Agriculture News
Steuben County
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Dear Readers:
The snow is actively falling and winter is here!
Please read on for the newest happenings from CCE on agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources topics.
- Ariel Kirk, Agriculture Educator
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Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Committee |
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Ed Merry
Chris Comstock
Allison Lavine
Gary Mahany
Cody Lafler
Kevin Costello
Joe Castrechino
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Arkport
Bath
Savona
Arkport
Bath
Corning
Prattsburgh
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Legislative Representatives
Hilda Lando
Fred Potter
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Governor Signs Bill by Senator Hinchey and Assemblymember Barrett to Resurrect the Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit
Hinchey/Barrett Law Establishes Tax Credit to Revive New York’s Dilapidated Agricultural Architecture, Incentivizes Historic Preservation with an Eye on Rural Development
ALBANY, NY – State Senator Michelle Hinchey (SD-46) and Assemblymember Didi Barrett (AD-106) today announced that their bill (S.6042/A.6947) to create a tax program to help landowners restore historic barns across rural and upstate New York has been signed into law by Governor Hochul.
Thanks to the legislation, property owners will soon be eligible to apply with the state Historic Preservation Office for a 25% tax credit to restore barns constructed before 1945 back to productive use or into small businesses such as craft breweries, event spaces, and the like, to foster economic growth.
The Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit, once a federal program, was eliminated in 2018 as a result of changes in the federal tax code under the Federal Tax Cuts and Job Act of 2017. The Hinchey/Barrett bill revives this tax incentive by placing it in state Tax Law and expanding eligibility so that more historic barns throughout the state may qualify.
“Historic preservation is a pivotal strategy for rural revitalization and by instituting the Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit we are making it more affordable for New Yorkers to save these beloved buildings from disrepair and explore new uses in agritourism, arts and culture,” said Senator Michelle Hinchey. “This incentive will help preserve thousands of historic barns across rural and upstate communities, allowing us to trace back New York’s rich agricultural heritage, boost community pride, and capitalize on valuable opportunities to revive local economies. I thank Assemblymember Barrett for her partnership on this legislation and Governor Hochul for signing our bill into law so we can inspire a new era of investment in rural New York.”
“Our iconic historic barns embody the Hudson Valley’s rural and agricultural roots, and the preservation, restoration and repurposing of these barns is critical to maintaining the region's bucolic character, as well as the regional economy,” said Assemblymember Didi Barrett. “By resurrecting the New York State Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit, we are incentivizing a new generation of farmers, architecture enthusiasts, and business owners to reconnect with the state’s past while building for their own future. I thank Senator Hinchey for sponsoring this important legislation in the Senate, and thank Governor Hochul for signing our bill into law!”
“The Historic Barn Rehabilitation Tax Credit will be a boon to rural areas throughout New York State,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League of NYS. “Our team at the Preservation League hears directly from historic barn owners more than any other type of property owner, and the renewal of the barn tax credit will provide a much-needed resource. The historic barns that dot our landscape provide a tangible link to our state’s agricultural past, but they also represent opportunities to revitalize communities — either through adaptive reuse or a reinvestment in agricultural uses. We are grateful to Senator Hinchey and Assemblymember Barrett for their leadership on this issue and thank Governor Kathy Hochul for signing the bill into law.”
Dr. Michael Tomlan, President of the New York State Barn Coalition, said, “The need to rehabilitate the barns across the Empire State has never been greater. The support of the Senate and Assembly members and the Governor is a tremendous step forward, energizing the economy and assisting property owners and thousands of rural communities.
-Shared by NYS Senator Michelle Hinchey
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Interested in working with youth at CCE? We're hiring!
Below is a brief overview of the 4-H Program Coordinator position that is available. Please use the link for more details and to apply.
The 4-H Program Coordinator serves as a member of the 4-H Youth Development team to coordinate moderately complex tasks including organizing, planning, and implementing activities and events to support the delivery of 4-H Youth Development programs in Steuben County. The 4-H Program Coordinator is responsible for supporting program objectives and plans in all areas of 4-H Youth Development programming with emphasis on Animal Science programs including Auction, and 4-H Program Areas of Civic Engagement, Healthy Living, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math), and other programs as assigned.
