Book Sponsorship:

Agricultural Literacy Week

March 20-24, 2023

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. "Tomatoes for Neela" by Padmi Lakshmi was selected for 2023 and this book will be paired with a hands-on activity, Planting Tomatoes! If a school chooses to participate, the hands-on activity will allow the students to grow tomato plants, collect their own produce, and cook the recipes in the book!

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.  

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 sponsor a book!

Questions? Contact CCE Steuben, 607-664-2300

Click To Donate

Congratulations to Pleasant Valley Wine Company on their 2nd place finish for The Best New Concord Grape Beverage in NYS at the New York Concord Grape Innovation Awards Banquet.

2023 Educational Schools for Garden Centers, Greenhouses & Growers

January 18, 2023

8:30 – 12:30 &

1:15-4:30

Join Steuben County CCE in the Virtual program series for the 2023 Educational Schools for Garden Centers, Greenhouses, and Growers.  Zoom links will be provided upon registration.  Additional afternoon sessions are available and offer CECs.

Registration for the morning series is $50.00 per registrant. The deadline for registration is January 15, 2023. Please Register Here.

Registration for virtual afternoon programming offered through Broome County will be included in the $50 registration fee but registrants must indicate if they would also like to receive the zoom link for the Broome County afternoon sessions.

If you will be applying for NYSDEC Pesticide Recertification Credits from these classes, you must follow directions provided in your registration confirmation email.  

Read the full schedule and learn more about each presenter HERE.

Photo: Pexels, Julia Filirovska

It’s County Enrollment, Subscription, and Support Time!

The Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops program exists because 5 incredibly supportive Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations came together and partnered to better serve the needs of our region’s agricultural community. Please support CCE Steuben by signing up for their enrollment programs.

Reach out to your county’s Cornell Cooperative Extension Association to learn more! The following Counties have partnered: CCE-Allegany; CCE-Cattaraugus; CCE-Chautauqua; CCE-Erie; CCE-Steuben.

Farmers' Market Nutrition Program Assistance - CCE Steuben

Did you know that over $40,000 worth of Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Coupons do not get reimbursed in Steuben County and go back to NYS Agriculture and Markets? Did you know you can accept these coupons to make produce more accessible to people in need in Steuben? 

The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) serves a vulnerable segment of our community, primarily senior citizens and low-income families. Due to a very limited number of growers and farm stands that accept FMNP coupons as payment, many people are unable to use this benefit thus miss out on resources that could have made a significant impact on their finances, health, and nutrition. Please consider working with Cornell Cooperative Extension Steuben County to keep these funds within our county to support seniors and families in need.  To accept these coupons, each farmer or farm stand representative will fill out three forms, take a 45-minute training and send in the forms and proof of forms to New York State Agriculture and Markets. Once you are permitted by NYS to accept coupons, you must send the coupons back to NYS Agriculture and Markets by the given deadline, typically December 15, to be reimbursed. CCE Steuben is here to help make it easier to accept these coupons and will assist you if you have difficulty with the paperwork.

If you are interested in accepting Farmers Market Nutrition Program Coupons and need assistance with the FMNP paperwork, please contact us. Our information is as follows:

Cornell Cooperative Extension Steuben County

20 East Morris Street in Bath, NY 14810

tsm223@cornell.edu

607-664-2301

2023 Operations Managers Conference

January 31 - February 1, 2023

Doubletree by Hilton, East Syracuse, NY

Presented by PRO-DAIRY and NEDPA 

Operations management on dairy farms is integral to success of the farm business. Presented by Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY and the Northeast Dairy Producers Association, the Operations Managers Conference will provide an opportunity for the people responsible for day-to-day activities on dairy farms to increase their management and operations skills.

Read through the agenda HERE and Register HERE.

Respond NOW to the 2022 Census of Agriculture

Why is the Census of Agriculture important?

The Census of Agriculture provides the only source of uniform, comprehensive, and impartial agriculture data for every county in the nation. Through the Census of Agriculture, producers can show the nation the value and importance of agriculture and can influence decisions that will shape the future of U.S. agriculture.

Who uses Census of Agriculture data?

