The Controlled Environment Agriculture program at Cornell University (www.cornellcea.com) will present a one-day growers workshop in the Capital District in early December.  Topics that will be discussed include: choosing and using supplemental lighting; green energy systems appropriate for the farm; structural considerations to reduce energy waste and an overview of cultural systems appropriate for fresh market production. 

Registration is limited and costs $30 per person which includes lunch, materials and an optional post-workshop tour. Please call Laura McDermott at 518-746-2562 or email at lgm4@cornell.edu and a registration form will be sent to you.

The program will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority offices,  17 Columbia Circle, Albany, New York 12203.

Just in time for the holidays, the Master Gardeners of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton and Montgomery Counties are offering a Live Wreath Making Class on Thursday, November 11 at 6:00 p.m., 55 East Main Street in Johnstown, room 010.  The class will feature Bob Farrell and Randy Yurkewecz instructing participants in making wreaths from live plant materials and pine cones.  Participants will make and take home two wreaths.  All materials will be provided.  Class size is limited to no more than 10 participants.  Cost for the class is $12.00. 

To register for the call or to speak to a master gardener, call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Fulton and Montgomery Counties at 518-762-3909 ext. 101.

Cornell University is hosting its 5^th Annual Empire Heifer Development Program Sale. The EHDP Sale is organized and managed by the Cornell University students in the Beef Cattle Merchandising course under the direction of Dr. Michael Baker. The sale starts at 1:00pm on October 30^th, 2010 and is being held at the Cornell University Teaching and Research Center, which is at 681 Cornell Lane, Dryden, NY 13053. We will be selling twenty bred heifers, both commercial and registered Angus, Polled Hereford, and Simmental. The heifers have performance data such as EPDs, ultrasounds, breeding information, etc. all of which is documented in the sale catalog along with photographs and will be available closer to the sale date and at the sale. There will also be 4 bred commercial cows, and two heifer calves to be sold separately from the Cornell herd. Food and refreshments will be available at the sale and students will be running the sale.

A fall series of indoor farmer markets will begin with October 23rd at Alpin Haus, 1863 State Highway 5s, just west of Amsterdam. The market runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is located inside the Alpin Haus showroom.

"These markets are a fusion of the Mom & Pop specialty store shopping experience with the summertime farmer's market atmosphere", explains Missy S. Potter, project coordinator. "The goal is to connect producers, some of whom have products that are not easily sold in the traditional farmer's market structure, and the consumer who seeks to buy local beyond the summer produce season." Customers at the markets meet and buy directly from the local farmers and producers who are set up booth-style.

The off-season markets, produced and presented by the Montgomery County Agriculture Economic Development Project and Cornell Cooperative Extension in Fulton and Montgomery Counties, began in 2006 in the Town of Glen meeting hall. "The project quickly out grew the space and had to find a space that could accommodate the large number of producers who wanted to participate." says Potter. "Our move to the Alpin Haus showroom has afforded the producers ample space to display their products, sufficient lighting, and the customers enjoy lots of parking. Alpin Haus has opened their doors to host this project and we are thankful for their recognition of the markets' value to residents and visitors to the area. Some customers come from the Capital District to attend the markets."

The October 23rd market will feature producers with meats, cheese, breads, alpaca yarns, jams & jellies, maple products and more. All products are grown or produced by the sellers. The Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners will be on hand with demonstrations and music will be provided by Sundial Express and Durey Creek. All of the markets have free admission and free parking.

Other fall markets include November 20th and December 11th. For more information about the Montgomery County Agriculture Economic Development Project or for resources visit www.nymontgomeryfarms.com

The Mohawk Valley Graziers will hold a pasture walk on Friday, October 29, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at Mohawk Oaks Farm, 327 River Road in Fort Plain.

The farm, owned and operated by John Kellet, produces certified organic dairy and beef. The walk will include a tour of the farm, a discussion of weed management in the pasture and transitioning livestock from pasture to barn. Cornell Cooperative Extension Specialists Dave Balbian and Kevin Ganoe will answer questions.

Admission is free. Attendees should bring their own lunch. To pre-registration is requested-853-4015. For more information about facilities or services, or to request sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids at hte meeting, contact Amanda Schaller, Resource Conservationist Specialist/AEM certified planner at 518-853-4015 at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

This series is funded by the USDA NRCS and Grazing Land Conservation Initiative.

A Young Farmer Meeting is scheduled for Thursday evening, October 14th, 7:30 p.m. that will feature a discussion with Attorney Steven A. Walker who will speak about agricultural services and estate planning. A pizza dinner will be served. The meeting will take place at Chris Oare's Shop, 128 Park Drive in Fultonville, in the industrial park behind Randall Implement.

The New York Beginning Farmer Project has a 12-part video series available for aspiring farmers. Led by a team of Cornell Cooperative Extension educators in partnership with the Cornell Small Farms Program, the NY Beginning Farmer Project began in 2006 in response to increasing interest in farm start-ups.

Videos range in length from four to 12 minutes on topics including grants, evaluating land and profitability.

For links to more videos click on one of the above links.

For more information visit the nybeginningfarmers.org website. Also visit the Cornell Small Farms Program website.

The Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners say September is the time to prepare your garden for the winter.

The Master Gardeners say now is a good time to:

> Turn your garden soil and perform a soil test. Check the pH level, also.

> Adjust soil as needed: add horse or poultry manure & compost

> Work manure & compost into soil and leave the garden messy to expose insects & weeds to winter elements.

> Clean all of your garden tools and have shears & blades sharpened, safely storing them to be ready for springtime use.

If you have a home gardening question call and ask one of our Master Gardener volunteers at 762-3909 x 107.

Improving your Social Media Marketing Skills for Agribusiness Success

November 1-2, 2010

Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home

4079 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY (Nov. 1)

Cornell Cooperative Extension – Dutchess County, 2715 Route 44, Millbrook, NY (Nov. 2)

Social media may be a phenomenon, but it’s not a fad. It has already changed the way people and organizations communicate. Traditional outbound marketing efforts are being trumped by customers talking to customers. With the increasing popularity of social media, it is important to leverage your inbound strategies -- you getting found by customers, with targeted outbound marketing campaigns -- you finding customers and enticing them to buy.

The 2010 Cornell Strategic Marketing Conference is aimed at helping agricultural producers and agribusinesses develop and improve their social media marketing practices with tools that attendees can take back and apply to their own businesses right away. The goals of this year’s conference and workshop include: (1) highlighting educational and service opportunities with social media marketing for agricultural producers, value-added food processors, and marketers; (2) showcasing success stories from the field; and (3) identifying how to evaluate the performance of your social media marketing skills. If you want to know how to use or better develop your social media marketing strategies for your agribusiness and improve your products, customer service, marketing performance, and communications, then this conference is for you!

Be ready with an old shower curtain, sheet or tarpaulin to cover tomatoes, green beans, eggplants and peppers when the first frosts threaten.  We often get a couple of weeks of lovely weather after the first frost and our crops will continue to ripen.  You can still grow root crops such as radish and carrots.  If you have access to hay you can cover carrots and leeks through the winter and push the mulch away when you want to harvest some in December. Row covers and cloches are also good methods of extending the growing season.  If heavy frost threatens, pick all your produce and freeze or can it.  Green tomatoes can be kept wrapped individually in newspaper and kept in a cool place.