Agriculture News July 2022  Image: pxhere, creative commons

Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Committee

Ed Merry Chris Comstock Allison Lavine Gary Mahany Cody Lafler Kevin Preston Joe Castrechino Arkport Bath Savona Arkport Bath Corning Prattsburgh

Legislative Representatives Hilda Lando Fred Potter

July Is National Blueberry Month Don't miss out on locally produced, delicious blueberries this season! Find local blueberry farms and u-pick opportunities right on Finger Lakes Farm Country !

Courses with Cornell Small Farms Programs Getting Started with Berry Production If you’re exploring the idea of adding berries and bramble fruits to your farm, this course will help you consider all the aspects of this decision, from varieties and site selection all the way through profit potential and marketing. Target Audience Beginners - This course will be especially useful if you are exploring the possibilities of growing berries for income. The material presented will assume little past knowledge of farming, but a background in gardening or farming will be very helpful. Webinars The bulk of the course happens on your own time with discussions, readings and review quizzes (not graded!) posted in Teachable, our virtual classroom. To add to the experience, live webinars will be woven into the online interface of the course to allow you to meet on a weekly basis to learn from outside presenters and ask questions to address your farm issues in real time. If you miss a webinar, they are always recorded and posted for later viewing. Live instruction for the 2021-2022 season has ended, and the next live session will be in late November 2022.  Click HERE to enroll and learn more.

Free Container Gardening Kits are now available in the CCE Steuben office For the third year in a row, CCE Steuben has been awarded the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets grant for community garden education opportunities. We are the lead for the project and are working with CCE Chemung to disseminate complete home gardening kits to residents. Kits will be distributed to food pantries, libraries, family resource centers and will be available at our office at 20 East Morris Street in Bath.   The 2022 kits include more seed options including basil, yellow wax beans, parsley, and lettuce seeds, all the supplies needed to grow healthy food in a compact form, a food storage container, and nutritional resources to help those growing the produce understand how to incorporate it into their diet more readily. This grant helps a diverse population of residents, spanning age and gardening ability, and is a great project to teach gardening skills, healthy cooking, and improve food insecurity by producing fresh vegetables and herbs right at home.    Visit our website here for additional videos and resources on how to do container gardening and for recipes using this year's vegetables and herbs.

The Farmers' Market Nutrition Program The purpose of the New York State Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is to promote local farmers by expanding their sales at farmers' markets and farm stands, and to foster healthy communities through the consumption of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. FMNP does this through the promotion of fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers so they may expand their sales through New York State farmers’ markets and farm stands. FMNP also promotes improving the nutrition of families enrolled in WIC and low-income seniors through eating more fresh, local fruits and vegetables. The program is also intended to encourage economic development in communities through the promotion and expansion of farmers' markets and farm stands in New York State. Consumers who are eligible for these programs are provided with coupons to use for fresh, local fruits and vegetables at participating farmers' markets, farm stands, and mobile markets in New York State. Apply as a Farm Stand  A farm stand must be a single operator entity selling produce at a fixed location each week. In general, this can be a “pop up” stand, roadside stand, or permanent structure. The operator must be either a bona fide farmer or a private nonprofit agency. The operator must be committed to a weekly reoccurring market, operating three hours per day for three consecutive months per year during the FMNP season. Further information about eligibility can be found in the FMNP Rules and Procedures for Markets (FMC-4). This document is also available in Spanish. A complete farm stand application for the FMNP program must include: Market Participation Agreement (FMC-8) The farm stand's rules or regulations, if the operator is a private nonprofit agency (e.g. mission, criteria for farmers, etc.) Crop Plan (FMC-12) or Supplier List (FMC-10) Training Note: If the farm stand is operated by the farmer or grower, that farmer or grower must also apply as a farmer. Download the entire application packet. To read more about the FMNP such as applying as a traditional farmers' market, applying as a mobile market, eligible food items, and redeeming farmers' market nutrition program checks, click HERE.

