1.5 DEC credits requested. Field meeting featuring weed and disease control. Chris Smart, Cornell's Plant Pathologist, will be discussing control of bacterial diseases in tomato, Alternaria in brassicas, and other current/hot topics in disease. Weed Scientist Lynn Sosnoskie will introduce new pigweed species that are appearing in our region and give updates on herbicide resistance and new mechanical weed control techniques. Smaller topics include soil health. 

Join us for a fun, potato-centered twilight meeting at Mahany Farms! Come hear about updates from this year's chipping potato variety trial, and learn more about disease forecasting and management. Network with fellow growers, event speakers, and Cornell Cooperative Extension staff following the talks.

Join Cornell Cooperative Extension's Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program for a field day at Philia Farm in Johnstown, NY from 4-6 pm on August 5th. The meeting will showcase a variety of research projects, including a high tunnel pea variety trial; a storage onion trial; a leek trial; a biofungicide trial on beets; a mesotunnel insect netting trial; and a reduced tillage trial for fall vegetable crops. 

2 DEC pesticide credits will be available in category 23

The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) and HealthWorks is pleased to provide respirator fit testing clinics in your region in 2021.

During the clinics NYCAMH will provide medical evaluations; respirator fit tests; and WPS compliant trainings on how to properly inspect, put on, take off, fit, seal check, use, clean, maintain, and store respirators.

Clinic appointments are one hour long, and groups of 4 workers can be seen at a time. Medical evaluations, fit tests, and trainings are available in both English and Spanish.

The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) and HealthWorks is pleased to provide respirator fit testing clinics in your region in 2021. 

During the clinics NYCAMH will provide medical evaluations; respirator fit tests; and WPS compliant trainings on how to properly inspect, put on, take off, fit, seal check, use, clean, maintain, and store respirators. 

Clinic appointments are one hour long, and groups of 4 workers can be seen at a time. Medical evaluations, fit tests, and trainings are available in both English and Spanish.

Now that we are able to host field meetings again, we invite you to the Champlain Valley to view some of our current field trials, listen to talks and discuss your management concerns with many of the scientists from Cornell AgriTech, and to reconnect in person with other growers from around Eastern New York.  DEC credits are available in categories 1A, 10, and 22.

Join us for our Hard Cider Summer Tour, sponsored by the Cornell Hard Cider Program Work Team and the New York Cider Association.  We will visit 3 different locations and finish the day with a hard cider tasting.

Experienced growers and UVM's Ag Engineering present new strategies and cleaning tools to increase the efficiency and efficacy of bin cleaning, sanitation and management practices. Lead growers show and tell their bin systems, with lessons learned. Participants leave with a plan to improve/implement new practices.

CCE Cornell Vegetable Program, NYS IPM, and Cornell Faculty will be attending this twilight meeting to share updates on Western bean cutworm trapping, white mold management, soybean cyst nematodes and field mapping, and pigweed identification and resistance screening. After the meeting, stick around to enjoy dinner and network with other dry bean growers and industry members.

1.5 DEC recertification credits (categories 10, 1a, 21, and 23) and CCA credits will be available.

Evaluate low-cost (either money or time) improvements that make a big difference. Experience growers show and tell the thrifty improvements they made and summarize lessons learned, including trade-offs of spending money (or not) to lower risks and increase efficiency. 

Learn to improve or repair a concrete floor so that it is smooth and easy to clean. This workshop highlights concrete repair, cleaning and sanitation techniques, water management, products and resources, as well as show and tell from experienced growers, and Chris Callahan from UVM's Extension Ag Engineering.

Due to predictions of extreme weather tomorrow evening, Wednesday, September 15th, the Exclusion Netting Workshop at the Berry Patch, Stephentown, NY has been postponed until Tuesday, October 5th, 4-6pm.  If you already registered for the Berry Patch session, there is no need to re-register.

The western NY site at Albers Acres in Kennedy, NY will still hold the workshop tomorrow night, Sept 15.

If you have any questions about eastern NY meeting - please call Laura McDermott, 518-791-5038, or email lgm4@cornell.edu.

2021 season review of SWD management techniques

Join us at either The Berry Patch in Stephentown (Oct 5) or Abers Acres in Kennedy (Sept 15) for a two-hour review of Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) management techniques.  We'll cover the basics of SWD monitoring of adult and larvae populations and also discuss implementing a pesticide program.

The program will focus on what has been learned about designing an exclusion netting support system that provides long term control of SWD and maximum utility for berry farmers.

