Agricultural Literacy Week

March 18-22, 2024

In celebration of New York agriculture, volunteers throughout the state will read a book with an agricultural theme to elementary students, with a focus on second grade classrooms. Farmers, FFA and 4-H members, adults engaged in a career in agriculture, and engaged in our food system, volunteer to enthusiastically engage students in a paired hands-on activity related to the book to extend learning. "I Love Strawberries" was selected for 2024. This year's paired activity will be sequencing the strawberry lifecycle. Each student will receive a guided worksheet and stickers with steps of the strawberry lifecycle. They will then be guided to think about the seed to fruit sequence and place their stickers accordingly. Students will then have the optional activity extension to journal about how/where they would grow strawberries or draw their own strawberry patch.

Would you consider funding the purchase of one or more books for schools throughout Steuben County?

The books are $12 each and will be donated to the school library after being read. For each book purchased, a classroom set of planting materials will be provided for 30 students.  

Click the button below to donate!

Your support will help foster a love of reading while building knowledge of agriculture and what better way than learning to grow food!

Donors will be recognized on a special bookplate. You may choose to have your donated book sent to a specific school, or to read it yourself to your local school! Please contact us if you would like to volunteer to read a book!

Click the link below for more details and to donate!

Questions? Contact CCE Steuben, 607-664-2300

The Cornell Vegetable Program 2023 Year in Review and 2024 Preview report highlights of some of the many research and outreach programs led by the program team members over the last year plus a look ahead to some of our plans for 2024.

• Use of Ground Barriers as a New Strategy for Swede Midge in Brassicas for Small Organic and Urban Farms
• Cornell Vegetable Program Responds to Late Blight in 2023
• Working Groups Help to Improve the Western NY Food System
• Field Trials Completed to Test Lasers as a Bird Deterrent in Sweet Corn
• Increased Monitoring of Western Bean Cutworm in Dry Beans
• Sweet Potato Varieties Suitable for Western NY Production?

Click the image above to access a pdf of the report.

Repurposing That Ol' Barn-for small ruminants

Date: Feb 22, 2024

Time: 7:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Cost: Free

The Cornell Livestock Program Work Team invites you to join on a webinar featuring Tim Terry, PRO-Dairy Farmstead Strategic Planning Specialist, to learn how to take older dairy facilities and make them into facilities that small ruminants can thrive in. As part of this, he will be evaluating producer-provided photographs of structures and making recommendations live!

Register

Reporting Winter Storm Damage - It's Important!

Katelyn Walley, Business Management Specialist and Team Leader

Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Farms are encouraged to DOCUMENT AND SHARE any impacts the weather may have had on their home or business. This could include structure damage, crop loss, inventory loss due to power outages, damage to equipment or fencing, and more.

If your farm experienced any sort of damage, please reach out to any of the folks listed below (or all of them). The more impact information that is collected, the greater the likelihood of a disaster declaration which can bring vital emergency support and awareness.



Reporting Weather Related Impacts (For your home or farm business)

• First, ensure that all the people and animals on your farm are safe, and that there aren't any unsafe working conditions created because of the weather (check your structures!). If there's an emergency, call 911 - don't try to manage it all on your own.
• Second, document all negative weather impacts for your farm and their estimated financial cost. Take photos, make estimates, and put it all in a safe place.
• Reach out to your insurance providers - farm, vehicle, crop, etc. to initiate the claim process as needed.
• Then, share your farm's damage with any (or all) of the ag support agencies listed below. We all work together to collect storm damage information and funnel it up to Ag and Markets which can initiate a natural disaster declaration.
• Your local Cornell Cooperative Extension Association Office.
• Steuben: 607-664-2301
• Any of our SWNYDLFC Team members (calls/emails/texts/site visit requests all ok)
• Katelyn Walley: 716-640-0522
• Amy Barkley: 716-640-0844
• Camila Lage: 607-422-6788
• Katelyn Miller: 716-640-2047
• Kelly Bourne: 585-268-7644 ext. 10
• Your county USDA/FSA service center.
• Steuben: 607-776-7398
• Your county farm bureau manager
• Region 1: Tim Bigham: 716-474-6585

Inspired by Annie's: Next Level Marketing for Direct to Customer Operations

Will take place virtually on Tuesdays, February 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th 11:30am-1pm

Inspired by Annie’s is designed especially for farm women to help them develop their management and decision-making skills for their farms. Annie’s Project is designed for farm women who have been in farming, or agri-business, or part of the food system for three to five years, and want to develop their understanding, interpretation, and opportunities in sustainable agriculture. Annie’s Project gives farm women the opportunity to learn from female agricultural professionals and network with other women in similar situations.

