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Organic Dairy Discussion Group: Fall 2022



Event Details

Date

November 8, 2022

Time

10am-3pm

Location

Farm Credit East
One Technology Place
Homer, NY 13077

Cost

Registration : $15.00

(addl attendee $15.00 ea.)

Host

South Central New York Dairy & Field Crops



Please register here for our fall 2022 Organic Dairy Discussion Group meeting, taking place on Election Day: Tuesday, November 8 from 10am-3pm at the Farm Credit East office building in Homer, NY.  

Meeting Goals

  1. Compare and discuss cost of production numbers for raised forages (corn silage and hay) using data from the 2022 crop season.
  2. Project milk revenues and feed costs for a representative winter month (January 2023) using the updated cost of production numbers for raised forages calculated in Part 1.
  3. Calculate and compare projected winter milk income over feed cost margins.
  4. Discuss winter management strategies related to feeding and cattle inventories.

Data Collection Steps & Timeline

  • Farms complete corn silage and hay cost of production worksheets - by October 21
  • Farms complete Winter Feed Cost and Milk Revenue worksheet (excluding raised crop costs) - by October 21
  • Farms complete an interview with Mary Kate or Jason (Zoom, phone, or in-person) to provide data on machinery use - by October 28
  • Mary Kate generates individual farm reports and comparison reports - by November 4
  • Group meets for discussion - November 8

Download Data Collection Worksheets Here:

Please contact Mary Kate with any questions: 509-294-6073 or mkw87@cornell.edu




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November 15, 2025 : Beef Quality Assurance - Training Day

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Winter Bale Grazing Pasture Walk

January 10, 2026
Truxton, NY

Join us for the second  Bale Grazing Winter Pasture Walk!

Have you heard about or seen bale grazing and wondered if it would work for you?

Do you want to learn the nuances and logistical context for implementing this regenerative practice?

Are you interested in seeing the impacts of bale grazing on land and animals from a practicing farmer? 

If you answered Yes to any question, The Northeast Region National Grazing Lands Coalition, the Cornell Cooperative Extension Hillside Farms are teaming up to showcase our Second Bale Grazing Winter Pasture Walk!

Announcements

USDA Contract Freezes and Terminations: Legal Action Steps for Farmers

For Farmers with Signed EQIP and CSP Contracts

This resource is written for farmers and ranchers nationwide who have a signed contract with USDA NRCS under the EQIP or CSP program for environmental improvements but have concerns that their contract is frozen, under review, or terminated, and who are uncertain of their rights to receive reimbursement as well as their ongoing obligations under the signed contract.

Version: 1.0
Issue date: Feb 28, 2025

A downloadable factsheet is available at our BUSINESS tab on the top of our webpage.

Additional Information: www.farmcommons.org

USDA Contract Freezes: Filing an NAD Appeal or Demand Letter


This resource is written for farmers and ranchers nationwide who have a signed contract with USDA NRCS under the EQIP or CSP program for environmental improvements and want more information on the mechanics of filing a National Appeals Division (NAD) appeal. This resource includes sample letters.

USDA NAD Appeal https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/general-information/staff-offices/office-hearings-and-appeals/national-appeals-division/nad-appeals

A downloadable factsheet is available at our BUSINESS heading at the top of our webpage.


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 


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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


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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


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