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Madison County Agriculture’s Weekly E-Newsletter – Oct. 21

Newsletter Includes:

Upcoming Events

October 23, 2009: Pasture Walk at Bruce Rivington’s Farm in Earlville, NY

Beginning Women Farmers & Whole Farm Planning

October 24th, 2009: annual surplus stock sale at Bruce Rivington’s

October 24th, 2009: 4th Annual Empire Heifer Development Program Bred Heifer Sale

October/November 2009: Grants: Opportunities, Myths and Realities

October – January: Berry Webinar Series

October 24, 2009: NUTS, A Healthy Food For Now And For The Future

October 25, 2009: Local Meats Fair

October 28, 2009: New York State Crop Insurance Conference

October 28-30, 2009: Three Day Value Added Dairy/Cheesemaking Workshop

October 27, 2009: 2009 Field Crop Dealer Meetings

November 3, 2009: Marketing Your Product for Profit Course

November 17-18, 2009 NYSERDA’s 9th Annual Innovations in Agriculture Conference

Workshop of Starting a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Farm

November 18, 2009: Stretching Your Herbicide Dollar: Adjuvants and Reduced Rates

In the News

Farm Bureau Aims to Kill Climate Bill

Dairy Farms Facing or Having Experienced Utility Disconnect are Urged to Call Organizations Below

Commissioner Announces $1 million for NY Specialty Crops: CONGRATULATIONS TO MIKE JOHNSTON of Madison County for being one of the grant recipients

NY Apples to be Offered at 12 NYS Thruway Stores HMS Host Operated Travel Plazas

Assemblyman Al Stirpe working to expand the Chenango-Madison Bounty program into Onondaga County

Opportunities & Classifieds

Eating Fresh is looking for grass-fed meat donations to test recipes for their new Grassfed Cookbook Series

NOFA NY Hiring an Education and Outreach Coordinator

National Service Agency Announces 2010 AmeriCorps Grant Opportunity

Nominate Farmers and Leaders for ‘Growing Green Award’

Annie’s Homegrown Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship

Slow food USA is current hiring for a Special Assistant to the President in our Brooklyn, NY based office

Meat Processing and Food Safety Certificate Program at SUNY Cobleskill

UPCOMING EVENTS

************************

Pasture walk: Coming Back to the Barn!

By Michael Gurecki SCA Intern/CNY RC&D/Funded by EPA

Bruce Rivington is hosting a Pasture Walk at his farm on October 23, 2009 from 1pm to 3:30 pm. The farm is located just south of the town of Hamilton on Route 12B.

Bruce moved to this farm in 2000 from Canada, and he has been grazing cattle since 1994. He is milking around 500 crossbred cows seasonally on 650 acres and its time for them to come home for the season.

Karen Hoffman, will talk nutrition for the transitioning cows when they come back to the barn at the end of the season.

This pasture walk will be an opportunity for graziers new and veteran to discuss the nutritional needs of the cattle during this transition. Hope to see you there!

Beginning Women Farmers & Whole Farm Planning

Free Training Opportunity! Have you been farming less than 10 years? Would you like to learn from other women farmers? The USDA has provided funding for Beginning Women Farmers in NY to learn more about whole farm planning in a training program developed specifically for women.

· One-on-One Mentorships

· On-Farm Field Days

· Business Planning Seminars

· Network of Women Farmers

If you are interested in learning more or signing up for this program, please contact Erica Frenay at 607-255-9911 or ejf5@cornell.edu by October 30th

Want to be a farmer mentor? Please contact Erica to volunteer.

Classes will be scheduled throughout the 2009/2010 winter with farm visits during the spring and fall of 2010. Topics include:

1. Introduction for Whole Farm Program; Creating a Values-based Farm Mission; Whole Farm Decision Analysis Process

2. Increasing Farm Profitability (Gross Profit Analysis; Enterprise Analysis)

3. Creating a Whole Farm Financial Plan

4. Business Planning Basics

5. Creating a Marketing Plan

6. Soil Fertility Basics; Examining an Enterprise’s Environmental Impact

7. Time Management – Pulling it All Together in a Whole Farm Plan

8. Land and Infrastructure Planning

9. Leadership/Communication Skills

10. Integrating Livestock on your Farm (optional)

This 10-session training program is free for the first 15 women beginning farmers in NY who sign up. Commitment to participate in all sessions (except the final one) is requested. Specific dates have not yet been chosen for this newly-funded project.

Saturday, October 24th, 11am – 5th annual surplus stock sale – approximately 100 cows, 14 bred heifers, and 40 heifer calves, and 3 service bulls – good seasonal grazing genetics – 730 State Route 12B, Hamilton NY 13346, 315-825-5529

4th Annual Empire Heifer Development Program Bred Heifer Sale

October 24, 2009

1:00 pm

Cornell University’s Beef Merchandising class is proud to announce that the 4th Annual Empire Heifer Development Program Bred Heifer Sale will be held on October 24th, 2009 at 1pm. It will take place at the Beef Unit at Cornell’s Teaching & Research facilities (Route 38, 5 miles south of Dryden, NY). This year, there will be twenty lots of Angus, Hereford, Simmental, and Gelbvieh animals, with various crossbreds. Bred heifers, along with a few cow calf pairs will be available at this year’s sale. There will truly be something for everyone, whether you are looking for purebred or commercial, we have it all! We are offering high quality replacement heifers that are perfect for any size herd! Every animal sold is required to have thorough records available on her, so data such as ultrasound and temperament information will be accessible. So come join us on October 24th and support this years sale, there will be lunch available, starting at noon!

