Events - month view
earlier monthsMarch 2017
Milk Quality: Make it Pay!
March 2, 2017
9:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Warsaw, NY
Concurrent classes taught for decision makers & key milking staff.
North Country Grazing Schools are Back!!
March 3 - March 9, 2017
CAFO Roadshow
March 3, 2017
1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Varysburg, NY
New York Farm Bureau and the Northeast Dairy Producers Association will host a CAFO Roadshow in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Agriculture and Markets and Cornell PRO-DAIRY.
This series of four seminars across the state will highlight the changes in the recently released CAFO permits and help producers understand how to prepare for compliance and decide which permit is right for their farm. All farms must be covered by the new permit by July 24, 2017.
All CAFO-permitted farms are recommended to attend one of the informational sessions where you will have the opportunity to both learn about changes and ask questions directly to the people who developed the permit. Farms of all sizes, particularly those who may be seeking coverage under the permits in the near future, are also encouraged to attend.
This series of four seminars across the state will highlight the changes in the recently released CAFO permits and help producers understand how to prepare for compliance and decide which permit is right for their farm. All farms must be covered by the new permit by July 24, 2017.
All CAFO-permitted farms are recommended to attend one of the informational sessions where you will have the opportunity to both learn about changes and ask questions directly to the people who developed the permit. Farms of all sizes, particularly those who may be seeking coverage under the permits in the near future, are also encouraged to attend.
Winter Dairy Management: Don't Be Lame!
March 7, 2017
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Warsaw, NY
The Winter Dairy Management 2017 program will focus on keeping cows on their feet and free from lameness. The program will address preventing hoof problems, how and why to identify lameness issues as quickly as possible and humane considerations for culling, moving and transporting cattle.
Spring Safety Meeting
March 7 - February 7, 2017
Registration 9:30am - Program 10am-3pm
Cortland, NY
Dairy Support Services Presents:
Manure & Trucking Safety Meeting
Tuesday, March 7, 2017 - 9:30am Registration 10:00am-3:00pm Program
NYS Grange, 1 Grange Place, Cortland, NY
This meeting is targeted to both experienced and new farm workers who are spreading manure and operating trucks and equipment in field and on highways.
Topics and Speakers:
- Update on New CAFO Permit - Karl Czymmek, PRO-DAIRY and Scott Cook and Matt Kazmierski, NYS DEC
- Manure Spills and Neighbor Relations - Mark Burger, Director, Onondaga County Soil SWCD
- Manure Gas Issues: Gypsum and Hydrogen Sulfate - Tom Eskildsen, Yates County SWCD and James Carrabba, NYCAMH
- Trucking and Highway Safety & Regulatory Issues - Sgt. Robert Kidder, Troop C, NYS Police Commercial Vehicle Unit and David Orr, Cornell Local Roads Program
In addition to the featured speakers, Extension personnel, Soil and Water personnel and Certified Nutrient Planners will be there to answer any questions.
Registration is $10 which includes lunch. To register contact Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2662 or email jma358@cornell.edu. Payment via cash or check can be made the day of the event.
Farm Transfer and Estate Planning
March 8, 2017
10am - 3pm
Malone, NY
This program will be an update and current information on farm transfer and estate planning.
Click here to register...
Click here to register...
Winter Dairy Management - Don't Be Lame!!
March 8, 2017
Registration 9:30am, Program 10am-3pm
Binghamton, NY
Topics to include:
Identifying lameness, especially at its earliest stages
Economic impact of lameness
Facilities impact on lameness
Management factors that impact lameness
FSA Borrower Credit available
Let's Write Your Agricultural Business Plan
March 8 - April 4, 2017
Tuesday Evenings 5:30-7:30pm
Binghamton, NY
Let's Write Your Agricultural Business Plan
Tuesday evenings, March 8th through April 4th
5:30-7:30pm
840 Upper Front St, Binghamton, NY 13905
During this five part series hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County and led by Laura Biasillo, Agricultural Economic Development Specialist, participants will work through the various sections of a business plan for their agricultural venture. This is applicable whether you are considering a food-based business, growing fruits or vegetables, raising livestock or starting an agri-tourism based operation. Using a set of templates created by the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture as well as the NYS Small Business Development Center, sample worksheets will lend a practical perspective and illustrate how real farm families set goals, research processing alternatives, determine potential markets, and evaluated financing options. Blank worksheets will help participants to develop a detailed, lender-ready business plan or map out strategies to take advantage of new opportunities.
