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May 2022 | Vol. 14 Issue 5

We provide programming in four major areas:

There's a Ban on Live Fowl Shows, Meets, Swaps, Auctions and Sales. Why, and What Does that Mean?

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, a highly contagious, fatal, flu-like disease of poultry, has been spreading across the state since February. As of April 19, 2022, New York has seen the disease in 8 domestic flocks: one commercial, one captive wild birds, and the remainder were backyard flocks. Over 10,000 birds have died or have been euthanized. These positives started in the eastern region of the state but have moved westward over the spring season. Domestic bird positives have been confirmed in Dutchess, Fulton, Orleans, Monroe, Suffolk, and Ulster Counties. Wild bird positives have been identified in Cayuga, Seneca, Suffolk, and Wayne Counties. The most recent cases in domestic flocks in NYS were identified in the first week of April. On March 25, 2022, Commissioner Ball and NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets announced that the state would be proactively banning all live fowl shows and exhibitions to stop the potential spread of HPAI. This meant that fairs, public hatching events, fowl shows, and other events like them would not be allowed until further notice. Read on and learn more about Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Frequently Asked Questions about Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Should You Take Down Bird Feeders? We've been getting a ton of questions across the state about the guidance to take down bird feeders to help limit the spread of HPAI. As a reminder, this recommendation is only for those who work with or own poultry. The Lab of O released this wonderful informational page that supplies details for those who are curious. Read more here

2022 Ag Literacy book distributed across Steuben County

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Steuben County participated in the 18th annual New York Agricultural Literacy Week from March 21-25, 2022. In celebration of New York agriculture, volunteers throughout the state read a book with an agricultural theme to elementary students. The 2022 book, Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, took students on an explorative journey to learn about community gardens and inspire them to build communities through food, even if they have only a pot on their porch to cultivate.  CCE Steuben distributed this year's book to 34 schools and libraries in Steuben County. New York State Assembly member Phil Palmesano read the book to approximately 150 individuals. We engaged over 800 students in the county's schools and public libraries through the readings.  Generous donations were made in sponsoring 12 of these books, and each of those sponsored books contained a bookplate recognizing the donor. The following individuals and organizations sponsored books for 2022: Steuben County Farm Bureau, Blue Ribbon 4-H, Creative Kids 4-H Club, Mary Moyer, Donna Colvin, and Kristen Stewart. Thank you to all our donors who enable us to spread agriculture knowledge through schools and libraries, making Agriculture Literacy Week a success every year!

We are so thankful for our amazing volunteers! As part of National Volunteer Week CCE Steuben held an appreciation event on April 20th to recognize and celebrate our volunteers and all they do for our various programs. We had Master Gardeners, Master Money Mentors, 4-H Volunteers, Program Advisory Members and Board of Director Volunteers join us for a fun evening filled with laughs and delicious desserts. THANK YOU to our numerous local businesses who donated dessert items or door prize items: Angry Oven Pizzeria, Avery's Crafts & Creations, Betty Kay's Bakery, Brookside Farm, Dippity Do Dahs, Golden Age Cheese, Old World Cafe, Sweet Acres Creamery, and Weis Vineyards.

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Agriculture News

CCE Steuben's Master Gardener Volunteer Program is undergoing some changes!

If you are a Steuben County Master Gardener and did not recently receive a Spring Gardening Newsletter or a survey by email, PLEASE take a moment to fill out the survey now!  Please complete this brief survey   Your feedback will help us evaluate the program needs, volunteer activity and interests, and strengthen volunteer educational opportunities and experiences for the future! We would love to update our Master Gardener contact list, so no one misses out on upcoming opportunities! If you did not receive the Seasonal Gardening Newsletter and would like to, please contact the Agriculture & Natural Resource Educator, Susan Walker, at smw272@cornell.edu or you can sign up to receive the monthly Garden News here. If you want to learn more about the Master Gardener Volunteer Program, please visit the Cornell Garden Based Learning Website.

Finger Lakes Farm Country has a new app!

