Crop Management Online Course

January 5 - March 1, 2024

The information provided focuses on field crop systems, including row crop and dairy forages in New York and the northeastern United States. However, many of the agronomic principles covered in the course are applicable to other growing climates and systems. 

• Nutrient Management 
• Soil Management 
• Managing Environmental Risk 
• Crop Management (by individual crop) 
• Disease & Insect Management 
• Weed Management 

Registration Fee: $250

Interested? Read more here.

Register here.

Overtime Threshold Decreases to 56 Hours on January 1st



The New York State Department of Labor is reminding New Yorkers that the phased-in, gradual reduction in the overtime pay threshold for farmworkers will begin on January 1, 2024, with the threshold set at 56 hours per week. The process will continue with the overtime threshold limit reducing by four hours every other year until reaching 40 hours per week in 2032. This process was officially adopted in February following Commissioner Reardon’s order that adopted the Farm Laborers Wage Board’s report and recommendations in September. 

“Our agricultural industry is the backbone of New York, feeding people across the country, and farm workers are an essential piece in that process,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. "Introducing a phased transition allows farmers the necessary time for adjustments while protecting the farm workers who are a huge part of putting food on New Yorkers tables. These regulations reinforce New York State's ongoing dedication to its workers.” – New York State Department of Labor

Grant Transforms Wastewater to Crop Fertilizer

Synthetic fertilizers accelerate crop growth and are commonly used in agriculture; however, these products contribute to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and are costly for farmers. At the same time, wastewater — domestic, industrial or stormwater sewage — is also a source of pollution, and only a fraction of the vast quantity of nutrients flowing through modern wastewater treatment systems is captured for beneficial reuse. A significant portion of regional fertilizer needs could be met by reclaiming the nutrients present in wastewater.



The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research is awarding a $330,256 Seeding Solutions grant to the Rich Earth Institute to produce biochar — charcoal created from organic matter — from wastewater material. This biochar can potentially be used to develop safe, renewable fertilizers that enhance agricultural productivity, support soil health, reduce nutrient pollution and mitigate climate change through soil carbon sequestration. Cornell University, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, the Rich Earth Institute and University of Michigan provided matching funds for a total $660,517 investment.

Continue reading HERE.

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.

Value-Added Dairy Processing Webinar II

Feb 15, 2024 12:00 PM EST

Value-Added Dairy Processing Webinar where we will dive into more details of this business opportunity for dairies. Stay tuned for more information!

Presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension NWNY and SWNY Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Teams in partnership with the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center.

REGISTER

2023 NY Pesticide Reporting Reminder Notice and Electronic Reporting Requirement

If you currently hold an active certification allowing you to make commercial pesticide applications in calendar year 2023, you are required by law to submit an acceptable annual report of your pesticide applications (or lack thereof) no later than FEBRUARY 1, 2024. Read more HERE and file your report HERE.

Whole Farm Efficiency Webinar Series

We are pleased that you will be joining Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell PRODAIRY for this 10-part webinar series on improving whole farm efficiency. Each week we will focus on maximizing the potential of one aspect of the dairy. Industry experts will provide suggestions and insights on each topic. Feel free to join all the webinars or choose the sessions most applicable to you. The link provided can be used to join any of the webinars.

January 9 to March 12, 2024

12:30 PM to 1:30 PM EST

Webinar topics

Jan 9-Precision Feeding

Jan 16-Labor Management

Jan 23-Designing Feeding Programs for Dairy Profitability

Jan 30-Labor Onboarding

Feb 6-Milk Quality

Feb 13-Transition Period Management

Feb 20-Use of Colostrum to Maximize the Benefits for Your Farm

Feb 27-Targeted Reproductive Programs

March 5-Reproductive Evaluations

March 12-Replacement Management

Register Here.

Farmer-to-Farmer Event Focuses on Community

January 9 & February 13

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 meetings will be held on January 9 and February 13, with the first meeting focusing on dairy and the second meeting focusing on field crops. Both meetings 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.

Cattle Injection Tips

Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist

Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Giving injections of vitamins, vaccinations, dewormers, and antibiotics is a scientific process. Following label instructions, giving injections in the "injection triangle", and opting for sub-cutaneous (sub-Q) injections reduces the risk of muscle lesions and trim loss.

Learn more here.

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.

BF 104: Access to Capital: Funding Your Farm Plans

From Planning to Planting

•  Offered live for 6-weeks on Mondays from 6:30 – 8:00 PM (Eastern) from January 15 – February 19.

BF 110: Soil Health: Investing in the Vitality of Your Farm

• Offered live for 6-weeks on Wednesdays from 6:30 – 8:00 PM (Eastern) from January 17 – February 21.

