Agriculture News
Steuben County
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Dear Readers:
August is Steuben County Fair Month! See below for our 4H livestock sale information and 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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Rebuilt Arnot Maple Research Facility Opens
On July 29, Commissioner Ball visited the newly rebuilt Arnot Maple Research and Teaching laboratory, which houses a first-of-its-kind new maple product development lab. Following 2018’s Forestry and Wood Products Summit, convened by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New York State invested $500,000 in the laboratory to facilitate further growth and innovation in New York’s maple industry. The opening of the brand new 4,200-square-foot state-of-the-art facility was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the renovations.
Located in the Arnot Research Forest, the Arnot Maple Research and Teaching facility plays a pivotal role in conducting research and extension activities in support of New York’s maple industry. The new facility includes a fully equipped, 20-C commercial kitchen, which Cornell estimates will contribute to the creation of at least twenty new maple-based products annually, such as maple soda, beer, wine, kombucha, chocolate, and sports drinks. This will support dozens of new jobs in rural areas of New York State, like the Southern Tier. The renovations also include the installation of a new vacuum system, which includes over 50 miles of tubing spread over four miles of forest; a new filtration unit; several new, 2,000-gallon stainless steel storage tanks, a reverse osmosis system, and evaporators; classroom space; and two identical production lines, so that multiple research trials can be run at the same time, bringing the facility’s research into the 21st century. Learn more.
-NYSDAM Monthly Harvest Newsletter
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The Ag Census Counts
No other agricultural data series is quite like the Census of Agriculture. Every five years, American producers share information about themselves and their operations, contributing to a historical legacy that engages us whether we are looking backward or forward. The Census of Agriculture is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. The data are used by producers as well as those who serve them and rural communities, including federal, state and local governments, agribusinesses, trade associations, and many others.
The purpose of any census is to enumerate, or count, all objects with a defined characteristic. For the Census of Agriculture, that goal is to account for any place from which $1,000 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, during the census year. Even the smallest plots – urban or rural – count, if this definition is met.
To prepare for the ag census, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service conducts the National Agricultural Classification Survey – going on now – to help identify all agricultural activity across the country. NASS encourages all producers who do not currently receive USDA NASS surveys and censuses to sign up to be counted today.
Everyone who receives a survey gives voice to their agricultural community, letting industry, new markets, and government know who they are and what they do. It is vital that everyone responds so that all of agriculture is represented and no one is left out. There is a lot at stake. Quality data impacts decisions about commitment of resources, growing communities and the best ways to leverage billions of dollars. Ag census data are used to grow markets, fund research, determine disaster assistance and much more. For the 2022 Census of Agriculture, data collection begins in November 2022.
When data collection is complete, the rest of 2023 will be dedicated to data review and analysis, which includes a comprehensive disclosure review to ensure the protection of every respondent’s identity. The information provided by producers in any NASS survey or census is used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with federal law, survey responses are kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form.
When the data are finalized, an expert cadre of statisticians combines the data to provide information on the characteristics of farm operations and producers at the national, state and county levels. With data coming directly from the American agricultural producer, no other data series informs us and our descendants more completely and reliably about living and growing in this place in time. Look for the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture early in 2024.
The 2022 Census of Agriculture tagline, Your Voice, Your Future, Your Opportunity, though oft skimmed, beats a heart of meaning for our communities, our children’s children and our possibilities.
-Cornell Small Farms, Jodi Letterman
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Master Gardener Evening Event a Success
In late June, Master Gardener Volunteers were invited for and "Eve on the Farm" to Ort Family Farm in Burdett to explore the homestead, refresh gardening techniques from this year's online curriculum, and peruse the jams, jellies, teas, and plant nursery stock at the on-farm store.
There were regular tours of the farm offered to visitors, and CCE staff gave talks on tomato growing and troubleshooting, and soil health and texture.