Census of Agriculture data are used by all those who serve farmers and rural communities — federal, state and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations, and many others.

• Farmers and ranchers can use Census of Agriculture data to make informed decisions about the future of their own operations.
• Companies and cooperatives use the data to determine where to locate facilities that will serve agricultural producers.
• Community planners use the information to target needed services to rural residents.
• Legislators use census data when shaping farm policies and programs.

Does NASS keep the information provided by individual respondents private?

NASS is bound by law (Title 7, U.S. Code, and the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act or CIPSEA, Public Law 107-347) – and pledges to every data provider – to use the information for statistical purposes only. NASS publishes only aggregated data, not individual or farm-specific data.

Need more information?

• Read more frequently asked questions.
• Report Forms and Instructions
• Data Matters blog series
• Preparing for the 2022 Census of Agriculture

Keeping Your Flock in Production Through the "Off Months"

Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist

Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Commercial-type egg production facilities can produce eggs year-round without much trouble, resulting in a steady supply of eggs to grocery store shelves. Therefore many local egg customers, especially those who are new to purchasing eggs from small farms, anticipate that they will always be able to get their eggs locally throughout the year. This is not usually the case. This time of year, egg production from pastured laying flocks is down while demand increases going into the holiday season. The cyclical nature of hens' laying patterns can result in missed sales opportunities and the potential movement of customers to another farm that can meet their needs. However, there are some management tactics that can help maintain production through the winter months. These are based around the 4 inputs for optimal egg production: Daylength, hen age, hen breed, and feed and water availability.

Daylength is the most important factor to consider for optimizing production. Hens are seasonal creatures, maintaining their wild ancestor's reproductive strategy of hatching chicks when food is plentiful. While domestic chickens will outlay their wild cousins, they still hold much of their genetic code which tells them to slow down and eventually stop laying as daylength decreases. For most flocks, this begins in October until egg production becomes a trickle or stops entirely by the winter solstice.

Read the full article.

A Real-Life Reminder for Farm Safety Around Animals!

Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Business Management Specialist and Team Leader

Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

If you've tried to email or call me in the past month, you probably received an automatic "out of office" message and an extended wait for a reply! I have been using up all of my sick time to deal with a long concussion recovery - caused by, you guessed it, an unfortunate farm accident.  

In a classic case of "do as I say, not as I do," I was ear tagging cows on our farm using less than ideal animal restraints. One cow decided to swing her head in just the right way to catch me on the forehead with her jaw! This resulted in a bad concussion and whiplash with symptoms like nausea, inability to focus, sensitivity to light and sound, issues with speech and vision, and general exhaustion. I was out of commission for a couple of weeks and am still working through lasting symptoms more than a month later.

This incident was a stark reminder for myself and my family about just how important farm safety is and should be. Farming is an inherently risky business, and we've all heard about some of the truly shocking accidents that have hit our agricultural community in just the past few years.

When working with any type of livestock or equipment, it's key to consider safety to keep yourself, your farm family, employees, and animals safe. On average from year to year, one in every four farm accidents involve animals. Below are some farm safety reminders for working with animals on the farm.

1. Animal Behavior is instinctive AND learned. For example, cows can learn to be calm around humans and wear a rope halter without too much fuss. However, natural instinct when experiencing something new (ear tagging) will be to react in "fight or flight" mode which will cause sudden movements. Be prepared for sudden movements and don't trust animals just because they're the kind ones in the herd.

2. Consider depth perception and color blindness. Many animals have different vision than we do. This results in big reactions to blind turns, color changes, gaps in flooring and pens, and quick movements (think - fans, children, equipment, etc.). Go through your housing and handling facilities looking out for areas that might cause hang ups when working with animals. Always operate in areas with adequate lighting.

3. Facilities need to be up to par. We can oftentimes prevent accidents by thoroughly preparing our animal handling facilities. In addition to the lighting mentioned above, there are other things to check on periodically. Look for any loose boards, gates, panels, or other handling areas that might need some new screws, bolt tightening, or replacement. Watch for any sharp projections (aka - that nail that never got pounded in all the way). Add traction to areas that get slippery and reduce blind spots.

