Upcoming Events & Opportunities: Wednesday, February 19, 2025
General Contact Information, Administrative Assistants
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
ASL101: Transition to Supervisor
$275 for NYS residents, $325 for out of state residents. Scholarship opportunities available.
Registration due March 12.
Module 1 released March 7
Zoom discussions every Thursday, 11am EST from March 13 - April 17
The course covers a range of crucial topics, including making the transition to supervisor, improving communication, understanding differences, managing conflict, leading a multicultural team, and building strong relationships.
Gestión del desempeño le enseña el entendimiento, las habilidades, las herramientas y la práctica para crear un sistema que mejore el rendimiento y haga que las personas que supervisa se sientan más satisfechas con su trabajo.
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ASL 102: Organizing Work for High Quality Results
$275 for NYS residents, $325 for out of state residents. Scholarship opportunities available.
Registration due March 12.
Module 1 released March 7
Zoom discussions every Thursday, 3pm EST from March 13 - April 17
Learn how to implement a quality management system on your farm, create your own standard operating procedures, and develop processes to streamline work and improve results.
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Liderazgo en Supervision Agricola
Gestión del desempeño le enseña el entendimiento, las habilidades, las herramientas y la práctica para crear un sistema que mejore el rendimiento y haga que las personas que supervisa se sientan más satisfechas con su trabajo.
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30-Hour Pesticide Training Course
$400 per person
March 10 - 13 | 9am - 5pm every day
Online
You must participate in 30 hours of training to sit for the NYDEC exams.
This workforce program will prepare you for the New York State DEC pesticide certification exams. It covers topics related to the safe use and handling of pesticides. The program will include basic pesticide use, handling, and application principles, including laws, safety, the environment, storage, and disposal.
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Save the Date! Calf Behavior and Colostrum Dinner Meeting
Registration opening soon
Wednesday, March 19 | Time TBD
CCE Madison County
Join us for a dinner meeting with Penn State University's Dr. Melissa Cantor to discuss new developments in calf technology and calf behavioral research. Dr. Melissa Cantor is an Assistant Professor in Precision Dairy Technology at Penn State University. She runs an applied research program that investigates new precision technologies and their impacts on all aspects of dairy cattle health and management. Her extension programs focus on "dairy calf success".
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Field Crops & Vegetable IPM Roadshow
$20 per person
2.0 DEC Credits (1a, 10, 21, 23)
2.0 CCA Credits (Pest Mgmt)
Choose from locations in Herkimer, Cooperstown, Morrisville, Norwich, Ballston Spa, Fonda, and Cobleskill
Dates: March 25 - 28 | 2 hour course
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Save the Date! Calf Transition Program
Registration opening soon
Wednesday, March 26 | 10am - 3pm
Location: TBD
Are transition calves a bottleneck in your heifer rearing program? Want to upskill your employees to improve the calf transition period? Join regional dairy specialists and PRO-Dairy for this comprehensive, one-day, hands-on workshop!
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The regional team has just posted a position for Field Support Specialist (Program/Extension Aide II) to help with our fieldwork and programming responsibilities.
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Information about the HPAI Bird Flu is available and includes information on what to expect at the start of an outbreak, how it presents in poultry, guidance for farmworkers, recommendations for dairy producers, and guidance for hunters.
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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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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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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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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
Upcoming Events
Avian Disease and Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza - The Latest Updates and What It Means for Poultry Health
March 18, 2025
Colostrum and Calf-Hood Technology Dinner Meeting
March 19, 2025
Morrisville, NY
Field Crops and Vegetable IPM Roadshow

March 25, 2025 : Field Crops and Vegetable IPM - CCE Herkimer County
Herkimer, NY
2.0 DEC credits (1a, 10, 21, 23)
2.0 CCA Credits (Pest Mgmt)

March 25, 2025 : Field Crops and Vegetable IPM - Farm Credit East, Cooperstown
Cooperstown , NY
2.0 DEC credits (1a, 10, 21, 23)
2.0 CCA Credits (Pest Mgmt)

March 26, 2025 : Field Crops and Vegetable IPM Roadshow - CCE Madison County
Morrisville, NY
2.0 DEC credits (1a, 10, 21, 23)
2.0 CCA Credits (Pest Mgmt)

March 26, 2025 : Field Crops and Vegetable IPM Roadshow - CCE Chenango County
Norwich, NY
2.0 DEC credits (1a, 10, 21, 23)
2.0 CCA Credits (Pest Mgmt)

March 27, 2025 : Field Crops and Vegetable IPM Roadshow - CCE Saratoga 4-H Training Center
Ballston Spa, NY
2.0 DEC credits (1a, 10, 21, 23)
2.0 CCA Credits (Pest Mgmt)

March 28, 2025 : Field Crops and Vegetable IPM Roadshow - CCE Fulton-Montgomery County
Fonda, NY
2.0 DEC credits (1a, 10, 21, 23)
2.0 CCA Credits (Pest Mgmt)

March 28, 2025 : Field Crops and Vegetable IPM Roadshow - CCE Schoharie County
Cobleskill, NY
2.0 DEC credits (1a, 10, 21, 23)
2.0 CCA Credits (Pest Mgmt)
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!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
- 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.