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Madison County Agriculture’s Weekly E-Newsletter

November 19, 2009

Newsletter Includes:

Upcoming Events

- 2010 Becker Forum
- Money-Saving Workshops Come to Madison County

In the News

- Farmers’ Market a Success
- Madison County calls on state to collect unpaid sales tax, help local governments
- Senate Bill Would Require E. Coli Testing of Ground Beef
- U.S. Senator Gillibrand urges federal support for Syracuse-based New York Farm Viability Institute
- Governor Paterson Unveils Comprehensive Guide For Small Business Owners And Entrepreneurs
- Economic Research Service Releases Organic Dairy Report

Opportunities & Classifieds

- Winter Online Agricultural Business Courses
- Extension Risk Management Education Competitive Grants Program
- Farmers Who Have Straw to Sell, Possible Market
- 75 NOFA Scholarships to Beginning Farmers
- Corn Screenings Available

UPCOMING EVENTS
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The 2010 Becker Forum

Immigration: Public Perception and Reality

Holiday Inn – Liverpool, NY

January 25, 2010

8-4:30 pm

To register: www.nysvga.org

315-687-5734

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Money-Saving Workshops
Come to Madison County

Household and personal finance, credit and debt management, and energy conservation will be the topics of a 3-part program presented at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County. The program will take place on Wednesday, December 9^th, 2009 beginning at 9 AM in Cooperative Extension’s Ag Center, 100 Eaton Street in Morrisville.

The first session, “Making Ends Meet,” will present techniques and tools that help people improve their financial situation. The program will outline community resources and guide participants on establish family financial goals. FREE money management tools will be provided.

The second workshop, “”Exploring Credit/Debt Management Issues” begins at 11 AM and will examine actual credit reports and discuss ways to improve your FICO score.
“Save Energy, Save Dollars,” the final workshop, begins at 2 PM. Participants will look for ways to reduce fuel, electric, and water use in their homes. Everyone will receive FREE Energy-saving items valued at $40. Refreshments will be served.

These workshops will be presented by Opportunities for Chenango in cooperation with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County. Call toll free 1- 866-456-3051 x121 to register in advance.

IN THE NEWS
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Farmers’ Market a Success

Ag economic specialist seeks help for next season

By Margo Frink

(Hamilton – Nov. 10, 2009) This season was the first to offer shoppers EBT/Credit Card machines as payment options at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market. And according to Madison County Agriculture Economic Specialist Becca Jablonski, it was successful.

Jablonski provided the Hamilton Village Board, at its monthly meeting, an overview of the market and asked for some help with next year’s market.

“When EBT/ Credit Card machines are used at markets, sales generally go up the second and third year,” Jablonski said. “This passed my expectations.”

Jablonski said the Hamilton market took in $10,000 with the machine, $3, 000 EBT and $7,000 in credit card sales.

Thirty-two vendors signed up for the market. The credit card machine helped boost sales for meat vendors and produce vendors saw increases from EBT use. She said she received a lot of positive feedback but there are things that can be improved upon.

Madison County’s Cornell Cooperative Extension offered “a lot” of in kind work, she said. And they are willing to do it again next year. Jablonski said she also wants to stay involved in the market but said it was a lot of work making sure someone was there every week. She said she paid people a few times from her budget to go.

Jablonski suggested that the village help her solicit funding from local banks to raise $1,500 to pay someone to staff the market for five hours every Saturday the market is open. She said volunteers will not be an option next year; she has already tried that route.

“You want us to solve the problems?” asked Trustee Carl Albrecht.

“I need help solving the problem,” Jablonski said. “I feel the EBT/CC machine is an important option of offer customers. I’ve donated my Saturdays. I’m not dumping it on anyone. If we went to a few banks together we can get $500 from a few.”

Clerk/Treasurer Ronda Winn agreed that the market is a lot of work and said the village doesn’t have time to work it.

Jablonski suggested that when the survey to vendors is mailed out, that each is asked if they would be willing to pay a little money to help support the program.

Mayor Susanna McVaugh said next year will mark the 35^th year of the farmers’ market and it’s important to promote that. She said she would be more than happy to write a letter of support.

Jablonski was also looking for a place within the village to store tents and chair used at the market.

Margo Frink is an Editor for the Madison County Courier. She can be reached at Margo@m3pmedia.com.

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U.S. SENATOR GILLIBRAND URGES FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR SYRACUSE-BASED NEW YORK FARM VIABILITY INSTITUTE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Contact: Bethany Lesser (202) 224-3873

TO HELP FAMRERS GROW DURING ECONOMIC RECESSION, GILLIBRAND URGES FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR SYRACUSE-BASED NEW YORK FARM VIABILITY INSTITUTE

During Economic Downturn, Funding For The Institute At Risk When Farmers Need Services The Most

Gillibrand Is First New York Senator In Nearly 40 Years To Serve On Senate Agriculture Committee

Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to include the New York Farm Viability Institute in their Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative. The Institute was created as one of the original Agriculture Innovation Centers within the 2002 Farm Bill. Out of the 10 states funded in this program, only New York and Minnesota continue to have fully functioning innovation centers. However, since 2005, the Institute has not received federal dollars. During this economic downturn, funding for the Institute is at risk at a time when farmers need its services the most. Inclusion of the Institute in the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative would provide crucial support to programs that benefit underprivileged farmers, increase research and education capabilities that maximize farm profits and provide economic models for other farms.