Live Bans for Fowl Shows, Swaps, Meets, Auctions, and Sales Have Been Lifted  Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program For the past two months, poultry farmers, 4-Hers, and other poultry enthusiasts have had their activities limited by Commissioner Ball's live fowl bans. The reasoning for implementing certain restrictions was to limit the congregation of poultry from multiple locations to slow and stop the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). These efforts have been effective, and the state has not seen a case of HPAI in domestic poultry since April 6th, even while neighboring states were still seeing outbreaks. The efforts and sacrifices that individual flock owners have undergone to protect their poultry have been a substantial help as well. Because there haven't been more outbreaks in the state and incidences of the disease in wild birds has been decreasing, officials have made the decision to lift the bans on fowl shows, swaps, meets, auctions, and sales. The bans lifting does not mean that the outbreak is over. To date, nearly 40 million domestic poultry from over 360 flocks have died or have been euthanized because of the disease nationally, with additional flocks testing positive each week. However, the rate of outbreaks is slowing, due to measures taken by poultry caretakers to protect their flocks in addition to the warmer, dryer weather in recent weeks. Because outbreaks are still happening across the country, it's important to remain on alert for this disease. Stay alert for symptoms of HPAI, including: death without an apparent cause lack of energy or appetite, a sudden drop in egg production or an increased number of eggs with malformed shells swelling of the head, comb, eyelids, wattles, and hocks purple discoloration of the wattles, combs, and legs, nasal discharge, coughing, and sneezing discoordination diarrhea  Any birds exhibiting any illness should not leave the farm or homestead. Suspicious illnesses can be reported to: - NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets: 518-457-3502 - USDA (United States Department of Agriculture): 866-536-7593   If you are a flock owner or community member with questions, please reach out to your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office for assistance. Media inquiries can be directed to Cornell Cooperative Extension Communications at cce-communications@cornell.edu. Read the full article from NYS Ag and Markets here.

Dealing with Marek's Disease in Chickens Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program Cover photo of paralyzed White Leghorn pullet by Dr. Jean Sander Dealing with Marek's Disease in Chickens Marek's Disease is one of the most common flock illnesses. It is economically devastating for unvaccinated commercial flocks, and emotionally tough for small flock owners with unvaccinated flocks. However, with attention to flock health and vaccination of new arrivals, it can be easily managed.   What is Marek's Disease? This disease is caused by a herpesvirus, which results in cancer at some point over the bird's life. It does not transmit to people, but can easily transfer from bird-to-bird. Once a bird becomes infected, it remains infected for life. There is no cure. Younger birds are affected more severely than older birds.   What are the signs? Marek's most often shows up as leg weakness or stumbling, which ends up in paralysis. The lack of feed and water consumption, and/or cancer cells overwhelming the body, result in death. However, there are other symptoms such as cavernous feather follicles, where the follicles are too large for the feathers. Other birds may show what's called "cancer eye", where one pupil becomes permanently constricted. Upon necropsy, some birds show enlarged peripheral nerves (vagus, brachial, and sciatic). Necropsy can also reveal that some birds' body cavities are riddled with tumors. Any of these signs, especially when they show up across multiple, unvaccinated birds in the flock, can be indicative of the disease, but should be confirmed by a veterinarian through necropsy and testing.   How do birds get it? The disease moves through infective feather dust that is inhaled by susceptible birds. The dander can be infective for many years. It's almost impossible to clean and disinfect to the point of eliminating it from the henhouse. If you keep chickens, poultry dust is everywhere and can be found on farm implements, equipment, other animals, clothing, and hands. Because of how ubiquitous it is, it can re-enter a cleaned premise easily. Remember that all birds in a flock with Marek's are infected, and even if they don't show signs, they are spreading infected dander.   Can I prevent it? The only preventative measure is to vaccinate chicks within a day of hatch. Administering vaccine after this time is ineffective. Most hatcheries provide the vaccination for less than $0.50/chick, and it's cheap insurance to ensure that your flock lives a long, healthy life. There are also a limited number of farm supply companies that sell Marek's vaccine to vaccinate day-old chicks at home, but this is typically not cost-effective for most poultry owners, and the potential for error caused by improper storage and administration is high.  That said, the vaccine does not stop the infection. Rather, it limits the damage that the infection will cause the flock. Birds that are vaccinated and exposed to the virus will still get the virus, and still shed the virus, but will live long lives. Any newly vaccinated chicks should be kept away from the main flock for two weeks to allow their immune systems to develop and stave off the infection. Additionally, once the virus is found on a property, all new birds coming in will need to be vaccinated unless there is a at least a one year rest period following depopulation, cleaning, and disinfection.   For questions on flock health and management, reach out to Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist, at (716) 640-0844 or amb544@cornell.edu.