It was a fun evening to come together when this year's training was virtual due to the pandemic. Seeing friendly faces in person and hearing how gardening plans were coming along was a welcome change from the recent pandemic challenges.
If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener Volunteer and volunteering with CCE during educational programming as well as learning more about gardening, please contact Ariel Kirk at adk39@cornell.edu.
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Join the NYS Grown & Certified Program!
Show New Yorkers that your products meet farm safe protocols and environmentally responsible practices by joining the New York State Grown & Certified program! The NYS Grown & Certified seal indicates that the farms your products come from have been inspected for safe food handling and environmental stewardship. The label lets customers know your food was grown right, right here in New York State.
To qualify, producers must meet the following certification criteria:
· Products are grown and produced in New York State.
· Farms participate in a third-party food safety verification program, if applicable.
· Producers participate in an environmental management program.
Why join?
· There is no cost to join.
· You can use the Grown & Certified seal on products and in marketing.
· You'll be listed on the NYS Grown & Certified website.
· You'll have access to grant opportunities.
· And much more!
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An Update on Box Tree Moth, a Pest of Boxwoods |
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Box tree moth, native to East Asia, was found in Europe in 2006 where it has become a destructive pest defoliating and killing boxwoods. It was found near Toronto, Canada in 2018 and has spread to nearby areas but has not yet been found infesting US-grown boxwoods. So far only boxwoods have been affected in Europe and Canada, though some references note other hosts. Coming on the heels of boxwood blight, this new pest is especially unwelcome for one of our most popular and valued landscape plants.
On May 28, 2021 USDA-APHIS confirmed box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis) for the first time in the continental US imported on nursery stock from Ontario, Canada. The plants were shipped to the US between August 2020 and April 2021 to 7 states including NY and have since been more widely distributed. Insects were found on plants in Michigan, Connecticut and South Carolina but so far not in NY. The US has halted all imports of potential host plants (Buxus spp., Euonymus spp., Ilex spp.) from Canada. Federal and NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets officials are tracing and destroying these imported plants and following up with pheromone trapping and surveys.
Box tree moth adults can be detected with commercially available pheromone traps (e.g. Unitrap) and box tree moth pheromone lures. Inexpensive commercial carton traps work well but the standard opening for moths to enter may need to be enlarged for this species. The green caterpillars, webbing they create and leaf chewing damage in boxwoods are also distinctive. Jen Llewellyn with the Ontario Dept of Agriculture has posted some photos and information very helpful for identifying and monitoring box tree moth and infestations at https://tinyurl.com/BTMEarly.
Traps are placed about 3’ above ground prior to and when moths are active; standard septa lures are replaced every 4 – 6 weeks or as recommended. Moths were first seen in Canada on June 13 this year and a second flight is expected in late summer. Notify Cornell University’s Insect Diagnostic Lab (http://idl.entomology.cornell.edu) or NYS Dept of Agriculture and Markets (plants@agriculture.ny.gov) of any suspect sightings of moths, caterpillars, and/or plant damage. Include clear photos if possible. With early detection box tree moth can be controlled. In Europe and Canada Bacillus thuringiensis -based products are being used but many other options are also likely to be effective.
Dan Gilrein
Extension Entomologist
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County
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Opportunities to be Involved |
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American Farmland Trust -
Soil Health Field Day
American Farmland Trust invites you to join us for a Soil Health Field Day on August 31, 2021 at Mulligan Farms in Avon, NY. They will share practical, field-tested results of advanced soil regenerative practices targeted to dairy, field and specialty crop farmers. Come learn from producer Forrest Watson about his evaluation of planting green to minimize herbicide use, improve soil health, and maintain productivity. A panel of Genesee River farmers will discuss how soil regenerative practices have impacted their farm's profitability, and there will be a special presentation to provide a background to carbon markets on agricultural land. A complimentary lunch will be served.
