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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Senate and Assembly Agriculture Chairs Secure Historic Agriculture Budget to Bolster Support for New York Farmers
ALBANY, NY – Historic funding levels for New York agriculture are included in the final enacted State Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. The two Legislative Agriculture Chairs, Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assemblymember Donna Lupardo secured over $10 million above the Executive’s original proposal for a total appropriation of more than $52 million — the largest state budget appropriation for agriculture in recent history. This funding will support important programs and initiatives that provide New York farmers with tax relief, research, marketing, financial, and other assistance.
Read the whole article HERE.
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Free COVID-19 Test Kits and Masks! |
We have COVID-19 Test Kits and KN95 Masks at our office that were given to us to distribute from Steuben County Public Health. Please contact us at 607-664-2300 or email amz65@cornell.edu if you would like us to put some aside for you. You can also stop into our office at the Steuben County Building Annex at 20 East Morris Street in Bath.
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Agriculture Literacy Week Success |
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Steuben County participated in the 18th annual New York Agricultural Literacy Week from March 21-25, 2022. We engaged over 800 students in schools and public libraries through readings of “Farmer Will Allen and the Growing Table” by Jacqueline Briggs Martin. Approximately 150 individuals listened to the book being read by our New York State Assemblymember Phil Palmesano.
This book took students on an explorative journey to learn about community gardens and inspire them to build communities through food, even if they only have a pot on their porch to cultivate. To celebrate New York Agricultural Literacy Week in Steuben County, 34 schools and libraries received books. Generous donations were made sponsoring 12 of these books and each of those sponsored books had a bookplate recognizing the donor. The following individuals and organizations sponsored books for 2022: Steuben County Farm Bureau, Blue Ribbon 4-H, Creative Kids 4-H Club, Mary Moyer, Donna Colvin, and Kristen Stewart. Thank you to all our donors who enable us to spread agriculture knowledge and awareness through schools and libraries, making Agriculture Literacy Week a success every year!
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CCE is Grateful for Amazing Volunteers! |
We are so thankful for our amazing volunteers! As part of National Volunteer Week CCE Steuben held an appreciation event on April 20th to recognize and celebrate our volunteers and all they do for our various programs. We had Master Gardeners, Master Money Mentors, 4-H Volunteers, Program Advisory Members and Board of Director Volunteers join us for a fun evening filled with laughs and delicious desserts.
THANK YOU to our numerous local businesses who donated dessert items or door prize items: Angry Oven Pizzeria, Avery's Crafts & Creations, Betty Kay's Bakery, Brookside Farm, Dippity Do Dahs, Golden Age Cheese, Old World Cafe, Sweet Acres Creamery, and Weis Vineyards.
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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. From farm to table and market to stand, the Finger Lakes accommodates a wide array of agritourism interests. Home to one of the largest farmers markets in the state and some of the most scenic drives anywhere, Finger Lakes Farm Country is fertile ground for exploration.
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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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Summer Farmers' Market in the Gaffer District |
There's nothing more central to the identity of the Southern Finger Lakes than fresh fruits and vegetables every harvest! That's why Riverfront Centennial Park comes alive for the annual Farmers' Market each summer!
Join us every Thursday between June 2, 2022, to October 27, 2022, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm to discover why there's so much hype about the Finger Lakes!
To register as a vendor in the Summer Farmers' Market, fill out the contact form available HERE.
To find more Farmers' Markets visit:
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Avian Influenza Outbreak: Should You Take Down Your Bird Feeders?
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Migratory waterfowl, like these Snow Geese, are the most common carriers of avian influenza.
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We've been getting a ton of questions across the state about the guidance to take down bird feeders to help limit the spread of HPAI. As a reminder, this recommendation is only for those who work with or own poultry.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology released this wonderful informational page that supplies details for those who are curious.
Low Risk Of Avian Flu To Songbirds
There is currently very low risk of an outbreak among wild songbirds, and no official recommendation to take down feeders unless you also keep domestic poultry, according to the National Wildlife Disease Program. We do always recommend that you clean bird feeders and birdbaths regularly as a way to keep many kinds of diseases at bay.
Read the Full Article HERE.
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NYS Bans Live Fowl Shows, Meets, Swaps, Auctions, and Sales: Why and What Does that Mean?
Livestock and Beginning Farm Specialist
SWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program
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Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, a highly contagious, fatal, flu-like disease of poultry, has been spreading across the state since February. As of April 19, 2022, New York has seen the disease in 8 domestic flocks: One commercial, one captive wild birds, and the remainder were backyard flocks. Over 10,000 birds have died or have been euthanized. These positives started in the eastern region of the state but have moved westward over the spring season. Domestic bird positives have been confirmed in Dutchess, Fulton, Orleans, Monroe, Suffolk, and Ulster Counties. Wild bird positives have been identified in Cayuga, Seneca, Suffolk, and Wayne Counties. The most recent cases in domestic flocks in NYS were identified in the first week of April.
