Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Committee

Ed Merry

Chris Comstock

Allison Lavine

Emily Brennan

Cody Lafler

Kevin Peterson

Joe Castrechino

Arkport

Bath

Savona

Avoca

Bath

Corning

Prattsburgh

Legislative Representatives

Hilda Lando

Fred Potter

Bovine Reproduction and Artificial Insemination Training Course


March 7th & 8th


Join us for a two-day workshop with hands-on training that will be offered in both English and Spanish in cooperation with Javier Cheang from Genex Cooperative Inc.


Space is limited! Pre-registration is required, and walk-in's will not be accepted. Registration to open early February! Stay tuned for more information.


Topics to be covered:


  • Bovine reproductive anatomy and physiology
  • Heat detection
  • Artificial insemination techniques
  • Proper semen thawing
  • Loading artificial insemination guns
  • Breeding cows (hands-on practice)


Cost:


$250 per person, all materials and lunch are included.


For more info, please contact: 

Camila Lage C. - (607) 422-6788, cd546@cornell.edu

8 Things to Think About - Farm Diversification and Enterprise Analysis

Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Business Management Specialist and Team Leader

Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program


  • Have you ever had a dream about adding of changing something on your farm, homestead, or business?
  • Have you ever made a decision without making a budget first?
  • Have you ever planted or grown or raised something without knowing who you were going to sell it to?
  • Have you ever implemented a dream that went terribly wrong? Or a dream that went terribly right?


I'm guessing that you said "YES" to at least one of these things! When conversations about farm diversification come up, I always bring it back to our shared experiences…as dreamers, as doers, as innovators, as people who say "Well, that could have gone better". Specifically, to take this hot topic and break it down, here are my 8 considerations that (I think) are universal in conversations about farm diversification.


  1. Farm diversification comes in many shapes and sizes. Farm diversification is the act of increasing the number of enterprises on your farm. In this case, enterprises is just a fancy word for "things to do or sell". Farm diversification could be adding new products to sell, changing how you sell those products, and/or implementing new ways to make products. This is a great example of not putting all of your eggs in one basket (pun fully intended).
  2. Diversification reduces income variability. We all know that farming is act with a lot of inherent risk. Farm diversification can help reduce production risk on your farm in several ways. As you add and sell additional enterprises to your farm business, you can reduce cash variability. For example, let's say you sell produce every summer at the farmers market. Your cash inflows are quite variable as you see a spike in the market season and little to no income the rest of the year. If you added selling eggs, for example, that's a product that would be available to sell, and earn cash from, throughout the year. You also have the opportunity to spread fixed costs over more commodities - instead of that new tractor just plowing corn fields, it can also plow pumpkin fields. With farm diversification, you can additional utilize resources throughout the year and have a larger range of products to help increase market access.
  3. Increasing or changing enterprises is added risk. When considering adding any new farm enterprise, it's important to consider the possible consequences to your business. A new venture is risky with typically high first year losses, particularly if it's something that you'll need to gain new skills to master. There's also questions about market access if you're new to the game and the longevity/sustainability of new ventures, especially if they're jump on the bandwagon type crops (I'm looking at you goat yoga, hops, and hemp). Additionally, farm diversification can take you from specialized and efficient production (I only milk cows) to "mile-wide, inch deep" inefficiencies (I milk cows, grow pumpkins, process cheese, train oxen, harvest cut flowers, and go to farmers markets every week). None of these unintended consequences are deal breakers, but they're all important considerations.
  4. Clarifying your farm goals will help determine viability. I haven't met a farmer yet who got into the business of farming because they loved paperwork and planning. But, you should be sure that a new business venture fits into your farm's business plan. Don't have a business plan? No worries - we've got loads of resources to help you build one that will work for you! Having a business plan in place will help you to clarify your personal and farm goals to verify your new venture will fit in. 
  5. Leverage existing resources before paying for new ones. Your farm is filled with resources, even if it sometimes feels like those resources are running thin. These can be categorized into physical, financial, and human resources. If you're planning for a new venture that will require the purchase or addition of several new resources, you should first consider if your farm has any underutilized resources that already exist that could be the foundation for a different enterprise.
  6. Develop an enterprise budget to determine breakeven. Who doesn't love budgets?! An enterprise budget is a slice of your whole farm budget pie. This looks at the incomes and expenses associated with a specific enterprise on the farm, taking into account variable and fixed costs. Having an enterprise budget (don't worry - we have resources to put those together, too) will help you determine a breakeven price and the financial viability of a new venture.
  7. Identify your market, and its capacity, beforehand. Don't do anything without knowing who you're going to sell to. Don't do anything without knowing who you're going to sell to. DON'T DO ANYTHING WITHOUT KNOWING WHO YOU'RE GOING TO SELL TO. That's a marketing plan in a nutshell. You shouldn't start a new venture on your farm without first knowing where/who/what your market is and verifying that there's room for you.
  8. Revisit, analyze, pivot, and improve. But also - have an exit plan. When you decide to embark on a new farm enterprise, be sure to hold yourself accountable for checking in on how things are going. Revisit your budget, your business plan, and your books often. Analyze if the new enterprise is serving you and your farm positively - have you seen an improvement in profitability? Cash flow? Is the new venture providing your farm with benefits that outweigh the cost and your time? If the answer to any of these questions is "no", don't be afraid to pivot! Schooch some things around, change markets or tactics, and see if you can make it improve. If you do these things without success, don't be afraid to enact your exit plan and try something new.


