Preparing for Livestock:

This first set of winter classes are at the county office building on 56 Main St, Owego, Tuesday evenings, 6-8 pm.

Feb 7 Planning for Livestock. Ten things to consider when choosing the animal species to raise on your land. Brett Chedzoy, CCE Schuyler County.

Feb 21 Soils and stocking rates. Evaluate your soils, make improvements, and plan the appropriate size herd for your land base. Wendy Walsh, Tioga County Soil and Water District, and Heather Birdsall, South Central NY Livestock Specialist.

March 6 Fencing, watering, and buildings. Choose infrastructure that works for grazing both now and in the future. John Wickham, Upper Susquehanna Coalition, with Suzy Daubert, NRCS.

March 20 Pasture management and problems. Fighting with mud and weeds in your pastures?. Learn strategies to turn goldenrod into nutritious pasture, as well as sound grazing strategies. Fay Benson, Cornell Grazing specialist.

April 3 Good quality hay production. Janice Degni, Cornell field crops specialist. (location TBD)

On-farm animal husbandry workshops:

Come dressed for the weather and learn how farmers care for their animals, from feeding to parasite management and more. 5:30-7:30 pm

April 18 Raising Hogs. Kingbird Farm, 9398 W. Creek Rd, .Berkshire.

May 15 Raising Beef. Twin Brook Farm, 304 Lainhart Rd, Owego

June 19 Raising sheep and goats. Griffin’s Nest, Tioga Center.

July 17 Raising Pastured Poultry. Heritage Pastures, 2343 Stanton Hill Rd, Nichols

August 21 Caring for Horses. Lisle Rd, Owego, NY.

Open Enrollment for Schuyler County Agriculture Districts January 15 through February 15

The Schuyler County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board (AFPB) on behalf of the county will be holding its annual 30 day agriculture district enrollment January 15 through February 15. Schuyler County contains three agricultural districts which consist predominantly of viable agricultural land. In practice, districts may include land that is actively farmed, idle, forested, as well as residential and possibly commercial. Being included in an agricultural district provides benefits that help make and keep farming a viable economic activity.

Enrollment forms can be found at the Cooperative Extension and Soil and Water Conservation offices or on-line at www.sc-landuse.org. For more information please contact Cooperative Extension at 607-535-7161.

Farm Market Management and Regulations: What Every Vendor Should Know

February 8 – 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County 480 North Main Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424 Workshop fee: $25 per person, includes lunch and handouts.

In light of food safety concerns among the general public, prompted in part by farm market vendors accused of fraud related to the source and condition of their produce, direct marketing venues are coming under increased scrutiny by state inspectors.

This workshop will provide updates for farmers and farmer market managers, plus information on food safety guidelines for farmer vendors. Representatives from NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, Department of Health, and Department of Labor will review the rules, licenses and regulations associated with direct marketing at farm markets and other similar settings. Diane Eggert of the NYS Farmers Market Federation will address specific issues around food safety, and keeping up when the market gets busier than expected.

This session is a unique opportunity to ask questions and clarify which regulations are real and which are rumors gone wild.

REGISTER or MORE INFORMATION: Call Nancy Anderson at 585-394-3977 x427 or send name, address and phone number to nea8

Organic Certification Workshop

February 10 – 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Cornell Cooperative Extension, Tompkins County, 615 Willow Avenue, Ithaca, NY 14850 certifiedorganic.

Locally Grown Foods Festival

February 10 4-8 p.m. Union Hall, 100 Civic Center Plaza, Corning The public is cordially invited to a unique tasting experience.

Meet dozens of Finger Lakes farmers. Taste samples. Tastings of meats, vegetables, cheese, fruits, preserves, wines, and more!

Learn about local farms and purchase local products. Learn how and where to buy fresh, healthy, local foods.