BF 121: Vegetable Production II: From Season-Long Care to Market

• Offered live for 6-weeks on Mondays from 7:00 - 8:30 PM (Eastern) from January 15 – February 19.

BF 203: Holistic Financial Planning: Building Farm Profit Into the Picture

• Offered live for 6-weeks on Tuesdays from 7:00 – 8:30 PM (Eastern) from January 16 – February 20.

BF 153: Indoor Specialty Mushroom: Managing Indoor Spaces for the Production of High-Quality Mushrooms

• Offered live for 6-weeks on Tuesdays from 6:30 – 8:00 PM (Eastern) from January 16 – February 20.

BF 220: Season Extension with High Tunnels

• Offered live for 6-weeks on Wednesdays from 7:00 – 8:30 PM (Eastern) from January 17 – February 21.

BF 232: Sheep Production: Managing Your Flock For Success

•  Offered live for 6-weeks on Wednesdays from 7:00 – 8:30 PM (Eastern) from January 17 – February 21. 

BF 234: Goat Production: Dairy, Meat, and Fiber For Profit

• Offered live for 6-weeks on Wednesdays from 6:30 – 8:00 PM (Eastern) from January 17 – February 21. 

USDA Highlights 2023 Successes in Serving Farmers, Families and Communities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is marking the end of 2023 by highlighting on-the-ground projects and partnerships that are building economic prosperity for farmers, families, and communities nationwide. Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda – and its record investments in rural America – USDA has been able to help tens of thousands of farmers continue their operations and increase their revenue, connected rural communities to internet access, advanced efforts to mitigate climate change, made investments that give small businesses a leg up, lowered energy costs and costs for consumers, and more.

Continue reading the full article 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.

Join Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies for a presentation on spongy moths, an invasive forest pest that has recently resurged. Outbreaks of very hungry caterpillars have defoliated trees in the Hudson Valley and beyond. Will this happen again in 2024? Will defoliated trees recover? Can we do anything to protect our trees and forests?

This event will feature Cary scientists Clive Jones and Charles Canham, who bring deep expertise on the topic. Jones studied the spongy moth for 30 years as part of a long-term project on Cary’s 2,000-acre research campus. Canham has been researching the ecology of Northeastern forests for 40 years. 

Spongy moth caterpillars prefer to feed on oak trees but will defoliate a wide variety of deciduous species, and sometimes conifers. Learn where the spongy moth came from, how it was introduced, how it spread, and the history of outbreaks and defoliation in the US. Discover how outbreaks get started and why they collapse. Find out about forest pest impacts now and in the future. 

Free and open to all, this hybrid event will feature time for Q&A. Participants are encouraged to submit questions in advance during registration, so they can be woven into the presentation. 

Registration:

IN-PERSON VIRTUAL-LIVE STREAM

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:

Did you miss the Biocontrol Summit?

The Biocontrol Summit recording is now available on NAISMA's YouTube Channel, Website and in the Member Portal.  This year, NAISMA highlighted the role weed biological control can play in reducing wildfire risk and mitigating wildfire impacts throughout North America.

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. 

Vegetable Seed Production Course and Mentorship Available to Growers Throughout the Northeast 

Online course starts January 10^th and runs for 10 weeks.

To increase the number of growers able to produce high quality regionally adapted vegetable, herb, and flower seed in the northeast a group of educators, experienced seed producers, and regional seed companies is working together to offer a training in seed production and connect participants to markets for their seed. Last year 65 commercial growers participated in the course, and we are inviting another 65 to participate this season. The course is free through generous support of a Northeast SARE Research and Education grant, but we expect participants to fully engage in the course and to share their experiences with us at the end of the course.  



The online course, which starts January 10^thand runs for 10 weeks, is designed to help growers determine whether seed production is a good choice for their farm and then to guide them in selecting an initial seed crop to grow for sale, on-farm, or community use. Each week will feature guest speakers with expertise in seed production, plant pathology, seed economics, and more. During the course participants will form learning cohorts and will work with a mentor throughout the 2024 growing season to successfully produce a quality seed crop. The cohorts will have monthly group check-ins via Zoom and one-on-one access to a grower mentor experienced in producing their chosen seed crop. At the end of the season, participants can sell their marketable seed crops back to the companies that provided stock seed. 

The grower mentors for this course bring substantial experience in seed production and will help participants deepen their understanding of how to cultivate vegetables to produce the highest quality seed.

If you are interested in being a part of the seed education cohort, please fill out a quick intake form by visiting this link: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0DK2oimZ1gPcYnQ  

If you have any questions about the project, you can reach Crystal Stewart-Courtens at cls263@cornell.edu. For more information about the course, please reference the course syllabus.