For more information go to http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/beef/

Grants: Opportunities, Myths and Realities – October & November

There are several grant opportunities that could help your farming enterprise move in a new direction whether it is to research a new crop variety or market, assess the feasibility of a new enterprise or for adding value to existing farm products, and for energy conservation. Grant deadlines often come up during a farmer’s busy time of year. In order to take advantage of grant opportunities, you need to have your ideas formulated and ready to go when a grant is announced. CCE is hosting meetings in 5 south central NY counties to provide information about grant opportunities and what farmers need to do to write an effective grant. The meetings will help farmers formulate ideas for grants and provide a practice writing opportunity. Please call the respective county for details and registrations.

October 27, 7-9pm, CCE-Tompkins County, Ithaca, 607-272-2292.

November 2, 7-9pm, CCE-Tioga County, Owego, 607-687-4020.

November 4, 7-9pm, CCE-Cortland County, Cortland, 607-753-5077.

November 5, 7-9pm, CCE-Chemung County, Elmira, 607-734-4453.

November 10, 7-9pm, CCE-Schuyler County, Montour Falls, 607-535-7161.

October – January. Berry Webinar Series. All webinars scheduled for 1:00pm. The Cornell University Berry Program continues to host a series of Webinars for Berry farmers. The webinars feature experts from eastern North America Speaking on production and pest management topics and their current related research. Participation is easy; all you need is a high-speed internet connection and a web browser. Connections for each webcast are limited, so register now by contacting Laura McDermott, lgm4@cornell.edu or calling 518-746-2562. For additional program details and other information: http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/Berries/webcastindex.htm. Future Programs include:

Oct. 30 – Strawberry Weed Management

Nov. 4 – Blueberry/Cranberry weed management

Nov. 11 – Blueberry/Cranberry Disease Management

Dec. 2 – Blueberry/Cranberry Production Topics

Dec. 9 – Blueberry/Cranberry Insect Management

Jan. 6 – Bramble Production Topics

NUTS, a healthy food for now and for the future – October 24

On October 24 from 9am-3pm, the New York Nut Growers Association, in cooperation with the New York Botanical Garden, will present a program on:

How to plant and care for nut trees

Using nuts as a nutritional raw food, as an ingredient in delicious recipes, and as a medicinal

Foraging and processing nuts from the wild

The history, present research, and future of the American chestnut

Preparing black walnuts and butternuts for spring planting

The program will take place in the LuEsther T. Mertz Library, 6th floor, Museum Building, on the grounds of the New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY. There will be presentations in the morning; in the afternoon, we will tour the NYBG Herbarium and stratify nuts for the spring. All participants will receive breakfast and a snack, samples of a various nuts to taste and take home, a back issue of the Northern Nut Growers Association Annual Report, and a packet of printed information.

Space is limited, so register in advance; the fee is $20.00 per person. Send a check or money order made out to NYNGA to Rick Monheim, NYNGA Treas., 1023 County Road 6, Phelps, NY 14532 E2 9548. Please include your phone number and e-mail address. For more information about the program, local lodging, or directions, see www.nynga.org or call Jerry Henkin, 914-423-7458.

Local Meats Fair – October 25

Consumers can meet at least 15 livestock producers from across our region, learn about their farms and products, and taste samples prepared by Chef Sean OBrien of Serendipity Catering. There will be presentations on how consumers can process a whole chicken into smaller cuts, recipes for unfamiliar cuts, and other information on buying local meats. Producers of beef (grass-fed and natural grain/grass fed), pork, lamb, goat, chicken, rabbit, turkey and duck will be present, and some meats will be available for sale. Admission is $5/person. So that the caterer may prepare an appropriate amount of samples, please register in advance by calling CCE-Tompkins County at 607-272-2292. For additional information, contact Matthew LeRoux at 607-272-2292 or mnl28@cornell.edu. This event will be held at the Women’s Community Building, 100 West Seneca St., Ithaca, from 2:30-5:30pm.

October 28: New York State Crop Insurance Conference

Dear Friend:

We would like to invite you to attend New York State’s Crop Insurance Conference on Wednesday, October 28, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. at the Carrier Circle Holiday Inn, Syracuse, New York. The conference is designed for agricultural service providers and industry professionals with an interest in crop insurance and risk management.

The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets is committed to providing crop insurance product and risk management information education. The workshop will include an overview of the current economic climate for agriculture in the state with an emphasis on the dairy industry, updates on changes in crop insurance policies, and a summary comparison for risk management and crop insurance products applicable to the dairy industry. It will also include examples of how crop insurance and the SURE disaster program work together by the Farm Service Agency and an introduction to the new risk management training opportunities for producers on managing price and market risk. Attendees will receive an information resource notebook.