For more information about farm diversification, contact Katelyn Walley-Stoll at 716-640-0522.


This article was written as part of Cornell Cooperative Extension's "Diversifying Your Dairy" initiative. This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under award number 2021-70027-34693.

Tools for Farm Succession Planning Series


March 8, 2023

March 15, 2023

March 22, 2023


6:30pm-8pm EST


Location: Webinar

Host: Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program


Do you have a plan in place for transferring your farm business to the next generation?


Join CCE-trained educators for a FREE & Virtual series focused on leveling up your toolbox when it comes to building a strong management team, assessing your business for the future, and tax management considerations when it comes to succession planning.


Whether you are currently working on a succession plan, currently implementing one, or don't want to use the word (because who plans for the future, right?!) this online series is for you!


Each week on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8pm EST, a set of trained CCE educators will explore a specific topic and present resources, options and scenarios to help you better apply the concepts to your own farm and situation. The presentations will be recorded and provided to all registrants, along with handouts for each session. It is FREE to join each week. Each registrant will receive the zoom link to join the session, as well as a reminder email the morning of the session.


If you have any questions or concerns, contact Katelyn Walley-Stoll at 716-640-0522 or kaw249@Cornell.edu. 


Session 1: Building a Strong Management Team

Wednesday, March 8th, 2023   


Session 2: Assessing Your Business

Wednesday, March 15th, 2023   


Session 3: Tax Management in Succession Planning

Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023  


REGISTER

If Money Doesn't Grow On Trees - Maybe it Grows in Hay Fields?

Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Business Management Specialist and Team Leader

Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program


If you grow, feed, or sell hay, it's important to know how to manage the green - the money, that is - to make profitable decisions. Hay production, whether it's sold off the farm or fed to livestock, is a key part of many of our farms in SWNY. Producing your own hay can diversify and improve the profitability of your farm. But, hay production can decrease your farm's profitability over time. Not tracking financial and production records can lead to poor decision-making.


Based on the latest Ag Census data (2017), hay production in SWNY is big business. In our five-county region, there were 3,102 farms producing 292,372 acres of hay, haylage, grass silage, and green chop. This is 57% of farms producing some type of hay on 46% of all the SWNY farmland. 723,275 dry equivalent tons of hay crop was produced in 2017 with an estimated value of over $114 million.


Financially, feed is the biggest cost for livestock-based farms in our region. For NY dairies, feed and crop expense per cwt. milk was $8.30 in 2021, which accounted for 42% of the total cost of producing milk. The cost of feed and crops increased by 11% from 2020 to 2021, and based on preliminary data for 2022, this will continue to increase. For livestock producers, the cost of forages on a unit of production basis can range from 20% to 80%! Based on FINBIN data for cow-calf beef operations, hay and pasture expense was $327/cow/year, or 46% of total direct expenses.