This Inspired by Annie’s curriculum is focused on growing farm women’s marketing skills. At the end of four sessions, participants will —

• Understand how to use and manage Facebook ads effectively
• Understand how to choose/set up a Customer Relationship Management system
• Economics of marketing your product/farm & When is it appropriate to add an additional experience to market your farm?
• How to be engaging on the media
• How to be a good neighbor/neighbor relations & Handling difficult conversations (don’t use farmer lingo)
• How to use AI effectively

The cost is $60 for the series for the farm woman and will take place virtually on Tuesdays in February (2/6, 2/13, 2/20 & 2/27) from 11:30am-1pm. This series is a partnership between Cornell Cooperative Extension Broome, Ulster, Seneca, Saratoga, CCE St Lawrence & the Capital Area Agriculture & Horticulture team.

Questions can be directed to Laura Biasillo, lw257@cornell.edu. Registration can be found here.

Photo: This Inspired by Annie's curriculum is focused on growing farm women's marketing skills. (Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Public domain)

Value-Added Dairy Processing Webinar: Putting the 4P's of Marketing to Work for Your Diversified Dairy

February 15, 2024

12pm - 1pm

Location: Virtual - Zoom

Host: Southwest NY & Northwest NY Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops Teams

Join Farm Business Management Specialist, Katelyn Walley and Dairy Management Specialist, Margaret Quaassdorff for this free webinar to learn simple and important marketing ideas for your dairy business. Marketing is one of the most important considerations for any type of diversified dairy business, particularly those with interests in on-farm processing. We'll help you use product, prices, place, and promotion to plan for your farm's growth and change. 

REGISTER

Shop Talk:

All Things Tillage

February 12, 2024

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Location:

Neckers Farm

439 Legters Rd

Clymer, NY 14724

Host: Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Join SWNYDLFC and CCE Chautauqua for our upcoming Shop Talk - All Things Tillage.

Can we make tillage more efficient? What is the best way to transition to minimal/no-till? Learn from other farmers as they discuss what tillage looks like on their farm.

Registration is encouraged but not required.

Call or email Katelyn Miller at 716-640-2047 or km753@cornell.edu.

Free Webinar Series: Agritourism Business Planning with Ag Plan

Draft your business plan this winter! For seven weeks, from February 13 through March 26, we will guide business owners and managers through the process of developing your business plan using AgPlan. Each week will cover a different section of the process. If you do your homework in between sessions, you’ll have a business plan drafted by the end of March. You can register here.

Webinar dates:

• February 13, 2024 1PM
• February 20, 2024 1PM
• February 27, 2024 1PM
• March 5, 2024 1PM
• March 12, 2024 1PM
• March 19, 2024 1PM
• March 26, 2024 1PM

To request a disability-related accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Amber Hunt at 802-656-7530 or Amber.Hunt@uvm.edu so we may assist you.

Understanding Beef Diseases & Vaccinations Than Can Prevent Them

February 13, 2024

6:30pm EST

Zoom

Raising healthy and productive beef animals is key to the success of your beef operation, regardless of the size. Join us on Tuesday February 13, 2024 at 6:30pm to learn about common beef diseases and ailments and what vaccines maybe used to prevent them. In addition to covering common beef diseases, this webinar will also discuss diseases caused by ticks. Clarifying the differences between types of vaccines: modified live, versus killed, as well as, explain how vaccines differ from bacterins. Guest presenter is Dr. Shannon Carpenter, D.V.M., Field Veterinarian with NY State Agriculture and Markets. REGISTER

Getting Feeder Calves Off to a Good Start: Weaning and Backgrounding

February 20, 2024

6:30pm EST

Zoom

Livestock, Dairy and Equine Educator from Orange County CCE, Grace Ott, will review the importance of adding value to your feeder cattle. Ensuring the success of your feeders' future begins with getting them off on the right "hoof". This webinar will share tips and strategies related to weaning and backgrounding cattle.

Hosted by: CCE Livestock Program Work Team

Register Here.

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: TBA

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.

GAPs Online Course

GAPs Online Produce Safety Course schedule  

• February 7 - February 27, 2024
• March 6 - March 26, 2024
• April 3 - April 23, 2024
• June 5- June 25, 2024
• August 7 - August 27, 2024
• 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.



Remote delivery course is a course led in real time by instructors delivered with video conferencing software, such as Zoom or Webex.

Remote delivery course | NY, USA: 2/7/2024

• Contact Information: Lindsey Pashow, Phone: 518-569-3073
• Cost: $75; Course #: NY-240207-GRRD - Registration Information
• Training Language: English

Online delivery course | NY, USA: 2/14/2024 - 3/5/2024

• Contact Information: eCornell , Phone: 1-866-326-7635
• Cost: $450; Course #: NY-240214-GROD - Registration Information
• Training Language: English

Online delivery course | NY, USA: 3/6/2024 - 3/26/2024

• Contact Information: eCornell , Phone: 1-866-326-7635
• Cost: $450; Course #: NY-240306-GROD - Registration Information
• Training Language: English

Online delivery course | NY, USA: 4/10/2024 - 4/30/2024

• Contact Information: eCornell , Phone: 1-866-326-7635
• Cost: $450; Course #: NY-240410-GROD - Registration Information
• Training Language: English