4. Remember the Flight Zone. We've all heard about cow flight zones, and often use them to our advantage to calmly and safely move cattle when necessary. However, remembering that cows can't see directly behind them, have varying flight zones, and react suddenly to sounds and movements will keep everyone safe.

5. Ask for help. Oftentimes, we're put into situations where we have to handle animals alone. However, having an extra person around is always better! More help, and clear communication, will allow for extra time and safer handling.

6. Plan for Human Exits. When working animals, we tend to avoid working in the center of the group or facility to limit the chance for trampling, kicking, and headbutting. However, working in corners and against walls can also lead to getting pinned. Plan for space with animal handling facilities and know how you can get out of a situation quickly if needed.

7. Be Patient, Kind, and Consistent. Animals (and humans, too) are creatures of habit. Keeping activities consistent and calm will help everyone involved. Allow animals for space and time to get acclimated to new areas, new people, and new routines. Keep the barn a calm environment by reducing loud and sudden noises and avoiding overcrowding. Handling animals humanely regardless of their age or demeanor. Animals will remember poor animal handling situations for the rest of their lives and will continue to react strongly. At the herd level, calm and consistent handling will lead to calm and consistent animals. 

One way you can offset the cost of farm safety improvements for your farm is through the John May Farm Safety Fund. This program, managed through the Bassett Healthcare Network's New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health, is available to all New York State farms with annual farm incomes of $10,000 to $350,000.

Farms are eligible to apply for matching funds up to $5,000. Funds are awarded on a rolling basis and only require a simple application, a farm visit from program staff, and monthly project updates. Farms right here in SWNY have received funds from the John May Farm Safety Fund to install cattle squeeze chutes, purchase animal handling equipment, redesign farm working facilities to improve safety, and more.

Ironically enough, our farm was awarded funds from the John May Safety Fund to purchase and install a cattle handling system a few months ago. We just haven't "had the time" to get everything together, and this accident was a great reminder and motivator! 



Resources that we used in preparing this article:

· Penn State Extension Animal Handling Tips

· John May Safety Fund

Photo: Flickr, creative commons; USDA 2015.

Getting the Most Out of Your Pastures

Three-part series on understanding the complexities of the simple practice of grazing livestock. Organized by Cornell’s SCNY Regional Dairy Team.

January 11th, 25th, and February 1st

6:00 – 7:30 PM each meeting

4-H Building at Chemung Co. Fairgrounds, 170 Fairview Rd, Horseheads, NY

Graziers of all types of livestock are invited to these discussion-based meetings. At the first meeting we will share a pot of soup while watching a presentation on how the grazing animal’s rumen works. Member’s will discuss their grazing operations including their strengths and weaknesses. This will help set up topics for future meetings. These meetings are free to attend. Donations of cash or soup ingredients would be appreciated.

Grazing livestock can be a low-cost way to make use of perennial grasses to produce food and fiber for the family or to sell. What many have found is that to be profitable, productive, and fun, the grazier needs to understand the interactions of: nutrition, plant growth, nutrient cycling, soil health, record keeping, as well as other pieces.

The three-part winter series will be facilitated by Fay Benson with the South-Central NY Dairy Team. Fay has collected numerous resources, both recorded and printed during his twenty years as a dairy and custom grazier as well as his twenty years with Cornell Cooperative Extension. Discussion groups are a great way to gain and share knowledge.

Please register Here or call 607-391-2669 to leave a message of which meeting you want to attend. Contact Fay Benson: CCE of Cortland County, afb3@cornell.edu 607-391-2669 with questions.

Bale Grazing: Feed the Cattle, Feed the Pasture

Brett Chedzoy, Forester for the Cornell Cooperative Extension South Central New York Agriculture Team

At Angus Glen Farm, the two areas where we’ve made the greatest gains in winter feeding efficiency in recent years are by reducing human and mechanical energy inputs (my time and tractor time). Several years ago we transitioned to outwintering and “bale grazing”. This strategy can be used in different ways on different farms, but in our own case we lay out a two-day supply of hay in each paddock and then rotate the cows the same as during the grazing season. We have 75 permanent paddocks across 270 acres of pasture, so we can normally set out an entire winter’s supply of hay at once. The cows start “bale grazing” once they finish grazing stockpiled pasture in mid-to-late December. We don’t use ring feeders, and have found that the amount of waste hay is about the same whether the cows are given a 1-day supply or a 2-day supply of hay in each paddock. The amount of waste hay increases significantly if more than a 2-day supply is available. We have also experimented the past two years with leaving the natural “jute” fiber twine on the bales to save time and keep the bales intact longer during feeding. No problems yet on our farm, but this could pose a health risk if animals consume excessive amounts of twine or become entangled – so experiment at your own risk!