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. The communities surrounding these famed lakes located between central and western upstate New York are shifting the focus to food with the Finger Lakes Farm Country initiative, a program meant to create a memorable brand for agritourism attractions and businesses in the area while showcasing educational and recreational activities for visitors to the region. 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 partner counties of Chemung, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga and Yates, along with the Cornell Cooperative Extension and Finger Lakes Wine Country Marketing Organization, invite short- and long-distance travelers alike to taste all this historically agricultural area has to offer. From farm to table and market to stand, the Finger Lakes accommodates a wide array of agritourism interests. Home to one of the largest farmers markets in the state and some of the most scenic drives anywhere, Finger Lakes Farm Country is fertile ground for exploration. Visit Finger Lakes Farm Country to download the app today!

Senate and Assembly Agriculture Chairs secure historic agriculture budget

Historic funding levels for New York agriculture are included in the final enacted State Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. The two Legislative Agriculture Chairs, Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assembly member Donna Lupardo secured over $10 million above the Executive’s original proposal for a total appropriation of more than $52 million — the largest state budget appropriation for agriculture in recent history. This funding will support important programs and initiatives that provide New York farmers with tax relief, research, marketing, financial, and other assistance. Read more here

Evaluating a Goat for Purchase Thursday, May 5, 2022, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM  A FREE Live Seminar for Veterans Provided by Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell Small Farms Program Farm Ops Have you ever considered raising goats on your farm or homestead? Veterans are invited to join Cornell Cooperative Extension Specialists, Amy Barkley and Katelyn Walley-Stoll, to learn more about evaluating a goat for purchase in a FREE virtual seminar. This will take place on Thursday, May 5th, 2022 from 6:00pm – 7:30pm via Zoom. Registration is required before May 3rd by visiting tinyurl.com/FarmOpsGoat. Read more here

Profitable Meat Marketing May 9 5:00-6:45 p.m. Corning

You are raising and selling local meat, but are you making a profit? Learn to use the Cornell Meat Pricing Tool to develop prices that deliver a profit in every channel. You will hear from Matt LeRoux an Extension Associate with Cornell University. Matt has over 20 years’ experience serving farms through Cornell Cooperative Extension, non-profits, and consulting. Specializing in market strategy, Matt works with a diverse mix of produce and livestock farmers and food businesses. Career highlights include developing the Marketing Channel Assessment Tool for produce growers and the Cornell Meat Price Calculator. Read more about Matt’s work from his “Improved Meat Marketing for Small Scale and Direct Marketing Farms in the Northeast” series in the Smart Marketing Newsletter : Part I, Part II, Part II, and Part IV. Registration Fee: $10 Register here or call 607-664-2300

Hold Your Horses - Equine Nutrition Series May 11 and June 8 6:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom

Sponsored by the Equine Subgroup of the CCE Livestock Program Work Team Wednesday, May 11th - Pasture Management - Ken Estes, Jr. - Learn about pasture management for equine owners including best management practices related to soil health, plant selection, loading density, mowing, dragging, resting, fertilizing, and weed control. Register here Wednesday, June 8th - Forage Analysis - Sarah E. Fessenden and Lynn Bliven - Learn about interpreting forage analysis reports and factors that impactevaluation of hay quality. Register here Questions? Contact Abbey Jantzi at aej48@cornell.edu or 315-788-8450 ext. 278.

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Financial & Consumer Education News

ELECTRIFY Spring Webinar Series

Join Regional HeatSmart Teams, Renewable Heat Now, community partners, and special guests for a lively and interesting webinar series on building electrification. All events are at 7pm-8pm with a short presentation followed by plenty of time for Q&A. May 12 - Don’t get left out in the cold: Get Heat Pump Ready May 26 - Getting to Scale: Welcome to the GeoGrid Register here

The Great Debate: Wills versus Trusts May 17, 2022, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Estate planning today is more complicated than it has ever been. Often, mistakes in a plan are not discovered until someone has passed on. Unfortunately, then it is too late. Join us for an informational look at planning with Revocable Living Trusts in a free workshop called Wills versus Trusts on Tuesday, May 17 from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. at the Dormann Library, 1010 West Morris St., Bath.   Cornell Cooperative Extension of Steuben County again partners with Patrick Roth, Elder Law Attorney, CPA from Corning, to lead this workshop. He will present such information as: How can a Revocable Living Trust based estate plan help protect you and secure your family's future? Do you know the unknown truths about planning with a Revocable Living Trust? Discover the 16 situations in which a Trust can have legal advantages over a Will. Learn the truth about the hidden costs of a Will based estate plan that no one talks about. The workshop is free, but registration is required. Please call Cornell Cooperative Extension at 607-664-2300 to reserve a space.