Enclosed is a registration form for the conference. Please complete the registration form and return it as directed, by October 20, if you would like to attend. Since lunch is provided, you must register in advance.

We are happy to note that we are able to support the attendance of Cooperative Extension and FarmNet consultants with the assistance of the New York Farm Viability Institute, as well as the support of the USDA Risk Management Agency, with whom we have partnered to provide risk management and crop insurance education for New York producers.

We hope you will join us for this important conference. Please contact Anne St. Cyr at (518) 485-0048 if you need additional information.

Sincerely,

Patrick Hooker

Commissioner

Three-Day Value Added Dairy/Cheesemaking Workshop – October 28-30

CCE-Oswego County is proud to welcome Peter Dixon for a Value Added Dairy/Cheesemaking Workshop. Peter runs a successful dairy consulting business and has been a cheesemaker for over 20 years. This three-day hands-on workshop will give: “Participants the opportunity to learn about milk quality, ingredients used in cheesemaking, processes for making a variety of cheeses, salting and brining, techniques and requirements for aging cheese, and information for establishing a business as a farmstead or artisan cheesemaker that includes equipment, facilities. The heart of the workshop is the hands-on opportunity for participants to make a number of different cheeses themselves, and to learn by actually doing it.” The different cheeses that will be made include: Gouda, Havarti, Baby Swiss, an Alpine variety and Mozzarella.

The workshop will be held 8:30am-5pm each day at the Amboy 4-H Environmental Center in Williamstown, NY. The cost is $75/person (includes instruction fee, teaching materials/workbook and lunch each day). Participants need to bring one gallon of raw or pasteurized milk each day (cow or goat milk) for the actual cheesemaking. Registration is limited on a first-come first-serve basis. Pre-registration with payment is required to hold your space. For more information and to register contact Karen Meyers at 315-963-7286 ext. 201 or Valerie Walthert at 315-963-7286 ext. 203 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/oswego.

For more information about the workshop visit http://thatscooperativeextension.org/ag_dairy_workshop.html

A registration form can be found at http://thatscooperativeextension.org/documents/ag/cheeseform.pdf

2009 Field Crop Dealer Meetings

The 2009 Field Crop Dealer Meetings will be held October 27-October 30. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. with the program underway at 9:50. Registration (including lunch) at the door–no preregistration–will be $35.00. Registration alone will be $20.00.

October 27 – The Century House, 997 New Loudon Rd., Latham, NY—NOTE NEW LOCATION!

Marketing Your Product for Profit Course Starts November 3

Interested in selling farm-raised vegetables, meats, farmstead cheese, jams and jellies or other North Country farm, artisanal, craft or small business products? Then sign up for the Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30-8:30pm, Marketing Your Product for Profit workshops that begin November 3 in Canton, Harrisville, Plattsburgh and Watertown.

Organizers are looking to engage those interested in the lively learning process that includes training and networking on business planning, marketing, e-commerce, and financial skills for existing business owners and entrepreneurs looking to develop a new enterprise. The training involves online, face-to-face and distance learning delivery methods. The cost of the entire series is $50 for materials.

The business development and training series is a partnership effort offered by the SUNY CANTON Small Business Development Center, Region 8 CCE, and Northern Adirondack Trading Cooperative with support from the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, Pathstone Enterprise Center, Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, Northern New York BOCES programs, and USDA Rural Development.

For more information and to register for Marketing Your Product for Profit, contact one of the following:

Molly Ames, CCE-Jefferson County, 315-788-8450, Ext. 241.

Peter Hagar, CCE-Clinton County, 518-561-7450.

Katherine Lang, CCE-St. Lawrence County, 315-379-9192.

Frans Vokey, CCE-Lewis County, 315-376-5270.

Ruby Sprowls, Northern Adirondack Trading Cooperative, 315-386-4000, 877-228-7810.

November 17-18

Hilton Garden Inn Troy, NY

Greater attention to green power production and rising prices in energy, fertilizer, and feed present challenges to New York State’s economic prosperity. The Innovations in Agriculture conference is designed to assist New York farms in integrating energy-efficient and sustainable production methods to profit from new opportunities arising from these challenges.

This year’s conference will greatly expand the scope of energy as it relates to agriculture compared to previous years. Topics include: how future farms will adapt to climate change; agriculture’s role in the development of renewable fuels for heating & transportation; the spectrum of controlled environment agriculture: current research and best practices; energy efficiency opportunities for farms; the current status of the Anaerobic Digester program; and federal and state funding opportunities.

For more information, please visit: http://www.nyserda.org/InnovationsInAgriculture/default.asp

Stone Barns is pleased to announce that registration for the 2009 Young Farmers Conference has gone live! Check out the brochure and register for the conference at our website http://www.stonebarnscenter.org/sb_calendar/eventdetail.aspx?EventID=2663

Conference highlights include:

Over 30 workshops at beginning and intermediate levels covering:

hands-on technical skills

livestock and vegetable farming

policy, community, and advocacy issues as they relate to young farmers

land access business planning and marketing – and much more!Workshops are led by farmers, educators, and advocates from all over the United States.Keynote addresses by Wes Jackson of the Land Institute, and Fred Kirschenmann of Stone Barns Center and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture.