Watching the 10-day forecast is important when outwintering livestock. We move the herd to sheltered, wooded areas before storms and to sacrificial paddocks during thaws. We manage several conifer plantations on the farm as “living barns” where the herd can be moved temporarily during extreme winter weather. It’s important not to repeatedly “beat up” these wooded shelter areas, nor to allow excessive accumulation of waste hay as this will eventually impact tree health.

Some other benefits of outwintering include:

• Cows appear to be happier and healthier by moving around all winter rather than being confined to a muddy barnyard for months at a time. They also stay much cleaner and are able to bed on waste hay in recently bale-grazed paddocks.
• Much less ringworm in the herd.
• We are able to rejuvenate selected paddocks each year through concentrated feeding of hay (nutrients), followed by light frost seeding in the spring. Even without frost seeding, a vibrant sward of grass and forbs should return by mid-summer if care is taken to temporarily remove animals during soft ground conditions.

Even on pastures with wetter, heavier soils graziers should be able to feed at least part of their hay on pasture during frozen ground conditions (if the animals can be moved relatively easy back and forth from a winter yard to the pastures). Every bale that is fed on pasture is that much less manure to clean up in the spring and one more dose of fertility where it matters most.

Another strategy is to focus bale-grazing on one pasture that needs improvement. By spring the pasture may be a mess and ready for renovation, either frostseeding or tillage and seeding, depending on the amount of pugging and wasted hay left. This pasture will be delayed in spring-summer grazing, or completely out of the grazing system for an extended period. Bales can be placed in the pasture and separated by temporary fencing to give the cattle limited access to them. The challenge comes with deep snow; fences may get buried and someone needs to get there to drop the fences when time for access to the next set of bales. If excess hay is available, temporary fencing may not be needed.

*Photo: Brett Chedzoy; Cattle continue to graze as snow flies at Angus Glen Farm. Originally written for Small Farms Quarterly.

Handling Union Conversations on Your Farm

Kateyn Walley-Stoll

SWDLFC Team Farm Buisness Management Specialist

There has been an uptick in union conversations around the state. There are certain things employers can and can’t say when discussing unions with farm employees. Can’t Say TIPS (Threats, Interrogate, Promises, Surveillance) and Can Say FOE (Facts, Opinions, Examples). Learn more from Cornell’s Ag Workforce Development Program.

New York State Young Farmers Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program

The NYS Young Farmers Loan Forgiveness Incentive Program is offered to encourage recent college graduates to pursue careers in farming in NYS. This Program provides loan forgiveness awards to individuals who obtain an undergraduate degree from an approved NYS college or university and agree to operate a farm in NYS, on a full-time basis, for five years. Learn more here.

2023 Virtual NOFA-NY Winter Conference

Online February 2 – 5, 2023

Register Today!

NOFA-NY is excited to partner with the Northeast Community Seed Conference & Celebration in hosting our 41st Annual Winter Conference which will offer 70+ workshops and events.

Suggested registration for non-members- $125

Suggested registration for NOFA-NY members- $100

Reduced Registration Rate for anyone who needs it- $50

We continue to host the conference online because we are able to offer lower ticket prices than we could in person, and the virtual platform broadens access by eliminating hotel and travel costs, offering on-demand workshop recordings, more dynamic interpretation services, closed captioning, and more.

All of that said, we understand that communities need to meet in person, and we miss seeing you too.

We do plan to host at least four regional events in the spring and summer of 2023 so if you aren’t able to join us for the Virtual Winter Conference, we hope to see you then!

Finger Lakes Farm Country has a new app! 

Visit Finger Lakes Farm Country to download it today!

