If you know which specialist you would like to reach, you can find their contact information below.

Erik Smith

Area Field Crop Specialist

CCE Herkimer County
5657 State Route 5
Herkimer

cell 315-219-7786
email Erik

David Balbian

Area Dairy Specialist

PO Box 177
Galway, NY 12074

phone 518-312-3592
email David

Ashley McFarland

Area Livestock Specialist

CCE Herkimer County
5657 State Route 5
Herkimer, NY 13350

phone 315-866-7920 x228
cell 315-604-2156
email Ashley

Nicole Tommell

Area Ag Business Management Specialist

CCE Herkimer County
5657 State Route 5
Herkimer, NY 13350

phone 315-866-7920 X230
cell 315-867-6001
fax 315-866-0870
email Nicole

Resources for Farm Business Safety Plan Required

As the New York Forward plan is implemented across the state, businesses of all kinds are required to have a COVID-19 written safety plan in place. Both essential agricultural businesses that have remained open throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and those non-food related agricultural businesses who will re-open must have a safety plan. A task force of Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) specialists developed a new set of resources to help farms comply with this requirement and efficiently prepare plans during this busy time of the year. NY Forward Business Safety Plan Support for Farms contains:

• Plan Templates
• Considerations and Examples for Your Plan
• Key References and Support Documents

Latest Information on the PPP and EIDL Programs

See the latest information on the PPP and EIDL

COVID-19 Safety Plans Required for All Businesses

COVID-19 Safety Plans Required for All Businesses in "New York Forward"


New York Forward is the state's plan to begin re-opening in phases as regions of the state achieve certain COVID-19 management metrics. An important part of New York Forward is for all businesses to have a customized, written safety plan that details specifically how each business will prevent and manage COVID-19. Details for particular industries, including agriculture can be found here.

Dialing Into Your Best Dairy-Podcast series

Find the podcast series "Dialing Into Your Best Dairy" on the PRO-DAIRY website.

USDA Farmers to Families Food Box

As part of the Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program Secretary Perdue announced on April 17 that the USDA is exercising authority under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to purchase and distribute up to $3 billion of agricultural products to those in need. USDA will partner with regional and local distributors, whose workforce has been significantly impacted by the closure of many restaurants, hotels, and other food service entities, to purchase fresh produce, dairy, and meat. See more.

PRO-DAIRY offering Webinars and Podcasts

PRO-DAIRY has sent out a list of Webinars and Podcasts.  Find this list and more at our Resource page.

Team Programming and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak

To all of our valued program participants and partners:

The Central NY Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Team will not be conducting any meetings or in person assistance until further notice. All scheduled meetings have been cancelled as we look to support efforts to minimize the spread of COVID-19. If possible we may move them to an online format.

We will continue to monitor the situation and keep in touch with you.

Please continue to reach out to us by cell phone, email, and text as we will gladly respond. We will also continue to contact you by those same methods as we put out newsletters or share other pertinent pieces of information.

Again we are still here expecting to assist you as always, just for the near future not in the in-person way we have in the past.

Stay healthy.

Prevention & Control of the Novel Coronavirus for Farms

Find the an article on how to prevent and control the Novel Coronavirus on farms at: Novel Coronavirus Prevention & Control for Farms

Interim Guidance for Animal Care Operations

Interim Guidance for Animal Care Operations release from New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets on March 22, 2020.  Find article here

Links to Services

As we navigate through some very uncharted territory over the next few days/weeks/ months, the CNYDFLC team would like to offer you a list of services that may be of help to your farm business. Remember, our entire team is only a phone call, email or video conference away. Please do not hesitate to contact us if a need arises, we will do our best to assist you in the ways previously mentioned.  Find our contact information for each team member on the Contact Us page.