Pre-registration is required. Visit the registration page to complete your registration: https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/developafarmbusinessplan_203.
5:30-7:30pm
840 Upper Front St, Binghamton, NY 13905
During this five part series hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County and led by Laura Biasillo, Agricultural Economic Development Specialist, participants will work through the various sections of a business plan for their agricultural venture. This is applicable whether you are considering a food-based business, growing fruits or vegetables, raising livestock or starting an agri-tourism based operation. Using a set of templates created by the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture as well as the NYS Small Business Development Center, sample worksheets will lend a practical perspective and illustrate how real farm families set goals, research processing alternatives, determine potential markets, and evaluated financing options. Blank worksheets will help participants to develop a detailed, lender-ready business plan or map out strategies to take advantage of new opportunities.
Pre-registration is required. Visit the registration page to complete your registration: https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/developafarmbusinessplan_203.
Farm Transfer and Estate Planning
March 9, 2017
10am - 3pm
Watertown, NY
This program will be an update and current information on farm transfer and estate planning.
Click here to register...
Click here to register...
Pesticide Applictor Pre-Exam Training & Test
March 14 - March 15, 2017
7:30 am Registration, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm, Class
Newark, NY
Agriculture Specialists Mike Stanyard & Tess Grasswitz will review core concepts and commodity specific items in prepartaton for exam.
Pesticide Applicator Training
March 14, 2017
Registration 12:00pm - Class 12:30-3:30pm
Drydeny, NY
The South Central NY Dairy & Field Crops Team is offering a Pesticide Applicator Training on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at the Dryden Fire Hall, 26 North Street, Dryden, NY with registration beginning at 12:00pm and the class from 12:30-3:30pm. Exam date TBA.
Core and category manuals are available at an additional cost and MUST be ordered by March 10, 2017 to ensure that they arrive prior to the class date. Manuals needed: Core Manual and Category 21 (Field and Forage). Order Manuals online at https://store.cornell.edu/c-876-pmep-manuals.aspx or contact Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2662 or email jma358@cornell.edu. For questions contact Janice Degni, Area Field Crops Specialist at 607.391.2672 or email jgd3@cornell.edu.
This training covers the law governing pesticide use and licensing, a basic introduction to safe pesticide handling and use, as well as test preparation. The training will also provide information regarding pesticide laws and regulations, how to read the pesticide label, guidelines for proper handling of pesticides and protecting the pesticide handler as well as impacts on the environment and integrated pest management.
3 DEC re-certification credits available.
Core and category manuals are available at an additional cost and MUST be ordered by March 10, 2017 to ensure that they arrive prior to the class date. Manuals needed: Core Manual and Category 21 (Field and Forage). Order Manuals online at https://store.cornell.edu/c-876-pmep-manuals.aspx or contact Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2662 or email jma358@cornell.edu. For questions contact Janice Degni, Area Field Crops Specialist at 607.391.2672 or email jgd3@cornell.edu.
SCNY Dairy Manager Discussion Group
March 15 - February 15, 2017
Lunch at 12:00pm, Discussion 1-3pm
Cortland, NY
Trends in Dairy Today: Wage Impacts and Land Prices
Speaker: Dr Jennifer Ifft, Assistant Professor of Agribusiness and Farm Management, Cornell University
Dr Ifft will talk about:
- Trends in Wages: minimum wage implications to salaried positions, and wage compression to wage payroll shifting up
- Trends in Farmland Values: determinants, impacts of CAFO regulations, recent sales data, discussion on land rental values
Cost is $10 per person to cover cost of hot lunch, payment can be made online or at the door
RSVP is requested to get adequate head count for food
Contact Jen Atkinson 607.391.2662 or jma358@cornell.edu
Questions to Betsy Hicks 607.391.2673 or bjh246@cornell.edu
RSVP is requested to get adequate head count for food
Contact Jen Atkinson 607.391.2662 or jma358@cornell.edu
Questions to Betsy Hicks 607.391.2673 or bjh246@cornell.edu
Tioga County Dairy Small Group Learning Workshops - Focus on Nutrition: Dairy Basics for Farmers
March 16, 2017
12:30-3pm
Owego, NY
Tioga County Dairy Small Group Learning Workshop - FOCUS ON NUTRITION: DAIRY BASICS FOR FARMERS
Thursday, March 16th, 2017 - 12:30-3pm, CCE Tioga
- SCNY D&FC Team's Betsy Hicks will be leading discussion on basic nutrition dairy men and women need to know. Bring your own forage samples and diet summaries to under-stand more about how your specific farm's feed looks.