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Soliciting Applications for 2023

One of the larger incentives for farm energy improvements is the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) of USDA Rural Development. The first Notice of Solicitation of Applications (NOSA) for 2023 has been published, releasing $250 million of Inflation Reduction Act grant funds. In Spring, a second and final NOSA for 2023 is planned, releasing $750 million of grant funds.

The max grant request for this first notice is capped as follows (whichever is less):

• 40% of Total Eligible Project Cost
• OR
• $1,000,000 for Renewable Energy Projects

OR

• $500,000 for Energy Efficiency Projects

Farmers can get expert assistance with this grant opportunity by starting with a free Agriculture Energy Audit from NYSERDA.

Visit Incentives and Grants | Ag Energy NY to read more about opportunities for support improving farm energy efficiency. This includes no-cost, no-commitment technical assistance, equipment and facility rebates, and grants to share the costs of energy efficiency upgrades or installations.

Planning with Agrivoltaics in Mind

The solar development opportunities for dual-use of solar and agriculture are increasing, but how, exactly, can local and municipal officials develop siting and zoning ordinances for this new way of co-utilizing land, and what about opportunities that are still in development?

This four-part series, hosted by Penn State, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and the NY & PA Farm Bureaus, is designed to assist local and municipal officials in better understanding agrivoltaics and how to consider and discuss dual use as they make planning decisions.

Preserving Agriculture in the Face of Growing Solar Development, Thursday Jan 5^th 12:00 – 1:15 pm

As the demand for renewable energy, specifically solar,

grows the competition for our finite land resources is

increasing. In this session, we'll explore how municipal

officials can maintain their agricultural, rural, and cultural

heritage while allowing for solar energy development.

Learn more and register here.

Overview of Agrivoltaics, Thursday Jan 19^th 12:00 – 1:15 pm

In order for planners and other local officials to be better

prepared to integrate agrivoltaics into the site plan review

process, they first must understand what agrivoltaics is –

current and potential future practices. In this session we'll

discuss current, and upcoming, agrivoltaic practices.

Learn more and register here.

Planning with Agrivoltaics in Mind, Thursday Feb 2nd 12:00 – 1:15 pm

Now that we've built an understanding of current and

upcoming agrivoltaics practices, in our previous session,

in this session we will discuss practices and

considerations when developing siting and zoning

ordinances.

Learn more and register here.

Series Q&A, Thursday Feb 16th 12:00 – 1:15 pm

With such a new and pressing topic there will likely be

more questions than can be answered in the previous

three sessions. At this session, we will invite the speakers

from the previous sessions back for an hour plus of Q &

A.



Learn more and register here.

Solar developers approached two NY farmers. Their choices reveal an industry in crisis

By Thomas C. Zambito and Edward Harris, USA TODAY Network New York State Team (NCPR)

The cows have all been milked and fed.

Ben Simons’ Holsteins are lounging in a field next to his home on Starr Hill in Remsen, the morning fog having given way to a warming early afternoon sun.

“Right now, they’re fat and happy,” Simons says, taking in the scene.



Dairy cows have provided Simons a steady income through the years, ever since he and his wife Robin arrived in central New York in the 1980s, joining an exodus of farming families from New Hampshire in search of a place where they could work the land and raise a family.

They sell milk to yogurt maker Chobani in nearby Chenango County and Hood dairy products in Massachusetts.

But it’s physical work, up with the sun milking cows, planting corn and soybeans and, when the growing season is over, chopping firewood for sale in nearby towns. Simons is 61.

A few years ago, while he was up on a tractor harvesting hay, Simons got an unexpected visit from a man who chased him down in the field with an offer.

Continue reading the full article HERE.

Photo: Daniel DeLoach/Observer-Dispatch; Ben Simons (right) and son Christopher pose at Simons Family Farm located in the Oneida County town of Remsen.

Are you thinking of starting an agritourism business or are you currently operating one? Join our monthly lunch-hour, workshop virtual series and learn how to grow your agritourism business!

The first session will cover the basics of running an agritourism operation. The following sessions will focus on specific topic to help aspiring agritourism entrepreneurs grow their knowledge and profit through this exciting on-farm business.

