Events - month view
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January 2016
Keepin' Em Comfy
January 11, 2016
Registration 10 am; Program 10:30-2:30 pm
Ithaca, NY
A Workshop on Cow Comfort, Dairy Handling and Public Perception will be offered to educate farmers and farm managers on understanding cow behavior and how to use it on farm, understanding bottlenecks on your own operation, and talking to the public about dairy farm practices.
Manure Storage Workshop
January 12, 2016
9:15am - 3:15pm
Cuyler, NY
The SCNY Dairy & Field Crops Team, PRO-DAIRY and Cortland County Soil & Water Conservation District are co-sponsoring this workshop.
Topics:
Register: Register online or call Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2660 Ext. 403 or email jma358@cornell.edu
Questions: Call Janice Degni at 607.391.2660 Ext. 414 or email jgd3@cornell.edu
- Review Whey Street Dairy Concerns
- Storage Issues
- Manure Covers
- Satellite Storages
- Labor Requirements
- Custom Operators
- Managing Manure Storage
- Liners
- Environmental Issues
- CAFO Permit
- Winter Spreading
- Tile Discharges
- Solid Separation
- Bedding
- Odor
- Safety (Gypsum)
- Application Systems
- Manure Transfer
- Funding Sources
- Optional Tour of Whey Street Dairy
Register: Register online or call Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2660 Ext. 403 or email jma358@cornell.edu
Questions: Call Janice Degni at 607.391.2660 Ext. 414 or email jgd3@cornell.edu
New York Certified Organice (NYCO) - 2016
January 12 - March 8, 2016
January 12, 2016, February 9, 2016 & March 8, 2016 - Program at 10:00am
Geneva, NY
- January 12, 2016 - Organic Crop Management through Good Years and Bad
- What to do when the cultivating window doesn't open very wide
- Effects of long-term management on weed competition in organic soybean
- Reducing Pasture Compaction with Daikon Radish
- Discussion: "What do you want to make per acre on your farm?"
- February 9, 2016 - Managing Soil Health with Crop Rotations and Forage Production
- Putting Soil Health Knowledge into Practice
- Alternative Forage Rotations to Protect the Soil on Marginal Land
- Discussion: Farmer Panel on how to decide whether to sell forages to dairy farmers or plow them in for a green manure.
- March 8, 2016
- Developing New Markets for Organic Grain
- What's transpiring in the World Market of Grain
- Flax Grain - Production and Uses
- Discussion: New or Undeserved Markets in the Northeast
There is no cost for the programs and pre-registration is not required. Participants are asked to bring a dish to pass for potluck lunch. For more information contact Fay Benson, CCE Cortland at 607.391.2660 Ext. 410 or email afb3@cornell.edu.
Cortland Area Dairy Managers Discussion Group
January 21, 2016
1-3pm
Cortland, NY
This is the first meeting of our Discussion Group for 2016. Collin McCarthy will be leading the discussion around key areas to focus on as a manager. We will have food and refreshments! Feel free to bring someone you think would be a good addition to our group! Please RSVP to Betsy, CCE Dairy Specialist at 607.391.2660 Ext. 415 or email bjh246@cornell.edu. Save the date for 2/18 and 3/14 for future meetings.
Annie's Project - Empowering Women in Agriculture
January 26 - March 22, 2016
Jan 26, Feb 9 & 23, Mar 8 & 22 (snowdate Mar 15) 10:30am - 2:00pm
A 5 week workshop series for farm women
Jan 26, Feb 9 & 23, Mar 8 & 22 with snowdate Mar 15
10:30 am-2:30 pm
Choose your Location: CCE Broome or Cayuga Counties, LaFayette Christian & Missionary Alliance Church, Lafayette; & Dryden Fire Hall
Cost for all Session: $100
Includes: 15 hours of instruction, meals and course materials.
Jan 26, Feb 9 & 23, Mar 8 & 22 with snowdate Mar 15
10:30 am-2:30 pm
Choose your Location: CCE Broome or Cayuga Counties, LaFayette Christian & Missionary Alliance Church, Lafayette; & Dryden Fire Hall
Cost for all Session: $100
Includes: 15 hours of instruction, meals and course materials.
2016 Winter Crop Meeting
![Event Offers DEC Credits](images/dec_credits.gif)
January 29, 2016
9:30am - 3:00pm
Ithaca, NY
2016 Winter Crop Meeting to be held Friday, January 29, 2016 from 9:30am-3:00pm at the Ramada Ithaca Hotel and Conference Center, 2310 N. Triphammer Rd., Ithaca, NY. This year's program features Jim Harbach, Schrack Farms, a no-till farmer from Central Pennsylvania. He farms 2000 acres with no-till for his 1000 cow dairy. John Kemmeren, a more local farm from Bainbridge, NY is also experienced with no-till on a variety of soil types and will share his techniques.
2016 Winter Crop Meeting
![Event Offers DEC Credits](images/dec_credits.gif)
January 29, 2016
9:30am - 3:00pm
Ithaca, NY
2016 Winter Crop Meeting to be held Friday, January 29, 2016 from 9:30am-3:00pm at the Ramada Ithaca Hotel and Conference Center, 2310 N. Triphammer Rd., Ithaca, NY. This year's program features Jim Harbach, Schrack Farms, a no-till farmer from Central Pennsylvania. He farms 2000 acres with no-till for his 1000 cow dairy. John Kemmeren, a more local farm from Bainbridge, NY is also experienced with no-till on a variety of soil types and will share his techniques.
