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Madison County Ag E-Newsletter Released

(Madison County – Dec. 6, 2009)

Upcoming Events

- Meat Processing and Food Certification Program – January & June 2010
- 2010 Fruit & Vegetable Expo.
- 30 Hour Training Course for Pesticide Applicators
- Turfgrass 101

In the News

- Cash Flow Template for a Small Meat Plant
- Cornell University has released its 2010 recommended vegetable varieties for NY
- Sales Using Food Stamps Double at Greenmarkets

Opportunities & Classifieds

- Calling all Organic Tomato Growers!
- 2010 National Women in Agriculture Educators Conference
- Field Grazing Technician position with the Hudson Mohawk RC&D Council
- Office Manager P/T
- Extension Risk Management Education Competitive Grants Program

UPCOMING EVENTS
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Meat Processing and Food Safety Certificate Program

January & June 2010

This intensive hands-on training program is designed to provide the knowledge and skills students require to enter employment in the meat processing industry. Students will be skilled in sanitation, food safety, slaughter, meat cutting and processing. As part of the students’ preparation for the industry, the program consists of specialized training in the accuracy of cutting, knife handling, portion control, merchandising and the utilization of all products. Hands-on training in meat animal slaughter, primal fabrication, retail cutting, value added products (sausage), wrapping and storage of finished product. Safety, sanitation including USDA HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point), customer relations from custom cutting to product pick up and invoicing will be part of this program.

SUNY Cobleskill is the only SUNY school in the state of New York to operate a USDA approved meat processing facility. Operating under the HACCP protocol ensures that the program participants will learn the latest food safety and sanitation guidelines. Cost of program is $2,995. For more information and a brochure visit http://www.cobleskill.edu/conferences/meatpro.asp#.

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2010 Fruit & Vegetable Expo

January 25-27, 2010

Oncenter Convention Center, Syracuse, NY

The 2010 Fruit & Vegetable Expo will be held January 25-27 at the Oncenter Convention Center in Syracuse. You can find information about the Expo on-line at: http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/hort/expo/

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30 Hour Training Course for Pesticide Applicators

Category 3a Turf and Ornamentals and Category 7a Structural & Rodent

9:00 am – 3:00 pm

February 2, 3, 4 and 9, 10, 11, 2010

Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer County, 61 State Street, Troy, NY

This course is offered as part of the training requirements needed for people seeking to become certified as pesticide technicians in category 3a (turf and ornamentals) OR category 7a (structural and rodent) by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). As such, 30 hours of training must be presented to class attendees. For complete requirements, contact the NYSDEC at (518) 357-2234 or visit the website http://psep.cce.cornell.edu/certification.

Topics covered in this training include: Becoming a Certified Pesticide Applicator; History of Pesticide Use; Introduction to Pests; Pesticide Labels; IPM; Pesticide Application and Equipment; Mixing and Filling; the Worker Protection Standard; Calibration; Pesticide Storage and Disposal; Toxicity of Pesticides; Pesticide Safety; Pesticide Information Resources; Category Specific Topics.

Cost is $325.00 per person. Please make checks payable to Cornell Cooperative Extension.

All classes will be held at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County. Class will be held from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm each day. An hour will be allowed for lunch; however, lunch is NOT so bring your own or plan to visit a local eatery (nearby options are limited). Class attendees are encouraged to bring a pen or pencil, notebook, and calculator to class. The deadline for registration is January 26, 2010 or when class is filled.

You must attend every hour of this training to receive credit for taking this course. Registrations are taken on a first come, first served basis until January 26^th or until the class is filled. Attendees may take the pesticide exams at NYSDEC in Schenectady in March or at their own convenience at a later date.

For more information and to register contact: Marcie Vohnoutka at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County, 61 State Street, Troy, NY 12180 (518) 272-4210.

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Turfgrass 101

9:30 am – 3:00 pm

February 23-24, 2010

Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer County, 61 State Street, Troy, NY

Turfgrass 101 will introduce you to some of the basics of growing turfgrass in the Capital District. NYS DEC Credits have been applied for and will be offered pending approval.

