November 19, 2009. Local Foods Fair. 2-5pm, Mann Library Lobby, Cornell University. A local foods fair in the Mann Library lobby will highlight Cornell Univeristy and Ithaca-area intiatives to sustain healthy diets and thriving local economies through production and marketing of locally grown foods. Also featured will be information and goods from Cornell vendors and local area farmers, CSA’s and other producers. A 3pm talk by Michael Glos of Kingbird Farm in Berkshire will present some of the challenges and opportunities present to local producers by widening public interest in heirloom livestock husbandry and locally grown foods. For more information or to reserve display space at the fair, please contat Eveline Ferretti at ef15@cornell.edu or 607-255-2285.
December 12, 2009. Getting Started in High Tunnels in NNY Conference. 10am – 2:30pm, at 203 N. Hamilton Street in Watertown, NY. Topics to be covered include the different types of season-extension structures and soil preparation. An in-depth session will focus on tomato production. A discussion on other possible crops for high tunnel crop production is also on the agenda. A panel of local and greenhouse growers will share their experiences using tunnels and greenhouses in Northern New York’s cold climate. New York State Vegetable Specialist Judson Reid and Nelson Hoover of Hoover Family Farm in Penn Yan, NY, are the featured speakers. The conference cost is $20 per person and includes a catered local foods lunch. Registration is requested by December 8th. For a program brochure and registration, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County at 315-788-8450 or Amy Ivy at adi2@cornell.edu. To learn more about Northern New York agriculture visit their website at http://www.nnyagdev.org.
January 8, 2010. Online Courses for New Farmers. Are you a new or aspiring farmer who would like some guidance in the development of a farm enterprise, but has been unable to locate or attend any training near you? Are you comfortable enough with a computer to consider learning online? CCE and the NY Beginning Farmer Project have created two basic online courses to help you think through the major factors related to farm start-up. Join experienced CCE educators and 29 of you new farmer peers in a dynamic learning experience that incorporates both self-paced readings and real-time virtual meetings with discussion forums, homework activities, guest presenters, and developing a customized plan for your next steps in farming. The online course duration in 6 weeks. Instructors: Steve Hadcock, CCE-Columbia County and Dan Welch, CCE-Cayuga County. Cost is $100 per course. To register visit: http://www.nybeginningfarmers.org/courses/
January and June 2010. Meat Processing and Food Safety Certificate Program. SUNY Cobleskill will be offering this program in January and June. This intensive hand on training program is designed to provide the knowledge and skills students require entering employment in the meat processing industry. Students will be skilled in sanitation, food safety, slaughter, meat cutting and processing. As part of the students’ preparation for the industry, the program consists of specialized training in the accuracy of cutting, knife handling, portion control, merchandizing and the utilization of all products. The program outline includes:
The cost for this program is $2,995 which includes textbook, hard hat, frock, 5 inch boning knife, 12 inch butcher knife and safety cutting glove. For more information about this program contact SUNY Cobleskill at 518-255-5528, or Training@cobleskill.edu.
Ongoing. Farm Welding Training Classes are available on an ongoing basis from Patriot Resources at locations across NYS. For more info, contact Tom Bryant at qawelds.edu54@yahoo.com or 315-863-5143
February 14-19 and/or February 21-26. Biodynamic Winter Intensive 2010: “Plants, Earth and Cosmos” A workshop for farmers, gardeners and others seeking a working relation to the land. The Nature Institute and the Hawthorne Valley Farm Learning Center are offering two complementary weeks of instruction to those seeking a fuller understanding of biodynamic agriculture. The first week will offer participants a way to deepen their own observations in relation to the world of plants and to practice flexible thinking as a means of becoming more perceptive land workers. The second week will focus on concepts and practices more specifically related to biodynamic agriculture including: a general introduction to the kingdoms of nature from the point of view of biodynamics; the genesis of and management of soils; the diversity of plant growth forms in relation to soil, climate and cosmos; wild relatives of our cultivated plants and weeds, ecological methods of weed management, principles of crop rotation; planting to support beneficial insects; managing orchards and other perennials; the use of planting calendars and more. Fees are on a sliding scale: $250-450 for each week; or $400 to $480 both weeks. (North American Biodynamic Apprenticeship Program apprentice fees are covered by the program.) For more information, contact the Hawthorne Valley Farm Learning Center, 518-672-7500 ex. 105; or email caroline@hawthornevalleyfarm.org.
