Come Visit Five Steuben County Farms!

October 8, 2022

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The public and families are invited to visit five Steuben farms on October 8, 2022 for a look at agriculture in our county. There will be Wagon rides, Demos, Crafts, Animals to pet, Products for purchase...and more. Please bring appropriate footwear for a farm, money to purchase goods and for some excursions if you please, and a cooler bag in case you purchase farm foods.

Collect a sticker from each farm you visit and place it on the farm circle on your passport. Or register your visit on the Finger Lakes Farm Country app.

Visit at least 3 farms for an entry to win a basket of local food from the farms.

To be entered into the drawing with the passport, please mail or drop off the flyer to: CCE-Steuben, 20 East Morris St., Bath, New York, 14810

Download the passport flyer here

Crooked Line Apple Orchard

7780 Cold Springs Rd, Bath, NY 14810

This farm will be selling apples and apple cider, having u pick apples, wagon rides and highland cows to feed.

Lowery Family Farms

8295 NY-415, Campbell, NY 14879

This farm will have a coloring contest and pumpkin decorating (if you purchase the pumpkin from them).

Mud Creek Bison Ranch

6130 Robie Rd., Savona, NY 14879

This farm will have car rides $5 a person and free for kids 5 and under (you can go around unlimited times) and also wagon rides for $10 a person and $5 for children.

Stewart’s Family Farm

6443-6445 Stephens Gulch Rd, Hornell, NY 14843

This farm will be doing tours at 11, 1 and 3 and doing a sheep sheering demonstration at noon and 2. See the milking robot on our cow!  They will be serving apple pie ice cream for purchase and have a free petting zoo.

ZiegenVine Homestead, LLC

8469 Oak Hill Road, Savona, NY 14879

This farm will have a hoof trimming demo, tours and has a gift shop with goat milk soap.

Use the Finger Lakes Farm Country App to check out the Trail and check-in at the farms you visit!

Attention : Steuben County Farmers Interested in Participating in the Arkport Central School District Farm to School Program

Arkport Central School District is exploring ways to incorporate more locally grown and raised foods in their school meal programs. The district’s Farm to School program aims to serve fresh, local, and high-quality products to students. To support Arkport CSD in these efforts, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Steuben County and Cornell Cooperative Extension – Harvest NY are reaching out to area farmers to learn more about what is available right in our community.

The purpose of this Request for Information is to solicit information from farmers, growers, and producers in the region who are interested in selling to Arkport CSD in the 2022-2023 school year and beyond. The RFI outlines the types of products the district is looking for and seeks information from potential suppliers. We ask that you complete RFI Response Form to help the district gather information about the products they can procure locally. The RFI Response Form asks for information about product availability and distribution/delivery options. You can access the Form Here.

Completed forms can be emailed, mailed, or directly delivered to the CCE Steuben office.

Email forms to: Becky O’Connor, Farm to Institution Coordinator, rao84@cornell.edu

Mail or deliver forms to: CCE STEUBEN at 20 East Morris Street Bath, NY 14810

Stockpiling Forages for Winter Sheep Grazing Farm Tour

Are your animals still grazing in January? Allen Shetler's sheep are! Join us for a farm tour to learn about techniques for stockpiling pasture and winter grazing small ruminants. See how Allen efficiently delivers supplemental feed to grazing animals using a Greg Judy-style bale unroller. Experience a sheep fencing demonstration and learn how to manage electric fencing for winter grazing. Network with others in the grazing community and discover grant opportunities to expand or improve your grazing operation. Representatives from the Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District will be present to share information about grazing planning services and funding to support the development of grazing systems.

Hosted by CCE Tioga and the South Central NY Dairy and Field Crops Regional Team, and facilitated by regional Farm Business Management Specialist Mary Kate MacKenzie.

Out of consideration for biosecurity, please clean and sanitize your footwear before attending this pasture walk if you have been around other livestock. We will provide a boot cleaning station and plastic booties at the event.

Please register online here.

Contact Barb Neil for more information: ban1@cornell.edu or (607) 223-2753.

This pasture walk is the final event of the South Central NY Graziers 2022 Pasture Walk Series. Pasture walks provide an opportunity to meet experienced graziers and learn about pasture management strategies to boost soil health and farm profits. 