Visit and learn about more about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). The event will feature several different CSAs that offer a variety of shares for sale. $5.00 per person $10.00 per family. Register at the door or in advance at: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/cornellce/event/4188/

Free Rabies Clinic

February 11 – offered by theCHEMUNG COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT at the John Gridley Bldg.,103 Washington St., Elmira. 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

NY Forest Owners Association Winter Meeting

February 11 – The Fourth Annual Peter Levatich Memorial Seminar will be held Saturday, February 11th at the Spencer-Van Etten High School Auditorium from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Presentations on feral hogs, the effects of climate change on forests, and Marcellus Shale experiences from the woods of northern Pennsylvania. Please visit bjc226

Ladybugs, Grasshoppers and Butterflies Oh My!

Come join the Regional 4-H program as they offer an exciting exploration of bugs and creepy crawlies. Youth 9-19 will enjoy learning about lady bugs, praying mantises, grasshoppers, crickets and many more invertebrates through hands on activities. The program will be offered in two locations; The Tioga County Series will be held at the Tioga County Office Building in Owego, NY on Saturdays from 12-1:30 p.m. on February 11, March 17, May 19, and June 16. The Schuyler County Series will be held at the Human Services Complex in Montour Falls, NY on Saturdays from 10 a.m. -12 p.m. on February 25, March 24, and May 12. The program will explore the world of insects through hands on activities and demonstrations and will finish with a bug hunt to identify what insects can be found in our many different environments. For more information or to sign up for the program please contact your local 4-H office or Cornell Cooperative Extension Tioga County at 687–4020.

Healthy Living Series at the Montour Falls Library

February 14.7 p.m."Day Dreams for the Garden", with horticulturist Roger Ort, Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Program Assistant, at the Montour Falls Library. Help with planning the garden site, purpose, and design will be provided. Please bring your questions. Visioning your garden now enhances the pleasure and success of this year’s endeavor. Open and free for all, though donations are welcome for future programs.

Outline for Gardening class to be offered:

When: Second Tuesday each month

Feb.14 – Site of the garden, garden purpose, garden design.

March 13 – Seed starting, reading seed packs, what to grow.

April 10 – Garden bed prep, soil testing/PH, soil additives, fertilizers, compaction, double digging vs. tilling.

May 8 – Planting seedlings vs. direct sowing, Zone 5 planting dates, other crops.

For more details contact :Roxanne Leyes, Montour Falls Library 535-7489

Beginning Hydroponics (Grow with the Flow)

February 16 at the Silver Spoon Caf Human Services Complex, Montour Falls, 7-8:30 p.m. with Bryson Clark from Upstate Hydroponics & Garden Supply. $5 fee – pre-registration required by Feb. 10, 2010 by calling 607-535-7161.

Corning Winter Farmers’ Market extends season into 2012

February 17, March 10 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

According to the USDA data New York leads the pack with 180 winter markets. It’s no surprise that Steuben County’s one winter farmers’ market is extending its inaugural season. Demand for locally produced products proved to be strong at the newly formed Corning Winter Farmers’ Market during November and December, and the farmers have agreed to continue with the market in 2012.

The winter market features vendors selling locally produced eggs, honey, maple syrup, jams, herbs, baked goods, chicken, grass fed beef, pork, and handmade Amish baskets. New vendors have joined for the 2012 dates, they include: Muddy Fingers Farm (vegetables), Keuka Lake Coffee Roasters & Java-Gourmet specialty foods, Deep Root Vineyards (offering wine tastings), and a dried fruit vendor. The Market is located at 1 West Market Street, inside the Information Center of Corning. For more information contact the market manager at 607-759-7665. For more information visit the Corning Winter Market on Facebook!

Direct Marketing Grass Finished Beef – One Small Scale Approach

February 20 What we’ve learned (positive & negative) from 10 years of direct marketing beef & other sustainably raised meats (including pastured eggs). 7 – 9 p.m., Junius Fire Hall, 647 Dublin Rd, Clyde $10 per person

Bill Hodge, retired U. Georgia extension specialist and principal of Sustainable Genetics, will be the keynote speaker at the conference. Bill and his wife, Di started the Hodge Ranch in 1973. Some of his management practices include: matching livestock and forage resources in controlled grazing, 12 month rotational grazing, no supplemental feed, sustainable pasture management (nutrient recycling – no pesticides used), 45-day calving season, across the fence (fenceline) weaning. Now in retirement, Bill is looking to expand his forage finished beef business, amongst other things.