Exclusion netting is being used on field blueberries where it controls SWD while also excluding birds and moderating impacts of hail and heavy rain.  Raspberries and strawberries also benefit from exclusion netting on  the sides of high tunnels.   

1.5 DEC credits available in categories 1A, 10, and 22

Experienced growers and facilitators dig into the fundamentals of managing produce wash water, including show and tell with lessons learned about wash water management, use and monitoring of sanitizers. All participants leave with a plan to improve/implement new practices.

Develop management strategies/systems to retain and empower high-value workers, while improving crew morale and culture. Learn from experienced managers of loyal and reliable crews, the pros and cons of their current management systems, and how they came to be. Participants leave with resources and a plan to improve/implement one or more new practices or strategies.

Due to predictions of extreme weather tomorrow evening, Wednesday, September 15th, the Exclusion Netting Workshop at the Berry Patch, Stephentown, NY has been postponed until Tuesday, October 5th, 4-6pm.  If you already registered for the Berry Patch session, there is no need to re-register.

The western NY site at Albers Acres in Kennedy, NY will still hold the workshop tomorrow night, Sept 15.

If you have any questions about eastern NY meeting - please call Laura McDermott, 518-791-5038, or email lgm4@cornell.edu.

2021 season review of SWD management techniques

Join us at either The Berry Patch in Stephentown (Oct 5) or Abers Acres in Kennedy (Sept 15) for a two-hour review of Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) management techniques.  We'll cover the basics of SWD monitoring of adult and larvae populations and also discuss implementing a pesticide program.

The program will focus on what has been learned about designing an exclusion netting support system that provides long term control of SWD and maximum utility for berry farmers.

Exclusion netting is being used on field blueberries where it controls SWD while also excluding birds and moderating impacts of hail and heavy rain.  Raspberries and strawberries also benefit from exclusion netting on  the sides of high tunnels.   

1.5 DEC credits available in categories 1A, 10, and 22

For growers wanting to install or improve a greens bubbler/aerator. Get feedback from growers who built/improved their own systems. Examine designs and DYI resources, as well as perceived quality and efficiency gains from bubblers as compared to other washing methods. This workshop features a panel of New York growers!

Learn more about the process to apply for the Pandemic Response and Safety Grant Program.  This grant provides eligible farms grants of $1,500-$20,000 for costs related to workplace safety and marketing changes from COVID-19.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a Request for Applications (RFA) for the new Pandemic Response and Safety (PRS) Grant program and encourages eligible entities to apply now for funds. Applications must be submitted electronically through the grant portal at https://usda-prs.grantsolutions.gov/usda by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, November 22, 2021. Approximately $650 million in funding is available for the PRS grants, which are funded by the Pandemic Assistance provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

Our first session will provide an overview of tax planning, the management of tax liability, and assessing your record keeping system. 

The second session will delve into everything Schedule F - depreciation and classifying revenues and expenses. 

A grower training course developed by the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) that meets the regulatory requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) for farms subject to the Produce Safety Rule. Participants will receive a certificate of course completion by the Association of Food and Drug Officials. All farms are welcome to attend to learn about recommended food safety practices for growing, handling, and storing fresh produce.

CCE Farm Business Management and CCE County Associations in NYS are hosting a hybrid educational program on October 26th to prepare farmers and rural landowners navigate the solar development process and negotiate solar lease agreements.  The program features information provided by a lawyer experienced with solar leases, a solar developer and experts from Ag and Markets on local policy issues.

You can register for the program through the following participating CCE County Offices: Albany, Broome, Cayuga, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Onondaga, Ontario, Otsego, Renssalear, Saratoga, Schoharie, Senaca, St Lawrence, Suffolk, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Washington, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates.  

Don't know the website address for your county office?  Go to: https://cals.cornell.edu/cornell-cooperative-extension/local-offices.

The final session will be led by a professional tax-preparer who will introduce tax planning strategies and the timeline for implementation with ample time for questions and discussion.

Join Elizabeth Higgins and Extension Specialist with the Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team, Cornell University Cooperative Extension, and Michelle Proscia, Agriculture Educator with CCE Sullivan, for a lunchtime discussion about how farms can prepare for selling on the wholesale market and the benefits of scaling up. Topics include: labeling, recordkeeping, grading standardization of product, and post harvest handling. 

This program is supported by the USDA, NIFA Award #: 2019-70020-30347