Read the full article HERE to learn more about producing hay on farm, selling hay, or buying hay and setting prices unique to each operation. It doesn't have to be guesswork!


For more information about farm diversification, contact Katelyn Walley-Stoll at 716-640-0522.

County Enrollment, Subscription, and Support

The Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program with Cornell Cooperative Extension offers educational programming and research based information to agricultural producers, growers, and agribusinesses in the five county region of Southwestern New York. 


Our specialists work with Cornell Faculty and Extension Educators statewide to address the issues that impact the agricultural industry and provide services to farms of all sizes and production techniques. The educational programming and support that we offer ranges from workshops to on-farm events, and includes one-on-one consultations. Our program is designed to meet the rapidly changing needs of our region's diverse agricultural community. 


For more information, contact any of the specialists.

Please support CCE Steuben by signing up for their enrollment programs.


Reach out to CCE-Steuben at 607-664-2300 and ask about enrollment. The enrollment form can be found online, here.

The Cornell Vegetable Program works with Cornell faculty and Extension educators to address the issues that impact the New York vegetable industry. The team offers educational programs and information to growers, processors, and agribusiness professionals in pest management, variety evaluation, cultural practices, market development, and farm food safety.


Cornell Vegetable Program Specialists expertise includes processing vegetables, fresh market vegetables, weed science, soil health, food safety, organic, marketing, greenhouses and high tunnels.


To read the Vegetable Programs 2022 Year in Review, click HERE. Learn more about the specialists HERE.


To enroll click here.

The Finger Lakes Grape Program (FLGP) is a regional extension program of Cornell Cooperative Extension serving the grape and wine industry of the Finger Lakes.


The staff of the Finger Lakes Grape Program is committed to providing grape growers in the Finger Lakes and beyond with cutting edge, research-based information to help them improve the productivity and sustainability of their vineyards and the quality of the fruit that they produce. We work with researchers and extension staff from Cornell and other institutions to create informative extension materials and programs that help to keep grape growing a viable and profitable industry that enhances the communities of the Finger Lakes and upstate New York.


Learn more about the specialist HERE.


To enroll click here.


NYS Processing Vegetable Industry Roundtable Meeting


Processing vegetable industry members who grow, manage, or support crop production for Nortera, Seneca Foods and/or Love Beets, should attend this roundtable meeting. Attendees that stay for the full day will:


  • Network at this in-person meeting.
  • Learn the results of industry-funded research.
  • Have a voice in Cornell research and extension.
  • Earn 4.0 DEC pesticide applicator and 5.0 CCA recertification credits


This FREE event includes lunch! For more information about this meeting, email Julie Kikkert or call 585-313-8160. Learn more about the topics being presented and which carry credits here.


Pre-Registration for Morning Session: All Processing Crops Deadline: March 13, 2023 at 5:00 PM


Pre-Registration for Lunch Break and Networking Deadline: March 15, 2023 at 5:00 PM


Pre-Registration for Afternoon Session: Beets and Carrots Deadline: March 13, 2023 at 5:00 PM


Register for this Event Now

Dairy Grazing Apprentice program - Now in partnership with the SWNY team!


Camila Lage, Dairy Management Specialist

Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program


Dairy Grazing Apprentice program - Now in partnership with the SWNY team!


The Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship (DGA) is a non-profit organization that partners with established grazing dairy farmers, universities, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders to deliver high-quality work-based training in managed-grazing dairy production in multiple states. DGA is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor-Employment and Training Administration. It provides a pathway for aspiring dairy farmers while offering experienced dairy graziers an opportunity to share their passion. Apprentices are engaged in full-time, paid employment while comprehensively trained in running a grazing dairy operation.


