Birding will be Focus for Cooperative Extension’s Annual Meeting on November 20th

Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties has scheduled its annual meeting and program for Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at the Shirley J. Luck Center at 109 East Main Street in Johnstown, New York.  The event is open to the public.

In addition to the evening’s business meeting, dessert reception, and review of board and committee election results, the program will have a special focus on birding and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s citizen science activities in local environments.  The featured speaker for the evening will be Chris Keefer, a bird enthusiast from Carlisle, New York, who will share a presentation about the “Wonders of Birding” complete with slides of local birds.  Ms. Keefer helped Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties this past summer with the piloting of components of the Nature Detectives curriculum developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Birding has been a lifelong hobby for Chris Keefer who has almost reached a life list goal of 500 birds.  Ms. Keefer wrote a weekly column for twenty years for the Daily Gazette in Schenectady entitled “Birding Trips and Trivia”.  She has taught birding to adults and youth including bird walks and environmental education for organizations and groups like SUNY Cobleskill, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Environmental Clearinghouse of Schenectady, Thacher Nature Center, Huyck Preserve, Victor Emanuel Tours, New York Bluebird Society, Landis Arboretum and Heldeberg Workshop.

Individuals interested in participating in Cooperative Extension’s annual meeting and program are requested to make reservations on or before Monday, November 18, 2013 by calling 673-5525 ext. 113, e-mailing fultonmontgomery@cornell.edu or sending to CCEFM at 50 East Main Street in Canajoharie, NY 13317.  The cost for the evening event is $5.00 per person preferably payable before November 20^th, but also accepted at the door that evening.

Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

These classes are now full and have a lengthy wait-list!  Thank you for all the interest!!!!

With the holidays around the corner the Master Gardeners are planning two holiday classes where the general public can come learn how to make wreaths and kissing balls. All materials will be supplied and participants will leave with the wreaths that they make. The two classes and the details are listed below.

• "Learn to Make a Kissing Ball and Pine Cone Wreath" (Thursday, November 21st) : This class will be held at 6 p.m. at the Shirley J. Luck Senior Citizen Center 109 East Main St. Johnstown. Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners Mary Ann Charon, Joan Eckler  and Bob Farrell will show you how to create your own kissing ball and pine cone wreath during this hands-on workshop. Instructors will demonstrate the techniques and participants will each make an evergreen kissing ball and a pine cone wreath. All  materials will be supplied. Class is limited to 15 participants—Register on or before November 14th.  Must have  at least 5 to hold workshop. Cost is $10 per person payable at registration. To register: Call Cornell Cooperative Extension, 518-673-5525 ext 113.

• " Learn to Make Natural Wreaths" (Tuesday, December 3rd): This class will be held at 6 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Office 50 East Main Street, Lower Level, (United Methodist Church), Canajoharie, NY. Join Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners Mary Ann Charon, Joan Eckler  and Bob Farrell as they show you how to create your own wreaths during this hands-on workshop. Instructors will demonstrate the techniques and participants will each make two wreaths—one pinecone and one balsam . All  materials will be supplied. Class is limited to 15 participants—Register on or before November 26th.  Must have  at least 5 to hold workshop. Cost is $10 per person payable at registration. To register: Call Cornell Cooperative Extension, 518-673-5525 ext 113.

Empowering Women in Agriculture
Annie's Project Designed for Women in Agriculture Starts February 6, 2014

Annie's Project is an introductory agricultural risk management program designed to empower women in managing farm business decision making. The target audience is farm women with a passion for business and an involvement in today's farming industry.

Now in its third year in New York, Annie's Project is a six-week course designed for today's technology based information systems used in agricultural business decision making and will help participants build a network of personal support regionally and statewide.

The program will run for six consecutive Thursdays, February 6 through March 13, 2014, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., which includes a lunch to encourage networking among participants. Sessions will combine lecture, discussion, individual and small group activities, and software training and address risk management in agricultural production, farm business planning, financial statements, recordkeeping, marketing, estate planning and employee relations.