The Effect of Rain on Hay Quality Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist SWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program Cutting hay always incurs slight gamble, especially if the hay needs to be cut and we’re in a rainy pattern. The question then becomes: what will happen to my hay’s quality if it gets rained on? Is it possible for it to be exposed to some rain and still be OK? The answer depends on the time since it was cut, and on the intensity + duration of the rain event. Hay freshly cut, short & light rain event - this is the best-case scenario. There will be limited nutrient losses, and only a slight increase in drying time. Heavier rainfall leads to higher nutrient losses than lighter rainfall. Any hay, long rain event - Longer rain events result in more nutrient leaching, with heavier rains being worse than lighter rains. Drier hay, any rain event - drier hay will leach more nutrients when re-wetted. Heavier rain events will result in some leaf shatter, with the exact amount depending on the rain intensity and how dry the hay was to start. Multiple rain events - this is highly detrimental to hay quality, with dryer hay and heavier rains resulting in more quality losses than more recently cut hay and lighter rains.

Forage Acreage Needs Calculator Joe Lawrence, Cornell CALS Pro Dairy Education and Applied Research Understanding and managing forage inventory needs is critical to a dairy farm to assure both adequate quantities and qualities of forage to meet the needs of various animal groups on the farm. A number of methods are in use to help determine the number of acres needed to support the forage needs of a dairy herd. The Forage Acreages Needs Calculator presented here offers a few important factors that should be considered to accurately determine acreage needs, most notably the ability to account for forage shrink losses and desired carryover. This article provides considerations on how to best utilize this or other forage inventory calculators. Read the full article on forage management HERE.

Get the Full Factsheet on how to protect yourself HERE!

Biocontrol Around the Home: Mosquito Control Amara R. Dunn, New York State Integrated Pest Management Program, Cornell University Any item in your yard that holds even a small amount of water can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. The first step for mosquito control around your home should be to dump out standing water so that you eliminate breeding places for mosquitoes. What’s biological control? Biological control (biocontrol for short) uses living organisms—natural enemies—to keep pests in check. How? Natural enemies might eat pests, make them sick, or lay their eggs in or on them. When those eggs hatch, voila—their meal is ready and waiting. But not all natural enemies are members of the bug-eats-bug club. Microbes such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses make compounds toxic to pests. They could also use up space or other resources a pest needs. Or they could make garden vegetables, flowers, and even houseplants more resilient to attack. Get the Complete Factsheet Here. This factsheet provides information on how Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria works as a biological control, how is can be safely and legally used, as well as how it impacts you, your pets, livestock, and other organisms.

Free COVID-19 Test Kits and Masks! We have COVID-19 Test Kits and KN95 Masks at our office that were given to us to distribute from Steuben County Public Health. Please contact us at 607-664-2300 or email amz65@cornell.edu if you would like us to put some aside for you. You can also stop into our office at the Steuben County Building Annex at 20 East Morris Street in Bath.

BEEKEEPING ESSENTIALS, INSTRUCTOR‑LED Cornell Course Next Instructor led Course Starts July 20th! This course is designed for beginner beekeepers who have 0-2 years of beekeeping experience. The course covers the fundamental skills needed to become a successful beekeeper. Students can sign up for one of two course options depending on their learning style: instructor-led or self-paced. The instructor-led option allows students to participate in a virtual classroom with fellow beekeepers and the instructor, while the self-paced option gives students access to course materials for one year so they can move through the content at their own pace. This course fulfills the legal requirements of the State of New Jersey for beekeeper education per New Jersey Administrative Code Title 2, Chapter 24 §2:24-3.1(c). Price: $450 for the instructor-led course and $299 for the self-paced option. Specific groups are eligible for a 20% discount. Course Outcomes: Understand honey bee biology, Learn how to get started in beekeeping and how to support colonies throughout the year, Know how to identify and navigate scenarios like swarming, Varroa infestations, and queen issues.

