Steuben County Officially Received Disaster Designation for this Spring’s Frost, Opening Up Key Emergency Funding For Farms! 

USDA Designates 31 New York Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation, or to refinance certain debts. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability.

Impacted Area: New York

Triggering Disaster: Freeze & Frost 

Application Deadline: 4/17/2024

Primary Counties Eligible: Albany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Columbia, Cortland, Dutchess, Greene, Jefferson, Onondaga, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Washington, Wayne, Westchester, Yates 

Contiguous Counties Also Eligible:

New York: Allegany, Bronx, Chenango, Delaware, Erie, Essex, Fulton, Genesee, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Nassau, Niagara, Oneida, Orange, Rockland, St. Lawrence, Sullivan, Warren, Wyoming 

More Resources:

On farmers.gov, the Disaster Assistance Discovery Tool, Disaster Assistance-at-a-Glance fact sheet, and Loan Assistance Tool can help you determine program or loan options. To file a Notice of Loss or to ask questions about available programs, contact your local USDA Service Center. 

Click the Basic Training Course Document below to access the details and registration form.

Contact Susan Walker, smw272@cornell.edu, 607664-2574 for more information.

Dairy One’s latest technology offering: CattleEye!

The Integrated Farming Solutions team has a new product available to Dairy One customers. It’s a technology called CattleEye, and it helps with automating locomotion scoring for dairy cows. Catching lameness on a dairy farm is difficult for a variety of reasons. However, CattleEye is set to change that, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI) and the use of a camera. 

Mounted above an entrance or exit lane of a milking parlor, CattleEye’s AI scans cows as they pass under the camera. Based on the cow’s gait, the system will provide a locomotion score of 1 to 100. Anything above a score of 60 indicates a lameness problem that needs to be addressed with the farm’s hoof-trimming program. The recording of the cow walking under the camera is stored on CattleEye’s database for five days and then replaced by newer recordings. 

All data from CattleEye can be added to a farm’s current herd management software, such as BoviSync or DART. That way farmers can pull up all the relevant data about one cow from her most recent vet check to her current locomotion scoring.  

CattleEye is meant to augment a farm’s current hoof-trimming program. It’s a way to systematically pull cows for the next hoof trim visit that need to be seen by the trimmer. In addition, farmers can cut down the number of cows being seen by the trimmer to just the essential cows which saves time and money. 

Being able to review a cow’s lameness history helps with herd management decisions. Lameness problems can have an impact on breeding programs or animal health programs. Now with CattleEye, farmers have more information available to them to make better management changes or improvements when it comes to lameness and locomotion. 

For more information, email Integrated Farming Solutions today at support@dairyone.com. 

Cornell AgriTech's Grain and Fiber Hemp Field Day Event 

Cornell AgriTech, 1097 County Road 4, Geneva, NY 14456

• Registration Fee: $30 (includes lunch).
• Registration deadline: September 8, 2023
• Register online.

Growers, processors, product developers and others interested in hemp grain and fiber are invited to see trials of new hemp cultivars, learn the latest in weed and disease management watch live demos of cutting-edge hemp processing technologies.

Two new hemp varieties, bred to help New York producers meet regulatory limits for THC, will be showcased at the event. Unlike other cultivars from China, which are late flowering and consistently test higher for THC, Cornell’s new varieties are reliably compliant for low or undetectable THC. Experts at Cornell AgriTech will also show several other hemp cultivars from France, Italy, Canada and U.S. breeding programs.

Experts will also demonstrate trials of herbicides, autonomous robots, seed treatments other techniques that can help successfully manage weeds and diseases in New York state.

One of the highlights of the event will be the exhibition of new equipment including a HempFlax Double-Cut Dual-Purpose Combine, FiberCut Sickle Bar Harvester and FiberTrack 660 Mobile Decorticator systems, which is the only one of its kind in the Northeast.

The quality and quantity of educational resources and showcase of new varieties, techniques and technologies all in one location make the event an outstanding opportunity for hemp growers to strategically learn from Cornell experts.

Research on Customer Spending at NY Farmers Markets: Early Results and Farmer Recruitment



2-Part Webinar Series held by Cornell

This project seeks farms that sell their own fruit & vegetable crops, fresh cut flowers, mushrooms, dairy, or meat products at farmers markets and/or their own farm store/stands (eligible stores/stands are staffed, not honor-system). Farm participation requires collecting all sales transactions at markets in real time with the Point-of-Sale (POS) software Square. In return, participating farms receive personalized reports with suggested marketing techniques aimed at increasing farm revenue. Project participants also receive one-on-one consultation and technical assistance from the research team. 

The webinars are appropriate for any farmers market or farm stand/store vendor interested in or currently using the Square POS system. 

October 5, 2023 6:30-8:00 PM

Week 1: Research on Customer Spending at NY Farmers Markets: Early Results and Farmer Recruitment

Grocery stores have long used scanner data to inform marketing techniques. Now farmer-friendly point of-sale software gives farmers similar potential to collect detailed sales data. Learn how Cornell researchers are using this technology to study consumer spending and inform marketing opportunities for farms to increase daily sales. Then hear how farmer Becca Rimmel of Bottom Land Farm in Berkshire, NY uses Square to help inform market and production decisions. Leave this workshop with specific takeaways and tips for your own sales methods. Diversity and inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.

