Heer Patel

Heer Patel

Program Aide

CCE Herkimer County
5657 State Route 5
Herkimer, NY 13350



Heer PatelMy name is Heer Patel. I was born & raised in India, and grew up in Pennsylvania. I studied Agricultural Sciences at Penn State University where I attained a Bachelor of Science with minors in Soils and International Ag. My passion for sustainable farming and soil health grew from a young curiosity about where my food comes from. This led me to diverse experiences, including studying the Himalayan environment in Bhutan in 2022, where I gained valuable insights into sustainable agricultural practices and soil management in a global context. While with the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, I contributed to the Soil Health Benchmark study where I coordinated sampling efforts and gained deeper knowledge in scientific research. As an undergraduate, I also collaborated with professors and grad students on the development of a Nitrogen decision-making tool, gaining hands-on experience in research field management. In my free time, I enjoy helping out at Patchwork, a small organic produce & vegetable farm in Central PA.

I'm excited to contribute to the team's ongoing efforts, particularly the neonic project, which I'm eager to dive into. Having participated in conferences like the 2022 Tri-Society Conference and the Women for the Land Learning Circle, I gained valuable networking experience and further strengthened my commitment to addressing agricultural and sustainability challenges. I am passionate about using science & collaboration to address key agricultural challenges, and excited to continue learning and growing with the team at CNYDLFC.


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Dairy

Dairy

Livestock

Livestock

Forages

Forages

Grains

Grains

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Upcoming Events

If I'm Not Here Tomorrow: Estate Planning for Young Farm Families with Children

November 5, 2025

Free webinar

Dairy Systems and Technology Showcase - Farm Tours

November 6, 2025 : Farm Tour - Creek Acres Farm
Amsterdam, NY

Free event, but registration required.  Brand new freestall barn.  All attendees must wear clean clothes and boots, and scrub and disinfect footwear upon arrival and before leaving. 


November 6, 2025 : Farm Tour - Glenvue Dairy Farm
Fultonville, NY

Free event, but registration required.  Under construction 10 robot farm.  All attendees must wear clean clothes and boots, and scrub and disinfect footwear upon arrival and before leaving. 


November 7, 2025 : Farm Tour - Indian Camp Farm & Dairy
Earlville, NY

Free event, but registration required.  Four robot barn and new manure aeriation system.  All attendees must wear clean clothes and boots, and scrub and disinfect footwear upon arrival and before leaving. 

Seleccion y organizacion del personal (Staffing and Organizing Your Team, Taught in Spanish)

November 12, 2025

Course begins Wednesday, November 12.  Live Zoom discussions: Tuesdays, Noon - 1PM EST beginning November 18 through December 23.

Announcements

Sign Up for Our Weekly E-Newsletter

We send out a bi-weekly e-newsletter that has announcements, upcoming programs, and opportunities for you!  Registration is quick, easy, and free.  Click here to sign up today!

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.


Spotted Lanternfly

Lycorma delicatula, or Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), is an invasive plant hopper from Asia and is an agricultural pest. In the United States, it was first found in Pennsylvania in 2014. Spotted Lanternfly has been found in New York State on Staten Island, all New York City boroughs, Long Island, Port Jervis, Sloatsburg, Orangeburg, Ithaca, Binghamton, Middletown, Newburgh, Highland, and the Buffalo area. SLF threatens the agriculture and forestry industries, and is also a nuisance pest. The nymphs and adults feed on over 70 different plants, but is especially detrimental to grapes, a black walnut, hops, maple trees and apples. New York State Ag and Markets supported CCE efforts to help bring awareness to communities and we developed this Public Service Announcement and would appreciate you sharing it with your member lists. 



CCE Livestock Program Work Team

See the Livestock Program Work Team website for news, upcoming programs, and NYS Slaughterhouse Map.