The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM), Pro Dairy and county cooperative extension offices have teamed up around the state to provide multiple opportunities for farmers to learn about the federal Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy or LGM-Dairy crop insurance program.  It is expected that farmers will have the opportunity to sign up for the program once again in late October.

LGM-Dairy Crop Insurance program is based on milk income over feed costs, which the program calls a "gross margin". The insurance program covers the difference between the expected gross margin (insurance guarantee) and the actual gross margin for the months the producer selects for coverage, based on the amount of milk the producer chooses to insure.

Dr. Brian Gould, a professor at the University of Wisconsin and a national expert on the program, will be giving each of the identical live on-line webinar presentations.  Webinar dates are Monday, October 3, Wednesday, October 5;   Friday, October 7; Wednesday, October 12 and Friday, October 14.  Meetings start promptly at 11 am. Chose the date best for you.

Pricing Resources for Direct Market Produce Farmers 
Wednesday, September 28, 7:00 pm - 7:45 pm

This 45-minute webinar will provide an overview of tools and resources you can use to monitor market trends and how to use that information in pricing and product decisions. There will be time for questions and answers. Support for this webinar provided by Northeast Center for Risk Management Education, the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture under Award Number 2010-49200-06201, USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) and UVM Extension.

Newcomers to online learning are welcome. All you need to participate is internet access and a computer that you can hear sound through.

To participate, please go to http://www.uvm.edu/newfarmer at about 6:45 pm EST on Sept 28, 2011 and click on "Webinars" on the left-hand menu. 

Sign up now for fall classes taught by trained volunteer Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners. Classes range from Planting Bulbs for Spring Blooming and Forcing Bulbs to Making Wreaths with Live Plant Material and more gardening topics. Location of classes and cost per person varies by class.

Don't be disappointed. Sign up early to be sure you have a space in the classes you want to attend.

Farmer Emergency Meeting: September 28^th, 2011

Due to the severe flooding that the Southern Tier experienced two weeks ago, an informational session for the agricultural community is scheduled for Wednesday, September 28^th at 1:00 p.m. at the Town of Chenango Hall, 1529 State Route 12, Binghamton.  Please help spread the word to your friends and neighbors. The following organizations have been invited to present and information from all of them will be available.  Broome County Farm Bureau will provide refreshments.  Pre-registration is requested by calling Carol 1-607-772-8953.

• Farm Service Agency (FSA)
• Farm Service Agency- Farm Loan Department
• Natural Resource Conservation Services (NRCS)
• Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)
• Farm Net
• Farm Bureau
• Crop Growers
• Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
• CCE-South Central Field Crops Team-Janice Degni
• New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH)

This meeting is sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension in Broome County, Broome County Farm Bureau and Broome County FSA office.

The results of recent Hurricane Irene have left many of our neighboring farms in great distress, especially those in Schoharie County.  We are currently looking for donations of crops to assist some of these farmers so that they may prepare for the winter months ahead.  Also needed are farmers who may be able to provide trucking.

Any farmer wishing to assist in one way or another, please contact Bambi Baehrel, #9 Field Advisor, New York State Farm Bureau, who has agreed to coordinate this great effort. She has an inventory of the extensive needs of various farmers and is in the process of how best to assign gifts of aid and acts of kindness to the community of farmers in need.

To assist or for more information, please contact Bambi at 518-634-7852.

Agricultural Disaster Information Meeting, Thursday, Sept. 15, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Best Western, 121 Burgin Drive, Cobleskill

Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie County and Schoharie County Planning & Development will host an Agricultural Disaster Information Meeting on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011 from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Best Western, 121 Burgin Drive in Cobleskill.  This meeting is targeted to farmers who have experienced flood related losses to their farm businesses or homes.  On hand will be representatives from multiple agencies and agricultural service providers who will present an overview of assistance programs, resources, and will be available to answer questions.

Among those present will be FEMA, Farm Service Agency, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Schoharie County Soil & Water Conservation District, NYS Dept. of Ag & Markets, NY Farm Bureau, NY FarmNet, NY Center for Agricultural Medicine & Health, CNY Dairy & Field Crops Team, Capital District Vegetable & Small Fruit Program, Quality Milk Production Services, elected officials / representatives and local agencies.  Registration is NOT required; farmers from all surrounding counties are welcome.  For more information, contact David Cox, Agriculture Program Leader, Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie County, 518-234-4303 or 518-296-8310. 

New Fund to Help Farmers Rehabilitate Damaged Farmland

According to a press release New York State Agriculture Commissioner Darrel J. Aubertine yesterday enlisted the assistance of Soil and Water Conservation Districts to begin assessing damage in agricultural disaster areas and to begin identifying projects to restore farms and farmland.  Initiating the Governor’s $15 million Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund (ACRF), the first allocation of $5 million, the conservation component, will provide funding for farmers to restore farmland damaged by Hurricane Irene and prevent further damage in the future.

Download entire press release.

Download updated flood and storm damaged information. This piece included good suggestions on how to test flood damage corn silage for use.

Agricultural & Community Recovery Program

Was your farm damaged by Hurricane Irene?  Governor Cuomo has announced the Agricultural and Community Recovery Program (ACRP) to aid farmers with storm damage to agricultural infrastructure, streambanks, etc. for rebuilding the ag industry in hard hit farming areas.

Emergency conservation practices that may qualify are:

• Removal of flood debris
• Alternative water supplies
• Barnyard water management
• Manure storage/treatment and transfer systems
• Critical area protection
• Erosion control practices
• Filter areas
• Processed wash water management
• Cropland and pasture management
• Petroleum, fertilizer and pesticide storage facilities
• Conservation buffer
• Silage leachate control
• Streambank stabilization

If you have significant damage caused by Irene, please arrange for a site visit by an SWCD representative.  If the SWCD determines that you may qualify, a form will be submitted on your behalf to the NYS Soil & Water Conservation Committee in Albany.  Funds will be distributed on a weekly basis until gone. Please Note:  Actual crop damage does not qualify under this program.

Download the full announcement.

On Sunday August 28, 2011, much of eastern NY was exposed to severely strong winds and heavy rains.  Thousands of owners of private woodland properties and maple production facilities may have experienced some amount of damage.  Some sugarhouses in low lying areas might have suffered flooding.  Three simple guidelines will help owners of rural property take appropriate action.  The guidelines are similar to those recommended following the 1998 ice storm in the northern forests: safety first, seek professional assistance, and take time to make informed decisions. Download important information.