October 12, 2023 6:30-8:00 PM

Week 2: How to Set Up and Use Square, A Practical Guide

We’ll walk you through, click-by-click, the basic functions to set up Square so that the data it collects is useful to your farm and the Cornell research team. We’ll cover how to set up locations, product categories, items, and pricing for products sold by weight or unit. This webinar will be recorded so attendees can play it back (and pause as needed) when setting up their own Square. Registration: Any farm is welcome to attend one, or both, of these webinars using a single registration. Farms that would like to participate in the POS research are encouraged to attend.

Register for one or both of the webinars here: http://bit.ly/farmmarketresearch

Questions about the project can be directed to Matt LeRoux, Extension Associate at mnl28@cornell.edu

Regional Agriculture Opportunities for

Veterans

In-Person and Virtual Broiler Field Days in August and September

Join the Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Fieldcrops Program for multiple field days to explore broiler production, processing, and finances. These events are free, and will be hosted across the state at HLW Acres (Attica, NY), Sunny Cove Farm (Alfred, NY), Laughing Earth Farm (Cropseyville, NY), Majestic Farm (Mountaindale, NY), and online over Zoom. Final Zoom Speaker is September 20th. Details and registration links can be found HERE.

Artificial Insemination Training for Beef and Dairy

An AI training is being planned in Chautauqua County for October 9-11, 2023 for beef and dairy cattle producers and farm employees interested in learning how to breed cows. 

The cost will be $200 per person, which will include the classroom session, hands-on Artificial Training at a farm and materials. 

Participants will need to bring their own lunch.

Registration deadline September 22nd.

Register by contacting Lisa Kempisty at 716.664.9502 ext. 203 or ljk4@cornell.edu.

Cornell Maple Camp is back! This year’s immersive maple course will take place September 15th through the 19th, in beautiful Lake Placid, NY with an introductory kick-off and social time Friday evening followed by 4 days of diving into the science and art of maple production. Maple camp provides a hands-on experience for learning the basics of making and selling syrup, including an introduction to maple confections.

There are no prerequisites for Maple Camp.

Registration is limited to create a more personalized training. Sign up before all the spots fill!

Camp will be held at the Cornell University Uihlein Maple Research Forest and Heaven Hill Farm with lakeside lodging at the Rock-E House. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included in the camp registration. The camp curriculum is designed to balance comprehensive instruction, with free time to network and enjoy the splendor of the Adirondack Mountains. More information regarding camp logistics and supplemental reading materials will be sent by email upon submission of registration materials.

Please contact Adam Wild (adw94@cornell.edu or (518) 523-9337) with questions.

For more information and to register, click HERE.

Are you thinking about starting a small farm? Do you already have a farm that you're looking to expand? Invest in your professional development and you'll see the returns in your business. Cornell Small Farms Program offers in-person trainings, workshops, and online courses for aspiring, new and experienced farmers.

Some options are listed below, and you can read more and enroll HERE.

BF 101: Starting at Square One

Farm Start-up Considerations for New and Aspiring Farmers

• Offered live for 6-weeks on Thursdays from 6:30 - 8:00 PM (Eastern) from September 21 – October 26

BF 112: Reading the Land

Simple and Effective Biological Monitoring Practices

• Offered live for 4-weeks on Tuesdays from 7:00 - 8:30 PM (Eastern) from September 19 – October 10

BF 202: Writing a Business Plan

Planning for Long-term Success

• Offered live for 6-weeks on Mondays from 6:00 - 8:00 PM (Eastern) from September 18 – October 23

BF 149: Identifying and Partnering with Mushrooms in Farms, Gardens and Forests

Fungi for Food, Medicine, Materials, and Remediation

• Offered live for 6-weeks on Wednesdays from 6:30 - 8:00 PM (Eastern) from September 20 – October 25

BF 233: Beef Cattle Management

Learn to Raise Beef Profitably

• Offered live for 6-weeks on Tuesdays from 6:30 – 8:00 PM (Eastern) from September 19 – October 24

BF 204: QuickBooks for Farmers

Building Farm Financial Records to Measure Success

• Offered live for 6-weeks on Mondays from 7:00 - 8:30 PM (Eastern) from September 18 – October 23

Save the Date:

Insectapalooza

September 23, 2023

9AM - 3 PM Stocking Hall Ithaca Campus

Come see the bizarre, bad, and beneficial of the insect world.

Saturday, September 23, 2023 from 9am to 3pm. Stocking Hall. 

Check out the annual, one-day Insect Festival hosted by the Department of Entomology at Cornell University. Insectapalooza is an interactive, hands-on experience that features hundreds of live insects, spiders, and other fascinating arthropods. Popular favorites include the live Butterfly Room and Arthropod Zoo. Exhibits explore the extraordinary Cornell University Insect Collection, pollination, plant-insect interactions, biodiversity of ants, bees, and soil insects, and how bugs work. Learn how to combat arthropod pests like the spotted lantern fly, ticks, and mosquitos. New this year, there are short workshops on careers in entomology, beekeeping, pollinator gardens, macrophotography, and reducing the impacts of lantern flies and ticks. Numerous kid-friendly crafts. And much, much more.

Read more Here and the schedule of events is provided below.

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:

• 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.

Participate in the 2023 NY Invasive Species Expo

Save the date:

September 24-26th, 2023



The Expo will be a unique invasive species conference combining classic presentations and creative use of outdoor space hosted within the historic architecture of Saratoga Spa State Park and will be open to the public with no cost for general attendance. Sessions will be centered around the overall theme: Reflect, Adapt, Evolve. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on what’s been accomplished so far in the field of invasive species management, learn about the innovative ways we can adapt in unprecedented times, and discuss how we can evolve to confront challenges moving into the future.