- Cost $10/per person
- Light snacks and drinks will be served
- Please pre-register for planning purposes
- Register online or by contacting Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2662 or email jma358@cornell.edu
- Questions? Call Betsy Hicks at 607.391.2673
Sprayer & Pesticide Application Clinic
March 16, 2017
Registration 10:00am - Class 10:30am-2:30pm
Dryden, NY
Topics & Speakers
- Review of Crop Season 2016 - Janice Degni, Extension Field Crops Specialist, SCNY Dairy & Field Crops Team
- The Label - Mike Helms, Extension Support Specialist, Pesticide Management Education Program, Cornell University
- Herbicide Modes of Action & Factors that Influence Performance - Janice Degni
- Nozzles: Selection, Operation & Controlling Drift - Mike Helms
- Panel Presentation with Commercial Applicators - Warren VanPelt & Kevin Frisbie
***3 DEC Re-Certification Credits Available***
Cost of the workshop is $25/per person which includes lunch. Register online or contact Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2662 or email jma358@cornell.edu. For questions contact Janice Degni at 607.391.2672 or email jgd3@cornell.edu.
200-600 BMAT Discussion Group
March 20 - March 21, 2017
Watertown, NY
Cow Comfort Conference
March 20 - March 21, 2017
Liverpool, NY
Along with help from partners and sponsors, the Cornell Cooperative Extension Northern NY Regional Ag Program has organized the 2017 Cow Comfort Conference - "Working with what you have and looking towards the future". The focus of the conference will be on the importance of maximizing cow comfort through facility design.
Cow Comfort Conference - Working with what you have and looking towards the future
March 20 - March 21, 2017
Liverpool, NY
Cow Comfort Conference - Working with what you have and looking towards the future
March 20 - March 21, 2017
Liverpool, NY
SCNY Dairy Manager Discussion Group
March 22 - February 22, 2017
Lunch at 12:00pm, Discussion 1-3pm
Cortland, NY
Trends in Dairy Today: Wage Impacts and Land Prices
Speaker: Dr Jennifer Ifft, Assistant Professor of Agribusiness and Farm Management, Cornell University
Dr Ifft will talk about:
- Trends in Wages: minimum wage implications to salaried positions, and wage compression to wage payroll shifting up
- Trends in Farmland Values: determinants, impacts of CAFO regulations, recent sales data, discussion on land rental values
Cost is $10 per person to cover cost of hot lunch, payment can be made online or at the door
RSVP is requested to get adequate head count for food
Contact Jen Atkinson 607.391.2662 or jma358@cornell.edu
Questions to Betsy Hicks 607.391.2673 or bjh246@cornell.edu
RSVP is requested to get adequate head count for food
Contact Jen Atkinson 607.391.2662 or jma358@cornell.edu
Questions to Betsy Hicks 607.391.2673 or bjh246@cornell.edu
2017 Dairy Day
March 28, 2017
Cooperstown, NY
Date Change: 2017 Dairy Day rescheduled for March 28, 2017
VFD Regulations - What Does It Mean for Livestock Owners & Beekeepers
March 28, 2017
6:00pm - 8:00 pm
Warsaw, NY
If you want to learn more about the VFD, Veterinarian Feed Directive, and how it might affect you and home treatments of your livestock, plan to attend this information session.
Pesticide Applicator Training
March 28, 2017
Registration 12:00pm - Class 12:30-3:30pm
Drydeny, NY
The South Central NY Dairy & Field Crops Team is offering a Pesticide Applicator Training on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at the Dryden Fire Hall, 26 North Street, Dryden, NY with registration beginning at 12:00pm and the class from 12:30-3:30pm. Exam date TBA.
Core and category manuals are available at an additional cost and MUST be ordered by March 24, 2017 to ensure that they arrive prior to the class date. Manuals needed: Core Manual and Category 21 (Field and Forage). Order Manuals online at https://store.cornell.edu/c-876-pmep-manuals.aspx or contact Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2662 or email jma358@cornell.edu. For questions contact Janice Degni, Area Field Crops Specialist at 607.391.2672 or email jgd3@cornell.edu.
This training covers the law governing pesticide use and licensing, a basic introduction to safe pesticide handling and use, as well as test preparation. The training will also provide information regarding pesticide laws and regulations, how to read the pesticide label, guidelines for proper handling of pesticides and protecting the pesticide handler as well as impacts on the environment and integrated pest management.