The following topics will be discussed:

February 23

· Turfgrass species & varieties

· Turfgrass growth & development

· Soils

· Nutrition & fertilizer

· Turfgrass insects & disease

February 24

· Turfgrass weeds

· Organic management

· Diagnosing Turfgrass Problems

Who should attend?

· Persons new to the turfgrass industry with little or no formal training in turfgrass

· Entrepreneurs who are thinking of starting a turfgrass or grounds-related business

· Those seeking credits in Category 3 for their NYS DEC Pesticide Certification

· People who are planning to expand an existing horticulture business to encompass turfgrass management

Training will pertain to people interested in the following areas: lawn and landscape management, golf course maintenance, athletic field maintenance, school and institutional grounds maintenance, and corporate groups maintenance.

Cost: $25.00 per person per day or $45.00 for one person for the two days. Checks should be made payable to: Cornell Cooperative Extension and mailed to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County, Horticulture Program, 61 State Street, Troy, NY 12180.

Coffee, refreshments and hand-outs are provided as part of the registration fee. Lunch is NOT provided.

For more information contact David Chinery at Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer County – (518) 272-4210 or dhc3@corn

IN THE NEWS
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Cash Flow Template for a Small Meat Plant

Exploring the idea of developing a slaughter and meat processing operation? Use this cash flow template tool, created by Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), to develop your own cash flow model and explore your business options. The template – with cash flow projection and Profit & Loss statement – was designed to test the financial feasibility of establishing a small-scale, low-tech, mixed species slaughterhouse and processing facility.

http://www.extension.org/pages/Meat_Processor_Business_Development#Does_it_pencil_out.3F_Financial_planning_tools

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Cornell University has released its 2010 recommended vegetable varieties for NY

We have just released our list of 2010 recommended vegetable varieties for N.Y. gardeners. Click here. We want your reviews to continue to help create this list so thanks for submitting them via the Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners website. We want the good and the bad!

2009 was an exciting year as many struggled with the challenges of late blight infection. Might you be willing to take our short 7 question on-line survey about disease resistant vegetable varieties? Link to survey.

We hope your survey responses will help us better understand and address educational needs. In the mean time, if you are looking for information about late blight click here.

Happy Thanksgiving! Eat your home grown vegetables.

Please help us out with this disease resistant survey:

http://surveys.cit.cornell.edu/Survey.aspx?s=2bfce5d2bafc4bb19a17d00bdf245b10

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Sales Using Food Stamps Double at Greenmarkets
By JENNIFER 8. LEE
Council on the Environment
of New York City Wooden tokens, in $1 and $5 denominations, are used as food stamps in the city’s Greenmarkets.

Food stamp purchases at the city’s Greenmarkets have more than doubled in the last year, due in large part to publicity campaigns and the addition of more farmers’ markets to the program.

Food stamp sales from July to November, when the stamps are valid at the markets, doubled to $226,469 in 2009 from $100,772 in 2008, according to numbers released by the City Council on Sunday. While that is but a small fraction of the $200 million that New York’s surging food stamp population receives in benefits each month, it can represent a significant portion of business for farmers. In some low-income neighborhoods, food stamps can make up 70 percent to 80 percent of sales at the markets, according to the report. The City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, said, “I would like the goal over my next term to get it to $1 million per year.”

The program now runs in 23 markets, but two alone accounted for more than a third of the total sales. Poe Park Market in the South Bronx accounted for more than $50,000 of the sales, and a market in Washington Heights, at 175th Street and Broadway, represented more than $40,000. Ms. Quinn noted that the Poe Park Market is in a community that severely lacks supermarkets and grocery stores, while the Washington Heights market features Dominican farmers who sell produce that is commonly used in Dominican cooking, attracting a lot of neighborhood residents.

A map of Greenmarkets, including those that accept food stamps, is available from the Council on the Environment of New York City, which runs the Greenmarket program.