Music, contra dancing, and the opportunity to meet other young and new farmers.

For conference questions, contact Nena Johnson 914 366 6200 x112 / nenaj@stonebarnscenter.org

If you or someone you know might be interested in bringing CSA to your neighborhood, we invite you to attend our Starting a CSA Workshop. We will discuss ideas and information regarding how to start a CSA and answer questions such as, where to find a farmer, where to set up the distribution site, how to recruit members, etc. You could help build your community through CSA!

Each workshop will be similar in content. The dates and location for the Starting a CSA workshops are as follows, with a new workshop date just added:

Day: Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Time: 6:00-7:30

Location: Just Food Conference Room (1155 Ave of the Americas, 3rd Floor)

*Workshop Just Added*

Day: Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Time:11:30am to 1:00 pm

Location: Just Food Conference Room (1155 Ave of the Americas, 3rd Floor)

To RSVP for a workshop, please e-mail Wen-Jay at Wenjay@justfood.org. If you can not make it to one of these workshops but are hoping to start a CSA for next season, please e-mail Paula at Paula@justfood.org. We hope to see you there!

Stretching Your Herbicide Dollar: Adjuvants and Reduced Rates

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

10:45 am – 1: 30pm

Washington County Municipal Complex

Building B, Training Room 2 (This is the correct location, not Annex II)

383 Broadway, Ft. Edward (follow the signs to the downstairs training room 2)

Main Speaker: Dr. Russ Hahn, Cornell University

Herbicide Adjuvants: What do they do and how do you use them?

Update on current herbicide issues

Assemblyman Al Stirpe working to expand the Chenango-Madison Bounty program into Onondaga County

Program aims to increase farmers’ earnings, benefit residents and support the local economy

Assemblyman Al Stirpe (D-North Syracuse) wants to make fresh, locally grown food more readily available in Onondaga County. Stirpe is working to expand the Chenango-Madison Bounty program into Onondaga County. The Bounty program, which was started in Chenango County in 2007 and expanded to Madison County last year, allows Central New Yorkers to buy locally produced foods directly from local farmers and processors.

“Expanding the Chenango-Madison Bounty program into Onondaga County would increase farmers’ profits, strengthen our local economy and provide easy access to affordable, fresh and healthy food to all residents,” Stirpe said. “Farming is the backbone of Central New York. It’s vital that we support local farmers, because if Central New York farms succeed, Central New York succeeds.”

The Bounty program made its first expansion into Onondaga County this past summer with the opening of a delivery site at the East Area YMCA in Fayetteville. Stirpe wants to expand the program into all of Onondaga County to:

· Allow more local farmers to sell directly to consumers;

· Further expand the market for farmers to sell their goods;

· Make fresh, local produce easily available to more consumers; and

· Put the money that Onondaga County residents spend on food back into the local economy.

Stirpe will host two meetings to discuss the effort to expand the Bounty program into Onondaga County. One meeting is directed toward farmers and the other toward residents. However, both meetings are open to anyone who is interested. Also attending the meetings will be representatives from the Bounty program.

Farmers’ meeting:

Tuesday, Oct. 27

Pompey Hill Fire Department

7407 Academy St.

Pompey, NY

6:30 p.m.

Residents’ meeting:

Thursday, Oct. 29

Manlius Village Centre Auditorium

1 Arkie Albanese Ave.

Manlius, NY

6:30 p.m

Phil Metzger, Resource Conservation and Development Project Coordinator with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, helped design the original Bounty program in Chenango County along with the Chenango County Cooperative Extension, the Chenango Agricultural Development Council and local farmers.

“Bounty was started and expanded because we felt that the people of Central New York deserved to enjoy fresh, local foods grown right here in our own rural communities. We saw this as a great way to provide a local marketing opportunity to our farmers and processors,” said Metzger, who now serves on the Chenango-Madison Bounty Advisory Committee. “We look forward to working with Assemblyman Stirpe on exploring an expansion of the Bounty program into Onondaga County.”

The Bounty program was expanded into Madison County in June 2008 under the leadership of Becca Jablonski, Agricultural Economic Development Specialist for Madison County.

“We are very excited that Assemblyman Stirpe is interested in the Bounty project. Chenango-Madison Bounty works with almost ninety farms and processors in Central New York and offers over seven hundred locally grown, high quality, affordable products to individuals throughout the region,” Jablonski said. “It is a fantastic opportunity to maintain the vibrancy of our agricultural economy, at the same time offering healthy, high quality, locally grown food to all citizens throughout Central New York.”

Jean Tyler, Grazing Specialist with Onondaga County Soil and Water, is also working on the Bounty expansion. “When consumers buy locally grown foods, they benefit from high quality, fresh food and the farmer benefits from selling more products,” Tyler said.