New Yorks farmers are a critical part of our economy and we must ensure their success, Senator Gillibrand said. In this economic crisis, we cant afford to let our family farms be pushed any farther to the brink. If were going to rebuild this economy, we need to keep families on their farms. The New York Farm Viability Institute helps farms increase profits and provide models for other farms. It is critical that they be included in the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative.

The New York Farm Viability Institute shares Senator Gillibrand’s interest in expanding USDA programs and outreach to better connect consumers with farmers through the Know your Farmer, Know your Food initiative, said Tom Sleight, Executive Director of the New York Farm Viability Institute. Expanding interest in fresh, locally produced food is creating new and exciting opportunities and marketing channels for farmers. An essential part of USDAs campaign is empowering farmers to develop new enterprises and products to reconnect with consumers. The New York Farm Viability Institute has been doing this and much more. By instituting creative new production and management strategies, the Institute has become a vital link to helping farmers stay competitive and meet ever-changing consumer needs.

Located in Syracuse, the New York Farm Viability Institute is a farmer-led nonprofit group that works with farms to foster a vibrant agriculture business sector in New York State. They help farmers expand their businesses by providing support through applied research, outreach education, information transfer, adoption of technology, business planning and market analysis.
In her letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Senator Gillibrand wrote, The Institutes work fits perfectly within the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiatives central mission of creating new economic opportunities by connecting consumers with local producers. Investing millions of dollars over the years, the Institute has started and supported farm-based projects that boost farm sales and profits by increasing consumer demand for New York farm products and by strengthening the farmers positions in local, national and global agricultural markets. The Institutes priorities are clearly in line with the Initiatives goals, making it a logical program to be funded by Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food.

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Governor Paterson Unveils Comprehensive Guide For Small Business Owners And Entrepreneurs

The Governor’s Small Business Task Force has created this Guide to assist entrepreneurs in starting new businesses and to provide current small businesses with invaluable information and resources. Julie Suarez, New York Farm Bureau’s Director of Public Policy, serves as a representative for farmers on the Governor’s Task Force and was instrumental in supporting the development of this resource and ensuring that agricultural issues were included.

The Guide is divided into the following categories: Information Resources; Technical Assistance; Funding Incentives; Industry-Specific Programs; Workforce Recruitment, Development and Benefits; Government Contracting and Market Expansion; and Mandated State Filings. While the Guide was created for all small businesses, there is specific information regarding farm credit bureaus, the Farmers Market Grant Program, the Agricultural Workforce Certification Program (AWCP) and mandated state filings regarding farm workers.

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Economic Research Service Releases Organic Dairy Report

USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) has released a report, Characteristics, Costs, and Issues for Organic Dairy Farming (http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR82/ERR82.pdf) (PDF/1.2MB). This report addresses size, regional differences, and pasture use in organic milk production. Economic forces have pressured organic dairies to operate more like their conventional counterparts and take advantage of economies of size.

OPPORTUNITIES & CLASSIFIEDS
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Winter Online Agricultural Business Courses

The Agricultural Business program at Morrisville State College is offering several online courses over the winter break. Our winter session begins December 21^st and ends January 15^th. The following courses are being offered:

AGBS 100 Agricultural Economics: 3 credits

AGBS 200 Marketing of Agricultural Products: 3 credits

AGBS 240 Farm Management and Finance: 3 credits

For additional information on these courses please contact either myself at marshmsa@morrisville.edu or Prof. Xu Cathy at xup@morrisville.edu

Our phone number is 315-684-6106.

To register for one (or more) of these courses please call our Registrars office at:

Office of the Registrar
Whipple Administration Bldg., 3rd Floor
Morrisville State College
Morrisville, NY 13408

Location: Whipple Administration Building
Phone: 315-684-6066 315-684-6066
Fax: 315-684-6421

Email: registrar@morrisville.edu

Thank you,

Sheila Marshman

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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).

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Farmers Who Have Straw to Sell, Possible Market

Farmers who have straw to sell may wish to contact Laurie Quencer at (315) 639-4945 or email her at horsegraced@aim.com. Laurie is working with a company purchasing straw for racetracks in southern NYS and elsewhere. They are interested in a semi – truck of straw a week.

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Good Day,
I wanted to add one other exciting piece about our conference this year. As part of NOFA-NY’s partnership with Cornell Small Farm Programs on our USDA Beginning Farmer grant we are able to offer 75 scholarships to Beginning Farmers (Beginning Farmer as defined by the USDA as someone who has started farming within the last 10 years).
Please let your colleagues and constituents know about this opportunity. I have attached a Scholarship Application to this email. The application can also be downloaded from the Conference Homepage of our website: http://www.events.org/nofany-conference/cpage.aspx?e=21411

Thanks!
Greg

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Corn screenings – about 1-1.5 ton a day – high moisture content – available for $70/ton. Contact Terry if you are interested: 315-723-9763
Good to feed beef, sheep, hogs, and chickens

Madison County Agriculture E-Newsletter is brought to you by:

Madison County’s Agricultural Economic Development Program
315-697-9817

Madison County’s Soil and Water Conservation District
315-824-9849

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County
315-684-3001

Madison County Agriculture’s Weekly E-Newsletter

Farmers’ Market a Success

M3P Media LLC © 2009