New York City’s program is just one of several food stamp programs nationwide. Montana, Iowa and New Jersey all have programs in place to subsidize the cost of the machines or their fees.

On Tuesday, the United States Department of Agriculture will announce a $100,000 grant to the Council to go toward expanding the program by buying more machines, which cost about $800 apiece.

To raise awareness of the program, the city placed advertisements in newspapers and subway stations and on bus routes. They ran in several languages, including Spanish and Chinese. The budget for the advertising and the logistics of the program were provided through discretionary funds from the City Council.

In addition, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which has made a push to get New Yorkers to eat more fruits and vegetables, provided a bonus subsidy of a $2 coupon for every $5 spent on produce.

In 2004, when food stamps made the transition from paper coupons to electronic cards, many farmers’ markets were unable to accept the new currency. Now there are two models for accepting food stamps in New York City farmers’ markets. In one, farmers operate their own wireless electronic machines, while in the other, a central terminal processes the food stamps and distributes $1 and $5 wooden tokens to customers. While the token system reduces the costs of the terminals and its fees, it adds another level of accounting between the market and the farmers.

Over the years, fresh produce options have declined as supermarkets and grocery stores have been driven out by slim margins, restrictive zoning requirements and high rents. A 2008 city study estimated that about three million New Yorkers live in areas severely in need of fresh-food options. To combat that situation, the City Planning Commission unanimously approved zoning and tax incentives in September to promote the development of full-service grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods.

OPPORTUNITIES & CLASSIFIEDS
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Calling all Organic Tomato Growers!

If you grew or tried to grow tomatoes in 2009 and you used organic practices to do it, we want to hear from you about your experience with late blight. NOFA/Mass is researching organic management strategies that Northeast tomato growers – both farmers and gardeners – used in 2009 to mitigate the late blight. The insights collected will be presented at the NOFA/Mass Winter Conference on January 16, 2010, in the Spring 2010 Edition of The Natural Farmer, and on the NOFA/Mass website. By gathering responses from a significant number of growers on their experiences, NOFA/Mass hopes to contribute to our shared understanding of what organic growing practices for tomatoes were actually applied in 2009 and also hopefully shed light on strategies that can be effective in managing the disease. We are seeking response from growers in MA, VT, CT, RI, NY, NJ, ME, NH, and PA. Survey deadline: respond by January 1, 2010 To contribute to the collective knowledge about dealing with one of the most destructive crop diseases that has affected our region in recent memory, please click on the following link and take the survey there: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=7gWicbMRJAK9uhwb_2bBtdxw_3d_3d NOFA/Mass has received a $5,000 grant from Whole Foods Mark et to support the gathering and dissemination of information for this research project. If you have any questions about this survey, contact Ben Grosscup, ben.grosscup@nofamass.org, 413-658-5374.

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2010 National Women in Agriculture Educators Conference

March 24 – 25, 2010
Pre-Conference Seminar – March 23, 2010
Baltimore, Maryland

The goal of this conference is to broaden risk management educational programming for women in agriculture, to encourage new programming efforts, and to strengthen existing programs.

Call for Concurrent Session and Poster Proposals – deadline extended to Jan. 7, 2010

The 2010 National Extension Women in Agriculture Educators Conference will bring together private and public sector educators, crop insurance agents, lenders, and other agricultural professionals who are involved in outreach education, to share ongoing and emerging successful risk management education efforts directed toward women and their families who are involved in production agriculture. Conference participants will learn about educational efforts which assist women producers to effectively manage financial, production, marketing, legal and human resource risks associated with their agribusinesses.

The complete Call for Proposals may be found by going to the following website: http://www.agrisk.umn.edu/wia/Conferences/WIA2010/ and clicking Call for Proposals on the sidebar.

For additional information about the 2010 National Women in Agriculture Educators Conference, please visit the conference website at: http://www.agrisk.umn.edu/wia/Conferences/WIA2010/

Conference registration will begin in December. Additional conference details will be posted as they become available.