“The Bounty program provides a direct link between farmers and consumers,” said Steve Holzbaur, a consultant who helped design the initial Bounty program in Chenango County. “Typical food chains have multiple layers of middlemen increasing the final price of the product. The Bounty program has just one, benefiting the producer and the consumer.”

“Eating locally grown and locally produced food is not only healthy, but it’s also good for the environment and good for the economy. I look forward to hearing input from residents and farmers on this and I’m hoping we’ll be able to successfully expand the Bounty program into Onondaga County,” Stirpe concluded.

To learn more about the Bounty program, visit www.cnybounty.com.

IN THE NEWS

Dairy Farms Facing or Having Experienced Utility Disconnect are Urged to Call Organizations Below

If your farm has experienced, or is facing termination of utility service due to arrears or non-payment of your bill due to the dairy crisis, you are encouraged to contact one of the organizations below. Any of these organizations can possibly assist you in working with the utility company during this difficult period of time. It is possible that you could work with the utility company to avoid making your financial situation, and the health and safety of your family, your employees and your cattle, worse. As with any business you are behind in payments with, early communication can alleviate problems down the road. We also ask that you contact our office and let us know if you are in the situation described above as we try to track the dairy crisis and its impact on our industry and local economy.

Please contact the following organization:

Utility Disconnect Contacts for Farmers

A. Edward Staehr

Communications Director

NY FarmNet and NY FarmLink Programs

413 Warren Hall

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY 14853

Phone (607) 255-4121

Fax (607) 254-7435

October 14, 2009

Farm Bureau Aims to Kill Climate Bill

By Kate Galbraith

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/farm-bureau-targets-cap-and-trade/?hp

The politically influential American Farm Bureau, the self-described “national voice of agriculture,” has outlined a new campaign effort to derail Congressional bills to combat climate change.

In a memo obtained Wednesday by Green Inc. and addressed to state farm bureau directors, the group’s public-relations director, Don Lipton, wrote:

Climate change bills in both the Senate and House will impact our farmers and ranchers, hit America’s consumers and impair the economy of our nation. For farmers and ranchers, it will mean higher fuel and fertilizer costs, which puts us at a competitive disadvantage in international markets with other countries that do not have similar carbon emission restrictions. For the future prosperity of the U.S. economy and American agriculture, climate change legislation must be defeated by Congress.

The authenticity of the memo was confirmed by Cody Lyon, the American Farm Bureau Federation’s director of grassroots and political advocacy.

The campaign’s slogan will be “Don’t CAP Our Future” — a play on the baseball-style caps often worn by farmers. According to the memo, state farm bureaus will get a campaign “starter kit” — including themed stickers — by early next month.

The memo urges members to place a “Don’t CAP Our Future” sticker on a farmer’s cap, sign either the sticker or the cap, and hand-deliver it to a local office of the United States Senate.

“The timing is very beneficial as many state Farm Bureau annual meetings are right around the corner,” the memo says.

Other suggested tactics include: sending messages to Senate offices; an online petition; a large banner and booths at the annual state farm bureau meetings; passing a resolution against the climate bills at state meetings; and writing opinion articles for local papers.

The American Farm Bureau’s position puts it at odds with the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, who has argued that the costs of cap-and-trade to farmers will be outweighed by the benefits — from carbon offset revenues, for example.

The farm bureau has also recently campaigned against the possibility of a “cow tax” on methane emissions, which the Environmental Protection Agency has not proposed to do.

COMMISSIONER ANNOUNCES $1 MILLION FOR NEW YORK SPECIALTY CROPS

Congratulations to Madison County’s Mike Johnston for being a grant winner!!!

11 Projects will Help Fruit, Vegetable, Honey and Christmas Tree Industries in New York New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced $989,664 in grants for 11 projects that will enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in New York State. Funded and approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Specialty Crop Block Grants will help ensure long-term viability of a variety of specialty crops grown in New York State.

Specialty crops are incredibly valuable to the State’s economy, environment and quality of life, the Commissioner said. Each project awarded today addresses a real challenge faced by growers across the State that costs them time and money. These federal funds will allow some of the best and brightest in New York State research new varieties, learn new techniques to control proven pests, and share their newly-acquired information with the rest of the industry so that all can benefit and prosper from these grants. I appreciate the strong support we receive from our members of Congress in securing these funds for New York State growers.

The Specialty Crop Block Grants were available to all non-profits, for-profits, government entities, educational institutions and individuals; however, projects were required to benefit a commodity or the industry as a whole, not just a particular product or provide profit to a single entity. A committee made up of 14 industry representatives with expertise in a wide range of subject areas was assembled to provide technical review and comments for proposals received. As required by USDA, the committee and the Department strongly considered the project’s impact on the industry and ability to achieve measurable results in the review and ranking process.

While eligible projects could have addressed a wide range of issues, the awarded projects primarily focused on specific plant health, pest and productivity challenges a priority expressed by the industry during the public comment period and supported by the committee during the review process.

A total of 92 applications requesting over $9.3 million were received by the Department. The awarded grants, which were competitively chosen, average $90,000 each and do not require matching funds. A list of the awarded projects is attached.