On March 25, Commissioner Ball and NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets announced that the state would be proactively banning all live fowl shows and exhibitions to stop the potential spread of HPAI. This meant that fairs, public hatching events, fowl shows, and other events like them would not be allowed until further notice.
On Thursday, April 14, the ban had been expanded to include all fowl auctions and other events where people can purchase, sell, swap, or trade fowl. The reasoning behind this update was the same as the original notice from March: to limit the congregation of poultry from different farms and homesteads to reduce the spread of disease. At this time, the ban does not include individual farms selling poultry, farm supply stores, chicks being shipped into the state from hatcheries, poultry processors that operate under a 5A or USDA Exemption, or live bird markets.
While both bans are in place until further notice, the situation will be re-evaluated at the end of May.
In the meantime, it’s important that poultry owners remain on high alert for any unusual illness or deaths in their poultry flocks. Symptoms including death without an apparent cause; lack of energy or appetite; a sudden drop in egg production or an increased number of eggs with malformed shells; swelling of the head, comb, eyelids, wattles, and hocks; purple discoloration of the wattles, combs, and legs; nasal discharge, coughing, and sneezing; discoordination; and diarrhea can all be symptoms of the virus. Any suspicious illness can be reported to:
SWNYDLFC is a partnership between Cornell University and the CCE Associations of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Steuben counties. Their team includes Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management (716-640-0522); Camila Lage, Dairy Management (607-422-6788); and Amy Barkley, Livestock Management (716-640-0844). CCE is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.
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Managing Predation in Poultry Flocks
Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
Finally, spring is in the air! It's the time of year where everything is waking up, including predators. Foxes are having their kits, coyotes are having their pups, and birds of prey are migrating to their northern breeding grounds. The lean winter season coupled with the fact that most prey species have not yet had their young means that predatory species are hungry… and poultry are the prefect meal.
Predators work on a risk-reward scheme. If they aren't very hungry or the poultry draw them out of their wooded habitat too far, the threat of humans and their activities may dissuade them. However, if they are hungry, the poultry are easily accessible, and/or the humans aren't threatening, then all bets are off. This time of year, we get many calls from poultry owners who have had a large part of their flocks devastated by predators in a single afternoon, or over multiple days.
Click HERE to read how to help rebuild and manage free-range poultry flocks with less risk.
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The Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP)
MPPEP provides grants to help eligible processors expand their capacity.
Grants are capped at $25M or 20% of the total project costs.
Applications are due by May 11, 2022.
To Apply Visit:
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The Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) Program
MPIRG assists currently operational meat and poultry slaughter and processing facilities:
Applications are due May 24, 2022.
To Apply Visit:
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USDA's Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance Program (MPPTA) |
Do you need technical assistance in getting your federal grant application together?
There are service providers available through USDA’s Meat and Poultry Processing Capacity Technical Assistance Program (MPPTA) to help with that!
What does the MPPTA Offer?
Access to technical experts from across industry, academia and state and federal government.
Focused content for diverse stakeholders, including family-owned, rural, minority-owned, Native American and Tribal-owned businesses, and other underserved entities seeking to build or expand meat and poultry processing and supply chain capacity.
General assistance with navigating USDA grant application and award processes, and successful post-award grant management.
One-one-one advising, including project and proposal reviews tailored to the specific needs of diverse stakeholders, from small and very small processors and new enterprise startups to organizations developing regional concepts and established mid-sized processing companies.
Educational resources, events, and webinars covering topics of interest for meat and poultry processing enterprises of all types.
Note: The MPPTA Program does not offer or provide contractor services or financial capital. It does not offer grant writing or project management services, nor does the voluntary use of MPPTA guarantee the success of a grant application or the grant-funded project.
Find the link to request assistance HERE.
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Managing Diet Nutrient Variability Through Improved Forage Sampling Practices
Jorge Barrientos-Blanco, Joe Lawrence, and Kristan Reed
PRODAIRY Education & Applied Research
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High feed prices and volatility due to market and supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic are restating the importance of maximizing feed use efficiency. Diet accuracy is one management factor that can improve feed efficiency. In this context, we define accuracy of the delivered diet as the alignment in nutrient composition of the formulated diet and the diet delivered to the feedbunk. Low accuracy of delivered diets increases the risk of underfeeding and overfeeding cows due to high uncertainty and inconsistency of the nutrients delivered to the bunk and available to the cow.