HOW TO BECOME A MENTOR? TRAIN AN ASPIRING FARMER & GAIN A COMMITTED EMPLOYEE

Mentor graziers are grass-based dairy farmers who have demonstrated excellence in managing pasture cows and are committed to mentoring the next generation of dairy. Your apprentice will support your farm's labor needs over two years as they acquire on-the-job training and grow increasingly skilled with your mentoring. Apprentices also become more proficient as they complete 300 hours of off-farm related technical instruction—a requirement for graduating from Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship. Related instruction includes online coursework and other educational events. If you and your apprentice agree to it, you also have the option to continue your apprentice's employment at your farm after they graduate. DGA will also provide educational support throughout the apprenticeship period, including training resources and access to workshops and events catered to Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship.


Is this for you?

  • Must have five years of successful grazing experience OR be a Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship graduate with three years of grazing experience beyond the program
  • Must ensure that apprentice is trained in core work processes OR employ a full-time qualified individual to supervise and train an apprentice
  • Must provide a safe work environment and full-time employment with compensation (check details of compensation here) until the completion of the program (2 years).
  • Whether or not an individual meets the above qualifications will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship National Apprenticeship Committee.

Visit the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship national site to learn everything you need to know about becoming a mentor grazier and how to apply. If you have questions or want additional information, please get in touch with Camila Lage at cd546@cornell.edu or 607-422-6788.


BECOME A DAIRY GRAZING APPRENTICE

Apprentices come from all walks of life. Some are farm kids who want to go deeper in their training on the home farm or want to work on another operation to gain a different perspective. Some are seeking a career change. Some are recent graduates interested in learning a trade that connects them to the earth and the food system in powerful ways.

  • Must have a high school diploma or higher or GED, or a composite score of at least 18, or comparable Accuplacer test scores in math and reading
  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • Must be physically able to perform the work of the trade with reasonable accommodations and without hazard to themselves or others
  • Must have reliable transportation to and from work and school
  • Managing dairy cattle in a grazing system
  • Managing milking operations
  • Managing dairy cattle nutritional requirements
  • Managing pastures for optimal production
  • Managing natural resources in a grazing system
  • Managing farm business operations to meet financial goals

Apprentices receive training in the following major work categories. Training largely occurs on the job, complemented by 300 hours of related instruction through online courses and educational events.


APPLY. To get started, first create a user account here. Then follow the steps to create your online profile.


MATCH. Apprentices choose their preferred areas of placement by zip code. Approved mentor graziers search an online database for an apprentice who will match their operation well.


TRAIN. Apprentices learn from those who know dairy farming best. Mentor graziers prepare employees for management, partnerships, and eventual ownership.


If you have questions or want additional information, please get in touch with Camila Lage at cd546@cornell.edu or 607-422-6788.


References:

Become a Mentor Grazier - Pasa Sustainable Agriculture (pasafarming.org)

Become a Dairy Grazing Apprentice - Pasa Sustainable Agriculture (pasafarming.org)

Participate Mentor (dga-national.org)

Introducing Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship - Your Future is the Future of Dairy - YouTube

Follow Best Practices to Prevent the Spread of Bird Flu


Nancy Glazier and Amy Barkley, Regional Livestock Specialists, Cornell Cooperative Extension


We are now one year into the avian influenza outbreak, and field season is just around the corner. With this comes a higher potential exposure to and spread of this virus from wild birds to domestic birds as well as between domestic flocks. It’s not time to let our guard down, as we anticipate similar rates of infection to what we saw in 2022. Please take precautions when visiting fields with migratory birds and farmsteads.


Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) continues to be a threat, and is the largest domestic animal disease outbreak recorded in U.S. history. In New York, we have seen 13 cases in domestic flocks and hundreds of cases in wild birds to date, with the most recent domestic flock case having been identified in mid-February. This strain can infect chickens, turkeys, game birds, waterfowl, ratites (emus, etc.), and a wide variety of wild birds including waterfowl, raptors, and corvids. It can spread from bird to bird by direct contact as well as through farm equipment, clothing, and shoes.