Participants can expect to learn about:
- Navigating the growing availability and diversity of market incentives for ecosystem services
- Implementing soil regenerative practices to increase farm profitability; real-life case studies from local crop and vegetable farms
- How the host farmer is evaluating planting green on their Livingston County farm while learning to minimize herbicide use and maintain productivity
- Conducting an in-field assessment to evaluate the health of your soil
- How farmers and farmland owners can work together to improve conservation on rented lands
Farmers, Farmland Owners, Conservation Agency Personnel, Ag Consultants, and other interested people in western New York can register at www.farmland.org/WNYFieldDay or contact Aaron Ristow at American Farmland Trust, aristow@farmland.org, (315)748-5029.
There is no cost to attend, and refreshments and education materials will be provided.
If more than one person from your farm or agency is considering attending, please register each individual (CCA C.E.U.s will be available).
WHEN: August 31, 2021, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
WHERE: Mulligan Farm, 5403 Barber Road, Avon, NY 14414 (follow signage to the event location)
REGISTER BY: August 25, 2021
This field day is part of the Genesee River Demonstration Farm Network project, a collaboration between American Farmland Trust, Western New York Crop Management Association, Cornell Cooperative Extension Northwest New York Dairy Livestock and Field Crops team and the Genesee River Watershed Coalition of Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
This project is funded by the EPA's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, New York Farm Viability Institute, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Questions? Please contact Aaron Ristow, New York Agricultural Stewardship Program Manager at aristow@farmland.org, or (315)748-5029.
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Container Garden Kits are ready to give away!
CCE Steuben is excited to share that we were once again awarded the NYSDAM Container Garden Grant. We again have help from CCE Yates, Schuyler, Tioga, and Chemung in the building, gifting, education, and follow up with the kits as well.
You can receive your own kit by filling out the participation form and collecting the kit at our office, 20 East Morris St. Bath, NY 14810 (second floor).
Thank you in advance for completing the participation form. It helps us complete our grant requirements and shows funders we're successful at providing fun, educational programming that promotes healthy communities.
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Gardening with Herbs
August 11, 2021
Zoom meeting
7:00 – 8:00 PM
Whether you have a lot of space or a little, gardening with herbs is a satisfying and productive way to please all of your senses. Herbs offer food for pollinators, flavors for cooking, material for crafts, even a connection to history. In this one-hour free webinar, you will learn about growing and using some of the less well-known herbs.
Speaker: Peg Weidemann, Chemung County Master Gardener
The Zoom link to access the class is provided immediately upon completion of registration in your registration confirmation email.
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Canning Salsa & Tomatoes
Tuesday, August 17, 6:00-8:30, via Zoom by Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Learn how to can whole and diced tomatoes, plus make salsa. This class will cover the basics of canning in a boiling water bath or steam canner, including equipment needed. Includes a demonstration.
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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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How the Pandemic Assistance for
Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program Works
PATHH provides up to $200 million to support timber harvesting and timber hauling businesses that experienced a loss of at least 10 percent gross revenue from January 1 through December 1, 2020, compared to the same period in 2019. Individual loggers or truckers, or legal entities, may be eligible for up to $125,000 in financial assistance through this program.
Eligible program applicants will receive up to two PATHH payments based on the following payment calculation, where both years reflect gross revenue from January 1 through December 1.
Expected PATHH Payment = (2019 Gross Revenue – 2020 Gross Revenue) x 0.80
FSA will issue an initial payment of no more than $2,000 shortly after application approval. A final payment will be made after the signup period ends to applicants whose expected total payment exceeds $2,000. The sum of both payments will not exceed $125,000, and USDA may prorate final payments if total calculated payments nationally exceed the $200 million in funding allocated for PATHH.
Program Eligibility
The below list captures all eligibility requirements for PATHH. We recommend you review this list before initiating your PATHH application.