Bill will also be the keynote speaker at the Step it Up Grazing Conference February 21st at BW’s, 11070 Perry Rd, Pavilion. Registration begins at 9 am, with the workshop running 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. $35 per person, $25 for each additional person from the farm.

Registration deadline – February 16. To register, call Cathy Wallace at 585.343.3040 x138, email cfw6. For more information or questions regarding either event, call Nancy Glazier at 585.315.7746, email nig3.

Farm Market Merchandising: The Keys to Incredible Sales

February 22 – 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Jordan Hall, NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, 630 West North Street, Geneva, NY 14456

If you are a farm market vendor, CSA farmer, or run a seasonal market at your farm, you can tap into better profits if you merchandise like the pros. This workshop will give you insights about produce sales techniques and show you how to dress up and arrange your stand to increase sales without a lot of effort. Extension marketing specialist Eric Barrett from Ohio State University will share his observations from a recent tour of Upstate New York farm markets. He has developed a list of key strategies for farm market vendors as an independent witness to what local farmers are doing well – and poorly. Eric Voigt, a professional produce merchandising consultant (think “major grocery chains”) will explain the best steps for building sales and making an impression that brings more loyalty from your customers. He will share tips based on consumer research on maximizing your display quality. Both presenters will take questions and respond to your merchandising ideas.

Even in competitive, multi-farm markets where everyone is selling their best, you can have an edge if you make the most of merchandising. This very special workshop is directed to experienced and new farmers throughout New York State who are trying to garner the best sales possible.

Fee: $25.00 per person includes lunch, handouts, and expert advice on farm market merchandising.

Pre-registration is required by February 20, 2012 by calling Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ontario County at (585) 394-3977 x427 or e-mail Nancy Anderson with your full contact information to nea8

2012 Crop Symposium

February 21, 10:30 to 2:30 p.m. Civil Defense Center, Bath, NY. Variety, Selection, Pest Resistance and Plant Population Effects on Corn, Soybeans and Wheat; A Practical Look at Field Crop Insect Management; and Drainage Systems for Improved Crop Health and Environmental Quality. Lunch is $10 per person. To register please call Steuben CCE at 607-664-2300.

It’s All About Food

February 22 – 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon Academic and Workforce Development Center, 318 Madison Avenue, Room 004, Elmira, NY

$10 Pre-registration is required by February 20th For more information or to register, call the SBDC at (607) 937-6861 or

sbdc Representatives from the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, NYS Department of Health, and NYS Department of Weights and Measures will explain what they do and who they regulate.

This seminar is for you if you are thinking of starting or already have the following businesses: Bakery Coffee Roaster, Dairy Industry Farmers Market, Food Processing Plant, Food Warehouse, Grocery Store, Pet Food, Restaurant, Winery, Home-based food manufacturing.

New York Farm Show

February 23, 24th and 25th. State Fair Grounds; Syracuse, NY. For more information call Scott Grigor, Show Manager at 315-457-5145 or email sgrigor.

Tompkins County Agriculture Summit

February 24. Local farmers will share their success stories as part of the Tompkins County Agriculture Summit planned for Friday, February 24th from 9am to 4pm at the Dryden V.F.W. Featured speakers will be Patrick Hooker, former NYS Agriculture Commissioner, and Phil Gotshall, a noted agriculture and community development consultant. The Summit is presented by the Tompkins County Agriculture & Farmland Protection Board and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County as a way to showcase the diversity and productivity of Tompkins County Farms.

Registration is $10 (includes lunch).

Dryden VFW Post 8158, 2272 Dryden Road, Dryden, New York 13053

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Southern Tier Field Crop Workshop

February 28. Horseheads Holiday Inn Express, Horseheads, NY. Variety Selection, Pest Resistance and Plant Population Effects on Corn and Soybeans; New Challenges with Field Crop Diseases; and Drainage Systems for Improved Crop Health and Environmental Quality. Lunch is $10 per person. To register please call Steuben CCE at 607-664-2300.