To sign up for the Grazing Gazette, a monthly listing of grazing events, e-mail Karen Hoffman at karen.hoffman2@ny.usda.gov
November 18, 2009. Cover Crop Workshop and Tour. 9:30am – 3:00pm at Big Flats Plant Materials Center. The workshop will provide the opportunity to observe 36 different cover crops or mixes, some with several seeding dates. Observe results of techniques: 1)establishing cover crop at time of corn planting, 6 species and 2 herbicides methods, 2)the use of seed coating to aid in establishing red clover, and 3) ryegrass with and without cultivation when corn was 18 inches tall. More topics for discussion include use of triticale as a cover crop and forage, development of winter hard hairy vetch varieties, hi-boy seeder development application, nitrogen credits from cover crops, roller crimper work in NY, no-till cover crop systems, tillage radishes, and roller crimper work in vegetable crops. For more information or to register cal 607-562-8404 or email julie.depue@ny.usda.gov.
November 18, 2009. Food, Finance and Climate Crises: Finding Common Roots, Searching for Solutions. 7:30pm – 9:30pm, Albright Auditorium, Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Come here from Frances Moore Lappe, democracy advocate and world food and hunger expert. Following the lecture there will a panel discussion moderated by Rodmon Kings of HWS Philosophy Department.
November 19, 2009. Health Insurance for Farmers & Transitioning the Farm. 11:00am – 2:00pm at the Bath Civil Defense Center. Farmers and agribusiness owners will learn abut obtaining health insurance coverage, including government options, in rural New York State. Following lunch a second topic, Transition the Farm, will cover transitioning the farm to the next generation, changing to a new enterprise, and exiting farming. There is no chare to attend, lunch will be provided. Contact CCE of Steuben County at 607-664-2300 to register by November 17th.
November 30, 2009. New York Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Education Summit. 8:30am-5pm. Owego Treadway Inn.
Cornell Cooperative Extension, in collaboration with a number of local and statewide partners, will host a Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Summit at the Owego Treadway Inn, in Owego, NY, on November 30. Local government officials, landowner coalition representatives, citizens seeking more information, industry representatives, environmental advocates, and researchers and educators are encouraged to attend.
Cornell faculty and educators will join with other professionals to address such educational workshop topics as the Geology of the Shale; Municipalities and the Marcellus Shale; Environmental, Water and Regulatory Issues; Local Government Preparation; Workforce Development and Small Business Application; Landowner management; Legal Issues; Water and Wells; Community Development; Taxation, Revenues, and Property Valuation; State and National Energy Plans. The summit is open to the public and will cost $40. Summit information, including a registration link, may be found at http://gasleasing.cce.cornell.edu/.
November & December. Berry Webinar Series. The Cornell University Berry Program continues to host a series of webinars for Berry farmers, that feature experts on production and pest management topics and their current related research. All webinars are schedule for 1pm and are free. Registration is required, contact Laura McDermott at lgm4@cornell.edu or 518-746-2562.
For additional program detail, information, and archived webinars visit http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/Berries/webcastarchive.htm.
December 3-4. 2009 Young Farmers Conference. Registration for the 2009 Young Farmers Conference is live! Check out the brochure and register online by visiting our website: www.stonebarnscenter.org. Conference highlights include: * Over 30 workshops at beginning and intermediate levels covering: - hands-on technical skills - livestock and vegetable farming - policy, community, and advocacy issues as they relate to young farmers - land access - business planning and marketing – and much more! * Workshops are led by farmers, educators, and advocates from all over the United States. * Keynote addresses by Wes Jackson of the Land Institute, and Fred Kirschenmann of Stone Barns Center and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. * Music, contra dancing, and the opportunity to meet other young and new farmers.
December 3-4, 2009. International Advanced Technology, Food and Agriculture Conference: Addressing Challenges in Specialty Crops. Double Tree Hotel, Rochester, NY 14623. The conference will pay special attention to specialty crops and will bring together producers and processors involved with many different specialty crops. Joining them will be representatives from small to large technology companies and research centers who share an interest in investigating the challenges in specialty crops. This day and a half conference will first allow participants to see the big picture about specialty crops and their challenges and the role that new technologies might play. It will then focus on different specialty crops and their challenges, while the final third will focus on common areas of production, protection, processing, distribution and marketing. An outcome of the conference will be a road map of how new technology can lead to better, safer, and more healthful specialty crops. Registration information is at www.factny.org; questions can be addressed to Susan Noble, susann@thetechnologyfarm.com or 315-781-0070, ex. 2012.