Prepare for Adversity by Storing an Emergency Supply of Food and Water

 Earthquakes, fires, severe storms, and power outages are just some of the potential emergencies we may encounter. Imagine that you have no electricity, no gas, no water and no telephone service. What would happen if you are told to evacuate your home in the next ten minutes? Imagine that all the businesses are closed and you are without any kind of emergency services. What will you do until help arrives?

The 3 day emergency food and water supply is meant to be a quickly accessed, portable source of food and water that can sustain you and your family for several days. It should be stored in one or two containers for quick portability.  The foods chosen should be ready-to-eat without the need for cooking.

The 3 week/ 3 month emergency food and water supply are meant for a disaster where food and water delivery may be interrupted. Hurricane Katrina was a perfect example where the normal delivery of food was interrupted. Build a small supply of food that is part of your normal, daily diet by purchasing a few extra items each week. Expand on this until you reach your goal.  Not all of these foods will be ready-to-eat and plans must be made to store the necessary means to prepare them.

Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties has scheduled its annual meeting and program for Wednesday, November 20, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at the Shirley J. Luck Center at 109 East Main Street in Johnstown, New York.  The event is open to the public.

In addition to the evening’s business meeting, dessert reception, and review of board and committee election results, the program will have a special focus on birding and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s citizen science activities in local environments.  The featured speaker for the evening will be Chris Keefer, a bird enthusiast from Carlisle, New York, who will share a presentation about the “Wonders of Birding” complete with slides of local birds.  Ms. Keefer helped Cornell
Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties this past summer with the piloting of components of the Nature Detectives curriculum developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Birding has been a lifelong hobby for Chris Keefer who has almost reached a life list goal of 500 birds.  Ms. Keefer wrote a weekly column for twenty years for the Daily Gazette in Schenectady entitled “Birding Trips and Trivia”.  She has taught birding to adults and youth including bird walks and environmental education for organizations and groups like SUNY Cobleskill, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Environmental Clearinghouse of Schenectady, Thacher Nature Center, Huyck Preserve, Victor Emanuel Tours, New York Bluebird Society, Landis Arboretum and Heldeberg Workshop.

Individuals interested in participating in Cooperative Extension’s annual meeting and program are requested to make reservations on or before Thursday, November 14, 2013 by calling 673-5525 ext. 113, e-mailing fultonmontgomery@cornell.edu or sending to CCEFM at 50 East Main Street in Canajoharie, NY 13317.  The cost for the evening event is $5.00 per person preferably payable before November 20^th, but also accepted at the door that evening.

National Paper Clover Campaign Continues Support of Fulton/Montgomery 4-H Youth

National 4-H Council recently announced the launch of the fall 2013 4-H Paper Clover Campaign in partnership with Tractor Supply Company (TSC). This event marks the 4th year of collaboration between the organizations on the national
in-store fundraiser, benefiting state and local 4‑H programming in each of the communities where a TSC or Del’s Farm and Feed Supply store is located. 

The fall 2013 4-H Paper Clover Campaign will take place October 9 through October 20, 2013.  Shoppers at the Amsterdam and Gloversville stores will have the opportunity to support 4-H in Fulton and Montgomery Counties by choosing to purchase paper clovers for a $1 or more at checkout. All proceeds raised directly benefit 4-H, with 70 percent of funds being returned to state and local 4-H programs. In just four years, across 48 states, the TSC 4-H Paper Clover Campaign has provided more than $2 million to 4-H across the country.

In Fulton and Montgomery Counties there are two Tractor Supply Stores – one at 4584 State Highway 30 in Amsterdam and one at 27 Arterial Plaza in Gloversville. The 4-H Program in Fulton and Montgomery Counties recently received
a check totaling $1,081 from the Spring 2013 4-H Paper Clover Campaign due to the efforts of the Gloversville and Amsterdam TSC stores.  The Amsterdam store sold a total of $600 in paper clovers and the 4-H Program in Fulton and
Montgomery Counties received $390.  The Gloversville store sold a total of $941 in paper clovers which qualified for the incentive program so the local 4-H program received $691. Click on the link below to view teh entire article.