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 offers in-person trainings, workshops, and online courses for aspiring, new and experienced farmers.

Explore the current and upcoming opportunities HERE.

SAVE THE DATE

Cornell Professional Sheep Shearing School at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Friday November 11^th, 2022 & Saturday November 12^th, 2022

Daily Class 8:30am-4:00pm

A two-day sheep shearing school will be held at Cornell University Ithaca, NY on November 11-12, 2022.

• Instruction will include the shearing pattern, blade sharpening techniques, physical fitness, hand piece maintenance, shearing resources from the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), and more.
• This school is focused on shearers with prior experience that are looking to make shearing a profession.

The school is sponsored by the Cornell University Sheep and Goat Program

Instructors:

• Primary Instructor: Doug Rathke -Lambshoppe LLC, Minnesota. Rathke is one of the top shearers and shearing instructors in the United States and has had extensive training from the New Zealand Wools. Rathke is skilled at both machine and blade shearing. Rathke has represented the USA Shearing Team for the Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing Championships in 1996, 1998, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2014 and 2019. In addition to competing in hand blade shearing, machine shearing, and wool handling Doug also serves as a USA representative to the Golden Shears World Sheep Shearing Council.
• Aaron Loux - Aaron Loux's Professional Sheep Shearing, Massachusetts. Professional Sheep Shearer for over 15 years, trained in New Zealand, Australia, and Wales.
• Jim Baldwin - Foxfire farms, Ithaca, NY. Professional Sheep Shearer for over 24 years. Raising Merino Sheep for 30 years.

The registration cost is $225 per person. The class will be limited to the first 12 registrants to ensure a quality training experience for all.

Deadline for registration is October 21, 2022.

Shearing Equipment: Bring your own gear. It is recommended that you have a minimum of 3 medium-beveled combs and 9 cutters (3 cutters per comb). If you need gear or have any questions If you need gear or have any questions regarding shearing equipment, contact Doug at 320-583-7281

American Dairy Goat Association National Convention Oct 1^st - 7^th in Syracuse, NY featuring an almost unlimited number of workshops and dairy goat activities

The NYS Dairy Goat Breeders Association and ADGA will be hosting the AMERICAN DAIRY GOAT ASSOCIATION'S 2022 National Convention on October 1-7, 2022 at the Ramada by Wyndham Hotel and Conference Center in Syracuse, NY. This conference will host hundreds of dairy goat breeders from across the USA, Canada, Mexico and other countries and is open to anyone interested in the dairy goat industry and dairy goat products.

General programming will be held daily with an almost unlimited number of seminars and workshops featuring topics related to all areas of raising, breeding and keeping dairy goats from basic to the newest trends and technology. There will be workshops for people wanting to start a commercial goat dairy as well as for hobbyists and dairy goat breeders. There is a huge tradeshow area with vendors, craftsmen and other goat related businesses promoting and offering their products.

The American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners will feature 2 days of continuing education for veterinarians on October 1 and 2. Everyone is invited to attend these informative and educational veterinary lectures with the general conference registration. A program for youth will feature topics geared towards 4-H and FFA aged youth on October 1 and 2 with a trip to the Rosamond Gifford zoo on October 3rd.

A Pre-Judges and Judges Training Conference will take place on October 1, 2 and 3. The pre-training conference is open to anyone interested in learning what it takes to become a licensed judge and also to evaluate correct conformation on dairy goats. The actual training conference is for those desiring to obtain their official ADGA judging license.

On the evening of October 5^th, we'll have our Wine, Cheese and Body Products reception featuring the best cheeses and goat milk products made by talented artisans from throughout North America. The deadline for submitting entry forms for the ADGA dairy and body product contests is Sept. 15^th. There is an art competition as well, and the art as well as the winning cheeses and soaps are auctioned off. This is the one event you surely don't want to miss! Entry forms for the contests are available by going to https://convention.adga.org/ and clicking on "contests: in the top line.

A primary reason for the conference is the ADGA Board of Directors on October 4^th through 6^th. It is open to the general membership and takes place in the midst of numerous fun and educational workshops. The Banquet and Ball with award presentations, dancing and celebrating takes place the evening of Thursday, October 6th.