Learn how to protect yourself from Identity Theft May 25 6:00-7:00 p.m.

Identity theft strikes a new victim every two seconds and is one of America's fastest growing crimes. There are many ways you use sensitive information every day. How do thieves get your information? How can you tell if you are a victim of Identity Theft? Cornell Cooperative Extension of Steuben County will offer a free class on Identity Theft on May 25 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the Dormann Library in Bath will help you learn how to protect yourself. Did you know: There were nearly 1.4 million reported cases of identity theft in 2020, with nearly one-third of those having been victims of identity theft before Identity theft increased 53% from 2019 to 2020 Married women are the most common victims of identity theft Identity thieves used other people’s information to defraud state and federal government agencies out of an estimated $200-$500 billion last year.  This workshop will be led by CCE Steuben Financial Educator Nancy Reigelsperger who will teach you what to be aware of and how to protect yourself from identity theft: What is Identity Theft? How do thieves steal your information? Be aware of some common scams out there! How to avoid ID theft! For more information or to make a reservation, call 607-664-2300.

Five Critical Estate Planning Documents …and five more you may want to consider! May 26 3:30-5:00 p.m.

Is your estate plan a comprehensive estate plan which includes all of the five critical documents? Do you know what could happen if you don’t have one or more of these documents in place? Cornell Cooperative Extension of Steuben County is offering a free workshop to answer these questions, Five Critical Estate Planning Documents …and five more you may want to consider on Thursday, May 26 from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. at the Wayland Library, 101 West Naples Street, Wayland. Patrick Roth, Elder Law Attorney, CPA from Corning, will lead the workshop and discuss such topics as: What can happen if you never get around to completing your plan? What do each of these documents do and what happens if you don’t have them. Learn how to prevent disaster from striking you and your loved ones. The workshop is free, but registration is required. Please call Cornell Cooperative Extension at 607-664-2300 to reserve a space.

Register Today! The 8th annual Southern Tier Women's Financial Conference is scheduled for September 24, 2022

The 8th annual Southern Tier Women's Financial Conference will be held on September 24, 2022  at The Center on Park Avenue in Corning. Over 40 women in 2021 enjoyed our speakers listed below and had an amazing time learning about financial and health topics. Please view the photos from the event here, and plan to join our 2022 conference! Visit our Facebook Page for the latest details about how you can join other women as we learn how to improve our mind, body, and checkbook!  The Conference committee has developed some wonderful topics for this year's event. Download the flyer here. Grab Bag of Tips (fraud, scams, credit scores, account ownership & more) Nancy Williamson Retired CEO, ServU Credit Union    Saving & Investing: Selecting Your Freedom Amy Irvine CFP®, EA, MPAS℠ Katie Welker CFP® Rooted Planning Group   The Law of Inertia Dr. Tina Nagle Chiropractor   Stop Procrastinating, Start Taking inspired Action Lisa Zawrotny Productivity + Accountability Coach   The Power in Your Money Personality Nancy Reigelsperger  Cornell Cooperative Extension of Steuben County Financial Educator  Registration is now open