Birds affected with HPAI may show one or more of the following clinical signs: sudden death without clinical signs; lack of energy and appetite; decreased egg production; soft-shelled or misshapen eggs; swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks; purple discoloration of the wattles, combs, and legs; nasal discharge; coughing, sneezing; lack of coordination; and diarrhea. The Highly Pathogenic strain can spread and kill an entire flock within days, backyard flocks included. Many, if not all of the birds in a flock will be affected.


Precautions are needed to prevent further spread. This virus is not known to be a public health concern.


If you are visiting a poultry farm, follow these procedures:

  • Do not enter any farm premise without permission from the owner.
  • Whenever possible, make an appointment prior to traveling to the farm.
  • Wear clean clothes and shoes on the day of the visit and clean and sanitize footwear in-between farm visits.
  • When you arrive, park your vehicle at the end of the farm drive or on the roadside and use your cell phone to notify the owners of your presence and to receive instructions for entry. Or, set up an appointment ahead of time
  • Let the farm owner know if in the previous five days you have been on another poultry farm or if you’ve had contact with wild birds. Also let them know if you personally own or care for birds or poultry.
  • Observe all of the farm’s instructions regarding biosecurity procedures.
  • Do not enter animal housing areas without express permission from farm owner.
  • Do not touch animals unless that is part of your tasks on the farm.
  • Immediately report anything unusual to farm owner, especially sick or dead birds.


New York and many other states have enacted emergency regulations that restrict interstate transport of poultry and add new, more stringent requirements for entry. If you are planning to move poultry across state lines, be sure to check with the state veterinarian’s office in the receiving state to be sure you’re meeting all the requirements. 


If you have death loss in your home flock or a flock you manage, call NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets at 518-457-3502. This number is available 24 hours a day. If after normal business hours, select State Watch Center option. More information can be found on the website, https://agriculture.ny.gov/animals/poultry or by calling your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office. Your attention to these precautions is critical to protecting bird health and our state’s farm economy!


The New York Extension Disaster Education Network (NY EDEN) is a collaborative educational network based at Cornell University and dedicated to educating New York residents about preventing, preparing for, and recovering from emergencies and disasters. NY EDEN is working with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets to provide resources and updates to poultry producers. 


Fundamentals of Ventilation in Barns for Small Ruminants and other Livestock


March 22, 2023

7:00 pm


Ventilation in barns is essential for the well-being of livestock, particularly small ruminants. This free webinar shares how to plan for and update ventilation systems in barns, particularly old dairy barns, to work for you!


When starting out raising livestock, the easiest and least expensive housing is the housing already on the property. For many, this means the use of facilities previously used to house dairy cows. Many of these older buildings are not well ventilated and need upgrades to make them suitable places for keeping sheep, goats, cattle, hogs, and poultry while limiting respiratory disease pressure.


Join Cornell Cooperative Extension's Livestock Program Work Team on March 22, 2023, at 7:00 pm for a FREE webinar on this topic. Tim Terry, the Farm Strategic Planning Specialist with Cornell University CALS - Pro-Dairy, will discuss the ins and outs of retrofitting older dairy facilities for proper ventilation Tim has many years of experience helping farms correct the deficiencies in these barns to make them functional and safe. He will discuss effective ventilation principles as well as the pros and cons of the basic types of ventilation systems: natural, mechanical, positive pressure, tunnel, and cross.


This presentation is sponsored by the Cornell Small Ruminant Team made up of Cornell Extension Educators from across New York State. Although the examples provided throughout the presentation will be featuring small ruminants, the concepts are appropriate for all species of livestock that we may house in these barns including poultry, swine, beef and other species.


This meeting is free for all and will be held over Zoom. Registration is required and will provide you access to the program recording. To register, please click HERE. Email Rachel Moody with questions.

NY Beef Producers Association - Region 4 Annual Meeting



Open to all interested beef and dairy producers. 


Saturday, March 18, 2023

Registration & Welcome 1 PM - Lunch 1:30 PM

Alfred State College Farm 1254 State Route 244 Alfred, NY 14802


Hosted by Region 4 Beef Producers & Cornell Cooperative Extension Allegany County.