The grand finale of the week is the exciting and fabulous Spotlight Sale where 13 young does and bucks representing some of the best dairy goat genetics in the nation will walk across the stage in the grand ball room under the spotlights to be sold to the highest bidder. Record sale prices have been recorded the last several years.......will we see a new record price here in Syracuse, New York?!

The New York State Dairy Goat Breeders invite YOU to attend our conference October 1-7th to learn more about all aspects of breeding, raising and nurturing dairy goats, participate in the various activities and network with other dairy goat breeders, businesses, and enthusiasts from throughout the U.S. and the world.

For the workshop and activity schedules, registration, and further information on this exciting event we invite you to visit https://convention.adga.org/

Overall Schedule (PDF; 111KB)

Youth Program (PDF; 63KB)

CE Sessions (PDF; 121KB)

Daily Schedule for General Programming (PDF; 201KB)

Free Mental Health First Aid Trainings for Ag Communities of New York State

Did you know that farmers are more likely than the general population to die by suicide?

NY FarmNet is collaborating with county Cornell Cooperative Extension offices this fall to offer free, full day, in person Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) courses. Farmers, agribusiness workers, and anyone who interacts with the agricultural community in New York is encouraged to attend.

Trainings run from 8 am to 5 pm, and lunch will be provided from a local eatery with a one hour break.

Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. You’ll build skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial support to those who are struggling. You’ll also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support.

After the course, you will be able to:

• Recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.

• Understand how to interact with a person in crisis and connect them with help.

• Use self-care tools and techniques.

The instructors for these courses are part of a recently trained cohort that work within the NY agricultural community. They include representatives from NY FarmNet, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Farm Bureau, Young Farmers Coalition, NY Center for Ag Medicine and Health (NYCAMH), and Black Farmers United NYS. 

Scheduled full day MHFA trainings for this fall include:

Tuesday, October 18^th in Hudson/Columbia County

Wednesday, October 19^th in Cortland/Cortland County

Friday, October 21^st in Ithaca/Cornell University/Tompkins County

Tuesday, October 25^th in Middletown/Orange County

Wednesday, November 2^nd in Binghamton/Broome County

Monday, November 7^th in Lockport/Niagara County

Tuesday, November 8^th in Fonda/Montgomery County

To register, go to www.nyfarmnet.org/trainings. If we don’t yet have a training scheduled in your area, check back soon, or contact NY FarmNet at 1-800-547-3276 or nyfarmnet@cornell.edu.

These free trainings are made possible by funding from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food & Agriculture. They have invested nearly $25 million in addressing farmer behavioral health on a state by state basis as part of the Farm and Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) through state Departments of Agriculture.

This work is supported by 7 U.S.C. 5936, Section 7522 of FCEA of 2008, Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN), Grant No. 2021-70035-35550, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Business Planning for Beginning Farmers

October 5, 2022

6pm - 8pm

Business plans for farms are often viewed as yet another chore to do and usually result in dusty binders taking up space on the office shelf. This discussion based workshop will walk you through the mental exercise of planning your future agricultural adventures. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the use of a business plan, the essential components, and a "to-do" list of things to think about to inform future planning efforts. Additional opportunities for one-on-one follow up will also be offered. FSA Borrower credits may be made available for your attendance.

This workshop will be taught by Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Team Leader and Farm Business Management Specialist from the Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program with Cornell Cooperative Extension. She is a graduate of Cornell University with a degree in Animal Science and Ag Business Management, and owns and operates a diversified livestock farm.

Location:

JCC Carnahan Building

525 Falconer Street

Jamestown, NY 14701

Learn more

Register

Questions? 

Contact us by email, lpc33@cornell.edu or phone, 716-664-9502 ext. 209

NY Sheep and Goat Producers

October 27, 2022

7pm-9pm

Zoom

Please join USDA /APHIS /VS Small Ruminant Health staff and NY VS staff for a National Scrapie Eradication Program Update October 27, 2022, 7 pm - 9 pm via zoom- link will be provided with RSVP.

Dr. Charles Gaiser and Dr. Linda Detwiler will give a brief overview of the scrapie program and review regulations regarding tagging. 

A question-and-answer period will follow.

