January 12, 2017,

Strategizing for the Future:

The Future of Milk Markets and

How to Develop an Economic Plan

                                              Thursday January 12, 2017 from 11 am to 2 pm

CCE Meeting Room, 50 West High St., Ballston Spa, NY

 Speakers:  Dr. Andrew Novakovic, Cornell University

Jason Karzses, Cornell ProDairy Program

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How and why markets are changing. Develop an economic plan for the future.

  Pre-registration of $18 includes lunch.

  RSVP by Jan 9th, 4 pm by contacting Tove Ford, 518-765-3518,

tff24@cornell.edu or online at https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/milkmarketfuture_201.  Late registration & walk-ins $25 and no guarantee of lunch or printed materials.  

Program questions to Aaron Gabriel, 518-380-1496, adg12@cornell.edu.  Brought to you by Cornell Cooperative Extension 

(CAAHP, CCE Saratoga, & Central NY DFC Team).

Cornell Cooperative Extension in Albany County provides equal program and employment opportunities.

 January 12, 2017

 CCE-Washington Co., 415 Lower Main St., Hudson Falls, NY

 6:00-9:00 PM (both sessions)

 Register: Tove Ford, (518) 765-3518 or tff24@cornell.edu by Mon., Jan 9th

 Register online: Columbia County Session or  Washington County Session         

 Cost is $10 per person. Dinner will be served.

  In these workshops, you will learn how to develop your farm's marketing strategy and how to set specific marketing objectives to make your job easier. In addition to marketing tips, you'll learn about Cornell Cooperative Extension's NEW Meat Price Calculator. The calculator uses your farm's data to develop pricing for meat sold by the hanging weight or by the cut. It accounts for processing and marketing costs, allows you to build in a profit, then lets you adjust the pricing of each cut until you reach your goal. Finally, you will learn more about navigating the MeatSuite, a free website to help your farm reach consumers seeking local meat in bulk.

 Are you a farm owner who wonders if there are grants that could support your farm business? Come to a program on December 14, 10:00 a.m. to noon at the CCE Extension Center, 173 South Grand St., Cobleskill. The program is offered by the Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program and is free. Please register at the ENYCH site: http://enych.cce.cornell.edu/events.php, or call Abigail Henderson at 518-746-2553.

• January 8, 2015
      "NYS Agricultural Society’s Annual Forum" at Holiday Inn- Syracuse/Liverpool. For more details or to register: http://www.nysagsociety.org/forum-backup/ This forum is the largest statewide agricultural meeting bringing together all sectors of the food system to explore topics critical to the future of New York Agriculture. This year’s program is about “Diversification for Success”.
  
  
• January 15, 2015
       "Farm Income Tax School", from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm (Registration will begin at 9:30 am) at Cornell Cooperative Extension 50 West High Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020. Please RSVP by Contacting Marcie Vohnoutka, mmp74@cornell.edu Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County, 61 State Street Troy, NY 12180 or call us at 518-272-4210 Make checks payable to CCE-Rensselaer County, and mail to: 61 State Street, Troy, NY 12180 Please register by Monday, January 12, 2014. Cost is $25.00/person, which includes lunch and proceedings. If you are unable to attend or wish to bring your own lunch, the proceedings may be purchased for $15.00.
• January 15, 2015
         "CONNECTICUT VEGETABLE & SMALL FRUIT GROWERS’ CONFERENCE" at Maneeley’s Conference Center, 65 Rye St., South Windsor, CT 06074. Pre-registration postmarked by Jan. 5th is $35 per person (includes educational session, trade show, Continental Breakfast, coffee break, lunch). Registration after Jan 5th or at the door: $50. No snow date and no refunds after Jan. 7th. Check should be made out to: University of Connecticut or “UConn”. Send completed Pre-registration and check to: MacKenzie White, UConn Extension, 24 Hyde Ave. Vernon, CT.
  
  
• January 13-14, 2015
         "NY FarmNet presents: Who Will Manage Your Farm Tomorrow? At Doubletree Hotel, 6301 State Route 298,East Syracuse, NY 13057. Registration, including all meals and materials is $85.FREE registration!! For more information, contact 1-800-547-3276 or email dlw56@cornell.edu. To register online: http://nyfarmnet.org/conference/farmTransfer2015
  Choosing and developing future farm managers is the focus of, “Who Will Manage Your Farm Tomorrow”. This conference provides farm families and their advisors critical information for helping the next generation find success on the farm and identifies effective management transfer strategies to implement.
  
  
• January 6th, 2015 through March 10th, 2015 WINTER 2015 ORNAMENTAL & TURF/GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT’S SHORT COURSE - REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS December 31st, 2014. Directions to the Hartford County Extension Center plus the class schedule will be included with your receipt and letter of confirmation. NO WALK-INS, PLEASE. Contact Candace L. Bartholomew, Pesticide Safety Education Program Coordinator UConn Extension, 1800 Asylum Ave, West Hartford, CT 06117 or 860-570-9010 / FAX: 860-570-9008.

A Celebration of Our Agricultural Community, a conference on food and farming at The Farmers' Museum in Cooperstown, will inform and inspire farmers and the public, unifying and driving the agricultural economy in Central New York.  The conference takes place Saturday, November 15 from 9:00 am-5:00 pm and is free to the public.