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Organizing Work for High Quality Results
Pre-registration required by January 21, 2022
Materials released January 21, 2022
Cost: $275.00
Meetings on Thursdays, from January 27 - March 3, 2022
1 - 2 PM EST
Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development has opened registration for Organizing Work for High Quality Results, a six-week course in the Supervisory Leadership Certificate program. Participation in the live sessions is highly encouraged and provides a valued opportunity for peer to peer learning and networking.
Course topics will include:
- Develop clear expectations and standard operating procedures.
- Delegate effectively.
- Diagnose and correct performance problems.
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Dear Readers,
For those of you who know of Annie's Project: Risk Management for Farm Women, this is the second installment of the program dealing more specifically with financial topics.
Annie's Project: Know Your Numbers,
Know Your Options
Pre-registration required
January 25, February 1, 8, 15, & 22
12:30 - 2:30 PM EST
Cost: $100.00
This five-session course focuses on financial literacy to help you:
- Understand the importance of preparing financial statements for your business.
- Objectively review the financial position of the farm using financial ratios.
- Enhance decision making skills
- Effectively communicate with families, business partners, and others about the financial position of the business.
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Opportunities to be Involved |
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CCE Tompkins Presents:
MAKE MORE PLANTS!
Winter Sowing
Tuesday, January 18, 2022, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Winter sowing is an easy, fun, and inexpensive way to get gardening – even in the middle of winter. It is an innovative method of propagating seeds in harmony with cycles of changing weather while requiring very little attention from gardeners. Some plants even prefer this method of propagation and germinate more readily than with traditional seed starting methods. Join us to learn how to make more plants than ever before!
About the Make More Plants! Series:
The world is abundant if we acknowledge the rhythms of nature and tap into how our favorite plants prefer to reproduce. This new class series will teach you the science and the skills to multiply the plants in your garden and share plants with family, friends, and neighbors. Each class will cover a different kind of propagation technique or will cover particular plants. From growing simple seeds to complex grafting, please join us to learn how to be part of the abundance of nature.
Fee
$0-$40/sliding scale, pay what you can afford
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Virtual Steuben County Crop Symposium
Save the Date!
Tuesday, March 15, 2022
by Zoom Webinar
9:30- Registration and pesticide license checks
10:00-
(50 minute presentation)
Title: NYSDEC Regulatory Updates - Christopher Wainwright, DEC Pesticide Control Specialist
Join Chris to learn of new pesticide regulations including chlorpyrifos ban and the clean sweep program that will be coming to Western NY in 2022, along with other pertinent regulatory information for agriculture and natural resources businesses and landscapes.
(10 Minute break)
11:00-
(50 minute presentation)
Title: The Current Status of Herbicide Resistance Weeds in NY and Thoughts about 2022 Management– Dr. Lynn Sosnoskie, Assistant Professor of Weed Science
Palmer amaranth is one of the most problematic weed species in the United States. Its biology and ability to become resistant to multiple classes of herbicides make this weed very difficult to control. We will discuss biology, identification methods, closely related species, and management tools for this newly found weed species in Southwest New York. In addition, we will discuss research being conducted at Cornell University on weeds like marestail, waterhemp, and others.
One NYSDEC recertification credit is available for categories
10, 1a, 21, and 23.
Registration coming soon
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CCE Flock Talks Presents:
Producing, Processing, and Packing Eggs for Sale
Wednesday, January 26th, 7pm – 8pm
Keeping chickens, ducks, quail, and other poultry for egg production is a common practice on many small farms. As we move into longer days, egg production will be ramping up, providing ample opportunities to sell eggs.
Join Lynn Bliven, Ag & Natural Resources Issue Leader with CCE-Allegany and Amy Barkley, Livestock and Beginning Farm Specialist with the SWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program, as they share information on food safety, product quality, and regulations surrounding the production of table eggs from flocks of under 3,000 hens.
