The Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association (SABA) has gathered local experts and Master Beekeepers to teach a class geared toward new beekeepers and those who have had bees for a while but still need instruction.
  
If you've been thinking about honey bees, here's a class for you.  If you might start with bees in spring 2013, now is the time to find out if beekeeping is right for you.  You'll learn how to buy and assemble equipment, where to place your hives, how to acquire bees, how to care for your growing colonies and how to prevent, identify and treat diseases.  Though the first summer’s honey is mainly left for the bees to get through their first winter, harvesting will be touched upon briefly. Swarms, beeswax, flowers, queens, stings and more.  The goal of this class is to help you begin beekeeping more confidently than if you were on your own.

Here is an opportunity reported in a press release from Farm Credit East:

Northeast producers are invited to participate in a webinar that will provide an educational overview on food hubs and how they may be important to the Northeast. The webinar will take place on Monday, December 17 at 11:00 AM.

With the increasing interest in “local food,” there has been a great deal of discussion about how to connect local and regional farmers with consumers. Some of this discussion has centered on “Food Hubs.” This webinar will provide insight into what exactly a food hub is, how they work and how they can benefit the agriculture industry, specifically in the Northeast.

Presenters will include James Barham from the USDA, who will define what a food hub is and will use examples to illustrate what they can bring to a community, how they benefit agriculture and why they matter to the Northeast. In addition, Malini Ram Maraghan, Investments Managing Director from Wholesome Wave, will join the webinar to discuss some specific examples of food hubs she has worked with.

Join us on Monday, December 17 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM to learn more about how a food hub works and how they may be important to Northeast agriculture. This webinar is open to anyone with an interest in learning more about food hubs and their potential benefits. This webinar is free to participate. If you'd like to attend this webinar, go to https://www.farmcrediteast.com/

America’s farmers and ranchers will soon have the opportunity to make a positive impact on their communities by taking part in the 2012 Census of Agriculture. Conducted every five years by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Census is a complete count of all U.S. farms, ranches and those who operate them.  

“The Census remains the only source of uniform, comprehensive agricultural data for every county in the nation,” said Renee Picanso, director of NASS’s Census and Survey Division. “It’s a critical tool that gives farmers a voice to influence decisions that will shape the future of their community, industry and operation.” 

“Your answers to the Census impact farm programs and rural services that support your community,” Picanso said. “So do your part and be counted when you receive your form, because there’s strength in numbers that only the Census can reveal.”   

Poultry & Vegetable Production, Business & Financial Planning & Recordkeeping Courses To Begin in January:

Winter is the season for farm planning! What better way to use the long dark evenings than to snuggle up with your computer and join an online course from the Cornell Small farms Program? You'll build your skills, be inspired by successful farmers, and develop plans to help you hit the ground running when the growing season begins.

• BF104: Financial Records - Setting up Systems to Track Your Profitability
• BF121: Veggie farming - From Season-long Care to Market
• BF130: Poultry Production - Profiting from Layers, Broilers, Turkeys, and Ducks
• BF202: Planning to Stay in Business - Writing Your Business Plan - new 2nd offering of this popular course in 2013!
• BF203: Holistic Financial Planning - Building Profit into the Picture

Each course features weekly live webinars to introduce concepts and examples, followed by online discussion, readings, and homework assignments during the rest of the week. All courses are taught by Cornell Cooperative Extension educators, farmers, or other agriculture service providers, and typically include presentations by successful farmers detailing detailing aspects of their operations.

The 6-week courses cost $200 each. Registration closes when the courses fill up or by ne week prior to the course start date.

Register here. Learn more about how the courses operate here.

What:  A practical class to help ag employers understand and prepare for compliance audits, federal and state regulations
When: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Where:  The Century House, 997 Loudon Road (Route 9), Latham, NY

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County will host “Labor Issues For Agricultural Employers” on December 11 at The Century House in Latham to discuss employment issues and workplace compliance. Speakers will present effective practical information as well as a legislative update during the 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. meeting.

Special Agent Thomas Beamish of Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) will speak on federal Department of Labor (DOL) topics including e-Verify, procedures and farm responsibilities in an audit. Christina Marzello and Danny Mills are Ag Labor Specialists with NYS DOL and will speak on compliance issues with their team. Other speakers will address legislation and local issues.

A joint effort between the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Capital Area Ag and Horticulture Program and the Capital District Vegetable and Small Fruit Program, this class will address a number of issues common to all labor intensive agricultural businesses; regulations, staffing, paperwork and training.

Registration for the full event, including meal, is $65 per person (or if registering before 11/28/2012 $55/person). For more information, please call Gale at 518-763-3500 or visit blogs.cornell.edu/capitalareaagandhortprogram for a registration form. For any additional questions or special requests, please call Sandy at 518-380-1498 or email sab22@cornell.edu.