To RSVP please email NYscrapietags@usda.gov

To receive the link to the ZOOM meeting view details

On-Farm Milk Storage and Handling Grant

Application due October 6, 2022

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center recently announced a grant opportunity for dairies to purchase equipment and other related costs that will improve milk storage, handling, and energy efficiencies. Awards range from $15,000 - $50,000 with a 25% cash or in-kind match recommended. Access the request for applications here.

NAISMA Classical Biocontrol Factsheets

The North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) Classical Biocontrol Committee announced the publication of new, peer-reviewed weed biocontrol factsheets for use by managers and landowners. Subject matter experts are developing this series to cover invasive plants and their associated biological control agents in North America. Eighty factsheets for 40 weed systems will soon be published and freely available online. Factsheets for 15 weed systems are available now. These factsheets are designed to help landowners and weed managers identify and understand weed species and learn about their biocontrol agents.

The Northeast Greenhouse Conference

3 week webinar series (attend one or all).

The 3 1-hour webinars have been approved for pesticide applicator recertification credits in New York (1a, 3a, 24) and New England. All three for $65 or $25 each.

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 | 11:45 am - 1:00 pm ET

Plant Diagnostic Detective: Focus on Abiotic Disorder

Speaker: Brian Whipker, North Carolina State University

​Wednesday, November 2, 2022 | 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM ET

Developing a pesticide rotation program for bedding plants in greenhouses

Speaker: Juang Horng “JC” Chong, Clemson University

​Wednesday, November 9, 2022 | 11:45 AM - 1:00 PM ET

Managing Disease Caused by Fungi, Bacteria, Nematodes and Viruses in the Greenhouse

Speaker: Margery Daughtrey, Cornell University

More information at: https://www.negreenhouse.org/virtual-series-schedule.html

Finger Lakes Farm Country has a new app! 

Visit Finger Lakes Farm Country to download it today!

Grazing Sheep Under Solar Arrays - Farmer Survey

Can a business owned by multiple persons assist farmers to graze sheep under solar arrays? Strengthen the industry? Sheep farmers can derive added income being paid to control plant growth under solar arrays by grazing sheep. This presents new business opportunities for current sheep farmers to expand flocks and future farmers to enter the sheep sector. Such opportunities include challenges, i.e., contracting with array operators, transportation, and managing the flock at the grazing site, etc. More sheep may call for more markets and more processing capacity. A cooperative or other business owned by multiple persons could provide solutions at scale, given sufficient farmer interest.

The Cornell University Cooperative Enterprise Program in collaboration with the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA) and through support of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, Federal State Marketing Improvement Program is examining the need for one or more such enterprises. The first step is a survey of farmers to identify and quantify the need for a cooperative or other business owned by multiple farmers to provide logistical, transport, marketing, and/or processing services for both farmers grazing and not grazing sheep beneath solar arrays. The survey is intended for existing sheep farmers (solar grazing or not), other farmers considering sheep production, and new or beginning farmers. The survey should take between 15 and 20 minutes to complete. Persons completing the survey and sharing their name and email address at the end of the survey will be eligible for one of three $100 Amazon gift cards (one survey per farmer only).

Complete the web-based survey here.  (one survey per IP address)

A paper survey is avalable upon request.

Fall Update on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak

Wednesday, October 12^th from 7:00pm - 8:00pm via Zoom

Cornell Cooperative Extension and NYS Ag and Markets partner to present an update on HPAI.

Amy Barkley, Livestock and Beginning Farm Specialist with the SWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is still circulating in the US, with the number of cases in both commercial and backyard flocks increasing as we head into fall. To date, we have seen 468 cases in the country, affecting over 46 million poultry across 40 states. Wild bird positives are nearing 2,500 nationwide. Now, we are seeing cases increase with the weather cooling and the fall migration beginning.

All poultry famers, hobbyists, and enthusiasts are invited to join Cornell Cooperative Extension's Livestock Program Work Team and the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets to learn more about this disease, what we know so far about the current outbreak, and how we should prepare moving into the heart of the fall migration.

This event is free to the public and will be held over Zoom on Wednesday, October 12^th from 7:00pm -8:00pm.

Registration is required by visiting https://www.tinyurl.com/HPAIFall22. The presentation will be recorded for those who are not able to attend the meeting and will be automatically sent to those who have registered. We will have ample time for Q&A following the official program, so please bring your questions to have them answered by our experts!

