, swine, poultry, grain drying, maple, orchards, berries, and vineyards, while linking to existing resources for dairy and greenhouse operations.
After reviewing energy efficiency measures online, you can reach out to the Ag Energy NY team with questions and to connect with a NYSERDA FlexTech Consultant for farm-specific advising. NYSERDA offers no-cost, no-commitment energy assessments to help farmers prioritize areas for improvements and identify incentives to help with implementation. For more information, visit www.agenergyny.org.
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** Your Advertisement Here! ** |
Dear Readers,
Through this publication, CCE Steuben serves farmers, agribusinesses, and county residents of all ages interested in current agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources topics. You can contribute a logo and/or have space for a promotional message to reach the local agriculture community.
$120.00 for the entire 2022 year
or
$15.00 per month
Contact Anne at 607-664-2300 or email her here for more details.
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Tobamo Viruses on Calibrachoa
Integrated Pest Management Update
Dr. Elizabeth Lamb, Cornell University
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New Tobamo viruses have shown up in a few calibrachoa cultivars – Chile Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (CPMMoV) and possibly the similar Yellow Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (YPMMoV).
Tobamo viruses are in the group similar to Tobacco Mosaic Virus or TMV. One of the main characteristics of Tobamo viruses is that they are spread via plant sap so they can easily be spread on tools and your hands. Management includes handling infected or possibly infected plants last, washing your hands carefully and cleaning any tools.
How do you know you have it?
Symptoms range from mild mottling on foliage or petals (lighter and darker(ish) green or yellow areas – or petal colored) to yellowing and necrotic spots. You can use a TMV test which will cross react for these newer Tobamo viruses. The test won’t tell you which virus you have but it will tell you have one of them and management protocols are the same.
Then what do you do?
Carefully remove any infected plants from the greenhouse (then wash your hands). Keep an eye on any others of the same species that you think might be infected. If there is damage to leaves so that sap can move from one plant to another, the disease can spread. If you handled the plants all at the same time, for example, while taking them out of the boxes. Check other Solanaceous crops (in the tomato family), petunia, Browalia, Datura, Nicotiana, tomato, pepper, and eggplant.
Additional information is available here.
An article from UMass on TMV in calibrachoa
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Beef x Dairy Workshop
Wednesday, April 27th
5:00 - 7:30 pm
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The use of semen in dairy cows is a strategy that can provide benefits across multiple supply chains. Join us at this workshop and learn how you can make more out of your Beef x Dairy!
This workshop is brought to you by The Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program to enhance the knowledge of beef and dairy producers while increasing the resilience of New York's Beef and Dairy Farms!
Location: Howard Community Center, 7481 Hopkins Rd, Avoca, NY 14809
Registration fee: $30 per individual, which covers dinner and printed materials.
*Scholarships are available for those in need and would like to attend for free*
If you have any questions, would like to register over the phone, apply for a scholarship, send a check, or require accommodations, please reach out to Camila Lage at (607) 422-6788 or at cd546@cornell.edu.
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Date:
April 14, 2022
Time:
7pm - 8:30pm
Location:
Online via Zoom
Chrissy Claudio
518-763-8665
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Adding Value to Your Marketing Display
Jean O'Toole, Executive Director of the New York Beef Council.
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Beef Marketing Webinar Series presented by the NY Beef Council
Join NYBC's Executive Director, Jean O'Toole for the final workshop of the webinar series discussing important topics in marketing your beef locally. During this webinar you will learn about the beef marketing resources available!
Hosted by the New York Beef Council, Funded by Beef Farmers & Ranchers
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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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Save The Dates!
Pre-Register Now!
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Dairy Market Watch
Please access the latest Dairy Market Watch here!
For those that get printed newsletters, it is included as an insert with each edition.
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