January 17: What is Agritourism and Starting an Agritourism Business

February 20: Where is agritourism allowed?

March 20: Protecting Your Agritourism Operation: Liability and Insurance

April 17: Customer Service for Agritourism

May 15: Tax Considerations for Agritourism

June 19: Agritourism Pricing Workshop: How to figure out what your customers will bear

July 17: Marketing Your Agritourism Operation

Pre-registration Required: Register 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 

Farm Accounting with QuickBooks Online course starts in January 2023

Register Here.

Self-paced online course is open for registration now.

Five live webinars take place from 12:00pm to 1:30pm on Wednesdays, January 11 to February 8.

Webinar recordings will be posted for students to view at their convenience.

Students have access to course content for one year from the start date.

Appropriate for all types of farm businesses, the course includes content and examples specific to dairy farms.

The CCE South Central NY Dairy and Field Crops Team is pleased to offer Farm Accounting with QuickBooks Online in 2023. By combining the theory and practice of farm business accounting into a single class, this class empowers students to set up and maintain a record keeping system that is accurate, efficient, and useful. The course is delivered in an online format, providing self-paced learning from the comfort of home.

The training covers basic farm accounting principles, which students will apply to create and manage a financial record keeping system for their farm. We use QuickBooks Online to conduct this training, so students will gain in-depth technical experience with that software platform. The skills we teach are highly transferable to other versions of QuickBooks and other accounting systems.

Upon completing this course, students will be able to:

• Choose the right accounting system for their farm
• Set up QuickBooks Online with a customized chart of accounts
• Manually record and classify farm business transactions
• Automatically import transactions from farm bank accounts and credit cards
• Reconcile accounts monthly to ensure accuracy
• Generate and analyze financial reports to evaluate business performance

This training is appropriate for beginner and intermediate QuickBooks users who are looking to implement a new record keeping system or enhance the efficiency and functionality of their current system. It is also a great fit for QuickBooks Desktop users who are curious about QuickBooks Online.

Course fee is $195 with a discounted rate available for farms located in Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Tioga or Tompkins County. If your farm is in that region, contact Mary Kate MacKenzie at mkw87@cornell.edu to request a discount code.

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2021‐70027‐34693.

Barn Snow Load Guidance & Resources

Winter is just around the corner, and with winter comes snow. Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Disaster Education Network has multiple resources for dealing with snow loads on agricultural buildings:

• Dos and Don’ts of Barn Snow Removal (access the PDF)​ by Curt Gooch and Sam Steinberg, Cornell University

• Farmstead Recovery Checklist: Snow Load & Barn Collapse (access the PDF)​ by NYS EDEN

• Heavy Snow Loads (access the PDF) by Curt A. Gooch, Cornell University

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 offers in-person trainings, workshops, and online courses for aspiring, new and experienced farmers.

Check out some of the upcoming opportunities for January - March HERE.

Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation (A.5390B/S.6191A) that sets the goal to support and contribute to national efforts to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. land and water by 2030. This legislation will promote biodiversity and preserve New York's wildlife, forests, and clean water sources, which are all essential to New York's health and economy.

"New Yorkers rely on our clean water for recreation, forests to provide wildlife habitats, and the outdoor spaces for jobs and adventures," Governor Kathy Hochul said. "It's more important than ever to safeguard these resources and setting the goal to conserve 30 percent of public land by 2030 will ensure we're protecting our State for future generations."

Legislation S.6191A/A.5390B establishes the goal and requires the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to develop strategies and a methodology to achieve the goal while collaborating with a broad group of stakeholders. These efforts will build on the State's existing conservation efforts.

Read the complete article for more information HERE. Article written by NYS Governor's Press.

Risk Management for Cut Flower Growers

This is a six-week production risk management webinar series for cut flower growers of all experience levels. In each session, an extension specialist will present best practices and new innovations. After a short break, a seasoned flower farmer or industry professional will share real life experiences and advice. 

11/17/22 - Integrated Pest Management - Completed

12/01/22 - Crop Planning - Completed

12/08/22 - Soil Health, Irrigation, and Fertigation - Completed

12/15/22 - Season Extension - Completed

1/05/22 - Wholesaling Ins and Outs

Register Here 

The series is funded by a Northeast Extension Risk Management Education grant. There is no fee to participate.