Business meeting - election of officers, brief discussion on program ideas for 2023/2024.


Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jerry Rusch, DVM will be presenting the Relationship between Vaccinations and Nutrition. Dr. Rusch was raised on a grain and livestock farm in Southern Indiana. In 1991 he received his DVM from Purdue University and then spent two years in dairy practice in Eastern Pennsylvania. In 1993 Jerry and his wife, Dr. Karen, purchased Spring Mill Veterinary Service, a mixed animal practice in Mitchell, Indiana where he continues to practice. He works with his beef cattle clients on their vaccination programs and is involved with the Indiana Beef Evaluation and Economics Feeding Program (IBEEF), a retained ownership program through Purdue University. Jerry is currently president and general manager of the Springville Feeder Auction, which is a local farmer owner feeder calf marketing cooperative.  He is also a member of AABP and the Society for Theriogenology. Jerry joined Multimin USA in March 2018.


Tour of Alfred State College Livestock Facilities - Virginia Chamberlain, Alfred State Farm Manager - Opportunity to see the new facilities and learn about the expansion of livestock educational events and courses offered at the college.


This program will serve as a BQA Recertification workshop. If you are Level 2 BQA Certified, you will need to provide an updated Veterinarian Client/Patient Relationship (VCPR) form, if needed please request a form when you pre-register.

The cost of the program is $15 per person for adults, $5 for youth 10 and under. Buffet lunch - deli platter with ham, turkey and beef with pasta salad, drinks and dessert.

Pre-reservations for the meeting requested by March 1st to assist with lunch planning. Please contact Barb Benjamin, NYBPA Region 4 Chair at 585-610-6536 or lightenliz62@yahoo.com or Lynn Bliven at lao3@cornell.edu. Payment will be accepted at the door. We will have door prizes and 50/50 raffles.


Membership in the beef producer association is not required to attend. New memberships and renewals will be accepted at the meeting, drawing will be held for 1 free membership or renewal.


NYBPA is a member driven organization, there will be an opportunity at this meeting to discuss and plan future events to be held in the region while networking with other beef producers. Please invite others to attend! 


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 covered the basics of running an agritourism operation. There is still time to join the remaining sessions which will focus on specific topics to help aspiring agritourism entrepreneurs grow their knowledge and profit through this exciting on-farm business.


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 

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 March HERE.

CCC 15th Annual Earth Day Celebration Farmers' Market

April 19, 2023

11 am - 2 pm

SUNY Corning Community College will be hosting a Farmers' Market style event on Wednesday, April 19, 2023 from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm to increase the 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 5, $1 tokens to spend with the participants of the event. Please be sure to price your items/portion sizes according to the $1 denomination.


Students can use the tokens for vendor's 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.


If you are interested in participating, you can read more about the event and access the Farmers' Market Registration Form HERE. Registration is required by April 12th.


Contact Jennifer Sellers with any questions 607-962-9479, jsellers2@corning-cc.edu.

The Four Phases of Feeding the Dairy Goat Kid


March 21, 2023

6:30 -7:30 pm EST Zoom


Location: Webinar

Host: Penn State Extension


The Four Phases of Feeding the Dairy Goat Kid presentation will teach attendees prepartum nutrition of the doe, colostrum/nursing phase, weaning phase, and post-weaning phase. Learn the importance of each phase and how each can impact the health, growth, and quality of the kids you raise. Understand management techniques that can positively affect your bottom line when raising replacement does and bucks.


Live Online via Zoom


Who is this for?

  • Dairy goat producers
  • New and beginning farmers


What will you learn?

  • The four phases of feeding dairy goat kids
  • Importance of each phase's effect on kid health and development
  • Learn the management techniques that can help increase efficiency and survivability of replacement kids


This event is being offered at no charge to participants.

Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinar.


Registrants will also receive access to the webinar recording.