**Minimal travel assistance will be available – please contact your regional RME Center for details**

If you have questions, please contact Laurie Wolinski at lgw@udel.edu or 302-831-2538.

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Vacancy Announcement – Field Grazing Technician position with the Hudson Mohawk RC&D Council

Position Title: Field Grazing Technician

Opening Date: November 17, 2009

Closing Date: December 1, 2009

Contact:

Hudson Mohawk Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc., 1024 State Route 66, Ghent, NY 12075

(518) 828-4385 x105 phone

(518) 828-0166 fax

hudsonmohawkrcd@hotmail.com

Projected Location Of Position: Within Albany, Columbia, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, or Schenectady counties; to be determined by successful candidate.

Brief Summary Of Position: A Grazing Technician is needed to assist the Hudson Mohawk Resource Conservation and Development Council Inc., a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization, in working one-on-one with 10 livestock farms to implement planned grazing throughout a six county area (Albany, Columbia, Greene, Schenectady, Montgomery, and Rensselaer). This project is being funded through a grant from the New York Farm Viability Institute. The purpose of the project is to assist farmers who run confined feeding operations or utilize one-paddock continuous grazing methods in transitioning into managed grazing. Applicants should have a minimum one year on-farm experience working with livestock and grazing systems.

Detailed Duties:

· Provide on farm technical assistance to 10 farmers on a bi-weekly basis on establishing or improving their grazing systems.

· These systems include prescribed grazing, livestock watering facilities, fencing, forage management and other practices associated with grazing systems.

· Attend monthly meetings with the project advisory committee (most meetings will be held by conference call but some in-person meetings may be required).

· Identify livestock farms needing assistance.

· Organize and lead pasture discussion groups.

· Communicate managed grazing and pasture management concepts to farmers and help implement recommendations.

· Collect on-farm successes, challenges and baseline data.

· Write quarterly reports to fulfill grant requirements.

Supervision:

Overall administrative supervision to be provided by designated HMRC&D Council Member. Grazing Technician will receive work assignments and day to day guidance from the HMRC&D Coordinator located in Ghent, NY.

Education:

· Applicants should have a minimum one year on-farm experience working with livestock and grazing systems.

· Applicants must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.

Desirable Experience:

· Bachelor’s degree.

· Experience writing NRCS grazing plans.

· Knowledge of Holistic Management principles.

· Livestock handling and fence building experience.

RESPONSIBLE FOR:

· Being and working as a team member.

· Being able to follow directions and work alone with minimum supervision.

· Keeping all confidential information and matters confidential¬

· Maintaining a clean and neat personal appearance and work areas which exhibit a good image.

· Being able to prioritize jobs to be done and to adjust that list when necessary.

· Ability to be a self-starter, display initiative and follow through.

· Being punctual, dependable, and responsible.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

· Valid New York driver’s license

· Requires ability to walk over rocky fields and hills in dry and wet conditions and to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

· Ability to motivate and train livestock producers, colleagues, and others in grazing land management to result in increased adoption and practice of high level forage and grazing lands management using analysis and use of soil, plant, water, and other natural resource data in relation to grazing lands specialty.

· Skill in independently setting priorities, organizing work schedules and initiating action in order to achieve results with a minimum amount of supervision and high level of multi-tasking and building partnerships.

· To use arithmetic, English, grammar and spelling correctly.

· Ability to communicate with co-workers, business contacts, and general public.

· To use tact and be courteous to customers, co-workers, and business contacts.

· Can provide, upon request, excellent recommendations/references.

Training:

Training will be provided in January 2010 and travel will be required and may include an overnight stay.

Anticipated Start Date:

January 1, 2010 or earlier if available.

Benefits:

No benefits are offered with this position. This position is part time and pays $35 an hour up to 825 hours plus expenses and goes from date of hire through December 31, 2010. Additional hours may be available depending on funding.

Employee will undergo 3 month probationary evaluation. Another evaluation will be performed at 6 months, then annually thereafter.

