Commercial farmers and other agricultural producers in Fulton and Montgomery counties will soon have limited services available to them from a new regional Cornell Cooperative Extension initiative.

Thanks to a cost-saving regional partnership, the new initiative will substantially increase the scope and availability of Cooperative Extension commercial agriculture programming in seven counties -- including Fulton and Montgomery.

The Cooperative Extension Capital District Agriculture and Horticulture Team is expected to start work next month. The new team will offer research-based educational services for farmers in areas ranging from new farmer development and farm business management to livestock production.

Because our county funding was cut, farmers in Fulton and Montgomery Counties will not have the same level of service available to producers in nearby counties as originally planned. Despite our funding cuts, we were still able to ensure that our local farmers could take advantage of some of the exciting new opportunities. With severe budget reductions in both counties, partnering for regional programming is the only avenue available to maintain agriculture programs for producers in Fulton and Montgomery Counties.

Counties participating in the new cooperative agreement include Albany, Columbia, Greene, Schenectady and Washington. While funding reductions at this time will not allow the Fulton and Montgomery County agricultural community to be a full partner in the new initiative, farmers and producers from the area will still be allowed to attend programs and other opportunities presented by the new team. However, local farmers will need to travel to attend these opportunities as the new team will not be holding any events in Fulton or Montgomery counties.

We hoped by 2012 Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties has the resources available to become a full partner in the Capital District Agriculture and Horticulture Team thereby allowing local farmers full access to programs.

In the coming months many new programs will start to become available for local farmers and producers. We hope that present and aspiring farmers in Fulton and Montgomery counties take advantage of these opportunities as this regional initiative takes off.

The new agriculture and horticulture team will initially consist of six senior level Cooperative Extension staff members including specialists in the areas of farm business management, new farmer and market development, live stock production and marketing, commercial greenhouse, turf and ornamental production and agronomy.

The development of the new team follows the success of the Capital District Vegetable and Small Fruit Team, which Fulton and Montgomery Counties joined in 2009. That team serves 11 counties with three specialists focusing on commercial production. CCEFM is also a member of the Central New York Dairy and Field Crops Team. While the Cooperative Extension regional teams each have a different focus, the teams will collaborate at times to serve farmers and producers.

Updates concerning the new regional initiative will be posted here on our website as information becomes available.