Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Committee

Ed Merry

Chris Comstock

Allison Lavine

Emily Brennan

Charles J Susick II

Kevin Peterson

Joe Castrechino

Arkport

Bath

Savona

Avoca

Bath

Corning

Prattsburgh

Legislative Representatives

Hilda Lando

Fred Potter

Did you suffer damage or loss from the recent storms and flash flooding?

The USDA has designated various counties in New York State as primary and contiguous disaster areas due to losses caused by a tornado hurricane, high winds, flash floods, and excessive rain that occurred from July 10^th through July 16^th, 2024.

Primary NY Counties (7): Cortland, Lewis, Seneca, Wyoming, Erie, Ontario, Tompkins

Contiguous Counties (23): Alleghany, Chemung, Livingston, Onondaga, Steuben, Broome, Chenango, Madison, Oswego, Tioga, Cattaraugus, Genesee, Monroe, St. Lawrence, Wayne, Cayuga, Herkimer, Niagara, Schuyler, Yates, Chautauqua, Jefferson, Oneida Lawrence

Producers can identify what programs they may qualify for by finding more information at our agency link: https://agriculture.ny.gov/emergency-management

All counties in our region are eligible for FSA emergency loans. Our local FSA offices can help you determine eligibility, funding maximum, and complete the process.

Steuben County farms should contact the USDA FSA Bath Service Center, 607-776-7398.

Photo: Mark Squires' flooded potato field in Prattsburgh. (Spectrum News 1/Emily Kenny)

Farm Disaster Preparation Certificate

Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Thursday, October 17, 2024, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

The Farm Disaster Preparation program will help farm owners plan for and manage possible disasters. This program focuses on practical pre-disaster education and preparedness regarding farm equipment safety on the road, fire or structure collapse, storm and wind damage, criminal activity, farm chemical risks, and biosecurity. Farms that complete the training will receive a certificate to provide to their insurer and may be eligible for a credit or discount toward the farm’s annual insurance premium. The value of the credit or discount will vary according to individual policies and policyholder circumstances but can be up to a 10 percent discount.

The Farm Disaster Preparation Certificate is directed to all sizes of farms and all types of products. Dairy and livestock farms are especially encouraged to participate in the program due to their additional concerns regarding animal agriculture. The person representing a farm should be the insurance policyholder; other key farm personnel are welcome.

The certificate program will be held on Wednesday, October 16, and Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 6:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. You must attend both sessions to receive the certificate. Space is limited, and pre-registration is requested by October 11. There is a $35 fee per farm for this program. For more information about the training contact Lynn Bliven at 585-268-7644 ext. 18 or email lao3@cornell.edu.

To pre-register click here.

Course Instruction Team: Lynn Bliven, Ag & Natural Resources Issue Leader CCE Allegany County; Stephen Hadcock, Ag. Entrepreneurship and Market Development Team Leader, CCE Capital Area Agriculture and Horticulture Program; Maryellen Baldwin, Farm Business Manager, CCE Oneida County; and Jim Carrabba, Agricultural Safety Specialist New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH). Photo credits: Lynn Bliven

Fall Farm Fun

Remember to check out all the local options on Finger Lakes Farm Country (FLFC).

The Fall Apple and Pumpkin Harvest Tour shows a map highlighting some sources for fall fun. Some farms grow a variety of tree fruits that may start ripening for harvest soon so check around for what you are looking for. Agritourism options are also plentiful in our region, check them out here.

From lunch at a restaurant offering farm-to-table to various on farm experiences, you can plan a fun day centered around Steuben County Agriculture right from Finger Lakes Farm Country.

Farm producers and agrotourism business owners, don't forget to list your events with FLFC! If you aren't a listed producer/farm and would like to be,

Complete The Participation Form

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

NYS Ag Society Century Farm Program

The New York State Agricultural Society prides itself on recognizing the best in agriculture. The Century Farm Program is one of the premier programs that recognizes farms when they reach the centennial mark. To date the Ag Society has recognized 408 Century farms, 59 Bi-Centennial farms, and 2 Tri-Centennial farms. The program rules are simple – the farm needs to have hit the centennial mark prior to the convening of the New York State Agricultural Society’s annual meeting on January 9, 2025. If your farm has hit this mark, we would love to recognize this amazing achievement.

To register your farm as a Century Farm, go to the following link https://www.nysagsociety.org/century-bicentennial-farm-award and fill out the information requested. The information you provide documents the farm’s journey to 100 years.

The deadline is coming fast – October 15 of 2024.

If interested, please send in your information – we would love to see you and recognize you at our upcoming annual meeting.

Upcoming Northeast Cover Crops Council Webinar Series

Please join us for upcoming weekly free webinars on Wednesdays from 12:00-12:30 Eastern.

Webinars will feature time for audience questions. Miss the first one(s)? Don’t worry!

Registration will stay open throughout the webinar series. Qualify for 0.5 CEUs per session attended!

GAPs Online Course

GAPs Online Produce Safety Course schedule

October 9 - October 29, 2024

Course Registration

More Course Information

PRODUCE SAFETY ALLIANCE GROWER TRAINING

Note: Online delivery course is a three-week course that can be completed at your own pace. The online course is expected to take 15-30 hours for successful completion.

Looking for Pesticide Credits?