Topics will include:
- Food Safety in the Coop
- Collection, Refrigeration, and Washing
- Sorting Eggs for Quality
- Candling Demonstration
- Regulations for Packing and Labeling
- Maintaining Food Safety Through Sale
This free class is sponsored by the Cornell Livestock Program Work Team. Interested? You can register here https://tinyurl.com/SellingEggs or by contacting Amy Barkley at (716) 640-0844 or amb544@cornell.edu. A copy of the recording and notes will be sent to all registrants following the class.
This class is part of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Flock Talk Series, which recurs on the 4th Wednesday of every second month. Interested in getting on our mailing list to hear about upcoming Flock Talks?
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** 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 (12 editions)
or
$15.00 per month
Contact Anne at 607-664-2300 or email her here for more details.
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DEC to Continue River Otter Surveys
Have you ever seen a river otter in New York? Prior to the 1990s, river otter were absent from most of central and western New York. That all changed between 1995–2001, when DEC worked with trappers and other groups to reintroduce 279 otter to 16 different sites in central and western parts of the state.
To evaluate the success of this effort and to gain a better understanding of otter populations throughout New York, DEC staff conducted over 2,000 winter sign surveys across the state in 2017 and 2018. During these surveys, biologists and technicians looked for otter tracks, latrines, and other signs of otter presence on the landscape. These surveys found that otter were well-established across the entire state and could be found in almost all suitable habitat!
This winter, DEC staff are repeating the winter sign surveys. We will compare the results to the previous surveys, allowing us to get a better idea of otter population trends and help us better guide otter management into the future.
How You Can Help:
In addition to the survey data, DEC collects public sighting data for river otter and other furbearer species. If you have seen an otter, fisher, bobcat, weasel, marten, or snowshoe hare in Upstate New York (or otter, beaver, gray fox, weasel, mink, coyote, or skunk in Long Island/NYC), we encourage you to report your sighting.
-Photo credited to DEC River Otter webpage
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Dear Readers,
This is the last Maple Production workshop I can find in our area for the season. If interested, please contact our friends at CCE Ontario to register.
Maple Syrup Beginners Workshop
Wednesday, January 26, 2022 | 6:30-8:30 PM
CCE Ontario, 480 North Main Street, Canandaigua, NY
This workshop will provide an overview of the essential skills and knowledge needed to successfully collect sap, produce sellable Grade A maple syrup, and produce value added products. The workshop will include a combination of hands-on activities, classroom learning, and a live demonstration. This workshop is being presented by Aaron Wightman, Maple Specialist and Co-Director of the Cornell Maple Program.
Cost: $10 per family/farm. To register or for additional information, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension at 585-394-3977 x 427 or 436.
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Restaurant Resiliency and Nourish NY Updates
NYS Department of Ag and Markets,
December 2021 article:
New York’s food banks are working with hundreds of restaurants across New York State to bring healthy meals to New Yorkers in need through the New York State Restaurant Resiliency Program. So far, the program is slated to deliver 200,000 meals through the end of the holiday season. Restaurants involved in the program are in all regions of New York State and represent the diversity of the state, with many participating restaurants preparing Kosher and Halal meals and representing minority and women owned businesses.
As of the end of December, over 250 restaurants have been approved to participate in the program, including many restaurants that are preparing Kosher and Halal meals. Additionally, restaurants have been approved in the regions of each of New York’s 10 food banks, illustrating the statewide reach of the program. Check out the list of approved restaurants.
The Restaurant Resiliency Program builds on the great success of the Nourish New York program, which, through three completed rounds has helped New York's food banks purchase over 35 million pounds of New York food products, or 29.8 million meals, to provide to New Yorkers in need. In the current fourth round, as of the end of December, New York's food banks have purchased more than 13.4 million pounds of food, creating an additional 11.1 million meals for households in need.
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Dear Readers,
Below is the press release for the upcoming Farmer Tax School sessions presented by our very own Katelyn Walley-Stoll with our SWDLFC team, as well as many other accomplished ag business professionals from across the state.