December 4, 2009. CaRDI Announces Fall Future of Rural NY Seminar. 3-4:30pm. Warren Hall B32, Cornell University.
The Community & Rural Development Institute at Cornell University announces its Fall Future of Rural NY Seminar - "Positioning New York's Rural Communities: Vision, Policy, and Action in a Regional Context". Panelists will include: Jill Harvey, State Director, USDA NYS Rural Development; Erica Heintz, Executive Director, LCRR (NYS Legislative Commission on Rural Resources); Andy Fagan, Executive Director, CCE Tioga and Chemung Counties; and David Brown, CaRDI co-chair and Professor, Department of Development Sociology, Cornell University. Refreshments will be served. Questions should be directed to Robin Blakely at rmb18@cornell.edu.
December 4th, 2009. Cornell Organic Production and Marketing Work Team Meetings-Fruit and Vegetables. 9:30am – 3:00pm. A Videoconference with four locations: Ithaca, Albany, Geneva, and Riverhead/Suffolk County. Hear about research is being conducted by organic farmers and Cornell staff. Share your organic research and education concerns. Meet diverse group of people interested and committed to organic agriculture and sustainability. Help set priorities for future Cornell organic efforts. Network with farmers, educators and researchers interested in organic issues. Discuss and debate important issues facing organic agriculture in the Northeast. And last, but not least, have lunch with friends. *Not sure how to put the contact information in.
December 7, 2009. Protecting Agricultural Lands in the Finger Lakes III. NYS Ag Experiment Station in Geneva, NY in Jordan Hall. This workshop will explore several options to protect and enhance agricultural lands on an individual and community scale. How can a farmer interested in keeping his land in agriculture but also needing a retirement income, find a solution that works for his family and perhaps the larger community? While there are not easy answers, this workshop will explore this and many more issues related to agricultural land protection in the Finger Lakes. 3 hours of municipal training credit for municipal officials will be provided. Agenda items are:
For more information, please contact Vivian Jones at 315-536-5123 or vfj1@cornell.edu. Pre-registration is required due to limited space, $10/person. Registration deadline is December 2.
December 8, 2009. On-Farm Energy Efficiency. 8am – 1:30pm at Cornell Cooperative Extension Building, 423 Griffing Ave, 2nd Floor Meeting Room, Riverhead, NY. Do you want to decrease your production costs as well as your greenhouse gas emissions? Attend this FREE workshop presented by Ensave and learn ways you can make your farm more self-reliant. Topics will include water pumping, lighting, refrigeration, ventilation, motors/pumps, tractor efficiency, and water/space heating. The workshop will conclude by conducting a walk-through energy audit at a local farm. To RSVP and for more information, contact Nicole Spinelli, Suffolk County Soil & Water Conservation District, 631-727-2315 ex. 3 or nicole.spinelli@suffolkcountyny.gov.
December 10, 2009. Cornell Organic Production and Marketing Work Team Meetings-Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops. 9:30am – 3:00pm. NYS Ag Experiment Station, Jordan Hall, Geneva, NY. Hear about research is being conducted by organic farmers and Cornell staff. Share your organic research and education concerns. Meet diverse group of people interested and committed to organic agriculture and sustainability. Help set priorities for future Cornell organic efforts. Network with farmers, educators and researchers interested in organic issues. Discuss and debate important issues facing organic agriculture in the Northeast. And last, but not least, have lunch with friends. RSVP to Fay Benson afb3@cornell.edu, 607-255-5439. Other locations to be determined.
January 8, 2009. 4-H Tractor Safety Course. Steuben County. The Tractor and Machinery Operation Program allows for youth under the age of 16 who successfully completes the program to engage in agricultural work activities below if they are 14-15 despite the fact the activities are listed as “agricultural work activities classified as hazardous for youth under 16”. Participants who want to ear their 4-H tractor certification must pass both the written exam and the driving test. The cost for this course is $15.oo for 4-H members to cover the cost of materials. Non 4-H members are eligible to take this course but in addition they will need to complete a 4-H enrollment form as an independent member by Friday January 8 which is found on the website and pay the $5.00 4-H enrollment fee. The registration form can be found on the website at www.putknowledgetowork.com (follow links to 4-H Youth Development, Other Programs) or by contacting Cornell Cooperative Extension of Steuben County at 607-664-2300
Jan 22 – 24, 2010. NOFA-NY’s 28th Annual Organic Farming and Gardening Conference. Saratoga Springs, NY. To learn more, visit: http://www.events.org/nofany-conference/cpage.aspx?e=21411