The Cornell University Master Beekeeper Program is an advanced training program for beekeepers who have at least 3 years of beekeeping experience. Learn more HERE.

Goat Herd and Foot Health Image: Flickr/Creative Commons  A FREE Live Seminar for Veterans Provided by Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell Small Farms Program Farm Ops Let's learn to hoof trim and care for goats! NY & NJ Veterans are invited to join Cornell Cooperative Extension Specialists, Amy Barkley and Katelyn Walley-Stoll, to learn more about goat herd and foot health in a FREE virtual seminar. This will take place on Wednesday, July 13th, 2022 from 6pm - 7:30pm via Zoom. Registration required, click HERE. Goats can be rewarding animals to raise, but they bring their own unique set of health challenges. Learn more about caring for the health of your goat to help improve their wellbeing and productivity. This seminar will also include an in-depth look at goat hoof trimming and how-to's. This interactive session will include videos, discussion, and lots of resources to help improve your goat operation! The presentation will be recorded and distributed to registrants. For any questions, concerns, or accommodation requests, please contact Katelyn Walley-Stoll at kaw249@cornell.edu or 716-640-0522. Funding and support for this event is provided by Cornell Small Farms Veteran Program, Farm Ops. Learn more about Farm Ops. SWNYDLFC is a partnership between Cornell University and the CCE Associations of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Steuben counties. Their team includes Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management (716-640-0522); Camila Lage, Dairy Management (607-422-6788); and Amy Barkley, Livestock Management (716-640-0844). CCE is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans.

Bottle Feeding Chart for Goat Kids: University of Idaho Access the Chart Here! When bottle or tube feeding kids, remember these tips: Don't feed babies with a body temperature below 101degrees Fahrenheit. Heat milk gently until it reaches 103 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to stir the pan or shake the bottle to prevent hot spots. A quality colostrum replacer is necessary for the first 24 hours if you cannot get colostrum from the dam. Kids will need 5-6 bottles a day for the first week. This number will decrease as the kid ages. Don't feed more than 20% of the kid's weight in a 24 hour period. Bottle babies may act hungry, but if you're feeding them enough according to age and bottle schedule, they'll be ok! For more information contact: Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist with the Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program, 716-640-0844.

What Adds Value to a Beef Calf? Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist SWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program With the costs of doing business going up, farms that raise beef calves need to take steps to help increase the return on investment from their feeders. This can be achieved through pre-conditioning, or setting their animals up for success when moved to the feedlot. The move to the feedlot from a pasture-oriented home is a huge change, and while there will naturally be depressions in rate of gain, there are also chances for increased illness and death of animals that are not pre-conditioned. No one wants an animal to die while in their care - both from welfare and financial standpoints. While some market channels don't pay high premiums for pre-conditioning, others will because they understand the value added by the farmer from birth through the pre-weaning period. Read the full article HERE.

NYS Offers Herd Health Assistance to Cattle and Small Ruminant Producers Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program The New York State Cattle Health Assurance Program (NYSCHAP) and the New York State Sheep/Goat Health Assurance Program (NYSSGHAP) were developed to aid producers with setting up whole herd/flock health management programs. All advice is free and confidential, and there is money available to cover the costs of the initial farm visit between you, a state veterinary advisor, and your herd/flock veterinarian, and subsequent annual visits. What's covered in the visit is up to you, but generally, visits will cover the following topics: Increase herd/flock productivity and profitability Manage herd/flock health Assure food safety, public health, and consumer confidence Promote environmental stewardship.  For more information, contact your herd veterinarian. They'll work with your local NYS Agriculture and Markets Field Veterinarian to schedule a date and time for your first meeting.