Remember to always refer to NYSPAD! All opportunities offering credits must be registered so you can search for upcoming events in Steuben and other nearby Counties to find one that fits your schedule most conveniently!

Access the NYSPAD Bureau of Pesticides Management - Information Portal

If you need help contact CCE Agriculture Dept, 607-664-2574.

Steuben County will be offering a Field Crops event with Pesticide Credits in late Fall 2024.

Check out the official agritourism webpage for CCE

Click the image below to access the full factsheet

Agritourism Workshops Monthly!

Are you thinking of starting an agritourism business or are you currently operating one?

Join the monthly lunch-hour, workshop virtual series and learn how to grow your agritourism business!

Each session will focus on specific topic to help aspiring agritourism entrepreneurs grow their knowledge and profit through this exciting on-farm business.

Pre-registration Required: Register for the Zoom Webinar here!

Price: Free

All workshops will be recorded and links shared. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Sponsor: Cornell Cooperative Extension Agritourism Program Work Team

Past topics and recordings

2024 Schedule:

January 9: Agritourism for Maple Syrup Operations

February 13: Grants for Agritourism Operations

March 12: Staffing your Agritourism Operation

April 9: Working with your Local Tourism Office

May 14: Overview of Agritourism Business Plan in AgPlan

June 11: How To's: Livestock Operations (not a petting zoo)

July 9: Urban Agritourism

August 13: Cut Flower & U-pick Management, Value-Added

September 10: Handling Difficult Customers

October 8: Creating Value-Added

Items/Experiences

November 12: Implementing Outdoor Recreation on the Farm

Please contact Lindsey Pashow lep67@cornell.edu or 518-569-3073 with any questions.

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 for 2024 are listed below, and you can read more and enroll HERE.

Dairy Market Watch

The most recent Dairy Market Watch can be accessed here . Past Dairy Market Watch issues can be accessed here.

Dairy Market Watch is an educational newsletter to keep producers informed of changing market factors affecting the dairy industry. Dairy Market Watch is published at the end of every month, funded in part by Cornell Pro-Dairy, and is compiled by Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Business Management Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops Program.

For those that get printed newsletters, it is included as an insert with each edition.

Interested in NYSERDA’s Agriculture Programs?

Below you will find a brief overview of these three programs:

Agriculture Energy Audit Program (AEAP): This program offers NY state farmers no-cost energy audits to help identify energy efficiency opportunities on their farm.
REAP Technical Assistance Program (RTAP): This program has been designed to assist farmers at no-cost to make applications to the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). If awarded, farmers can receive up to 50% of the total project cost.
Energy Best Practices for Agriculture: The best practices have been developed to help educate producers with energy-efficient technologies, how they function, the average cost, and the average payback in years.

To learn more about these programs and eligibility, you can scan the QR code on the image above, or click here: Agriculture Energy Assistance - NYSERDA.

Thank you so much for your support in ensuring the viability and growth of New York's agriculture!

Ag Energy NY website has been updated making it easier to access guidance for different types of farm's needs!

Now offering one-on-one consultations for all your ag energy needs, including Solar and Wind Energy! If you are thinking about leasing land to alternative energy, set up a consultation to learn more about how your decisions impact you in the long run!

Contact Gabriel Gurley, rg523@cornell.edu for assistance and additional information!

2024 Webinar Series for Greenhouse, Nursery & Garden Center Professionals

Join UNH Cooperative Extension and other experts to sharpen and refresh plant production skills. These monthly webinars on a variety of topics are intended to provide practical training for greenhouse, nursery and garden center professionals, although all are welcome to attend. One New England pesticide applicator recertification credit has been applied for each event.

2024 Class Dates:

August 27 - Thielaviopsis Control - Dr. Bo Liu

September 24 - Injecting a Drench - Jonathan Ebba

October 29 - Renewable Energy Sources for Greenhouse Environmental Control - Dr. Md Sazan Rahman

November 26 - Mealybug - Dr. Amber Vinchesi-Vahl

December 17 - Fertilizer Selection Basics/Water Analysis - Jonathan Ebba

If you have questions or would like assistance registering for or accessing the webinars, including language access, please contact Jonathan at Jonathan.Ebba@unh.edu

Save the date for an upcoming one-day workshop with the New York Invasive Species Research Institute on Monday, August 26, 2024, in-person at Cornell's Ithaca campus. In this workshop, members of the Blossey lab will lead you through a series of talks and field exercises to review methods to assess the impacts of introduced species and of management actions.

Stay tuned for more details, including an agenda and registration link.

Bee Breeding and IPM for Better Pollinator Health

November 20, 2024

11:00 AM

The webinar will be recorded for anyone unable to attend the live session.

Dr. Hongmei Li-Byarlay, Associate Professor, Central State University will be discussing recently published and current research on the genetics and breeding of mite-resistant stocks in honey bees, and a recent study using a sustainable method to manage varroa mites in bee hives.

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.

Watch the past Event presentations Here. Register for the 2024 events Here.

The 2024 What’s Bugging You First Friday schedule is now available on the program’s website, and you can register for multiple events using our registration form. We look forward to seeing you in 2024!

October 4^th: Identifying Pests in Your Home

November 1^st: 2024 Tick Blitz Results | No Spray Needed

December 6^th: Feed the Birds | Repurposing a Holiday Tree

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