The New York State Thruway Authority is seeking farmers and growers to participate in “Tailgate Farmers Markets” at selected travel plazas along the Thruway system.

The markets operate from mid-May through Nov. 1, depending on the availability of product.

Participation is limited to New York State farmers/growers of locally grown fresh fruits, vegetables, edible herbs, cider and horticultural products. Only produce grown or produced in New York State may be sold at the farmers markets.

For more information, call the Thruway Authority at (518) 436-2831. For a list of the 27 travel plazas, see the weblink.

The Tailgate Farmers Markets are intended to offer fresh farm produce to Thruway travelers, to provide farmers and growers another outlet for their products and to promote New York’s agricultural industry.

As part of the new Water Resources Law signed on August 15, 2011 and coming into effect on February 15, 2012, all NYS existing agricultural users having the pump capacity to withdraw 100,000 gallons per day  or more of water from surface or ground supplies, MUST report their estimated usage by February 15, 2012.  If you do not report, then you will be forced to apply for permits which may be difficult and expensive both in terms of time and money.

Please take a few minutes to report your water withdrawal by going to this form.

Despite what the form says, it is actually due by February 15, so please disregard the February 1 date listed on the form.  If your only withdrawal of water is for agricultural purposes, then the $50 reporting fee is waived.

You can complete the form out on-line, or print it and mail it or FAX it to:

If you have questions, contact Rich Kruzansky at the NYS DEC (518-402-8182). 

February 14th, 10:00 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Otesaga Resort Hotel, 60 Lake Street, Cooperstown

Download registration info. Due by noon tomorrow - no exceptions.

Greater Capital Region Farmers' Direct Marketing Conference

April 11, 2012, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Fox Care Wellness Conference Center, One Fox Care Center Drive, Oneonta, NY (East End)

Cost: $10 per person, plus manuals, if applicable

Cornell Cooperative Extensions in Schoharie and Chenango Counties will co-host a regional Private Pesticide Applicator Training. Participants from Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Fulton, Montgomery, Otsego, and Schoharie counties are encouraged to attend. 

This training is designed for both those who are eligible to obtain a Certified Private (pesticide) Applicator’s license and those who currently hold either a private or commercial pesticide applicator license and are seeking core re-certification credits (CT – Core Training).  Core re-certification credits are pending NYS DEC approval. 

An eligible candidate for a Certified Private Applicators license must be:

• At least 17 years old and have at least one year of full-time experience within the last three years in the use of pesticides in the category in which certification is requested,
• or have completed a 30-hr. training course, or have received an associate’s or higher level college degree which covers core and appropriate category topics.  Categories of Private Certification are five Agricultural Plant Pest Control sub-categories; Field and Forage (#21), Fruit (#22), Vegetable (#23), Greenhouse and Florist (#24), and Nursery, Ornamentals and Turf (#25); Agricultural Animal Pest Control (#31); and Aquatic Pest Control (#41).  For more information visit the Pesticide Education Safety Program website at http://psep.cce.cornell.edu/ certification/PrivateFactsheet.aspx (or http://tinyurl.com/7oaf5b4).  Call if you have any questions about your eligibility.

Download details below:

4th Component of Governor’s ACRF Program Will Provide up to $20,000 to Eligible Farms for Capital Losses Caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee

According to a press release, New York State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine today announced the fourth component of Governor Cuomo’s Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund (ACRF), the Capital On-Farm Needs Component, which will provide funding up to $20,000 per eligible farm for capital losses caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. 

“Farmers affected by the storms this past fall continue to struggle in financing the necessary repairs and physical losses they incurred,” the Commissioner said. “Governor Cuomo has given us the framework and resources through his ACRF program to help our farmers, and it is our intention to provide some needed assistance to these businesses as they work to get back on their feet and begin planning out their 2012 growing season.”

The ACRF Capital On-Farm Needs Component is designed to help pay for capital losses, such as the repair or replacement of fixtures and equipment needed to maintain agricultural operations. Funding for this program will be provided in the form of grants for 50 percent of eligible costs up to $20,000 per farm.  Program guidelines and applications for the Capital On-Farm Needs Component, as well as other ACRF components, are available on the Department’s website, http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/.

February 11, 2012, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Tamarac High School, 3992 NY 2 , Troy

• Learn about management of small farms, general nutrition, diseases, parasites, and when to call the vet.

• Swine, goats, sheep, and poultry will be discussed.

• Each participant in the goat/sheep breakout sessions may bring one sheep or goat fecal sample to run their own free parasite analysis on.  Be sure to refrigerate the fresh sample once you collect it from one sheep or goat.  Do not freeze the sample.  You are also welcomed to bring a microscope if you have one.  Otherwise we will be supplying the microscopes for the workshop.

Speakers include:

• Dr. tatiana Stanton, Cornell University
• Dr. Cindi Shelly, SUNY Cobleskill
• Dr. Jarra Jagne, Cornell University 

Plus others. Kirk Shoen and Bernadine Wiesen, both from CCE-Rensselaer County will also be present to answer farm questions.

Please RSVP. Registration, including materials, is $25/person ($15 for 4-H members). Make checks payable to CCE Rensselaer County and mail to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County, 61 State Street Troy, NY 12180.

If you require any special accommodation or more information, please contact Kirk Shoen at 518- 272-4210 ext 113 or email kjs264@cornell.edu

DEC PESTICIDE AND WATER WITHDRAWAL
REPORTS DUE BY FEBRUARY 1^ST

If you have a pump capable of pulling 100,000 gallons per day, you are being asked by the DEC to report this information. Please see below for more details.

Pesticide Reports:

To report electronically, go to www.nysprl.com or to download report forms from DEC’s website: www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/27506.html

Water Withdrawal Reports: 

DEC over the next four years will be requiring a permit for those capable of withdrawing a minimum of 100,000 gal./day. If you do not report your usage for 2011, the permitting process will be more difficult than for those who have reported.

Forms and reporting webpage:  http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/55509.html

The Cornell University Dairy Foods Extension team is a diverse group with extensive knowledge spanning nearly all aspects of dairy science and technology.  While our mission is to provide information and training to the dairy production and processing sectors, consumer questions and concerns are addressed as well.  A list of contact personnel for dairy related questions can be found here.

We also offer dairy related workshops periodically. Schedule and more information. These Food Science Extension resources are readily available.

Cornell plant pathologists have issued a warning to New York apple and pear growers after discovering a strain of fire blight that is resistant to such traditional treatments as the antibiotic streptomycin.

For 50 years, the disease has been kept at bay using the antibiotic, but streptomycin-resistant strains of the disease were recently found in four locations in Wayne and Ontario counties.

"This is a serious situation that we need to manage effectively. The rapid identification of this outbreak positions us to implement a coordinated plan leading up to next year's growing season," said Herb Aldwinckle, professor of plant pathology and plant-microbe biology at Cornell's New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (NYSAES) in Geneva.

In coordination with colleagues at NYSAES and Cornell Cooperative Extension, Aldwinckle is developing guidelines growers can follow to reduce the threat. Upcoming sessions at the Fruit and Vegetable Expo and CCE Fruit Schools in several counties will also provide growers with opportunities to learn more about the outbreak and possible solutions.