Visit the finance page on our website for additional programs in the future

SNAP-Ed New York News

May classes from SNAP-Ed

A FREE online cooking class for youth! Over Zoom kids will learn tricks for healthy eating. Young chefs will practice basic kitchen skills while whipping up a grab-and-go snack! Both are 6:00-7:00 p.m. May 11 Peanut Butter Balls May 25 Apple Wraps (with P/B and Banana) For questions or to register, contact knw38@cornell.edu or call 607-664-2300. Register ahead or check out our website to get the recipes to cook along: www.snapedny.org Download the flyer here FREE online workshop: Learn how to plan healthy meals while saving time and money. Tuesdays in May, 3:00-4:00 p.m. Fun Food Demo each week!  To register call 607-664-2300. If modifications are needed, please call in advance. Visit www.snapedny.org for workshop listing, recipes and more! Download the flyer here

Spring Into Improved Physical and Mental Health

It’s May! Spring has sprung and summer is almost here. The warmer weather is calling us to get outside and get moving. We know physical activity is important to stay healthy. Over time, regular physical activity can help improve physical health by lowering the risk of developing diseases like type 2 diabetes and some cancers, and by controlling blood pressure. May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. Did you know regular physical activity is also known to improve mental health by decreasing stress, depression, and anxiety? Physical activity is also linked to improved sleep and overall improved mood. Adults need 150 minutes of physical activity each week. Things you do every day count – even things that don’t feel like exercise. Taking the dog for a walk, gardening, playing with the kids – these all count toward physical activity goals. Turn some music on and dance while you’re doing your household chores to get that heart rate up. Start with even 5 minutes at a time. It all adds up! To keep staying active, it is important to find activities that you enjoy doing. Try these tips to get started: Plan ways to gradually increase your physical activity. This could involve setting reminders to move more throughout the day, or by scheduling times to be active during the week. Think about the best time for physical activity. Some people prefer to be active in the morning. Others find it easier mid-day or after school or work.  Decide how you want to be active. Walking is convenient for many people. However, others may choose to participate in organized sports or specific exercise programs.

Be sure to fuel up after being active with one of these spring-inspired recipes from SNAP-Ed New York: Strawberry, White Bean, and Edamame Salad This tangy, crunchy, and sweet salad is the perfect side dish for any outing. Mediterranean Chicken and White Bean Salad This refreshing salad starts with cooked chicken, white beans, cucumber, and onion with a splash of fresh lemon juice, oil, and seasonings.

Visit www.snapedny.org for more tips and resources to help you and your family save time, save money, and eat healthy! View this month's Finger Lakes Food News here

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program News

Master Food Preservation Workshop

Thursday, May 19, 2022 Friday, May 20, 2022 Saturday, May 21, 2022 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM A 3-day training for those who'd like to go beyond the basics of home food preservation - either for your own use or to help others learn how to safely preserve food. While learning the safest, research based methods, participants will learn the science of food preservation including food safety. Participants will also gain hands-on experience with: Boiling water bath canning Steam canning Pressure canning Jelled products Quick pickling Observe demonstrations of freezing, drying, & fermentation This intensive course includes a comprehensive food preservation notebook. For those wishing to become a Cornell Cooperative Extension Certified Master Food Preserver, nightly study is suggested for the post-test. No prior experience in food preservation is required. Cost: $150 for Livingston County residents. $250 for non-Livingston County residents. Class limited to 20 participants. Lunch provided daily. Register here Download the flyer here

Plan Your Weekly Meals

The price of food has increased at a steady pace, making it more difficult to stretch your family’s grocery shopping budget. Planning your meals before you go grocery shopping can help you save money and choose healthy foods. Consider these tips from MyPlate: See what you already have in your cupboards, pantry, freezer and refrigerator. Save money by using some of these foods in your meals and snacks for the week. Write down your meals. Consider - who will be at home for which meals and begin planning. If your kids eat breakfast and lunch at school, then you do not need to buy breakfast and lunch food for them during the week. Choose recipes your family loves or new ones you want to try. Search online for recipes that use a specific food or ingredient if there is something you want to use up before it spoils. Think about your family’s schedule. Choose easier meals or leftovers to serve on nights with lots of activities and meals that take more time to cook when you aren’t pressed for time. Plan to use leftovers (also called planned overs!). If you cook enough of something, like soup or chicken one night, cook extra so you can use the leftovers for dinner a second night. Make a grocery list—this is key! A list helps you stay on track so you buy what you need and helps to limit you from buying items not on your list. Organize your list using the flow of the store as your guide. This helps you from running back and forth to different aisles and saves you time. Keep an ongoing list of needed items on your refrigerator or some other place where it is easy to see and easy for family members to add items. Plan to buy fresh, frozen and canned items so you have food for the time between shopping trips. Including frozen and canned items can help to make sure you have vegetables and fruit toward the end of the time you shopped for.