2012 Cornell Fall Hops Conference & Northeast Hop Alliance Annual Meeting

Saturday, December 1, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Student Activity Center, Morrisville State College, Morrisville, NY

The featured speaker will be Tony Weathers, owner of Willamette Mission Farms in Gervais, Oregon. Learn how Oregon's hop growers are producing for the craft beer industry.

Who should attend?
Anyone growing hops or interested in growing hops commercially as well as brewers, educators, and other industy professionals.

For more information about the conference, to register, payment/travel information, a list of additional speakers, liost of topics to be discussed at the conference, post-conference happy hour, and information about the NeHA visit http://neheopalliance.org or call Steve Miller, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County at 315-684-3001 ext. 127.

Understanding your insect and disease pests will help you manage them. Work with Cornell and IPM specialists at this workshop to learn new ways to reduce their effects on your business. Register by November 21. Questions? Call Laura McDermott at 518-791-5038, email lgm4@cornell.edu or Betsy Lamb, NYS IPM Program at 607-254-8800, email eml38@cornell.edu

Choose from two dates and locations:

Tuesday, November 27 - Canajoharie Fire House, 65 Erie Blvd, Canajoharie, NY 13317
or
Wednesday, November 28 - CCE Greene County, 605 Route 23, Acra, NY 12405

Registration 9:45 a.m., Workshop 10:00 a.m.-2:15 p.m. (Lunch included), Tour 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost is $20 per farm business

To register: Send a check to CDVSFP, CCE Rensselaer County, 61 State Street, Troy, NY 12180. Include your business name, number of attendees, address, phone and mail.

Read details of this program on the PDF below.

Monday, November 19, 2012, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Knight's Inn, Little Falls, NY

If you or someone you know is thinking about bringing the younger generation into the farm operation, or if you have questions about your retirement options, then this is a program for you!

The seminar will feature segments on the succession planning process, business planning for the next generation, retirement planning and family communication considerations for farm transfers.

Hear from New York FarmNet experts about what you need to know about concerning these major business changes. There will be ample time for questions from the audience.

Lunch will be provided free of charge for attendees. Pre-registration is required by November 16 and seating is limited. Call 315-866-7920 or email herkimer@cornell.edu by November 16 to reserve your spot.

This program is provided by a grant from Herkimer County Mental Health Services through the Farm Family Assistance Program.

Have you recently begun a commercial vegetable or small fruit farming enterprise in the region? Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to attend this informative meeting.

3 convenient locations, eachone at 10:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.:

November 5 - CCE Columbia County, 479 Route 66, Hudson, NY (RSVP Steve seh11@cornell.edu)
November 7 - Winner's Circle Restaurant, 3293 State Highway 5, Fonda, NY (RSVP Crystal cls263@cornell.edu) 
November 8 - CCE Washington County, 415 Lower Main Street, Hudson Falls, NY (RSVP Laura lgm4@cornell.edu)

Program Schedule:

10:00 a.m.: Season-long overview presentation by educators followed by a 20 minute Q & A/sharing by growers

11:00 a.m.: "What does it cost me to be at a Farmer's Market?"

12:00 noon: Lunch and open discussion (Lunch will be included at each location free of charge)

12:45 p.m.: Introduction to Crop Insurance

Please be sure to pre-register at least one day in advance by contacting the appropriate person listed above, or by visiting this website: https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/novemberBFmeetings_201  You will be prompted to select the appropriate site.

Please feel free to bring significant others or other farmers who you think would benefit from these meetings. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

This program is funded through the support of the USDA Farmers' Market Promotion Program and the NYS Crop Insurance Education Program.

Farmers and others in the Central NY/Leatherstocking Region have an opportunitiy to take a variety of classes toward greater profitability through adding value to locally produced fruits, vegetables and meats. The NY Small Scale Food Processors’ Assn. (NYSSFPA) in partnership with the Montgomery County Agriculture Development will offer a variety of workshops at Fulton and Montgomery County Cornell Cooperative Extension, 50 East Main Street, Canajoharie, NY which can lead to a greater profitability through processing local produce and meats.

Friday, October 26, 9:00 a.m. - 12 noon
"Value Added Processing: Getting Started"
Instructors: Beth Linskey & Jeri Woodhouse, with Katherine Gregory

Friday, October 26, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
"From Garden to Kitchen"
Instructors: Beth Linskey & Jeri Woodhouse

Saturday, October 27, 9:00 a.m. - 12 noon
"Small Scale Meat Processing and Marketing"
Instructors: Adele and Jim Hayes

Saturday, October 27, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
"How to Write a Business Plan: Roadmap for Business Success"
Instructor: Tom Serwatka

View regisration info and a detailed brochure.