CCEFM Annual Meeting
Wednesday, November 20, 7:00 p.m.
Shirley J. Luck Senior Citizens Center
109 East Main Street, Johnstown, NY 12095

 Focus on The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and
Its Citizen Science  Activities in Local Environments

7:00 p.m.
    Dessert, Beverages & Networking

7:30 p.m.
    Guest Speaker : TBA
    Election Results for Board & Committee Volunteers
    Comments by Board President & Executive Director

  $5.00 per person
Please R.S.V.P.
by  November 14th
518-673-5525 x 113
fultonmontgomery@cornell.edu

Snap Dragon and Ruby Frost Apples Debut

August 1, 2013 was the historic day for apple growers and apple eaters in New York State when the names of two new apples were revealed.  These two new apples have been in development for over a decade including a year of rigorous consumer testing.  Cornell breeder Susan Brown at the New York State Agricultural Field Station in Geneva, New York developed the apples.

Snap Dragon is a spicy-sweet, crispy apple bred from the Honeycrisp parent.  It will be harvested in late September, but will have a longer storage and shelf life than the Honeycrisp, a quality which will be appreciated by retailers.

RubyFrost is refreshingly juicy and has a sweet-acid balance similar to Granny Smith and Empire apples.  It has beautiful red skin and is harvested later in the season.  This apple has a quality perfect for school lunches because it does not brown when cut.  Cornell researchers have found that children will eat up to 70 percent more apple when it hasn’t turned brown.

USDA Grant to Develop Youth Farm Safety Curriculum

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 25, 2013 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced funding to provide safety training for the more than 2 million youth working in agricultural production.

“Working on the farm or ranch is hard work, and it can also be dangerous,” said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. “By working together, we can be sure that young people in rural America have the opportunity to reap the many benefits of helping out on the farm, while also staying safe. Today’s grant announcement expands our ongoing farm safety partnership and will help further educate and protect young workers who represent the future of American agriculture.”

USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics Ann Bartuska made the announcement at the North American Agricultural Safety Summit in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Bartuska noted “Agriculture is one of the most dangerous industries in the nation, as such, thousands of youth are injured and hundreds are killed every year by hazards found on the farm.” She continued, “As these youth play a vital role in the productivity of American agriculture, USDA has a responsibility to the education and resources needed to train youth in safe farming practices.”

Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties will be hosting three “Grow with 4-H” recruitment nights.  The first session will be held on Monday, September 30 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Cooperative Extension Office, 50 East Main Street in Canajoharie.  The second session will be held on Monday, October 7 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Creative Connections Arts Center, 303 East Main Street in Amsterdam.  The third session will be held on Wednesday, October 23 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Shirley J. Luck Senior Citizen Center, 109 East Main Street in Johnstown.  Youth and adult participants will have the opportunity to plant pillow packs to take home, enjoy light refreshments and learn more about 4-H in Fulton and Montgomery Counties. 

Individuals planning to participate in one of the upcoming “Grow with 4-H” recruitment meetings are asked to pre-register with 4-H staff at Cornell Cooperative Extension by calling at 673-5525, ext. 113 or ext. 114 or e-mailing gad23@cornell.edu or lew9@cornell.edu.

Cornell Cooperative Extension is seeking youth members and adult volunteers to join the local 4-H youth development program and start some new 4-H clubs in the two-county region.  4-H Youth Development Program Leader Linda Wegner and 4-H Extension Educator Bonnie Peck will share information about 4-H membership opportunities for youth whether they be from rural, suburban or urban settings and will have samples of 4-H project materials on hand.  4-H youth members are able to participate in projects that fit their interests.