Cornell Cooperative Extension to Host Adirondack Grazers Cooperative Meeting for Local Producers

Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties is collaborating with the Adirondack (ADK) Grazers Cooperative to introduce the ADK Grazers program to regional beef producers to help meet the growing demand from Saratoga, Albany, and New York City restaurants, butchers, and markets.

An informational meeting will be held this Friday evening, January 10 at 6:00 p.m. at the Education Center, 123 Lake Street in Cooperstown.  Space is limited; registration is required by calling Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties at 607-547-2536. Interested producers may access further information about the ADK Grazers at www.adkgrazers.com. A link to its protocols is included along with testimonials and further background. 

The Adirondack Grazers Cooperative is comprised of beef producers from small to mid-scale family farms in New York and Vermont that naturally raise and finish beef.  The Cooperative is seeking contracts with producers who are able to meet production specifications.  At the meeting will be Board President/beef producer, Dan Stone, and Coordinator/producer, Lisa Randles, who will present the Cooperative’s history, sustainable practices, protocols, purchasing, and distribution strategies. 

Learn also about the Cooperative’s ability to obtain high value pricing for producers as well as the importance of transparency and how its extensive network of truckers and butchers among others has made the ADK Grazers Cooperative a successful enterprise.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties provides equal program and employment opportunities.  Accommodations for persons with special needs may be requested by contacting the Education Center at 607-547-2536 prior to the meeting.

Hay, Balage, and Forage Quality School

Three to choose from:

Mt. Upton:  March 4^th and 11^th

(Bordon Hose Company FD, State Route 8)

Hudson: March 5^th and 12^th

(497 NY 66)

Ballston Spa: March 6^th and 13^th

(50 West High Street)

Learn to better manage your hay crop for quality and value with Cornell Cooperative Extension.  Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a new farmer, this class is for you!  An in-depth two-day school on producing and marketing hay and balage; and feeding forage to beef, sheep, goats, horses, and alpaca to maximize livestock performance.  Pre-register by February 28, 2014.  See attachment below for flier

Cornell Cooperative Extension Holiday Office Hours

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton and Montgomery Counties will be CLOSED to the public December20, 2013-January 3, 2014.

We wish you a Happy Holiday Season and look forward to serving you in the New Year!!

INVITATION TO ATTEND

VEGETABLE FARM PRODUCER MEETING – 2014 SEASON

Friday, January 3, 2014

1:00 PM to 3:30 PM

At

Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie County

173 South Grand Street, Cobleskill, NY

The Corbin Hill Food Project (CHFP) is entering its fifth year of working with farmers primarily in the Mohawk Valley Region. CHFP expects to serve approximately 1,000 Shareholders across four communities - South Bronx, Harlem, Queens and Bedford Styversant (Brooklyn) this coming summer and winter season. CHFP also will be expanding its wholesale operations through its Community Health Partnership program, again providing produce over the summer and winter months. We invite you to attend the vegetable farm producer briefing to learn about our mission and operations and decide if you would be interested in participating as a vegetable producer for the coming season. Our invitation is extended to other producers beyond vegetable producers since we have expanded our shares to now include specialty add-on items ranging from cheeses to honey to maple syrup and lamb. We are also interested in discussing with producers additional add-value items that CHFP may consider adding to its produce list.

CCE ENYCHP is proposing a project to New York State Energy Research and Development Authority ( NYSERDA) focusing on innovations to maximize energy efficiency and quality of transplant production. One of the projects that would be developed is energy efficient growth/germination chambers  that would be relatively easy for a variety of growers to adopt.   If you are a grower who germinates seeds or propagates plants, we need your input to develop a compelling proposal to NYSERDA.  Would you please respond this very quick survey? Our deadline is just around the corner so it would be much appreciated if you could fill out this survey as soon as possible.

Go to this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YKBF9JL

Stump Culture photo from Canadian Xmas Tree Assoc (click for website)

Many gardening and horticulture pursuits are on pause for the dormant season this winter, but many homeowners affect their surrounding landscapes with a traditional purchase for inside the home: the Christmas tree. Approximately 25 to 30 million trees are sold each year in the United States, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. Consumer demand for trees makes for a large impact, with over 350, 000 US acres currently in Christmas tree production.

Christmas tree farming has a mixed environmental impact. The trees, which take anywhere from 4 to 20 years to mature, provide wildlife habitat and hold soil and water as compared to annual field crops. Some farms have to use pesticides to deal with pest problems and have to mow frequently to keep grasses down. (see NC State Extension for more information on environmental impacts). And at the end a stands life-cycle, the ground has to be plowed and re-planted from imported seedlings.

Rosemary plants are popping up in nurseries at the holidays among the mini-Christmas tree alternatives. Image credit: Sharon Dowdy.

Rosemary plants are gaining popularity as a holiday gift and miniature, living Christmas tree. After the holidays, you can use it as an indoor houseplant. With a little care, holiday rosemary plants can be added to the landscape in the spring.

Botanically speaking, Rosmarinus officinalis is an aromatic, woody shrub that originated in the Mediterranean. The word “rosemary” is derived from the Latin rosmarinus, meaning, “dew of the sea.” This refers to where it grows natively, among the misty hills of the Mediterranean coast, in France, Italy, Spain and the Dalmatian Islands.

Informational Meetings on OSHA Inspection Program for Dairy Farms
In 2014, New York dairy farms will be the focus of a targeted inspection program called Local
Emphasis Program (LEP) by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). To prepare
dairy farmers for this LEP, NY OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist Ron Williams will discuss OSHA’s
regulatory expectations for dairy farms on Monday, December 16th from 10 am – 1 pm at the
Iroquois Lane’s Banquet Hall located at 192 Erie Boulevard Canajoharie, NY 13317.
This same topic will be covered via a rebroadcast webinar on Thursday, December 19th from 9:30 am
– 11:45 am at the 4‐H Training Center, 566 Middle Line Rd., Ballston Spa, NY 12020 and again on
Thursday, January 9th at 12:30 pm ‐ 2:45 pm at the CCE Chenango County office in Norwich, 99 N.
Broad St., Norwich, NY 13815. An OSHA staff person will be available by phone at the conclusion to
answer questions.

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.

Cornell Cooperative Extension educators and Annie's Project co-leaders David Cox and Bonnie Collins secured funding from USDA to collaborate with Cooperative Extension agriculture educators statewide to facilitate the 2014 Annie's Project (introductory, level I) curriculum.

HAY NET

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