In Season This Month: Asparagus

Look for fresh, home grown asparagus this month. Asparagus comes in white and green varieties. Green is the most common variety in the United States. White asparagus is grown underground and does not receive any light, so the plant does not produce chlorophyll which makes the plant turn green.   Choose firm stalks with buds that are tightly closed. Store stalks with a damp paper towel wrapped around the ends in the crisper section of your refrigerator. Eat asparagus soon after buying it as its flavor decreases each day that it’s stored.

Contact Pat Lamphier for class information

Download this month's edition of the EFNEP Newsletter

4-H Youth Development News

Visit your local Tractor Supply this spring and purchase a paper clover to help Steuben County 4-H members attend 4-H camps and leadership events. There are three Tractor Supply stores in Steuben County: Bath, Hornell, and Painted Post. Every year, 4-Her’s in Steuben County participate in a number of 4-H programs to help improve their knowledge and leadership skills. Local Steuben County Tractor Supply stores are continuing their long-standing partnership with 4-H for the 2022 Spring Paper Clover Campaign to make it possible for more youth in the community to experience 4-H’s youth-led, hands-on programming. Steuben County Tractor Supply customers can participate in the 2022 Spring Paper Clover campaign by purchasing paper clovers for $1 or more at checkout. The funds raised will be awarded as scholarships to individual Steuben County 4-H members wishing to attend 4-H camps and leadership conferences across the country. The number of scholarships distributed to students following the campaign will be determined based on the total amount raised. Since it began in 2010, the partnership between Tractor Supply and 4-H has generated more than $11,000,000 in essential funding. The fundraising effort directly supports numerous 4-H programs in Steuben County

Hippology Practice May 8 & 15 @ CCE Steuben   Practices are open to youth 8 - 18 who are interested in learning more about horses. Attending 3 practices will fulfill the educational requirement to show this summer! You do not have to own horses or ride to participate in these practices.   Regional Hippology Contest, May 22 @ CCE Wayne, Newark   Contact the office for more information! jmg422@cornell.edu or 607-664-2576

2022 Public Presentations County Level Presentations are Due May 13th

4-H Public Presentations is a program in which youth learn to create a presentation and develop the skills needed to present it before an audience. They learn about the research process and the steps needed to organize information into an interesting and creative presentation.   When former members of 4-H are asked what helped them the most in preparing for their adult years, the answer is almost always doing public presentations. The reason for this is that it prepared them to organize information and be able to get up in front of a group at work, in the community or at a club meeting and feel comfortable. Every 4-H member is strongly encouraged todo a presentation each year, whether it is at the county or club level.    There are various levels and types of presentations to meet the interests and abilities of our 4-H Youth. Types include: Illustrated Talk, Demonstration, Recitation, Dramatic Interpretation, Interview and Impromptu   This year we are offering in-person County Public Presentations by club. We can either arrange for a County Evaluator to come to your meeting space, or arrange for a conference room space at CCE. Or individuals can do their presentation with a County Evaluator via Zoom.   For more information about the Public Presentations Program please visit our website. To set up a County Presentation please contact Jenny.   District Public Presentations - June 11th @ Camp Bristol Hills. To be eligible for the District Contest, you must qualify based on your score at the county level. County presentations must be completed by May 1st to be considered for Districts.

