Course Participants learn about large animal safety and management practices at the Morrisville State College Dairy Complex.

(Morrisville, NY – Feb. 2012) Do you know youth who are 14-15 years old who want or do work on a farm? If so this course is for them!

The 2012 Agricultural Safety and Certification Program is scheduled to begin in late February. It is against the law for an employer to hire a person less than 16 years of age to operate farm tractors or machinery. An exception is made for the 14- or 15-year-old who has completed this approved safety course.

Even though family members and those over 16 are not required by law to take the course, it is a good idea for any potential new operator. The objective of this course is to reduce the number of injuries and deaths resulting from farm-related accidents, especially with young people in Madison County.

Those who satisfactorily complete the course will receive the certificate, which allows them to work for hire at age 14 and 15. Employers must request a copy of this certificate from young employees.

You must be 14 in order to take this course for a certificate.

Again this year, a special emphasis will be offered involving lawn mowers and other lawn, yard and garden equipment; information gained in this course is applicable to most home and yard work involving younger machinery operators.

In order to qualify for the certificate, participants must attend scheduled class sessions, complete the workbook provided, pass a written exam and complete the practical driving exam. The 4-H Tractor Safety and Certification Course class fee will be $10 for the manual and printed materials. The fee will be collected at the first session.

This program is a cooperative effort of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County, the Madison County FFA Agricultural Programs and Morrisville State College.

Pre-enrollment is required. Contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County 4-H Program, P.O. Box 1209, Eaton Street, Morrisville, N.Y. 13408 or call (315) 684-3001 to enroll or for more information.

(Madison County, NY – Feb. 5, 2012) Side Hill Farmers, a cooperative of livestock farmers in Madison County, is launching a local-meat-delivery service in Central New York, where CNY residents can go on-line and order packages of the Cooperative’s own beef and pork.  Then, once a month, Side Hill Farmers will deliver the orders to central pick-up locations in communities in the Syracuse region.

Side Hill Farmers has developed a meat CSA to bring their locally-raised meat to Central New York consumers.  Many local-food devotees are familiar with vegetable CSAs (which stand for “Community Supported Agriculture”) wherein consumers buy shares in a farm’s production.

The Side Hill Farmers’ meat CSA is similarly structured, so that consumers buy shares of the Cooperative’s meat production.  Side Hill Farmers’ CSA Coordinator Sue Parker explains that “the meat shares are primarily beef, with pork as an option, all pasture-raised and natural.  We expect to be able to offer pasture-raised chicken in the spring.”  CSA members will also be able to order Madison-County-produced eggs and butter, as well as some other local farm goodies.

Getting meat through the Side Hill Farmers meat CSA is a very simple process.  On the Side Hill Farmers website (www.sidehillfarmers.com), customers select a monthly meat delivery package, pay online via PayPal, select the community they’d like their order delivered to, and then once a month, on a set date, the order is delivered to the hosting pick-up site in the selected community.

The Side Hill Farmers CSA officially launches on Monday Feb. 6; first deliveries will be made the second week of February.  Deliveries will initially be made to five area communities: Skaneateles, Fayetteville, Downtown Syracuse, Hamilton, and Cazenovia.  The meat CSA will soon expand to reach customers in Liverpool/Clay and SU/Westcott.

Five local businesses are partnering with Side Hill Farmers to serve as pick-up site hosts in each of the five communities.  In Fayetteville, CSA members will go to Papa Gallo’s to pick up their order; in Cazenovia, Circa Restaurant; in Downtown Syracuse, Empire Brewing; in Hamilton, the Colgate Inn; and in Skaneateles, the Sherwood Inn.

“These businesses are really supportive of local food, and are making space for our Cooperative and CSA members,” said Parker.

Canastota beef farmer and Side Hill Farmers’ Cooperative member Paul O’Mara says that the Cooperative wants to make a connection to consumers looking for more local, more known, sources of food, particularly meat.

“We’ve formed this Cooperative so that we as farmers can work together to bring our meat directly to the people in our area.  There is no middleman.  The food is going directly from us as farmers to the families who eat it.  Our CSA is for people who care where their meat comes from and how it’s raised, and who want to support the small farmers in their backyard.”

(Brookfield, NY) The Madison County Fairgrounds Board of Directors is busy making plans for the 2012 Fair slated to take place July 12 through 15.