REGISTER

CCE Poultry Videos Archive

 

Over the past two years, Cornell Cooperative Extension’s team of poultry experts have put together a series of videos related to raising and managing poultry. The topics range from brooding and rearing to the marketing and sales regulations around meat and eggs. These videos are part of the CCE Flock Talk series. For more poultry-related information, visit our website at https://www.ccelivestock.com/.


The videos include:









NYS Department of Ag and Markets is conducting a survey on the milk loss from this year’s winter storms and previous years.


The purpose of this survey is to gather additional information on the economic impact the emergency events in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Your experience matters, please help quantify these events to help apply the most appropriate policy to the Milk Loss program. Please review their message below and complete the survey if applicable! 


Complete the survey HERE.

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. 

Grower Participation in Nutrition Incentive Programs Needed in Steuben County

 

Did you know that roughly $34,000 worth of Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Coupons do not get reimbursed in Steuben County and go back to NYS Agriculture and Markets? The New York Double Up Food Bucks program matches Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) dollars $1 for $1 on local fresh fruits and vegetables. Did you know you can accept these forms of payment and make produce more accessible to people in need in Steuben?   

 

Both the FMNP and Double Up Food Bucks programs help increase healthy food access for families in many counties throughout New York. Vulnerable segments of Steuben County population, primarily senior citizens and low-income families, would benefit greatly from these programs. However, Double Up Food Bucks is not being utilized and FMNP has a very limited number of growers and farm stands that are enrolled and accept these forms of payment. Please consider working with Cornell Cooperative Extension Steuben County to keep these funds and programs within our county to support seniors and families in need.  

 

To accept FMNP 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 15th, 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. Double up Food Bucks is an easy process involving limited paperwork. Please contact Josh McGuire with New York Field and Fork Network directly:

 

Joshua McGuire, DUFB Program Director Field & Fork Network

487 Main Street, Suite 200 Buffalo, NY 14203

jmcguire@fieldandforknetwork.com

716-983-3286


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

 

Cornell Cooperative Extension Steuben County

20 East Morris Street in Bath, NY 14810

tsm223@cornell.edu

607-664-2301

CCE List of Active Shearers in NYS and New England Updated for 2023


Looking for someone to shear your sheep, goats, and camelids? This list can help you identify a shearer who will service your area. Many of these folks book several months out, so get on their list early! 


Access the list HERE.

Finger Lakes Farm Country has a new app! 

Visit Finger Lakes Farm Country to download it today!


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?


If you have questions about Finger Lakes Farm Country please contact Kevin Peterson: kpeterson@corningfingerlakes.com or call 607-936-6544

Living on a Few Acres: Penn State Webinar Series


Living on a Few Acres is a webinar series developed for the beginning producer or homesteader looking to become more self-sufficient or take the first step in producing a product. These programs are designed to explain the very basic information on how to get started but provide resources with more advanced information as you continue pursuing your goal or hobby.


Topics Include:

March 9, 2023 6 pm: Soil Fertility and Garden Layout



March 16, 2023 6 pm: Vegetable and Mushroom Production


March 23, 2023 6 pm: Greenhouse and Hydroponic Production


March 30, 2023 6 pm: Tree and Small Fruit Production


April 6, 2023 6 pm: Maple Syrup Production and Beekeeping


April 13, 2023 6 pm: Food Preservation


Registration is required to receive the link to access the webinar. Registrants will also receive access to the webinar recording. Registration Fee for each webinar is $5, register here.

Interested in Cut Flower Production?


Check out great resources for getting started!


Resources | Cornell Cut Flowers


Cut flowers | Cornell High Tunnels


Kanas State University Cooperative Extension Services - POSTHARVEST HANDLING OF FRESH CUT FLOWERS AND PLANT MATERIAL


Read more on Dahlia planting tips and favorite cultivars HERE.


Trademarks Flower Farm is a small-scale, specialty cut flower farm located in the Finger Lakes Region of NY State. Connect with their free educational resource- Free Guide: Make Your Flowers Last Longer.


North Carolina State Extension and University of Maryland Extension have excellent resources as well. Access the NC Cut Flower Resources HERE and U of Maryland HERE.

