New York State Fiber Conference
Event Details
Date
June 9, 2024
Time
9am - 4pm
Location
Butternut Hill Campground
6893 US Route 20
Bouckville, NY 13310
Host
Dara Boudreaux
email Dara Boudreaux
Theme for this year: Quality Matters
Beginners as well as the more experienced fiber producers are sure to gain valuable hands-on skills, and knowledge with respect to fiber quality, and what to look for. You will be physically touching, feeling and seeing the difference between various fiber and fleece types in the presence of an instructor. The instructor will show and demonstrate what you need to look for in a quality fleece or fiber. You will also learn how to skirt a fleece and what the best uses are for the different fibers. There will be a sheep shearing demonstration with a commentary on what needs to be done at this stage to ensure the best quality.
Participants will go away with an understanding of the different certification programs and how they might be beneficial to their farm business.
Topics to be covered:- Challenges and Rewards of Raising Animals for High Quality Fiber
- Cornell University Small Ruminant Program - What to Expect
- Wool and other Fibers Certification Programs - What's Out There, Advantages and Disadvantages
- Impacts of Certifications - Panel Discussion: Farmers and Retailers
- Quality Exploration with Animal Fibers
Click here for conference agenda and registration.
Registration opens April 1, 2024. Fee $30 per person.
Advance registration required by June 3, 2024.
Conference is limited to the first 50 participants.
New York Veterans will have their registration fee reimbursed by the Farm Ops Program.
Registration fee includes free admission to the Central New York Fiber Festival (see below) on Sunday to explore during your 1 ½ hour lunch break. Food venders will be on site for you to purchase food.
Overnight Accommodations: Reservations and list from CNY Fiber Arts
The Central New York Fiber Arts Festival is on June 8 & 9, 2024 at the same location as the NYS Animal Fiber Conference. They expect a full complement of 120 booths filled with fleeces, yarns, fiber equipment, fiber animals and all manner of finished fiber products. They will have a full schedule of exciting lectures and workshops, a weaving competition, fleece sale, shearing demonstration, weaving booth, and children's activities. For additional information regarding the Fiber Arts Festival.
Dairy
Livestock
Forages
Grains
Upcoming Events
Fresh Cow Health Disorders - Spanish
July 19, 2024
July 26, 2024
August 2, 2024
August 9, 2024
August 16, 2024
August 23, 2024
August 30, 2024
Free webinar series in Spanish.
Calving Workshop
August 6, 2024 : Calving Workshop
Herkimer, NY
English / Spanish program. Limited to 8 English speaking & 8 Spanish speaking participants. Lunch included.
Announcements
Document and Share Storm Damage
Mother nature has really been difficult over the last few days. Significant damage has been seen throughout NYS. Please let us know what types of damage your farm may have sustained during this time. This could be in the form of property damage, lost power, milk dump due to lost power, loss of livestock, loss of stored feed or growing crops.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. The CNYDLFC Team will continue to collect detail and submit to NYSDAM and the EDEN network.
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.
- Chenango: 607-334-5841
- Fulton/Montgomery: 518-853-2135
- Herkimer: 315-866-7920
- Madison: 315-684-3001
- Otsego: 607-547-2536
- Schoharie: 518-234-4303
- Saratoga: 518-885-8995
- Nicole Tommell: 315-861-6001
- Erik Smith: 315-219-7786
- Daniela Gonzalez: 315-749-3486
- Ashley McFarland- 315-604-2156
Your county USDA/FSA service center.
- Chenango: 607-334-3231
- Fulton/Montgomery: 518-853-4015
- Herkimer: 315-866-2520
- Madison:315-824-9076
- Otsego: 607-547-8131
- Schoharie: 518-295-8600
- Saratoga: 518-692-9940
Your county farm bureau manager
- Region 3: Bailey Coon: 518-937-0566
- Region 5: John Wagner: 315-761-9770
- Region 6: Natally Batiston: 518-937-0269
- Region 7: Todd Heyn: 518-431-9338
Please let us know how we can help you.
Cash Rent and Custom Harvest Survey
To date, there is limited information available about rental rates and fees for crop harvesting. Farms can use this valuable information for their farm business planning to help improve decision making and profitability.Farmers Can Join MeatSuite For Free!
MeatSuite.com is a free resource provided by Cornell University where NY meat farmers can create a farm profile and list their bulk (wholes, halves, quarters) and bundled (i.e. Grilling Bundle) meat products.Why should farmers join?
1. It's free and easy!
2. Connect with more local customers. In the past year the MeatSuite.com farm directory had 8,300 visits from New York consumers. Farm profiles get as many as 25 views per month from potential local customers. We also spotlight MeatSuite farms on social media and bring attention and purchases to farms through highlights and giveaways.
How do I join?
Farmers can visit https://www.meatsuite.com/farmers/ to create a free farm profile. You must list at least one product for your farm's profile to go live. You'll also have access to Cornell's free Meat Price Calculator, a helpful tool for pricing your meat to make a profit.
While you're on MeatSuite, check out the "Creating Consumer-Friendly Bulk Meats" publication on the log-in page. It has tips on how to create bulk meat products that are easier for first-time buyers to say "yes" to.
If you have any questions as you create your farm profile or products, we're here to help! Please email Matt LeRoux at mnl28@cornell.edu.