Over the recent long holiday weekend, five members of the Madison County Fair Board traveled to Rochester to attend the 124th annual New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs Convention At the convention it was announced that once again the New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs and New York State Showpeople’s Association are in process of accepting applications for their annual scholarship program, which will award up to ten $1,000 scholarships in 2012.

These scholarship are available to students who are New York state residents, who currently are (or have previously been) active in a fair that is a member of the NYSAAF or the NYSSA and who plan to attend (or already attend) college in pursuit of a degree.

The fair where you have been active or the NYSSA must endorse your application and will submit it for you. Madison County Fair President Jeff Mayne will gladly accept applications at the Beaver Den Diner in Brookfield or mail to Madison County Fair, P.O. Box 114, 1968 Fairgrounds Road, Brookfield, N.Y. 13314.

The deadline for applications is Friday, April 13.

For further information on the scholarship program and application forms, visit nyfairs.org/scholarship.htm; visit us at madisoncountyfairny.com.

(Morrisville, NY- Feb. 2012) A January date has been added to Madison Hall Association’s indoor farmers’ market. Local producers and growers are invited to sell their products on Saturday Feb. 4, March 3 and April 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Market is held at Madison Hall on historic Route 20 in Morrisville. Spaces are 8-by-8 feet size, tables are provided and fee is by donation.

Please contact Duane Button at 684-3402 for additional information.

Refreshments are available for sale.

Proceeds benefit continued restoration of Madison Hall.

Pig City Garden Calendar

By Daniel Marvin

Editor’s Note: This is unexpectedly the final installment of “The Pig City Garden Calendar.” Lt. Col. Daniel Marvin died at home Thursday, Jan. 19.

(Cazenovia, NY – Jan. 2012) My favorite: PURPLE RASPBERRIES! Fruiting season: Summer bearing, late season “royalty.”

The Geneva Experiment Station in Geneva released this variety in 1982. The most popular purple raspberry variety today, Royalty is very productive. The canes are thorny and long. The fruit is large, of high quality and is the sweetest of all the purple raspberries.

Good for fresh eating and excellent for jams and jellies. Royalty can be picked slightly immature as a firm red berry. It eludes spring frost damage, as it is a late-season variety. It has multiple insect resistances, including immunity to raspberry aphid, which should help to extend the productive life of the planting.

Planting Information

1. Spacing: 20 to 24 inches and a recommended eight to 12 inches between rows.

2. Soak in water using Agri-gel one to two hours before planting.

3. Water thoroughly after planting.

4. One to two inches of rainfall or equivalent per week.

Fertilization

1. Before planting, add one-half to three-quarters pound of 10–10–10 per 100 square feet.

2. An additional pound of 10–10–10 per 100 square feet can be applied in July or August and in early spring. Preferred pH: 6.0–6.5.

Weed Control

1. Regular cultivation is necessary during growing season.

2. Roots are shallow – don’t cultivate more than an inch deep.

3. Mulching can help control weeds.

Support

Suggest plants be supported by a T-trellis.

Characteristics

Purple berry color, large berries and best in zones four through eight. Moderately firm, good flavor and freezing quality and winter-hardy.

Plants are available in the spring only and should be planted immediately upon receipt.

Happy gardening!

Daniel Marvin was a retired lieutenant colonel and hobbyist gardener. Messages to his family may be forwarded through madnews@m3pmedia.com.

(Hamilton, NY – Jan. 2012) Hamilton Indoor Farmers Market will take place at Parry’s Store, 100 Utica St. Jan. 28 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. featuring more than 20 vendors selling local produce, meat, baked goods, honey, maple products and crafts.

For more information, call 824-0002.

Pig City Garden Calendar

By Daniel Marvin

As of this posting, we received news that Daniel Marvin has passed away. We send our deepest condolences to the Marvin family. His contributions to the Madison County Courier will be greatly missed. An official obituary will be posted as soon as it’s available.

(Cazenovia, NY – Jan. 2012) The days are getting longer as we chill our way through January with the thought of spring warming our hearts! Seed catalogs are stacking up as we mull over what we want to order and from where.

Of particular importance to those of us who garden in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4 or below and want to get a jump start on next year’s harvest is having the right seed at the right time to meet our needs.