Please use this link to register, as the text images below
do not contain live links:
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A research request
from the South Central New York Dairy and Field Crops Team:
Do you use antibiotics on your farm? Do you have strong feelings about antibiotic use on farm? We want your input! Participate in a survey for farmers, industry, extension and others involved in the agriculture industry, and be entered to win one of five $75.00 Visa gift cards! Your response will help guide action in the animal agriculture industry – read summaries of research findings and let us know what you think!
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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?
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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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Young Farmers Grant Program
The National Young Farmers Coalition if partnering with Chipotle to offer $5,000 grants to 50 young farmers and ranchers to support them in building careers in agriculture.
To qualify for this grant, young farmers and ranchers must be at least 18 and not over 40 years of age as of May 1, 2022.
There are live Q & As January 11, 13, 17, and 20 from 3-4pm EST.
These grants are available to farmers of all races and gender identities. To ensure that our grants are contributing to ending inequity in access to agricultural careers, we commit to providing a minimum of 50% of our grants to Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, and 50% of grants to female-identifying, non-binary, and trans farmers. These are not mutually exclusive identity categories and should not be understood as adding up to 100% of available grants.
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Current Funding Opportunities with NYS Department of Ag and Markets
Check out our current funding opportunities:
Proposals are due on January 25, 2022.
Proposals are due on January 25, 2022.
Proposals are due on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 4:00 pm.
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.
Enrollment is open as of November 2019.
Enrollment is open as of November 2019.
Applications are taken on a rolling basis.
For more information on these or other funding opportunities,
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Finding Funding for the NYS Meat Industry
[Ithaca NY, 1/4/2022] – Join the CCE Livestock Program Work Team on Thursday, January 27th, from 6:30 - 8:00 pm for a webinar on Preparing for, Identifying, and Accessing Public Funding Sources: for NYS livestock slaughter and processing facilities.
Current and potential NYS livestock slaughter and processing business owners run and manage high-demand small businesses and often don’t have the time, capacity, and/or know-how to find and apply for public funding sources. This limited capacity makes it difficult for members of this business community to take advantage of opportunities that arise which would help them gain access to vital funds that will ultimately improve our state’s processing capacity.
In this webinar, we will cover topics that will help current and potential livestock slaughter and processing business owners and managers prepare for, identify, and apply for public funding sources. Topics will include:
- What is needed to apply for and manage funding
- How to work with a grant writer and local economic development organizations on your application
- How to identify and access public funding sources, which will include a list of grants applicable to the NYS processing industry
Speakers include Gio Holmquist, Director of Industry Development; Agribusiness, Distribution Centers, Cyber & Homeland Security Empire State Development; Myron Thurston, CCE Oneida Food Supply Chain Marketing Specialist; and Elizabeth Higgins, Ag Business Management/Production Economics Specialist with the regional Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program.
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FOR LEASE OR RENT:
- 6+ acres for lease for organic cultivation. Must have ag exemption. Call (607) 483-8758 between 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM, M – F.
- Available For Rent: Steuben County SWCD has an Esch 10’ No-Till Drill for rent. Rates are $12-$25/acre based on number of acres planted. Delivery/pickup available. Please call (607)776-7398 ext.3 for more information.
- Seeking conservation minded individual with interests in permaculture to rent 3-4 acre, gentle grade, southern exposure field for agricultural production in Steuben County, NY. Acceptable practices include organic vegetable production, small scale poultry, and organic greenhouse or high tunnel production. Other considerations will be determined by owner. Improved, uncultivated ground will require proper preparation for success. Currently no housing available on the property, but can be discussed with owner in the future. Contact CCE Steuben at (607)664-2574 for further information.
- Attention Cattle Farmers: I have pasture/farmland for rent, 40-50 acres, reasonable rate. Located in Steuben County on State Rt. 63. Contact Marian Crawford at (585)728-5303.
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Looking for a farmer interested in a lease agreement for approximately 40 - 50 acres in Howard at the intersection of CR69 and Dublin Road. Please call Bill at (484)794-1400 for more information.
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