Conserving and Managing Hemlocks- In the Path of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid


Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) is an invasive insect that is killing hemlock trees and threatening the health of our forests. Although only the size of a sesame seed, HWA will have a big impact on our forests. The good news is that there are conservation and management strategies you can implement to protect hemlock trees. This webinar will discuss short-term and long-term HWA control options, hemlock conservation strategies, and approaches to secure funding for hemlock conservation that have worked in other parts of the state at a watershed scale. We will also cover regional and state-wide volunteer opportunities to help slow the spread of this threat to our forests.


Presented By: Caroline (Carri) Marschner,

Invasive Species Extension Associate


March 8th 1-2 pm, Virtual Presentation


Hosted by: SLELO PRISM

ST. LAWRENCE EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO PARTNERSHIP FOR REGIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT


Read more HERE and Register HERE.

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:

  • 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.

"They're Coming...the 2023 Pests of the Landscape"  


March's 'Urban Forestry Today' noon hour (Eastern)

monthly broadcast


Thursday, March 16, 2023 @ Noon (Eastern)


On Marge Daughtrey and Dan Gilrein, Cornell University specialist, return to the broadcast to 

discuss the disease and insect pests that our urban trees and woody plants may face in the 2023 growing season. 


To attend this Free Broadcast & receive 1.0 ISA/0.5 MCA CEUs at no cost, click here or visit www.joinwebinar.com & enter: 773-668-179


For more information or questions contact:

Dr. Rick W. Harper

Extension Associate Professor of Urban and Community Forestry

​Department of Environmental Conservation

University of Massachusetts Amherst

160 Holdsworth Way

Amherst, MA 01003

rharper@eco.umass.edu


Birds Need Nesting Sites-You Can Help


Paul J. Solomon and Jeanne M. Riley



Birds! What would life be without them? They enrich our lives with their beauty and song. They are active in controlling insect pests, pollinating plants, spreading seeds, and removing carrion from our surroundings. Birds have the largest following of all wildlife in the U.S., with over 45 million people reporting they observe wild birds, per 2016 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports. Many of the birds that populate our communities rely on tree cavities for nesting or roosting, cavities which are increasingly in short supply due to forest clearing and fragmentation carried out for agriculture, logging, and land development. Firewood cutting, fencerow removal, and the rising use of steel and plastic (versus wooden) fence posts also reduce the number of nesting cavities. Of the 190 species of breeding birds in Pennsylvania, approximately 35 are cavity nesters. One-half of these are primary cavity nesters, such as woodpeckers, that excavate their own nests as part of their breeding behavior. Secondary cavity nesters—such as wrens, Eastern Bluebirds, American kestrels, Tufted Titmice, chickadees, Purple Martins, and Great-crested Flycatchers—rely on pre-existing holes as nest sites. Cavities, both natural and manufactured, offer a number of benefits to birds. They provide protection from predators, extreme weather, and disease as well as space for food storage. Use of cavity nests has been shown to extend nesting time and success, with 60% to 80% of cavity nests supporting the birth of at least one young bird, versus 20% to 40% of open nests. Use of nesting cavities also enables birds to conserve energy in cold weather. Without nesting cavities, roosting birds such as robins can burn one-tenth of their body weight to stay alive in the winter. By maintaining snags and providing nesting boxes, landowners can attract and sustain the many species of birds that are vital contributors to the ecosystem on which we all depend.


Learn more by reading this great article HERE.

2023 Native Plant Center Spring Landscape Virtual Conference


March 13th, 2023

8:30 - 12:30 pm


Registration is now open for The Native Plant Center's 2023 Spring Landscape Conference, Sources and Solutions: Essential Native Plant Partnerships, taking place virtually on March 13th from 8:30am-12:30pm. Whether in a forest, meadow, or yard, ecological restoration takes a big-picture approach and the cooperation of many people. Discover strategies being used to confront challenges such as invasive species, climate change, and native plant supplies and how you play a role.


Register by March 9th. Cost: $80


Read more about all speakers and presentations HERE.

Register HERE.

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.

607-664-2300