Beginning Tree Fruit
February 28, 2012, 6:00-8:00 pm at 4-H Acres, 418 Lower Creek Road, Ithaca, New York 14850
Learn how to evaluate your land for fruit production, and how to prepare the soil before planting. Learn how to choose tree fruit varieties for winter hardiness, disease resistance and adequate pollination. We’ll go over a yearly calendar of tasks like fertilizing and pruning, as well as potential difficulties you can encounter. Bring a sample of your soil to get pH-tested at the end of the class. Fee: $5/person or $8/couple for 1 class; $10/person or $15/couple for both classes. Please call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County at (607) 272-2292 to sign up!

2012 Small Farms Summit Scheduled for February 29

Wednesday, February 29th, from 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Summit is an interactive meeting with an opportunity for all participants to take part in lively discussion and provide important feedback, both locally, and across the state. We will be gathering in Ithaca, NY and at 4 other locations around New York State: Voorheesville (Albany County), Canton (St Lawrence County), Warsaw (Wyoming County) and Riverhead (Suffolk County). A video connection will allow us to communicate across sites.

Previous Small Farm Summits generated valuable feedback regarding opportunities and barriers affecting the success of small farms in NY. In response, the Cornell Small Farms Program has initiated key projects such as the award-winning "Guide to Direct Marketing Livestock and Poultry", sustainable farm energy field days, and a series of interviews with NYS food distributers that work with small farms, to name a few.

The Summit is free to attend and lunch will be provided. Farmer participation is especially encouraged and welcome. Website

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Conservation Stewardship Program

The ranking cutoff date for the 2012 Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is January 13, 2012. Producers interested in CSP should submit applications to their local Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) office by the deadline so that their applications can be considered during the first ranking period of 2012. CSP is offered throughout New York State as a continuous sign-up. The program provides many conservation benefits including improvement of water and soil quality, wildlife habit enhancements and adoption of conservation activities that address the effects of climate change. Eligible lands include cropland, pastureland, and nonindustrial private forest land. As part of the CSP application process, applicants will work with NRCS field personnel to complete a resource inventory using a Conservation Measurement Tool (CMT). The CMT determines the conservation performance for existing and new conservation activities. The applicant’s conservation performance will be used to determine eligibility, ranking and payments. For more information on CSP and to sign up please contact your local NRCS field office (click here for the website).

Solar and Wind Power for the Farm: Getting Your Farm Ready for Renewable Energy

March 7 – 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon Cornell Cooperative Extension of Yates County, 417 Liberty Street, Penn Yan, NY 14527

Family farms in the Finger Lakes are striving for sustainability and wise uses of energy. Even though many farm owners see the potential for wind or solar power for their farm, it can be hard to get accurate information and separate hype from the realities of installing and using renewable energy equipment.

Cornell Cooperative Extension is hosting a new workshop for family farmers to provide practical details about the most important steps to prepare for renewable energy at the farm. The workshop will cover where and how electricity is typically used on farms, and what loads can be supplied by wind or solar power. Participants will learn what is fact or fiction when it comes to wind and solar power, get oriented to the gadgetry of renewable energy, and learn how one Finger Lakes farm prepared for and installed solar panels recently. Presenters include Dick Peterson of Northeast Agriculture Technology Corporation, Roy Butler of Four Winds Renewable Energy, and Peter Martens of Lakeview Organic Grain, where solar panels have recently been added to complement the farm’s energy sources.

This session is a unique opportunity for farmers to ask questions and get appropriate advice to take steps toward renewable energy. Farms of all types and sizes are welcome to attend and it is open to the public. Hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Yates and Ontario Counties.

Fee: $15.00 per farm.

Ties to the Land:

March 10 – Planning for the Future of Your Family Farm and Woodland. Saturday, March 10th, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. NY Grange Hall; 100 Grange Place; Cortland. A Succession Planning workshop for keeping family lands in the family. Succession Planning