3 DEC re-certification credits available.
Core and category manuals are available at an additional cost and MUST be ordered by March 24, 2017 to ensure that they arrive prior to the class date. Manuals needed: Core Manual and Category 21 (Field and Forage). Order Manuals online at https://store.cornell.edu/c-876-pmep-manuals.aspx or contact Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2662 or email jma358@cornell.edu. For questions contact Janice Degni, Area Field Crops Specialist at 607.391.2672 or email jgd3@cornell.edu.
NYS Livestock Summit - Montour Falls Location
March 30, 2017
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Montour Falls, NY
Calling experienced livestock producers: We know you face tremendous challenges to grow your business. What are the undeveloped opportunities and how can we collectively address them?
NYS Livestock Summit - Warsaw Location
March 30, 2017
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Warsaw, NY
Calling experienced livestock producers: We know you face tremendous challenges to grow your business. What are the undeveloped opportunities and how can we collectively address them?
Getting Started in Agritourism Workshop, Creating a Destination Farm
March 30, 2017
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Rochester, NY
Cornell Extensions of Monroe and Tompkins County proudly invites farmers, food entrepreneurs, horse-farm owners, and other Agribusiness operators to attend the Agritourism workshop.
April 2017
Tioga County Dairy Small Group Learning Workshops - Focus on Farm Ownership
April 4, 2017
12:30-3pm
Owego, NY
Tioga County Dairy Small Group Learning Workshop - FOCUS ON FARM OWNERSHIP: IMPORTANT AGREEMENTS AND DOCUMENTS TO RUN YOUR FARM BUSINESS
Tuesday, April 4, 2017 - 12:30-3pm, CCE Tioga
- Pro-Dairy's Anna Richards will be leading discussion around the important documents you need to have and use as a farm business owner. These include operating agreements, lease agreements, buy/sell agreements, wills, LLC's & more!
- Cost $10/per person
- Light snacks and drinks will be served
- Please pre-register for planning purposes
- Register online or by contacting Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2662 or email jma358@cornell.edu
- Questions? Call Betsy Hicks at 607.391.2673
Q & A with FDA and others on VFD
April 5, 2017
3:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Canandaigua, NY
Here is your chance to ask the FDA and other major stakeholders about VFD.
Sheep and Goat Week
April 5, 2017
7:00pm
Canton, NY
Cattle Artificial Insemination Training
April 7 - April 8, 2017
10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Shortsville, NY
NOTICE: For registration please call: Cathy Wallace at 585-343-3040 x138
Dairy Girl Network CNY Peer Group Meeting - Grants
April 13, 2017
1-3 pm
Cortland, NY
The topic for our meeting will be "Getting Grant Money to Help you Farm!". Erin Madden of FSA in Cortland/Tompkins County and Suzette Kocher with NRCS in Cortland County will be there to discuss what programs are available through their offices. Sarah Ficken and Tina Jacobs will cover what grants they have been able to receive as producers and give their experience.
Since we are still in the infancy of building our group, all "dairy girls" - Women who are involved in any aspect of dairy - are welcome to come! Feel free to bring a dairy girl-friend to the meeting. If you need to bring little ones, it's perfectly ok!
Since we are still in the infancy of building our group, all "dairy girls" - Women who are involved in any aspect of dairy - are welcome to come! Feel free to bring a dairy girl-friend to the meeting. If you need to bring little ones, it's perfectly ok!
RSVP to:
-Betsy Hicks - 607.391.2673 or email bjh246@cornell.edu
-Sarah Ficken - sjs299@cornell.edu
Please follow our team's facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/SCNYDairyandFieldCropsTeam/ where we post the events related to local Dairy Girl Network meetings!
Sheep and Goat Week
April 19, 2017
10am-12pm
Glenfield, NY
Sheep and Goat Week
April 19, 2017
6:30pm-8:30pm
Lowville, NY
May 2017
Artisan Cheeses of Western New York
May 17, 2017
6:30pm - 9:00pm
East Aurora, NY
Western New York is producing some of the most interesting and most thoughtfully created artisan cheeses in the state. Cornell Cooperative Extension Dairy Processing Specialist (and Harvest NY team member) Carl Moody will give an overview of the cheese making process and share what artisan cheesemakers are doing in the region as well as samples of some of their best work.