How To Apply:

Please send a cover letter detailing qualifications and experience possessed by the candidate for the position as well as a resume by November 30th, 2009 to:

Hudson Mohawk RC&D Council

hudsonmohawkrcd@hotmail.com

Emailed resumes and cover letters are preferred. If there are questions, please call (518) 828-4385 x105. All applications will be acknowledged.

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OFFICE MANGER P/T

Requires degree & exp in finance, development, grants, fundraising,

5 yrs non-profit admin, staff supervision, Flex hrs, EOE.

Letter of Interest and Resume:

CNY RC&D, 99 N. Broad St, Norwich 13815

or kimberly.totten@ny.usda.gov

Central NY Resource Conservation & Development Project, Inc.

www.cnyrcd.org

“Empowering communities to help themselves”

DRAFT

Job Description

Position: Office Manager

Reports to: Board President & Treasurer

Status: Part Time (up to 8 hours per week)

Minimum Qualifications:

1. Degree in Administration, Finance, Agriculture, Conservation, Education or a related field.

2. Five years experience in non-profit administration at the agency or major program level.

3. Demonstrated competencies in written and verbal communication, interpersonal skills, grant writing and fund raising.

General Position Summary:

The Office Manager has responsibility for providing financial and administrative support in critical areas. Time constraints of the position limit direct operational involvement. Approximate pay rate = $20 / hour (BOE)

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

Responsible for administrative duties for Central NY RC&D. Including:

· Contact funding sources directly for funds on behalf of CNY RC&D*

· File reports with funders**

· Negotiate contracts with funders and/or partners**

· Represent CNY RC&D with accountant & auditor*

· Serve as primary contact for contractors/consultants**

· Update financial procedural manual as needed*

· Financial duties

- Review bills payable**

- Review financial statements

- Provide separation of duties role with bookkeeper

- Review bookkeeper work on behalf of CNY RC&D Board

* = With assistance from the CNY RC&D Treasurer & USDA-NRCS RC&D Coordinator

** = With assistance from the USDA – NRCS RC&D Coordinator

2. Responsible for meeting governmental standards and requirements for accounting and financial reporting.

3. Management of consultants. Day to day operational supervision is provided through a cooperative model that includes guidance from Board Members involved with specific projects, NRCS support staff and if necessary the Office Manager.

4. Support Central NY RC&D Board of Directors and Committees.

5. Work with the Board of Directors, staff and NRCS support staff to secure resources necessary to implement Central NY RC&D mission, goals and objectives.

6. Actively cooperate with other organizations and entities to further the mission and objects of Central NY RC&D.

7. Other related duties deemed necessary by the Executive Board

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Extension Risk Management Education Competitive Grants Program

2010 Request for Applications (RFA) Announcement

The Northeast Center for Risk Management Education, located at the University of Delaware, announces a funding opportunity for educational projects designed to help agricultural producers succeed through targeted risk management strategies. Grant awards will fund 12-month projects conducted between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011. The Pre-Proposal closing date is Tuesday, December 15, 2009.

Eligibility: Applications are sought from qualified public and private groups, organizations, and institutions with a demonstrated capacity to develop and manage educational projects that create risk management results for agricultural producers and their families. All organizations serving agricultural producers, especially those working with the special emphasis audiences identified on page 1 of the RFA, are strongly encouraged to apply. The Northeast Center serves the region which includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

Application Process: The application process consists of two stages, which are each conducted online. The first is a brief Pre-Proposal, followed by a more detailed Full Proposal for those applicants who are invited to proceed to the second stage.

For more information and to view the complete Request for Applications, please go to the link on the Northeast Center’s website (www.necrme.org). Questions or comments regarding the RFA may be directed to Dr. H. Don Tilmon (htilmon@udel.edu 302-831-1325) or Susan Olson (sbolson@udel.edu, 302-831-6540).

Name:
Email:

Madison County Ag E-Newsletter Released

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