Cornell Organic Field Crops Conference

$40 per person | Includes coffee, lunch, and happy hour!

Thursday, February 6 | 9am - 5:30pm

Jordan Hall, Cornell AgriTech, Geneva, NY

This inaugural meeting seeks to bring together organic field crop farmers, service providers and researchers from the Northeast region and beyond to share knowledge on a diversity of topics relevant to our vibrant and growing organic crop farming community.

Topics covered include: 

• Reducing Tillage and Soil Health
• Pest Management
• Diversifying your Crop Rotation Profitably
• Transition to Organic
• Cornell Organic Research Briefs

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Ag Solutions & Networking Expo

Tuesday, February 18 | 9:30am - 3pm

Prentice Hall

SUNY Cobleskill

Join us for a day of networking and collaboration tailored to farmers, rural landowners, and aspiring agriculturalists.  The event is designed to focus on the topics that matter more to the agricultural community in our region.

Registration due February 11.

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Dairy Producer Survey

In partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension and Oneida County, Mohawk Valley EDGE is seeking input from regional dairy farmers to understand the potential for new dairy processing solutions for the county's dairy farmers. The project aims to support the region's valuable dairy industry and dairy farmers to ensure their long-term viability.

We are especially interested in reaching dairy farmers in Fulton, Herkimer, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego counties.

Please note that all data received in survey responses will be kept anonymous and only used to plan and assess the value of new dairy processing for this study. Individual data will not be shared or published.

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Opportunity for Organic Dairies

Participate in this USDA multi-state project and receive a free evaluation of your milking equipment and parlor routine, a bacteriology test of your bulk tank, and a $100 Amazon gift card.

Contact Daniela for more information and to sign up at 315-749-3486 or DG647@cornell.edu

What will you get? 

• Bacteriology results from your bulk tank on 2 occasions.
• Milking equipment check
• Parlor timing and hygiene evaluation
• A report summarizing your farm's specific mastitis risk factors and a follow up report.
• $100 online Amazon gift card as a token of thanks for the time dedicated to the project.

What will participating farms be asked to do?

Participating farms will be interviewed over the phone/web conference to complete a milk quality survey, and then we will spend 1/2 at the dairy conducting the evaluation including during one of their milking shifts. We will return for a second evaluation ~ 1/2 year later. We will be taking extra precautions from a biosecurity standpoint.

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Microenterprise Grant Program - Herkimer County

To fill a void in helping micro existing companies or start-up companies by providing funding for fixtures, equipment, machinery, and furniture, while at the same time amplifying efforts to increase job opportunities for low-to-moderate income.  Click here for more information.

$5,000 - $35,000: Must result in either the creation of at least one new job for individuals of low-to-moderate income, or company owner must be of low-to-moderate income.

Criteria: Involved in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, agriculture, high technology, research and development and traditional and innovative small business endeavors.  Must be located within the County of Herkimer as Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Limited Liability, or Corporation.

Commercial enterprises that have 5 or fewer full-time employees, one or more of which owns the enterprise at the time of the application.  Must complete approved entrepreneurial assistance or small business-training program.

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USDA Launches Assistance Network to Support Financially Distressed Farmers and Ranchers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the launch of the Distressed Borrowers Assistance Network, an initiative designed to provide personalized support to financially distressed farmers and ranchers across the nation. Through a series of Cooperative Agreements, this national network will connect distressed borrowers with individualized assistance to help them stabilize and regain financial footing

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List on 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

How do I join?

Farmers can click here 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.

If you have any questions as you create your farm profile or products, please email Matt LeRoux at mnl28@cornell.edu

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NYSERDA's Agriculture Programs

Three programs :

• Agriculture Energy Audit Program (AEAP): This program offers NY state farmers no-cost energy audits to help identify energy efficiency opportunities on their farm.
• REAP Technical Assistance Program (RTAP): This program has been designed to assist farmers at no-cost to make applications to the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).  If awarded, farmers can receive up to 50% of the total project cost.
• Energy Best Practices for Agriculture: The best practices have been developed to help educate producers with energy-efficient technologies, how they function, the average cost, and the average payback in years.

To learn more about these programs and eligibility, click here.

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Video: Endangered Species Act and Pesticides: An Example

Bill Chism, chair of the Endangered Species Act Committee of the Weed Science Society of America (WSSA)'s acclaimed March 20, 2024 webinar on how pesticide labels may change to protect endangered species is now available on NYSIPM's YouTube channel. 

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Video: Quebec Farmer Panel on Life After Neonics

Four years ago, neonicotinoid seed treatments were banned in Quebec (the provisions in NY's Birds and Bees Act are similar to this law).

Recently, UVM extension hosted a Quebec Farmer Panel on Transitioning Away From Neonic Treated Seeds.

The discussion was recorded and can be viewed for free and unedited.

Opinion article can be found here by Louis Robert.

NY Farm Bureau's statement on NY's Birds and Bees Act.

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NY FarmNet E-newsletter

Click here to sign up at the bottom of their webpage.

The Farm Hand e-newsletter is the newest monthly resource from NY FarmNet.  Each month they will bring readers information, resources, and news about how NY FarmNet supports agriculture across NYS.

NY FarmNet's free, confidential services are available to all farmers, farm families, and agribusinesses operating in New York State, regardless of size or type.  They help farmers with a variety of personal and financial issues - 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  NY FarmNet can be contacted at 1-800-547-3276 or by email at nyfarmnet@cornell.edu