Successful Reproductive Management Forum - Ontario Location
May 19, 2017
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Canandaigua, NY
A few of the leading reproductive herds in the Northeast will share how they achieve outstanding reproductive reslults through a roundtable discussion. Key takeaways will include how adherence to protocols and overall consistency lead to reproductive success.
Successful Reproductive Management Forum - Wyoming Location
May 20, 2017
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Warsaw, NY
A few of the leading reproductive herds in the Northeast will share how they achieve outstanding reproductive reslults through a roundtable discussion. Key takeaways will include how adherence to protocols and overall consistency lead to reproductive success.
Upcoming Events
Cornell Seed Growers Field Day
July 2, 2024 : Cornell Seed Growers Field Day
Ithaca, NY
Save the Date!
North American Manure Expo
July 17 - July 18, 2024 : North American Manure Expo
Auburn, NY
Save the Date for the North American Manure Expo
Professionalism in Nutrient Management - www.manureexpo.com
Sundaes on the Farm
July 21, 2024
Spencer, NY
Learn about Tioga County Agriculture! IFree Admission! Enjoy Ice Cream, Animals and Farm Tours, Kid's Activities, Food, Live Music, and Farm Vendors.
Announcements
Farm Participants Needed for Bale Grazing Grant!
Information on the Project:- Approximately 10 acres total needed to bale graze two different bale densities
- "Core" farms will graze two winters, "Demo" farms will graze one winter.
- Payments for both "Core" farms and "Demo" farms
- Baseline soil sampling by bale grazing team
- Forage measurements in early season by bale grazing team
- Late season clipping if residual not trampled down by farm
Interested farms can enroll for this winter or next.
Looking for 2-3 dairy farms to enroll! If interested, please reach out to Betsy Hicks, 607.391.2673 or bjh246@cornell.edu
Cornell Cow Convos - New Podcast
On-going podcast, New episodes released on the last Thursday of the month.Guest speakers, CCE Dairy Specialists.
Housed on Soundcloud Channel is CCE Dairy Educators
Topics:
- Preventative healthcare for cows
- The trend of beef on dairy
- What to look forward to in the new year for dairy
- Socially grouping or pair-housing calves
Dairy Acceleration Program Funds Available
Funds available for the
- organization of financial records/benchmarking up to $1,000
- continued business planning (for farms awarded in a previous year) up to $2,500
- business planning up to $5,000
2018 Drug Residue Prevention Manual
For more than 30 years, the U.S. dairy industry has focused educational efforts on the judicious use of antibiotics through the annual publication of a Best Practices Manual. The 2018 edition of the National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management? Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual is the primary educational tool for dairy farm managers throughout the country on the judicious and responsible use of antibiotics, including avoidance of drug residues in milk and meat.The manual is a quick resource to review those antibiotics approved for dairy animals and can also be used as an educational tool and resource for farm managers as they develop on-farm best management practices necessary to avoid milk and meat residues. Visit the Manual and Form Library to download copies of this important tool!
Follow us on Facebook
The team updates our facebook page frequently - follow us to be updated on our events, see some fun videos and get local area updates!facebook.com/SCNYDairyandFieldCropsTeam
ProDairy Forage Management
Are you prepared to change your routine this spring?By: Joe Lawrence, Cornell CALS PRO-DAIRY and Ron Kuck, Cornell Cooperative Extension North Country Regional Ag Team
While spring tasks vary by farm, there are many "rites of spring," and they are often completed in a fairly rigid sequence. Depending on the farm, these often include fixing fence, spreading manure, planting new seedings, planting corn and harvesting first cutting, and are often performed in this order.
We are optimistic that the upcoming turn in weather will allow these task to be accomplished in a timely manner, but at this point it is time to ask yourself: Are you willing to change your spring routine?
In addition to adverse weather it is no secret that everyone is facing extremely tight economic times, and dealing with forage inventories of poor digestibility forages from 2017. This combination of factors makes it more critical than ever to be ready to tackle the task that will have the most impact on your business at the proper time.
Recent reference articles on dealing with tough times:
• Key Opportunities to Optimize 2018 Crop Production Efficiency
• Resources for Dealing with Spring Weather Delays
First Cutting
The number one focus should be on timely harvest of first cutting.