Access the full article here:
Dairy One Forage Laboratory provides a detailed video on how to collect a hay sample. View the video and read more in their detailed and informative article "Putting Your Best Sample Forward."
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Steuben County is here to help get your forage samples submitted to Dairy One.
Image: Pisquels/Creative Commons
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Dairy One Exists to Help Farms Succeed |
Dairy One offers a variety of tools and solutions to help farms of all types and sizes make more informed decisions. Dairy One Agronomy Services provides soil analysis and pre-sidedress nitrate testing. The Dairy One Forage Laboratory offers feed, forage, manure, water, and plant tissue analysis. Information regarding DHIA testing, records, animal identification, and milk analysis for dairy cows and goats can be found through DHIA Records & Milk Analysis. Cameras, network solutions, herd management software, activity monitoring systems, soil sampling services, and precision farming solutions are offered by our Integrated Farming Solutions team. Other Lab Services include pregnancy and disease testing offered by our Animal Health Diagnostic Lab, wet chemistry analysis of liquid dairy products through our Check Mark Lab, and bacteria and regulatory testing performed by our Producer Payment Lab.
Visit the Dairy One website to read more about all the services they provide, click here Dairy One.
Check out Dairy One Blog Posts including "Five Ways to Manage Rising Fertility Costs" HERE.
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Maximize Fertilizer Use Efficiency for Peak Fertilizer Prices of 2022
Kitty O’Neil, Joe Lawrence, Kirsten Workman, and Quirine Ketterings
Pro-Dairy Education & Applied Research
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Record high fertilizer prices this winter have driven a lot of creative thinking about cost-cutting strategies for 2022. Dairy farmers are at an advantage as manure is a tremendous source of all essential nutrients, and typical rotations of corn and alfalfa/grass result in nutrients and other benefits for corn following sod. But how do we know where cuts in fertilizer are appropriate and where they are not?
Learn more by reading the full article HERE.
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Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY is focused on leading education and applied research in support of New York's dairy industry. |
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Pro-Dairy offers a variety of resources, events, conferences, and trainings including easily accessible webinars, online courses, and regional programs. To read more and find out what is being offered now visit:
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If you haven't heard Podcasts hosted by PRO-DAIRY, Cornell Cooperative Extension Dairy Educators and industry partners to inspire and inform on key aspects of dairy farm production, check it out HERE.
Image: Flickr/Creative Commons
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Calving Assistance Guidelines
Camila Lage, Dairy Management Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
Guidance on delivery and determining if a cow/heifer needs your help can be found in infographic provided. Click here for access.
Note: This infographic is available in Spanish and English.
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SUNY Cobleskill Announces Courses in Meat Processing & Food Safety |
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Meat Processing and Food Safety Class
Meat Processing and
Food Safety Certificate
This intensive, basic training certification program provides the knowledge and skills necessary to attain employment in the meat processing industry. The program delivers specialized training in whole carcass utilization, equipment use and sanitation within federal compliance.
Topics include: Livestock Slaughter - Humane Handling - Sanitation - Carcass Fabrication and Optimization - Knife Handling Food Safety/HACCP - Equipment Use/Safety - Packaging/Labeling - Value-Added Products
Course runs 7 am - 5 pm Monday through Friday.
FOUR WEEK COURSE: SEPT 12 - OCT 7
Course fee: $6,000
On Campus Housing Available $20 / day
Limit 10 paid-in-full registrants
For more information: cobleskill.edu/workshops: 518.255.5537 or pernatdg@cobleskill.edu
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2022 Beef Processing Class
Beef Processing for Producers
This comprehensive multiday workshop will include both live animal and carcass evaluations. Designed for a beef producer to manage the complexity of regulations and maximize marketing yield from their animals. Participants will have a hand in fabricating finished cuts from a whole beef carcass within a federally inspected processing facility.
THREE DAY COURSE:
MAY 18 - 20
The course runs 8 am - 4 pm Wednesday through Friday.
Limit 15 paid-in-full registrants (cost per registrant is $960)
For more information: cobleskill.edu/workshops:
518.255.5537 or pernatdg@cobleskill.edu
TOPICS INCLUDE:
Live Animal Evaluation - Humane Handling- Carcass Traits, Quality & Yield - Processing Regulations - Marketing - Management
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Let's Talk About Making a Profit
Defining, Determining, and (humbly) Demanding a Farm Profit
By Katelyn Walley-Stoll
Farm Business Management Specialist and Team Leader Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program
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Read the full article, "Demanding" a Farm Profit, Click Here!