The conference's keynote speaker is Richard Ball, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Addressing the topic of food systems will be Jason Evans, Assistant Professor of Agriculture, SUNY Cobleskill. Doug Thompson of G&T Farm will speak on the impact farming has on our communities and economies, as well as pasture management.  Don Smyers, Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties, will address opportunities driving agricultural economic development in Central New York.

For farmers, the conference will provide information and networking opportunities to connect with potential partners and prospective customers. Local farms and businesses will share information on heritage-based as well as biotech farming and ways in which traditional techniques can and should inform modern ones.

Open to the public and free of charge, the conference will empower the public to become educated and engaged consumers, providing opportunities for people to get involved. By fostering a deeper appreciation for and understanding of farming, we support and stimulate the agricultural evolution that is so vital to the health and well-being of people, animals, and land.

"This conference will be a place for new ideas to be shared and relationships to be built," according to Danielle Henrici, the museum's director of education.  "As a direct result of the conference, both farmers and the general public in attendance will have the tools and inspiration to take positive action:  Farmers will have the latest and best information to grow their businesses and products well.  General attendees will learn how to better their families and their communities by making informed choices." For more information view the entire article below.

   This is Week Two of our 1st cutting forage quality monitoring for this 2014. If you are not familiar with our procedures we use alfalfa height to predict Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) for alfalfa, alfalfa/grass mixed and grass stands. Alfalfa height has proven to be a reliable indicator of NDF values in the field.
     Here are numbers that are helpful when using alfalfa and grass height as an indicator of NDF content:

• In general we say 100% grass stands should be cut when nearby alfalfa is 14 inches tall to achieve the desired 50% NDF.
• Begin cutting 50/50 mixed alfalfa and grass stands when nearby alfalfa is 22 inches tall for the desired 44% NDF.
• Begin cutting 100% alfalfa stands when alfalfa is 28 inches tall for the desired 40% NDF.
• The desired NDF for all grass fields is 50%, 50/50 mixed alfalfa and grass fields is 44%, and pure alfalfa stands is 40%. Predicted days to cut arebased on daily NDF increases for grasses of 1% point, 50/50 mixed stands of .8% points and alfalfa of .5% point. Typically NDF increases about 0.8 to 1.2/day for grasses expecting the lower end of that range in cooler weather and the higher end in warm.
• Alfalfa NDF increases about 0.4to 0.7/day again figuring the lower end of that range with cool temperatures and the higher in warm.

    Predictions are adjusted for the coming week’s weather and right now we are assuming normal growth. In the attached tables locations around the region are listed where we have measured alfalfa height. You can use the location and elevation as a guide to conditions that may be similar to your own. Alfalfa grew 5.2 inches taller on average this week. Of the 69 sites monitored 82% should be cut if they are pure grass stands and 13% of the sites if they are a 50/50 alfalfa grass mix. So get out and look at your fields! As always use information in the attached table as a guide to know when to harvest by checking your fields! Next report May 27!

      CALLING ALL FIBER PRODUCERS (GOAT, SHEEP, ALPACA, RABBIT, ETC…)  Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County is putting on a Fiber Producers Symposium on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8 at our location in Binghamton, NY.
     Renowned ruminant nutrition speaker – Dr. Robert Van Saun (Penn State University) will be speaking on Saturday with two workshops focused on basic ruminant nutrition and nutrition for fiber production, growth and reproduction. There will also be facilitated roundtable discussions.
     Sunday will focus on marketing topics as well as choosing the best products for fiber quality. A fiber will also be available for pick up that day. The cost is $35/one day; $60 for the weekend. Visit: https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/fiberproducerssymposium_203 for more information and to register.

2-day Farm Food Safety Training with GAPs

A Produce Safety Workshop

Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County
24 Martin Road Voorheesville, New York 12186

April 30 & May 1, 2014

Day 1 &  Day 2 run from   8:30 am - 4:00 pm

$50/farm to attend.  Up to 2 people/farm may attend.

See below for requirements & registration info.

Class size is limited.  CALL NOW!

Manure and Mortality (Horse/Livestock)

Compost Workshop and Facility Tour

April 17-18, 2014 from 9 am - 4 pm both days

Compost Workshop – Thursday, April 17^th -  9 am – 4 pm
CCE Ulster County Education Office, 232 Plaza Rd, Kingston, NY 12401

Compost Facility Tour – Friday,  April 18^th -  9 am – 4 pm
Departs from CCE Kingston Education Center, 232 Plaza Rd, Kingston, NY 12401 and goes to four sites in Ulster, Orange and Sullivan Counties:

Join Delaware County and the Central NY Dairy and Field Crop Team on April 22nd from 11am-2:30pm for a day filled with information and demonstrations on soil health and winter forage. The event will be hosted by the Johnson Family Joleanna Holsteins in Unadilla NY. The cost is $5 per person and includes lunch. The following activites will be going on at this event:

• Machinary Demonstrations: Strip Tiller, Aerway, and Verticial Till tool
• Soil Quality Demonstrations and Test Pits
• Learn how Johnson's have been agressively using winter rye cover crops and strip till for growing
• See N Fertilizer Demonstration for Winter Forage.
• See what winter crop cover can do for your soil.

To Register call 315-866-7920 or email herkimer@cornell.edu. For more information view the attached flier.