Julie Suarez, Director of Public Policy for New York Farm Bureau, said, As a member of the review committee, I was encouraged by the diversity and breadth of the applications and impressed at the far-reaching impact they will have across the State. It’s critical to the success of the localvore movement and this state’s agricultural industry that we actively promote and market our great New York grown fruits and vegetables, and just as critical that we research better ways to grow these crops in a challenging climate.

In addition to the competitively ranked projects, the Department, based on feedback from the industry and advice by the committee, will be using $86,772 to implement a statewide initiative, encompassing all commodities. With an increased interest to buy local, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, restaurants, schools, institutions and the public are seeking a wide range of New York farm products in varying quantities and geographic locations. The New York Farm and Food Directory project will develop an efficient, interactive, on-line directory of farms and farm products that will enable consumers and commercial buyers to easily search for and identify sources of New York food and agricultural products.

Funding for the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to New York State has increased dramatically in recent years, from approximately $129,000 in 2006 to nearly $1.1 million in 2009. The 2008 Federal Farm Bill provides $55 million in mandatory funding each year to USDA from 2010 through 2012 for this program. Under this scenario, New York will be eligible for a total of approximately $3.6 million over the next three years. As with the 2009 funding, the Department can use up to 10 percent of the funds for administrative and indirect costs.

Specialty crops are defined by USDA as fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops (including floriculture), herbs and spices. A detailed list of commonly recognized specialty crops is provided at http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/scbgp.

New York State produces a wide range of specialty crops that include fruits and vegetables, wine, maple syrup, horticulture and nursery crops. Specialty crops generate $1.34 billion annually in New York and make up one-third of the State’s total agricultural receipts. They also rank high nationally in both production and economic value. For example, New York is the second largest state in the nation for apples, cabbage and maple syrup; third for grapes and cauliflower; and fourth for tart cherries, pear, snap beans and sweet corn.

2009 SPECIALTY CROP BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM RECIPIENTS

Listed in the Order as Ranked through the Competitive Grant Process

$199,750 � Reducing the Impact of Phytophthora Blight on Vegetables in New York (Cornell University): Phytophthora blight is a devastating plant disease that has become a significant threat to New York vegetable growers in recent years. This project will educate growers on how to prevent contamination on their farms as well as how to manage those fields that have the pathogen in order to reduce disease severity. It will also develop plant varieties that have tolerance to Phytophthora blight.

$35,055 � Developing a Strategy to Reduce Fire Blight Infection of Apple Rootstocks (New York State Agricultural Experiment Station): Every year thousands of young apple trees die in New York due to the widespread occurrence of Fire Blight, a destructive and costly bacterial disease. This project will research the role of several key factors influencing the disease in New York�s rootstocks and develop a comprehensive set of industry recommendations to reduce infections.

$39,189 � Improving Forecasting and Management of Strawberry Powdery Mildew (New York State Agricultural Experiment Station): Strawberries are New York�s most valuable fruit crop and powdery mildew, caused by the fungus Podosphaera macularis, is a serious threat to the State�s strawberry production. Based on an investigation of the pathogen, this project will identify powdery mildew sources in New York, identify the critical periods for infection and develop biologically-based disease management recommendations.

$82,251 � Improving the Competitiveness of the Snap Bean Industry in New York through Resistance to Aphid-Transmitted Viruses (New York State Agricultural Experiment Station): Since 2001, yield losses associated with aphid-transmitted viruses have devastated the State�s snap bean industry, which is ranked second nationally. This project will develop snap beans with resistance to aphid-transmitted viruses, thereby reducing losses in production and improving yields and quality.

$82,816 � Increasing Utilization of Integrated Pest Management Tools in the New York State Christmas Tree Industry (New York State Integrated Pest Management Program): Integrated Pest Management (IPM) combines information on pest presence and identification with the available methods of control to determine the most effective, economical, and environmentally appropriate method of managing pests. This project will assist Christmas tree growers in increasing their use of IPM tools by demonstrating successful practices on farms throughout the State and creating a state-wide education plan.

$54,450 � Identifying the Health Benefits of New York Peaches and Apricots (New York State Agricultural Experiment Station): Peaches and apricots are known to contain many proven health benefits, such as polyphenolic compounds, carotenoids and antioxidants; however the specific nutrient contents of fruits produced in New York is not currently available. This project will research and identify those New York State peach and apricot varieties that contain the highest levels of health benefits and develop value-added, shelf-stable products that can be available to consumers year-round.

$189,064 � Testing New Botrytis Leaf Blight Onion Lines & Hybrids to Develop the Best Strategies for Disease Control on Conventional and Organic Farms (Cornell University): Current onion cultivars are susceptible to the pathogen Botrytis squamosa, which causes Botrytis leafblight (BLB). This pathogen is endemic in New York onion fields and significant outbreaks occur yearly. This project will create a coordinated disease control program under New York onion growing conditions using BLB resistant or tolerant onion varieties.