If you are a flock owner or community member with questions about the outbreak or steps that you can take to protect your flock, 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. The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza response in NYS is being addressed by Cornell Cooperative Extension's NY Extension Disaster Education Network (NY-EDEN).

October Dairy Risk Management Calendar

From Progressive Dairy 

A summary of the tools and information to help manage financial risk for the month ahead. CME futures show 4^th quarter Class III prices averaging $20.68/cwt and Class IV futures at $23.45/cwt. View the information HERE.

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

• 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!

Three meat processing workshops at SUNY Cobleskill this fall

 Beginning Friday, October 7, 2022 at 1:00pm to 4:00pm

These two-day workshops are open to all applicants, culminating in a micro-credential badge

Cobleskill is offering a series of meat processing workshops in October and November. The workshops are designed for individuals interested in joining the meat industry or producers looking to understand the butchery process. These two-day workshops are open to all applicants, culminating in a micro-credential badge. Class sizes limited to ten participants will maximize skill-building opportunities while working in USDA-inspected facilities.

All workshops listed below will feature hands-on carcass breakdown and identification of retail cuts, a walk-through of whole carcass utilization, and a review of USDA slaughter requirements. Courses will also focus on developing skills necessary to effectively retail cut, complete primal fabrication, sanitation, and packaging. Participants will learn accuracy of cutting, knife handling, and portion control. The discussion will relate to USDA-inspected products but can be used by the home processor.

Lamb Processing

Oct. 7 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Oct. 8 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pork Processing

Oct. 21 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Oct. 22 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Beef Processing

Nov. 11 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Nov. 12 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost for participation in each workshop is $315. Visit www.cobleskill.edu to apply.

These workshops are made possible through SUNY Cobleskill’s Office of Professional and Continuing Education. PACE offers certificates, career training, adult education and Bachelor’s degree partnerships with community colleges to help you start a new career, advance your current skills or complete your degree. See a complete list here of all micro-credentials offered through PACE.

Greenhouse Lettuce Production

Jeremy Pickens, Assistant Extension Professor; 

Daniel Wells, Associate Professor, Horticulture; and Caroline Blanchard, Research Associate, Horticulture, all with Auburn University.

Greenhouse lettuce is one of the easier hydroponic crops to grow. It has short crop cycles and low labor demands and can be grown year-round. Lettuce production in hydroponic greenhouse system is factory-like in the way it allows for the production of a high-quality crop on a consistent schedule.

The significantly higher production cost of a greenhouse and its operation, however, make efficiency paramount to success in a greenhouse enterprise. Greenhouse leafy green production differs from other crops in that the product sells by the head, not by weight. Standard lettuce harvest weights are 5 to 6 ounces per head, with an average 30-day crop cycle from transplant to harvest. With other vegetable crops, maximizing yield is a function of yield per area. In lettuce production, yield efficiency revolves around crop cycles per area. Tomato growers, for example, want to maximize yield per area in pounds per square foot (lb/ft2). Leafy green growers focus on moving as many units as possible through the greenhouse each year in the number of heads per square foot (heads/ft2). This way, fixed costs, such as electricity, marketing, management, and depreciation, are spread over more units.

Read more on the Seedling Production, Grow-Out, Greenhouse Environment, Growing Systems, and Fertilizing in the full article on Alabama A&M and Auburn University Extension here.

NY Invasive Species Speaker Series Webinar

October 26th 11 AM

Tim Howard & Amy Conley from the New York Natural Heritage Program discuss Aquatic Invasive Species Pond and Lake Vulnerability Prioritization for New York

November 30th 11 AM

Carrie Brown-Lima – Director, New York Invasive Species Research Institute, Cornell University discusses Spotted Lanternfly & Detection Dogs

To join the presentation, go to this Zoom link (password: invasive) and follow the on-screen call-in details. If you cannot make the call, recordings of all past presentations can be found on the NY Invasive YouTube Channel. General agenda for these calls: 11:00 – 11:15 News from around the state. A time for PRISMs to share any new information 11:15 – 11:45 Topical discussion (see above for specific topic) 11:45 – 12:00 Upcoming activities, next call and other comment.

Click here to access the zoom link for the webinar as well as the full calendar of webinars from now through November.

All past presentations are available here.