Of course, if we have seeds left over from previous plantings, don’t throw them away, at least not until you’ve given consideration to this: seeds stored in a dry place at temperatures of 40 degrees to 70 degrees in their original packets should be good in your 2012 garden if no older than: six years for lettuce seed, five years for cucumber, endive and muskmelon seeds; four years for beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, Swiss chard, eggplant, kale, pumpkin, radish, squash, tomato, turnip and watermelon seeds; three years for asparagus, lima beans, broccoli, carrot, celery, Chinese cabbage and peas; two years for sweet corn, leeks, okra and pepper seeds.

If you saved your own seeds from favorite vegetables you harvested in 2011 and you dried them thoroughly before placing them in packets or closed containers, what you have should fall into the age categories shown above.

One caution: do not attempt to plant seeds taken from ANY hybrid vegetable plant, as there is no telling what you’ll be growing, and it isn’t worth the risk.

If you think that your seeds may not have been stored under ideal conditions and you don’t want to take a chance of spending valuable time and money planting what may not germinate, test the seeds as follows: fold 10 seeds of each variety you’re testing into a wet white paper towel and place the towel in a clear labeled (what seed and date) plastic bag.

Place the bag in a warm place, such as a sunny window sill and, if the seeds are good, they will have developed tiny sprouts within three to seven days. The number of seeds that sprouted, multiplied by ten, will give you a rough idea of the percentage of the specific seed packet drawn from to test will come to life in your starting shed or garden.

Remember, once you have determined what seeds you need to purchase, make certain that the specific variety of that vegetable can be grown effectively in your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone.

And then pray you did it all right!

Happy gardening!

Daniel Marvin was a retired lieutenant colonel and hobbyist gardener. 

By Laurie Fuess

(Madison County, NY – Jan. 2012) Congratulations to Myron Smith of Munnsville, who was re-elected to represent farmers from Lenox, Lincoln, Oneida, Stockbridge and Sullivan on the County Committee. FSA thanks the producers who voted in this year’s election.

The county committee system works only because of your participation. The committee held its organizational meeting immediately after the election; Smith was elected chairman; Donna Griffin of Cazenovia, vice chairwoman and Charles Blood of Hubbardsville as regular member.

Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments

SURE provides crop disaster assistance payments to eligible producers on farms that have incurred crop revenue losses due to natural disaster during crop year 2010. The program takes into consideration crop losses on all crops grown by a producer nationwide.

SURE provides assistance in an amount equal to 60 percent of the difference between the SURE farm guarantee and total farm revenue.

Signup ends June 1; if you suffered any crop losses in 2010 call (315) 824-9076 ext. 2 for more information.

2011 Commodity Loans Available

If you grew corn, wheat, oats, barley or soybeans in 2011 and still have them stored on your farm, you could be eligible for a marketing assistance loan with us. These loans are a great marketing tool for you.

These are nine-month loans with very low interest rates: 1.125 percent for a loan obtained in January. Loan rates are per bushel: $2.11 for corn, $4.99 for soybeans, $1.35 for oats, $1.73 for barley and $2.54.

Give us a call for more information.

Foreign Buyers Notification

The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Actrequires all foreign owners of U.S. agricultural land to report their holdings to the Secretary of Agriculture. FSA administers this program for USDA.

All individuals who are not U.S. citizens and have purchased or sold agricultural land in the county are required to report the transaction to FSA within 90 days of closing. Failure to submit AFIDA Form FSA-153 could result in civil penalties of up to 25 percent of the fair market value of the property.

County government offices, realtors, attorneys and others involved in real estate transactions are reminded to notify foreign investors of these reporting requirements.

DCP Signup Begins Jan. 23 and Ends June 1

FSA will compute the 2012 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment Program payments using base acres and payment yields established for each farm. Payments on these contracts will be made after Oct. 1. Signup is beginning later this year, and we have almost 600 contracts to enroll in this program, so don’t wait until the last minute; call now for an appointment.

Laurie Fuess is county executive director, USDA Farm Service Agency.

 By Franci Valenzano

(Morrisville, NY – Jan. 2012) Morrisville State College professor Sheila Marshman will give a presentation during the fifty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women being held at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York Feb. 27 to March 9.