NYS 4-H Shooting Sports Spring Championship May 21, 2022 Bath Rod & Gun Club Offering the following contests: Shot Gun Hunting, Cooking & Outdoor Skills Muzzleloader In 4-H Shooting Sports, a child can qualify to attend Nationals by doing well at the State level Championship. We are holding the Championship here in Steuben County for Shotgun, Muzzleloader, and the Hunting, Conservation and Outdoor Skills (HCOS) disciplines. We will have 3 different competitions within each discipline. We will be holding it at the Bath Rod and Gun Club on May 21, 2022. *Youth must have successfully completed each of the above disciplines to compete* Register here by May 3rd

4-H Career Explorations is back at Cornell

Hosted annually by the NY State 4-H Office, nearly 500 NYS 4-H youth and chaperones attend the action-packed, three-day event, June 28-30, to immerse themselves in exploring their future education, career opportunities, and to experience Cornell University and campus life! The purpose of this program is to provide youth with exposure to various academic fields and potential career options, develop leadership skills, provide hands-on experience in a college setting and introduce youth to Cornell University. Cornell faculty and graduate students conduct engaged-learning workshops in two age-specific tracks:  UNIVERSITY U (8th grade and up as of fall of 2022) FOCUS FOR TEENS (10th – 12th grade as of fall of 2022)   A limited number of youth scholarships (full and partial) are available through the NYS 4-H Office. Registration is due to Jenny by April 30 if you are applying for a scholarship or May 30 if you are not applying for a scholarship. Programs fill extremely fast, be sure to register ASAP!   Steuben County 4-H members can participate for a reduced rate based on his/her 2021 completion of their Sr. Summary Report Form. If the 4-H member completed and submitted a Sr. Summary Report by the deadline and sold $75 during the Fall Fundraiser or paid the $75 Family Enrollment, CCE Steuben will pay $350 for their registration. If the 4-H member did not sell $75 during the Fall Fundraiser or pay the $75 family enrollment, they will need to pay $75 of their registration unless they apply and are selected for a NYS 4-H scholarship.   If a 4-H member is interested in attending, but did not complete a 2021 Sr. Summary, but did sell $75 during the Fall Fundraiser or pay the $75 family enrollment, Steuben 4-H will pay $125 towards your registration fee. Youth in this case should also apply for a full or partial scholarship through the NYS 4-H Office.   If a 4-H member is interested in attending, did not complete a 2021 Sr. Summary, did not sell $75 during the Fall Fundraiser or pay the $75 family enrollment, Steuben 4-H will pay $50 towards the registration fee. Youth in this case should also apply for a full or partial scholarship through the NYS 4-H Office.   Please note: In the event a 4-H member registers for a trip but then decides after the registration deadline not to attend, the 4-H family will be responsible for reimbursing Cornell Cooperative Extension of Steuben County any money that CCE has paid toward the trip. A documented emergency would receive consideration for excuse from this rule. Cancellations by June 10 will not be charged. Cancellations after June 10 are still responsible for a cancellation fee. No shows are charged the $350 in full and will not be refunded.   Registration form is available on our website: http://putknowledgetowork.org/4-h-youth/4-h-trips. Complete your registration and return it to Jenny Groen at the CCE-Steuben Office or fax at 607-776-9103 as soon as possible! Space is limited in the various program areas and the programs fill up on a first come first serve basis. Registrations MUST be done through a CCE Staff Member, Individuals CANNOT register themselves.

SAVE THE DATE!!

More information on the sale can be found here

Save the date for County and State Fair

The 2022 Steuben County Fair will be held August 16-21, 2022 The New York State Fair will be held August 24 - September 5, 2022.

FLX 4-H Learning Launchpad Join us for virtual learning sessions on Facebook for a number of 4-H project opportunities.  Join us here!

Thank you to our sponsors

bovinesupplyplus.com

CountryCrossroadsFeedandSeeds.com

Springwater Ag Products

sprucesolutionsllc.com

Steuben County Farm Bureau

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Steuben County  20 East Morris Street |  Bath, New York 14810 607-664-2300  |  crd24@cornell.edu  |  PutKnowledgeToWork.org

Cornell Cooperative Extension puts knowledge to work in pursuit of economic vitality, ecological sustainability and social well-being. We bring local experience and research based solutions together, helping New York State families and communities thrive in our rapidly changing world. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities. CCE does not endorse or recommend any specific product or service. This newsletter is solely intended to educate consumers about their choices.