December 2023 | Vol. 15 Issue 12

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USDA Unveils Updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map

The plant hardiness zone map is described by the USDA as " the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which perennial plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature, displayed as 10-degree F zones and 5-degree F half zones."

Take some time to visit the new updated interactive map. The 2023 map incorporates more data and more sophisticated ArcGIS Modeling using more detailed and complex formulas. The resulting map offers gardeners a more accurate and detailed map! Simply put in your zip code and navigate around the map to find your exact gardening location. This new map features interactive layers so you can look at roads and other details over top of the map while navigating.

Worth noting, while about half of the country has experienced changes in zones when compared with the 2012 map, the USDA has cautioned against drawing any conclusions about global warming or temperature change. You should not compare across the 1990, 2012, and 2023 hardiness zone maps to derive any information about temperature change over time. The 2023 map has been created using increased numbers of data from more locations. This has contributed to improved information and better spatial modeling and thus a more accurate and detailed map. While the maps cannot be compared to draw conclusions about global changes in temperatures, the use of more data and better modeling will definitely give a more superior baseline for your gardening and landscaping work.

Read this article written in 2012 when the 2012 updated map was first released. The amount of information used between the 1990 map and the 2012 also increased substantially to improve the quality of the map. While these maps don't allude to any changes in our climate over time, Cornell has many excellent resources for you to learn more about gardening in a warming world. Check out these 2 great resources:

Gardening in a Warming World A Climate Smart Gardening Course Book

Gardening in a Warming World – Cornell Climate Stewards

Read the full USDA article here and access the updates map 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.

2023 Schedule:

December 1: Houseplant IPM | Firewood pests

A preview of the 2024 events:

Carbon Accounting and Enhancement Opportunities for Dairy Manure Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Systems

Webinar

December 14, 2023

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

In this webinar, presented by Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY, attendees will learn about the carbon accounting of dairy manure anaerobic digestion (AD) to renewable natural gas (RNG) systems that are being implemented in New York through California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The presentation will cover ways to improve the Carbon Intensity score of these systems, including a case study on the economic analysis of an impermeable cover system on a digestate effluent storage pond. The webinar will also discuss considerations for multi-farm, centralized systems of either manure or biogas, and will include a Q&A session. This webinar is recommended for dairy farmers, their advisors, and agency representatives.

Topics

Carbon accounting of dairy manure AD systems producing renewable natural gas (RNG)
Enhancing AD system carbon reduction
Case study economic analysis of covering digestate storage
Considerations for multi-farm systems of centralized manure AD or biogas upgrading

Speakers

Lauren Ray, Agricultural Sustainability & Energy Engineer, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY
Peter Wright, Agricultural Engineer, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY

Useful Links

Check out all of our publications here!

County Enrollment, Subscription, and Support

The Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program with Cornell Cooperative Extension offers educational programming and research based information to agricultural producers, growers, and agribusinesses in the five county region of Southwestern New York.

Our specialists work with Cornell Faculty and Extension Educators statewide to address the issues that impact the agricultural industry and provide services to farms of all sizes and production techniques. The educational programming and support that we offer ranges from workshops to on-farm events, and includes one-on-one consultations. Our program is designed to meet the rapidly changing needs of our region's diverse agricultural community.

For more information, contact any of the specialists.

Please support CCE Steuben by signing up for their enrollment programs.

Reach out to CCE-Steuben at 607-664-2300 and ask about enrollment.

The enrollment form can be found online, here.

The Cornell Vegetable Program works with Cornell faculty and Extension educators to address the issues that impact the New York vegetable industry. The team offers educational programs and information to growers, processors, and agribusiness professionals in pest management, variety evaluation, cultural practices, market development, and farm food safety.

Cornell Vegetable Program Specialists expertise includes processing vegetables, fresh market vegetables, weed science, soil health, food safety, organic, marketing, greenhouses and high tunnels.

To read the Vegetable Programs 2022 Year in Review, click HERE. Learn more about the specialists HERE.

To enroll click here.

The Finger Lakes Grape Program (FLGP) is a regional extension program of Cornell Cooperative Extension serving the grape and wine industry of the Finger Lakes.

The staff of the Finger Lakes Grape Program is committed to providing grape growers in the Finger Lakes and beyond with cutting edge, research-based information to help them improve the productivity and sustainability of their vineyards and the quality of the fruit that they produce. We work with researchers and extension staff from Cornell and other institutions to create informative extension materials and programs that help to keep grape growing a viable and profitable industry that enhances the communities of the Finger Lakes and upstate New York.

Learn more about the specialist HERE.

To enroll click here.