$72,620 � Advancing Adoption of Reduced Tillage Systems in Conventional and Organic Vegetables in New York (Cornell University): New York State vegetable growers have reported reduced productivity and farm profitability due to declining soil health, in part due to conventional tillage practices that compact the soil. This project will promote and support modified Reduced Tillage strategies to enhance soil health, reduce fuel and labor use, build soil resilience to drought and flooding, and reduce field preparation costs (up to 50%).

$57,025 � Demonstration of Northeast-based Honeybee Production & Disease Management

(Johnson�s Honeybee Farm): Commercial beekeeping in New York is currently faced with several significant challenges including the cost of restocking hives each year, the importation of queens from warmer climates that are not adapted to the Northeast, and parasites that lead to disease and substantial production losses. This project will demonstrate a system whereby Northeast beekeepers can produce bees for restocking hives, make mite-resistant bees more available to beekeepers and begin a cooperative program to develop bees more resistant to the latest disease affecting the industry, Nosema caranae.

$90,672 � Reducing Production Costs and Improving Wine Quality through Root Zone Management (Cornell University): New York’s wine and grape industry has shown continued growth and achieved recognition nationally and internationally, but continued improvements to wine quality will expand recognition and sales. Excessive vine growth, the result of rich soils and excessive precipitation, can decrease fruit flavors and aromas, and has been identified as a major challenge in the production of high-quality wine grapes in cool climates. This project will explore a potential cost-effective option for reducing excessive vine growth and develop optimal strategies specifically designed for New York�s climate.

TOTAL AWARDED……………………………………………………………… $902,892

NEW YORK APPLES TO BE OFFERED AT 12 NYS THRUWAY STORESHMS Host Operated Travel Plazas to Provide NY Apples to Thruway Travelers

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today announced that local New York State apples will be offered at the convenience stores located at 12 New York State Thruway plazas across the State.

New York is the second largest apple producing state in the nation and the New York State Thruway travels right through some of our major apple producing regions, such as the Hudson Valley, Commissioner Hooker said. As Thruway travelers are driving past our apple orchards, it only makes sense to offer them a fresh and nutritious, locally grown apple at a rest stop. We are pleased with the working relationship we have established with HMS Host and the continued commitment of the New York State Thruway Authority to support our local farmers.

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets successfully negotiated with HMS Host, the vendor for 12 of the New York State Thruway Authority’s 27 travel plazas, to replace apples produced out of the state with fresh, locally grown New York State apples. HMS Host is now sourcing New York apples from Twin Orchards in New Hartford (Oneida County), George W. Saulpaugh & Son in Germantown (Columbia County) and Devoe’s Orchards in Halfmoon (Saratoga County). They will offer McIntosh, Cortland, Gala, Ginger Gold and Macoun varieties as ready-to-eat single units and in half-bushel totes year-round.

HMS Host’s General Manager for New York Motorway Operations Richard Kinley said, We are excited to be partnering with the Department of Agriculture and Markets and the New York State Thruway Authority in highlighting a great New York State product. Throughout the year, travelers along the Thruway will be able to choose from a wide variety of fresh New York apples. We are happy to support our local growers and proud of the products New York State has to offer.

Jim Allen, President of the New York Apple Association, said, Thruway travelers will now have the opportunity to snack on our delicious local apples on their journey. We are grateful to Commissioner Hooker and HMS Host for coordinating a supply of fresh local fruit for Thruway travel plazas. This will greatly help increase the profile of our apples with consumers and also provide motorists with a quality, healthy snack.

Starting immediately, Thruway travelers will be able to buy New York apples in convenience stores at the following HMS Host operated travel plazas: Ardsley, Sloatsburg, Plattekill, Ulster, New Baltimore, Pattersonville, Iroquois, Indian Castle, Oneida, Chittenango, Junius Ponds and Clifton Springs.

Executive Director of the New York State Thruway Authority Michael R. Fleischer said, As a major transportation artery in New York State, the Thruway is an ideal avenue to offer locally grown produce to motorists. The Authority commends the Department of Agriculture and Markets and HMS Host for its decision to sell New York State apples year-round in the select convenient stores along the Thruway. This initiative is an excellent way to further support New York State farmers and promote local produce.

This initiative builds on the Thruway Authority’s long established commitment to promoting locally grown products and area farms to the millions of motorists who travel the Thruway each year. Currently, there are 12 travel plazas that showcase seasonal farmers’ markets that offer a variety of local produce. More recently, the Thruway Authority partnered with the Department of Agriculture and Markets to promote New York farms by publishing informational booklets on nearly 200 agricultural businesses located along the Thruway. The agri-tourism booklets are available at all 27 Thruway travel plazas, various locations along the Canal corridor and on the Thruway Authority’s website at http://www.nysthruway.gov/travelers/agri-tourism.pdf.

It is currently apple season in New York State, which is the second largest apple producing state in the nation. Currently, there are 42,000 acres of apples grown in New York State. Last year, New York State produced 1.25 billion pounds of apples, which were valued at $255 million. Early estimates indicate an even larger crop this year. For more information on New York apples, visit http://www.nyapplecountry.com/.