To register for one or more sessions, click here.

For more information, contact Carla Crim (ceh27@cornell.edu) or Lindsey Pashow (lep67@cornell.edu).

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.

2023 Schedule

• January 6: Lawn alternatives | 2022 Year in Review
• February 3: Indoor cockroaches | Pet flea/tick treatments
• March 3: Carpenter ants | Carpenter bees
• April 7: Avoiding wildlife at home | Slug/snail management
• May 5: Spotted lanternfly update | Stinging insect ID
• June 2: Common Garden Insects | Poison ivy management
• July 7: Pest of home berry plants | Spiders in the home
• August 4: Groundhog management | Bat exclusion
• September 1: Right plant, right place | Transplanting trees/shrubs
• October 6: Jumping worms | Roof gutter pests
• November 3: Winter Garden prep | Tick check reminder
• December 1: Houseplant IPM | Firewood pests

Register for 2023 Events Here. Watch the past Event presentations Here.

SAVE THE DATES: Greenhouse Ornamentals-Scouting for Disease, Insects, and Weed Pests

Cornell University is partnering with the University of Vermont and the University of Maine to offer a 6-week series in scouting for disease, insect and weed pests of greenhouse ornamentals. Learn how to identify the major pests of greenhouse floriculture crops, make scouting faster and easier, communicate with growers and owners, and find resources to help. Sessions will be led by Stephanie Burnett, Margery Daughtrey, Betsy Lamb, Elise Lobdell, John Sanderson and Cheryl Sullivan.

This program is offered in two formats – as a webinar series and as a certificate program.

Who is the certificate program for?

Open to anyone, including students, people looking to get into the industry as growers, and current growers who want documented background in scouting methods

What do I get with the certificate program?

A box of scouting equipment with sticky cards

1.5 hour on-line sessions each week (6 total) (see topic list below) – webinar information plus some additional programming just for certificate students

Hands-on activities tied to the teaching sessions

Resources on a teaching platform that are available to you on a continuing basis

Recordings and slides for the programs

Discussion forums for questions and to learn from presenters and other students

A certificate of completion

Pesticide recertification credits if you want them (we’ve applied for them)

Who are the webinars for?

Anyone who wants the information

What do I get with the webinar series?

1 or more 1-hour webinars on scouting topics with time for questions

Recorded webinars

Pesticide recertification credits (Pending NYS DEC approval)

Time:

Certificate program – 6:00- 7:30, Wednesdays February 1-March 8, 2023

Webinar series – 6:30-7:30, Wednesdays February 1-March 8, 2023

Cost:

Certificate program - $250

Webinar series - $25 each or all 6 for $125

Questions?

Email Betsy Lamb, eml38@cornell.edu.

Registration information coming soon!

Topics:

February 1: Introduction to scouting; Identification of fungus gnats/shoreflies/drain flies and root rots

February 8: Mechanics of scouting and record keeping; Identification of thrips and virus diseases

February 15: Resources and how to find information; Identification of mites and botrytis blight

February 22: Techniques for scouting – greenhouse overview;

Identification of aphids and abiotic issues

March 1: Techniques for scouting – use of traps and tools;

Identification of whiteflies and powdery/downy mildews

March 8: Communicating scouting information to others;

Identification of mealybugs and scales

2023 Invasive Species Forum | Virtual via Zoom

February 7-9, 2023

The virtual Invasive Species Forum is an annual event that brings attention to invasive species issues, research, and advances in prevention and management occurring across Canada, and in neighboring U.S. States. The theme of the 2023 Forum is Invasive Species Action in a Changing Climate, including sessions on vectors/pathways, innovative solutions, ecosystem resilience, research developments, indigenous communities, and education, outreach, and community science. Registration is free and open to anyone interested. Register HERE.

2023 RISCC Symposium | Virtual via Zoom

February 14-15, 2023

The Northeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) management network is hosting their 2023 symposium virtually over two days from February 14-15th. Sessions will take place from 11am to 3:30pm (Eastern) each day. Mark your calendars and check back HERE for more details and registration.