To be eligible for PATHH, an individual or legal entity must:
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Have been in operation as a timber harvesting business or timber hauling business for at least part of the periods from January 1, 2019, through December 1, 2019, and January 1, 2020, through December 1, 2020. USDA will adjust your gross revenue proportionally if you did not operate during the entire period for one or both years.
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Be a business that derived at least 50 percent of gross revenue from timber harvesting and/or timber hauling from January 1, 2019, through December 1, 2019, and from January 1, 2020, through December 1, 2020. Specifically, eligible activities to earn revenue during these periods include cutting timber, transporting timber, and/or the processing of wood on-site on the forest land, such as chipping, grinding, converting to biochar, cutting to smaller lengths, etc.
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Have experienced a loss of at least 10 percent in gross revenue during this period in 2020 as compared to 2019. You can calculate your loss in revenue using the following formula, where both years reflect gross revenue from January 1 through December 1:
Percent Revenue Loss = ((2019 Gross Revenue – 2020 Gross Revenue) / 2019 Gross Revenue) x 100
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If a logger, must have a 2017 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code of 113310 for tax purposes. The NAICS code for your business will be located on your federal tax return documents for 2019 and 2020.
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If a trucker, must have a NAICS code of 484220 or 484230 and must have filed an IRS Form 2290. The NAICS code for your business will be located on your federal tax return documents for 2019 and 2020.
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Comply with provisions of the “Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation” regulations, often called the conservation compliance provisions. These will be addressed via form AD-1026 during the application process.
- Not have a controlled substance violation.
- Be a citizen of the United States or a resident alien.
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Submit a complete PATHH application form (FSA-1118) and provide all required documentation. The below section details all documents required to apply for PATHH.
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Not be a minor. Minors under 18 years of age are not eligible for PATHH.
If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact the Steuben/Yates County FSA office at 607-776-7398 ext. 2.
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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.
$15.00/Month
$100.00 for the remainder of the year - December 2021
Contact Anne at 607-664-2300 or email her here for more details.
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From the ProDairy Staff:
Online dairy worker training
in Spanish
Efficient Communication — Safer Conditions — Healthier Cows
The Online Dairy Worker Training Program presented in collaboration with University of Vermont Extension is a free self-paced training certificate program offering Spanish-speaking workers the opportunity to build their practical skills in dairy farming.
Each module focuses on common dairy worker areas of responsibility. All materials are presented and written in Spanish.
Topics covered include: handling cows and calves, cow and calf nutrition, herd health, milking routines, reproduction and breeding.
Participants watch an online video and pass a quiz to become certified in the topic(s) of their choice.
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Dairy Market Watch
Please find the latest issue of Dairy Market Watch here for those reading the email version of Ag News.
For those with mailed copies, it is included as an insert within your mailing.
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FreshConnect and Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Benefits Available to Help New Yorkers Access Fresh Foods
FreshConnect Checks and Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program coupons are available to help low-income families purchase farm fresh foods at farmers' markets and farm stands, providing a boost to New York farmers.
Individuals enrolled in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Veterans, Servicemembers, and their immediate families are eligible to receive FreshConnect Checks for redemption at farmers’ markets and farm stands in New York. SNAP recipients may shop at select farmers' markets and receive a $2 FreshConnect Check for every $5 in SNAP benefits spent with the market, increasing the purchasing power of SNAP consumers by 40 percent. Veterans, Servicemembers, and their immediate family members may receive a $20 booklet of FreshConnect Checks at any of the New York State Division of Veterans' Services (DVS) offices statewide on a first-come, first-served basis. These $2 coupons may be used to purchase any SNAP eligible food item at the market and may include such items as eggs, meat, cheese, breads, fruits, vegetables, maple syrup, and honey.
New Yorkers aged 60 years or older who meet the income guidelines, and families participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) program may be eligible for the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs. Participants receive a free coupon booklet worth $20 to be spent on fresh, local, fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets and farm stands in New York State.
-NYSDAM Monthly Harvest Newsletter
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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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