OPPORTUNITIES & CLASSIFIEDS

Dear Pasture-based Farmer and Eating Fresh Customer,

Eating Fresh is pleased to announce the development of a new title in the Grassfed Gourmet Cookbook series. As with all of our cookbooks, recipes are rigorously tested to ensure the highest possible quality and the most flavorful results. To that end, and to help keep our costs under control, we are reaching out to our farmer customers to ask for product donations for recipe testing. Farmers who are interested in making a donation can reply to this e-mail (or send a separate note to rickard@eatingfresh.com) and we will reply with a list of meats and cuts that we require for testing. Whatever you can offer is greatly appreciated. Eating Fresh will pay all shipping costs associated with transporting product samples to the author. If your farm happens to be in the Annapolis area, please let us know and we will have the author get in touch to arrange a pick-up. You are also welcome to call us at 609-466-1700. Farmers who make product donations will be formally acknowledged in the book as well as in all promotional materials. In addition, donors will receive 3 free copies of the cookbook upon publication (signed copies are available upon request). As always, all pasture-based farm operations, nonprofit organizations, organizations that support sustainable agriculture, and qualified resellers are entitled to wholesale discount pricing for resale and/or for promotional purposes. The cookbook, which is due for publication next summer, is being authored by Rita Calvert, cooking instructor, writer, restaurateur, and frequent guest expert on Emeril Green’s Planet Green videos. Contributing to the book is Michael Heller, a pasture-based farmer widely known for his work at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Clagett Farm and the Maryland Grazers Network. Thank you so much in advance for your willingness to help! We very much look forward to hearing from you. Warmest regards, Wendy Rickard ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eating Fresh Publications 5 Snowden Rd. P.O. Box 2301 Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 Direct: 609-466-1700 Toll-free order: 877-921-4563 Fax: 610-410-2749 Skype: wrrickard rickard@eatingfresh.com http://www.eatingfresh.com Publishers of fine cookbooks and guides to local, seasonal, and pasture-raised foods, including “The Grassfed Gourmet Cookbook: Healthy Cooking and Good Living with Pasture-Raised Foods” and “The Great News about Grass” (pamphlet)

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR

NORTHEAST ORGANIC FARMING ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK

The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) is the oldest and largest organization in New York devoted to organic and sustainable farming and gardening, and counts over 1100 farms among its 2200 members of farmers, gardeners, and eaters.

We are seeking an Education and Outreach Coordinator to work with the Executive Director and other staff to lead the organization’s farmer, gardener, consumer, and small business educational initiatives including the annual conference, field day series, and general education and outreach.

The position requires a self-starter who has a background in and/or experience in organic farming, event planning experience, and excellent organizational skills. The person must be passionate and knowledgeable about organic farming and gardening and have staff management experience. The Education and Outreach Coordinator is based in the new NOFA-NY office in Rochester, NY and reports to the Executive Director.

Specific Responsibilities

· In coordination with the Executive Director and policy committee, sets annual education and outreach goals, develops strategies, and coordinates initiatives to meet these objectives.

· Coordinates all details for the annual NOFA-NY winter conference for 1,000+ attendees. Organizes over 80 workshops covering 10 interest tracks, coordinates the trade show, manages conference program ad listings, coordinates the silent auction, creates conference ads and manages the publicity, coordinates volunteers, etc. Manages the conference budget and conference staff.

· Coordinates all details for the NOFA-NY field day series across NYS. Organizes over 25 diverse field days in all regions of NYS, and is responsible for expanding the series to be year-round. Coordinates volunteers to help staff field days and manages event publicity.

· Provides some technical assistance to farmers and gardeners through phone and email.

· Manages general organizational education outreach to public. Helps coordinate volunteers to support outreach efforts.

· Works with Assistant Director to create education and outreach materials for the speakers bureau.

· Notifies membership of educational events via the newsletter, e-news, listserves, and website.

· Occasional public speaking.

· In coordination with the Executive Director, hires and trains education and outreach staff and ensures that individual performance goals are met.

· Assists in writing grants to support education and outreach work.

Compensation

Competitive salary, dependent on experience. We offer a full benefits package that includes 100% employer-paid medical insurance and a 403(b) retirement plan.

Qualifications

· Education: Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred.

· Knowledge: Extensive knowledge of organic and sustainable agriculture and the educational needs of farmers and gardeners. Experience: Organic farming, event planning, and working with volunteers.

· Skills: Excellent written and oral communication skills; strong interpersonal, supervisory, planning, and training skills; excellent organizational skills; strong computer skills required; familiarity with database programs helpful, graphic design interest helpful, Spanish language skills helpful.

· Capabilities: High energy and enthusiasm. Ability to work well with a wide range of people, work well under pressure, handle multiple tasks at once, and adapt to changing situations on a daily basis.

· Conditions: Strong interest in and commitment to promoting the goals of NOFA-NY. Some statewide travel required.

How to Apply

Position open until filled. Please send cover letter, resume, three references, and a short writing sample to director@nofany.org by November 6, 2009.

NOFA-NY is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

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Madison County Agriculture’s Weekly E-Newsletter – Oct. 21

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