Marshman, assistant professor of agricultural business at Morrisville State College and a recognized agricultural advocate, will speak on March 1 during the Women’s Role in Food Security and Sustainable Development: Partnership Between Rural and Urban Women session.

The session will share vital roles women have played in rural and urban communities. Panelists, including farm and urban women, researchers from the United States, Costa Rica, and Japan will also present various innovative and challenging programs during the session.

Drawing on her experiences as a professor and her work in the industry, Marshman’s presentation at the UN will focus on Morrisville State College’s entrepreneurial efforts to encourage and provide experiential learning opportunities to prepare young women to be successful in the global and local food systems.

Marshman, of Oxford was selected to speak at the UN by New York Agri-Women, a state affiliate of the American Agri-Women Association, which advocates and works on issues affecting the agriculture industry. She serves as secretary of the organization.

Born and raised on her family’s farm in Vermont, Marshman’s interests in agriculture and the food system began at an early age. She has traveled to the former Soviet Union, China and Mexico, trips that prompted research and academic and teaching interests in agriculture and the food system, including food safety. She has also written numerous articles based on her research and experiences.

Chair of the Department of Agricultural Business, and Agricultural Science and Dairy Management at Morrisville State College, Marshman started Morrisville Fresh, an LLC operated and managed by agricultural business students.

Through Morrisville Fresh, agricultural business students work closely with the college’s Dairy Incubator and Nelson Farms (food processing facilities) adding value to locally grown commodity based products.  Students have produced their own product line comprised of sauces, dips, aquaponic lettuce, ice cream and cheddar cheese, all made with New York ingredients.  They also market their products on campus, to restaurants, and at area farmers’ markets.

“Through these ventures, students learn valuable business skills while marketing, promoting and educating others about the food system,” Marshman said. “After they graduate, alumni (many of them females) of the program start their own businesses, return to their home farms or seek employment with various agricultural businesses.”

Playing a vital role in curriculum development at Morrisville State College, Marshman was instrumental in establishing the college’s four-year agricultural and business development program which focuses heavily on food, finance and marketing, as well as growth and development of the rural economy.

Although many of the courses she teaches focus on farm financial management and the food system, Marshman’s passion for food and agriculture goes beyond the classroom. During the summer of 2009, she attended the International Agricultural Economics Conference in Beijing China and participated in a food system tour of rural China as an invited guest of the Renmin University of China. The trip prompted much of her advocacy and education for a local food system in the United States.

Marshman resides with her husband, John, on his family’s sixth-generation dairy farm founded in 1856.  The farm has received numerous local, state and national awards for its contributions to agriculture and the food system.

In 2010, Marshman was named Agricultural Advocate of the Year by Commerce Chenango. She received the award based on her knowledge of the industry, commitment to agriculture in Chenango County and her ability to educate and promote agriculture on both a local and global level.

Marshman, who has been at Morrisville State College since 2000, earned an M.B.A. from Le Moyne College and completed post graduate work at Cornell University and the University at Albany. She is currently completing her PhD in management.

Franci Valenzano is a Public Relations Associate at Morrisville State College.

Pig City Garden Calendar

By Daniel Marvin

(Cazenovia, NY – Jan. 2012) Many of us gardeners believe that a garden with a sense of age has more charm than a garden that looks like it didn’t exist last year. Using recycled objects that have that certain “eye” appeal in the garden is a great way to add instant age and visual satisfaction.

It’s also a great way to save money and resources.

Let us in on how you recycle objects in your garden!

Winter composting: In winter when a friend of mine was unable to directly add to my frozen composter, he used those large five gallon plastic cat litter containers, filled them with household peelings, egg shells, etc. When filled, he stored them in a corner of the garage until he could add them to his compost in spring. Containers were ‘borrowed’ from neighbors’ recycle bins who gladly let him have them!

Whitefly alert: If you brought holiday plants into your home, keep an eye out for new insect pests. Whiteflies, in particular, are very fond of poinsettias and will move on to your houseplants. They swarm up in a white cloud when the plant is disturbed. You may also notice the leaves getting sticky.

If you can’t hose them off in the sink, try using a yellow sticky trap.

Happy gardening!

Daniel Marvin is a retired lieutenant colonel and hobbyist gardener. He can be reached at 52Dangerous@windstream.net.