• Park the corn planter when a field of first cutting is ready for harvest.
o Monitoring 1st cut harvest timing
• Approach harvest by the acre, not by the field. Be ready to skip over a field that has passed its optimum harvest stage.
o Dynamic Harvest Schedules
• Strategically plan feed storage to best utilize forage inventories for the right group of animals.
o Strategic Forage Storage Planning
o When More is Better
Corn Planting
The window for planting for silage is generally wider than for grain, which is why first cutting can and should take priority over corn planting. However, in the event of extreme delays in planting corn, performance will diminish with late plantings. If corn planting progresses into late May or early June, begin to consider alternative options for those acres. Previous research from Cornell and Penn State suggest a 0.5 to 1 ton/acre per week decline in silage yield for planting after mid to late May.
Multi-Tasking
First and foremost during a time of year that can be very busy and stressful, taking every precaution to keep your team safe is critical.
The idea of fitting all of this work into a condensed time period, and still getting key tasks completed before critical deadlines can seem impossible, but year after year many find unique ways to get it all done. Consider working with neighbors, custom operators or renting equipment to accomplish these key tasks on time.
If you currently utilize custom operators, now is a good time to set up a time to meet with them and make sure you are on the same page to get tasks accomplished in the time-frame needed. Make sure that your expectations and goals are clearly defined. They will also be under stress to fit their work into a condensed period and meet their customers' expectations, so defining expectations and pre-planning how to most efficiently get the work accomplished when the custom operator arrives can go a long way to increase the chances for success.
While spring tasks vary by farm, there are many "rites of spring," and they are often completed in a fairly rigid sequence. Depending on the farm, these often include fixing fence, spreading manure, planting new seedings, planting corn and harvesting first cutting, and are often performed in this order.
We are optimistic that the upcoming turn in weather will allow these task to be accomplished in a timely manner, but at this point it is time to ask yourself: Are you willing to change your spring routine?
In addition to adverse weather it is no secret that everyone is facing extremely tight economic times, and dealing with forage inventories of poor digestibility forages from 2017. This combination of factors makes it more critical than ever to be ready to tackle the task that will have the most impact on your business at the proper time.
Recent reference articles on dealing with tough times:
• Key Opportunities to Optimize 2018 Crop Production Efficiency
• Resources for Dealing with Spring Weather Delays
First Cutting
The number one focus should be on timely harvest of first cutting.
• Park the corn planter when a field of first cutting is ready for harvest.
o Monitoring 1st cut harvest timing
• Approach harvest by the acre, not by the field. Be ready to skip over a field that has passed its optimum harvest stage.
o Dynamic Harvest Schedules
• Strategically plan feed storage to best utilize forage inventories for the right group of animals.
o Strategic Forage Storage Planning
o When More is Better
Corn Planting
The window for planting for silage is generally wider than for grain, which is why first cutting can and should take priority over corn planting. However, in the event of extreme delays in planting corn, performance will diminish with late plantings. If corn planting progresses into late May or early June, begin to consider alternative options for those acres. Previous research from Cornell and Penn State suggest a 0.5 to 1 ton/acre per week decline in silage yield for planting after mid to late May.
Multi-Tasking
First and foremost during a time of year that can be very busy and stressful, taking every precaution to keep your team safe is critical.
The idea of fitting all of this work into a condensed time period, and still getting key tasks completed before critical deadlines can seem impossible, but year after year many find unique ways to get it all done. Consider working with neighbors, custom operators or renting equipment to accomplish these key tasks on time.
If you currently utilize custom operators, now is a good time to set up a time to meet with them and make sure you are on the same page to get tasks accomplished in the time-frame needed. Make sure that your expectations and goals are clearly defined. They will also be under stress to fit their work into a condensed period and meet their customers' expectations, so defining expectations and pre-planning how to most efficiently get the work accomplished when the custom operator arrives can go a long way to increase the chances for success.
NYSERDA Agriculture Energy Audit Program
NYSERDA offers energy audits to help eligible farms and on-farm producers identify ways to save energy and money on utility bills. Reports include recommendations for energy efficiency measures.Eligibility
Eligible farms include but are not limited to dairies, orchards, greenhouses, vegetables, vineyards, grain dryers, and poultry/egg. The farms must also be customers of New York State investor-owned utilities and contribute to the System Benefits Charge (SBC). Please check your farm’s current utility bills to see if your farm pays the SBC.
Energy Audit Options
You can request the level of energy audit that best fits your farm’s needs. NYSERDA will assign a Flexible Technical Assistance Program Consultant to visit your farm and perform an energy audit at no cost to you.
For more information and the NYSERDA Agriculture Energy Audit Program Application click here
For more information and the NYSERDA Agriculture Energy Audit Program Application click here