New York State Farm Directory Launching in June 2022 Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences  As part of Cornell Cooperative Extension's role in strengthening New York State agriculture, we are helping to spread word of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets' plans to launch a statewide online Farm Directory. The Farm Directory, which launches in mid-June, will connect consumers to producers of farm products and promote New York farms. The Farm Directory will appear on the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets' website at agriculture.ny.gov/farming/farm-directory. It will show information for each listed farm, which can include the farm name, farm type, point of contact, addresses, telephone number, email address, website, social media, and a listing of all available products produced by the farm. Other categories of interest to the public, like the farm's inclusion in the New York State Grown & Certified Program and designations of organic, halal or kosher certified may also be noted. Website visitors will be able to sort or search the directory by any field. Since not every farm offers products to the public at the farm site, each farm can indicate whether it is open to the public, or if there is another means that their farm product can be accessed. This might include listing a distributor, a brand name that your product is eventually marketed under, or a specific consumer-facing website where the public can determine where to purchase your product in a retail location. The information available on the directory for each farm can be tailored to meet the individual needs of each business and farmers will be able to update their information as desired. The creation of the Farm Directory derives from Section 16(52) of the New York State Agriculture and Markets Law, requiring the Department to create a directory of every farm in New York State. Farms will be receiving a package in the mail shortly outlining the Farm Directory purpose, a survey to collect information on the farm to be included in the Directory, and a return envelope. If you choose not to have your farm participate in the Directory, you are required by law to notify the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets of this decision by opting out. Farms may opt out by returning the provided survey or indicating it through the online survey linked at the website above. Farms that initially opt out can later contact the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets if they wish to be included at any point. Also, farms can also contact the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets if they wish to opt out after initially choosing to participate in the Directory.  For questions or additional information on the Farm Directory, please contact the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets at (518) 485-1050 or FarmDirectory@agriculture.ny.gov.

7 Business Planning Considerations for On-Farm Dairy Processing Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Business Management Specialist and Team Leader Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program Financial Management Questions to Ask When Diversifying Your Dairy With the current volatile dairy market, rising input costs, and continued challenges in commercial dairy production, dairy farm owners are looking for new ways to improve their profitability. If you're a dairy farmer interested in diversifying or vertically integrating your business, one option could be on-farm processing of raw milk into value-added goods and bottled fluid milk for sale. While this might seem like a fun, lucrative, and sustainable new venture at first glance, it's important to consider how you'll need to adjust and address your farm's business plan to accommodate for this change. Read More HERE. This article was prepared by Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension's Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program as part of a "Diversifying Your Dairy" educational series. Katelyn can be reached by calling 716-640-0522 or emailing kaw249@cornell.edu. This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2021-70027-34693.

Check out Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program on YouTube! Are you on YouTube? So is the SWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program! Check out the robust database of past programs and trainings. You will find recordings of presentations, how-to's, and more. Subscribe today! Click HERE.

Matching Your Pasture Forage To Your Herd Fay Benson Small Dairy Educator, Cornell Cooperative Extension After being involved with grazing livestock for much of my life, first on my family’s dairy then owning a grazing dairy, and finally working here at CCE, I am surprised that more grazing doesn’t happen in the Northeast. We have a good climate for growing cool-season grasses which support the nutritional needs of all ruminant livestock including the lactating dairy cow. The cost savings are substantial since no machinery is required to harvest the forage, store the forage, put the forage in front of the cow, and on top of that, they spread their own manure. Then I consider the statement that “Grazing is an art” and I can understand why some farmers don’t want to understand the complexities of grazing, considering the season is only 180-200 days a year. An essential component of this art is estimating the forage needs of the animal with pasture forage availability in the pasture. Read the full article HERE to learn more about how to calculate stock days / acre (SDA), eyeballing forage inventory, and rising plate meter.

More to Hay Moisture Than Fire Risk Rebecca Kern-Lunbery for Progressive Forage When I visit with forage producers about hay moisture, the top concern is spontaneous combustion and fire risk, followed by mold and mycotoxins and heat damage. Recently, in central Nebraska, I have heard about more hay bale fires. So I started wondering how well the producers I consult with were doing on moisture management of their hay. Upon reading more literature, I began to see increasing mention of "brittle" hay. The premise being hay that is too dry is fragile and breaks during baling. The loss of the delicate leafy portions of the forage results in protein and overall forage quality losses. Furthermore, brittle hay processed through a batch mixer often becomes dusty, resulting in more feed losses. Access the full article 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.