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NYCAMH Holding Respirator Fit Testing Clinics in NWNY
April 7th - May 13th
Amy Barkley,
Livestock Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
NYCAMH is once again holding their annual respirator fit testing clinics throughout the state. These clinics are designed to meet all Worker Protection Standard (WPS) requirements for pesticide handlers who are required to use a respirator when applying certain pesticides (including certified private and/or commercial applicators). Below is the list of dates for clinics being held in DEC regions 8 & 9.
May 12 Ontario County
May 13 Yates County
To schedule an appointment, growers should contact NYCAMH directly at 800-343-7527 or FitTest@bassett.org.
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GAPs Online Training
- June 8, 2022 – June 28, 2022
- July 6, 2022 – July 26, 2022
- September 7, 2022 – September 27, 2022
- October 12, 2022 – November 1, 2022
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.
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Are you a farmer impacted by flooding in the Summer of 2021?
Two loans are available in Steuben County.
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Notice has been given that Steuben and other counties were given a natural disaster designation for the flooding events that occurred in August 2021.
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Cornell Small Farms:
Providing Essential Information to Manage and Grow Your Farm Business
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Current information is essential to manage your farm and grow your business. The Cornell Small Farms Program has created a suite of resources based on these needs, ranging from production to policy and everything in-between.
Keep Current and Fine-Tune Your Farm Business
There's such a depth of information available to help small farms succeed. Explore these resources to learn ways to strengthen your small farm viability.
If there is other information or resources that you would be interested in, please contact the Small Farms Program and let them know.
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Cornell Commercial Vegetable Guidelines Available
The 2022 Cornell Integrated Crop and Pest Management Guidelines for Commercial Vegetable Production are now available!
Written by Cornell University specialists, this publication is designed to offer producers, seed and chemical dealers, and crop consultants practical information on growing and managing vegetable crops in New York State. Topics include general culture, nutrient management, transplant production, postharvest handling, organic production, and managing common vegetable crop pest concerns. A preview of the Vegetable Guidelines can be seen online.
Cornell Crop and Pest Management Guidelines are available as a print copy ($43.50), online-only access ($43.50), or a package combining print and online access ($61.00). Shipping charges will be added to your order. Cornell Guidelines can be obtained through many local Cornell Cooperative Extension offices (call to confirm availability), or from The Cornell Store at Cornell University or call (844) 688-7620.
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Propagating Strawberry Plants Through Runners
Image: Pixabay, Creative Commons
The production of strawberry plants is challenging due to the rigorous sanitation needs that must be met, especially in field propagation settings, but also in greenhouse settings. To add to that, growers in New York may find it more difficult to obtain their preferred strawberry varieties in the coming years, as fewer nurseries are propagating strawberries. The solution: strawberry plug plants propagated from runners in a controlled environment such as a greenhouse or high tunnel.
Plug production of rarer varieties that do well in New York State will fetch a higher price than dormant bare-root plants due to the higher cost of production and lower availability in the Northeast, especially if plants are available in August. Propagating Strawberry Plants Through Runners, written by Anya Osatuke of CCE Harvest NY and Brad Bergefurd of The Ohio State University, only discusses production and marketing potential of plug plants because successful field production of bare-root strawberries is very difficult to achieve without the use of highly restricted soil fumigants.
WNY Berry Specialist, Anya Osatuke, cell 607-752-2793 & email Anya
More Cornell Fruit Resources are available:
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The Business of Maple
Saturday, May 7th
Arnot Forest & Maple Research Facility
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Join Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County & FarmOps (an initiative of the Cornell Small Farms Program) at Arnot Research Forest & Maple Lab on Saturday May 7th as we learn the Business of Maple. Aaron Wightman, Co-Director of the Cornell Maple Program, will guide participants through strategies to begin or grow a profitable maple business. Topics covered will include writing a business plan, managing finances, and marketing tools. Instructors will be using a University of Vermont curriculum specifically written for maple syrup producers. Attendees will leave with the structure of a business plan that can be used for planning the 2023 season and beyond.
Registration is limited to 15 participants to ensure a quality learning experience. Attendees should have at least two seasons of maple syrup production under their belts, but this is not required. The cost to attend is $15 to cover the cost of materials and the business planning tool that each attendee will receive. This fee will be refunded upon attendance at the May 7th training for veterans only due to outside funding support.
For more information contact Laura Biasillo
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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.
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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.
$120.00 for the entire 2022 year
or
$15.00 per month
Contact Anne at 607-664-2300 or email her here for more details.
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Dairy Market Watch
Please access the latest Dairy Market Watch here!
For those that get printed newsletters, it is included as an insert with each edition.
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