Online delivery course | NY, USA: 5/1/2024 - 5/21/2024

• Contact Information: eCornell , Phone: 1-866-326-7635
• Cost: $450; Course #: NY-240501-GROD - Registration Information
• Training Language: English

Farmer-to-Farmer Event Focuses on Community

February 13th

10 am - 2 pm

The annual NYCO event brings together local farmers to make connections and build relationships that help them succeed. An informal potluck lunch is the centerpiece of the event as well as the lively discussions that follow. To kickstart discussions, the group hosts several presentations from farmers, researchers, and industry leaders on topics such as inter-seeding, new no-till methods, and streamlining economics of dairy operations. This year, the New York Certified Organic field crop and dairy farmer-to-farmer meetings - or "NYCO" for short - will return to the Jordan Hall auditorium 630 W North Street in Geneva.

The final meeting will be held on February 13th, focusing on field crops. The meeting will run from 10am to 2pm and participants are encouraged to bring a dish to pass for lunch. The meetings are free to attend, and all are welcome. Pre-registration to receive updates on possible weather-related changes can be made at https://tinyurl.com/NYCO2024 or by leaving a message at 315-787-2432.

NYCO winter meetings have grown from a gathering of six organic grain producers in the Martens Farms farmhouse kitchen in 1992 to filling the auditorium at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva. To send a message to the group, email it to bryan.brown@cornell.edu and he will send out yours and any other messages once a week.

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.

It’s County Enrollment/Subscript-ion/Support Time!



Our program, Southwest Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops (SWNDYFLC), exists because 5 incredibly supportive Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations came together and partnered to better serve the needs of our region’s agricultural community. One way you can support them is by signing up for their enrollment/subscription/support programs.

Enroll through CCE Steuben and learn more here.

Learn more about how biological control may be the next era of greenhouse crop protection!

Learn more about banker plant for Greenhouse Biological Control!

The Banker Plant System: a relatively inexpensive option that provides you with a constant supply of beneficial biological controls. Read more to learn how to use a banker plant system properly, and what you need to consider if you are going to set up a banker plant program in your greenhouse.

Photo: WV University Extension

Start Looking for Fungus Gnats in the Greenhouse now - check the soil on the floor, weeds below tables, and media bags. Use yellow sticky cards to monitor.

Learn more here.

Commercially Available Biological Control Agents for Greenhouse Insect and Mite Pests

Check out this free, downloadable PDF from Michigan State University that provides information about the commercially available biological control agents in the United States for greenhouse insect and mite pests.

Governor Secured Amendments to Ensure a Strong and Workable Program for New York's Family Farmers and Growers that Safeguards Public Health and New York’s Natural Resources

Governor Kathy Hochul has signed into law Legislation S.1856-A/A.7640, known as the Birds and Bees Protection Act. This nation-leading legislation protects New Yorkers from potentially harmful toxins by prohibiting the use of certain neonicotinoid pesticide (neonics) treated corn, soybean, or wheat seeds and neonicotinoid pesticides for outdoor ornamental plants and turfs, creating important protections for New York’s pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.

“By signing the Birds and Bees Protection Act, New York is taking a significant stride in protecting our kids, environment and essential pollinators,” Governor Hochul said. “This law underscores our commitment to fostering a thriving ecosystem while we prioritize sustainable farming and agricultural practices.”

Continue reading the full article HERE.

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.

A preview of the 2024 events:

Caught on Camera:

Our Wildlife Neighbors

February 15 @7pm ET

Register

Join Cary Institute wildlife biologist Mike Fargione for a virtual tour of animals on our 2,000-acre research campus in New York’s Hudson Valley. Drawing from a network of trail cameras, Fargione will share insights into wildlife living in our forests, fields, and wetlands, among them: beavers, bears, bobcats, and more.



Through video clips and still images, we will see animal perseverance and ingenuity, and discover preferred animal crossings and unusual species interactions. Fargione will also discuss how wildlife cameras inform ecological research, tips on installing wildlife cameras on your property, and ways people can contribute to citizen science.

This is a virtual program. Questions can be submitted in advance at signup; there will also be time for live Q&A.

Reminder: Master Forest Owner Volunteer Training for 2024 will be coming up in the Spring again.

The 2024 course dates are still to be determined but plan ahead if you are interested.

Learn more here. If you have any questions about the MFO program, you can learn more at www.CornellMFO.info or from Program Director Peter Smallidge at pjs23@cornell.edu or 607-592-3640. 

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Steuben County 

20 East Morris Street | Bath, New York 14810

607-664-2300  |  smw272@cornell.edu  |  PutKnowledgeToWork.org

Cornell Cooperative Extension puts knowledge to work in pursuit of economic vitality,

ecological sustainability and social well-being. We bring local experience and

research based solutions together, helping New York State families and

communities thrive in our rapidly changing world.

Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

CCE does not endorse or recommend any specific product or service.

This newsletter is solely intended to educate consumers about their choices.