Finger Lakes Farm Country has a new app! Visit Finger Lakes Farm Country to download it today! 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. 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.

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

Ag Energy NY – A CCE Program for Farm Energy Efficiency  Would you like to save on your farm energy bills? There are many opportunities to reduce energy use through efficiency improvements that save money, labor, and maintenance costs. Energy efficiency also has co-benefits, buffering farms from high costs in energy market fluctuations and making it easier to transition to electric power and renewable energy. Ag Energy NY is a program by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, offering a smartphone-friendly website and factsheets describing farm energy efficiency technologies, techniques, and incentives. Ag Energy NY focuses on the following farm sectors: crops and vegetables, beef, swine, poultry, grain drying, maple, orchards, berries, and vineyards. Ag Energy NY is part of a broader NYSERDA program, Energy Best Practices in Agriculture, which also provides support for dairies and greenhouses. After reviewing energy efficiency measures online, you can reach out to the Ag Energy NY team with questions and to connect with a NYSERDA FlexTech Consultant for farm-specific advising. NYSERDA offers no-cost, no-commitment energy assessments to help farmers prioritize areas for improvements and identify incentives to help with implementation. For more information, visit www.agenergyny.org. Interested in finding out more? Click HERE to fill out the survey.

GAPs Online Training July 6, 2022 – July 26, 2022 September 7, 2022 – September 27, 2022 October 12, 2022 – November 1, 2022 Register here for any session of the GAPs Online Produce Safety Course  Implementing Good Agricultural Practices is a 3-week web-based course intended to improve your understanding of GAPs to guide assessment of risks and implementation of practices to reduce risks on fresh produce farms. Taking this course will not result in your farm being "GAPs Certified". GAPs certification is done by a third party (e.g. USDA, Primus, Global GAP) and involves the successful completion of an on-farm audit.  Class size is limited to 25 people on a first come, first serve basis. A minimum of 10 participants must be registered for us to offer the course. Special arrangements can be made for large groups to ensure everyone is in the same class together. The course price is $225.  To learn more about click here!

Are you a farmer impacted by flooding in the Summer of 2021? Two loans are available in Steuben County. Notice has been given that Steuben and other counties were given a natural disaster designation for the flooding events that occurred in August 2021. Click here to learn more and apply for an emergency loan through the USDA. - Application Deadline is September 19, 2022. Click here to learn about EIDL SBA Loans at a 2% interest rate. Use the number 17224 0 for the number assigned to the disaster - Application Deadline is July 8, 2022.

2022 Soil Health & Climate Resiliency Field Days Join the New York Soil Health team and partner organizations at a soil health field day! The statewide event series will take place May-August 2022. Topics will include cover crops, reduced tillage, orchard weed management, soil health, weed management, precision viticulture, and more. Click HERE to learn more and register for events taking place throughout July and August. Scholarships are available for veterans! Click here to learn more.

What is the Spongy Moth? Learn more about the spongy moth...formerly called the gypsy moth. Spongy moth caterpillars feed on more than 300 species of trees and shrubs, eating the young, tender leaves in the spring. In New York, they are known to feed on oak, maple, apple, crabapple, hickory, basswood, aspen, willow, and birch, although oak is their preferred species. When populations of spongy moths are high, or when oak and other preferred trees are limited, they will eat conifer species, including pine, spruce, and hemlock. During outbreaks, they can damage thousands of acres of trees   View the DEC fact sheet posted on our website!

Agroforestry 2022 Webinar Series  Join the FREE bimonthly webinar series where the latest research and resources are shared on a variety of agroforestry topics.    The series is open to the general public with FREE registration HERE. Upcoming Webinar: Resources to Support Agroforestry Efforts in the Northeast Tuesday, July 12, at 3 p.m. ET In the Northeast US there is rapidly growing interest in agroforestry and several projects and initiatives are sprouting up to respond to the demand! Join us to hear from a range of speakers on opportunities to get connected and learn more about agroforestry in the region including Cornell Agroforestry, the Agroforestry Resource Center, Northeast Forest Farmers Coalition, and more TBA.  Image: S. Gabriel, Cornell Small Farms Program

New Product Alert – Mappleau: A Maple Liqueur The Cornell Maple Program has collaborated with a graduate student in the Cornell Master of Food Science program, Christian Mercado, to develop a new maple alcohol product. Mappleau (pronounced “mah-ploh“) is a liqueur inspired by Pommeau. Pommeau is fresh apple cider fortified with apple brandy and aged. Similarly, Mappleau is diluted maple syrup fortified with maple brandy. We have available a Fact Sheet that covers topics on its production, and a Recipe & Instructions document for those who want to get started making their own. An opportunity to taste the product is coming up on July 15 in Geneva, NY. Visit our New Product Development page to learn more about Mappleau.

New Maple Calculators Available Two new calculators are available on the Cornell Maple Calculators page. Both are for adjusting density. With the the Density Blending Calculator, you can get off-density syrup to correct density. It can be used for blending two syrups at around finish density, syrup and sap, or even syrup and water. The new Dilution Calculator can tell you exactly how much water you need to add to a known volume of syrup to get to your desired density. This can be used to correct over-dense syrup before canning, or even for diluting syrup for value-added products including fermentations like wine and kombucha. Both calculators are intended for calculating volumes, and units (e.g., gallons, liters, cups) are flexible to meet your project needs. Check out the Cornell Maple Program's webpage for program updates and information.

USDA Highlights The Dairy Donation Program as June Dairy Month comes to a close Since its establishment in 1937, June Dairy Month has been an opportunity to showcase many aspects of dairy: delicious products, nutrition, and important role in our diet. The contributions of the dairy industry are abundant, from the farmers who care responsibly for their land and their animals to the economic development and livelihoods in communities worldwide. The dairy industry works hard to feed the world and ensure nutritious dairy products are accessible to all. To increase access to dairy products and reduce food waste, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the $400 million Dairy Donation Program (DDP) in August 2021. Through the DDP, eligible dairy organizations partner with non-profit feeding organizations—such as food banks, missions, and churches—that distribute food to individuals and families in need; these partnerships may apply for and receive reimbursements to cover some expenses related to eligible dairy product donations. Dairy farmers, cooperatives, and processors that purchase fresh milk or bulk dairy products to process into retail-packaged dairy products and meet other requirements are eligible to participate. Costs reimbursed through the program include the cost of milk used to make the donated eligible dairy product and some of the manufacturing and transportation costs. Reimbursement of these costs is designed to help offset some of the costs associated with processing and donating eligible dairy products. June Dairy Month is an excellent opportunity to learn about how the program can provide reimbursement for donations made to non-profits in your community. Participating in the DDP will help ensure that surplus dairy products are reaching those who need it most. Program details are available at www.ams.usda.gov/ddp. Please contact the Dairy Donation Program Team at ddp@usda.gov with any questions or to learn how to apply.

New York tax incentives for farm employers: Overtime, investment and employee retention Join Farm Credit East, NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets, NYS Department of Taxation & Finance and Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development for this free webinar outlining significant tax credits that are applicable to many farmers in New York state. A recording of the June 21st webinar is now available. Check it out to find out what’s new, what these tax credits cover and how to apply. Click here for the recording. Questions: chris.laughton@farmcrediteast.com.

** Your Advertisement Here! **   Dear Readers,  Through this publication, CCE Steuben serves farmers, agribusinesses, and county residents of all ages interested in current agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources topics. You can contribute a logo and/or have space for a promotional message to reach the local agriculture community.   $120.00 for the entire 2022 year or $15.00 per month   Contact Anne at 607-664-2300 or email her here for more details.

Dairy Market Watch Please access the latest Dairy Market Watch here! For those that get printed newsletters, it is included as an insert with each edition.

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