February 2016
Organic Dairy & Crop Producer's Discussion Group Meeting
February 16, 2016
11:00am - 2:30pm
McLean, NY
Let's get together and discuss cropping plans & options for the next season. Thor Oechsner, will kick off the meeting with a presentation of Attempts in Reduced Tillage in Organic Grain Farming. A second presentation will demonstrate his Practices to Produce and Market Buckwheat.
Thor, as many of you know, farms 1200 acres of corn , food grade small grains and hay in rotation on his hill farm in Newfield, south of Ithaca. He also is an owner of Farmer Ground Flour in Trumansburg which produces organic artisan grains and flours grown from his and other area farms. These go to markets all over NY and New England. He also co-owns Wide Awake Bakery which use a bread CSA model to market wood fired loaves and pastries using flour from his mill to the Ithaca area. Our conversation will be fueled by a delicious hot lunch. Looking forward to seeing you and having a lively discussion.
Thor, as many of you know, farms 1200 acres of corn , food grade small grains and hay in rotation on his hill farm in Newfield, south of Ithaca. He also is an owner of Farmer Ground Flour in Trumansburg which produces organic artisan grains and flours grown from his and other area farms. These go to markets all over NY and New England. He also co-owns Wide Awake Bakery which use a bread CSA model to market wood fired loaves and pastries using flour from his mill to the Ithaca area. Our conversation will be fueled by a delicious hot lunch. Looking forward to seeing you and having a lively discussion.
The cost is $10 each or $15 for 2 people from the same farm. Register online or by calling Jen Atkinson at 391-2660 Ext. 403 or email jma358@cornell.edu.
Broome-Tioga-Chemung Farmers Discussion Group Meeting
February 17, 2016
1-3 pm
Owego, NY
Our speaker Betsey Howland will lead us through a group discussion on managing through low milk prices and preparing for the next high cycle. Please RSVP to Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2660 Txt. 403 or email jma358@cornell.edu. For questions contact Betsy Hicks at 607.391.2660 Ext. 415 or email bjh246@cornell.edu.
Cortland Area Dairy Managers Discussion Group
February 18, 2016
1-3pm
Cortland, NY
Tom Maloney will be leading the discussion regarding employee handbooks and job descriptions. We will have food and refreshments! Feel free to bring someone you think would be a good addition to our group! Please RSVP to Betsy, CCE Dairy Specialist at 607.391.2660 Ext. 415 or email bjh246@cornell.edu. Save the date 3/14 for our future meeting.
2016 Milk Outlook: How Things Are Flowing
February 18, 2016
Registration 6 pm, Program 6:30-8pm
Cortland, NY
Guest Speaker Andy Novakovic, the E.V. Baker Professor of Agricultural Economics at Cornell University will be addressing the group on topics including
Market Outlook
Patterns in Milk Production Growth
Trends in Dairy Food Consumption
and will also be available to answer questions after his presentation.
March 2016
Winter Dairy Management
March 1, 2016
10-3 pm
Binghamton, NY
2016 Winter Dairy Management will focus around Transition Cows, including Nutrition, Animal Behavior Considerations and Cow-side Care and Decision Making.
Corn & Soybean Update
March 3, 2016
10:00am - 3:00pm
Binghamton, NY
The SCNY Dairy & Field Crops Team and Page Seeds are co-sponsoring this event which will be held on Thursday March 3, 2016 from 10:00am to 3:00pm at CCE Broome County, 840 Upper Front St., Binghamton, NY. Topics will include: Developing Corn Hybrids w/ Performance for the Northeast, Benefits of Inoculants in Forage and Grain Production, Herbicides for Reduced Tillage & Cover Crops and Soybean Update. Cost of the workshop TBA. DEC Credits in Application Register online or call Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2660 Ext. 403 or email jma358@cornell.edu. For questions, call Janice Degni at 607.391.2660 Ext. 414 or email jgd3@cornell.edu.
Cortland Area Dairy Managers Discussion Group
March 17, 2016
1-3pm
Cortland, NY
This is the 3rd meeting for our Discussion Group. Our presenters will be Dan Welch and Kim Fortin from NYFarmNet. They will be discussing Farm Succession and Communication. We will have food and refreshments! Please RSVP to Betsy, CCE Dairy Specialist at 607.391.2660 Ext. 415 or email bjh246@cornell.edu.
Pesticide Applicator Training
![Event Offers DEC Credits](images/dec_credits.gif)
March 18, 2016
12:30-3:30pm
Binghamton, NY
Pesticide Applicator Training - CCE Broome County, 840 Upper Front St., Binghamton
- Instruction Class - March 18, 2016 - 12:30-3:30pm
- Exam - April 1, 2016 - 12:30-3:30pm
- Cost - $25/Instruction Class
3 DEC Re-Certification Credits Available
**Manuals available at an additional cost and MUST BE ORDERED BY MARCH 11, 2016 to ensure that they will be received before the class date. Manuals needed: Core Manual and Field and Forage (21).
Order Manuals online at https://store.cornell.edu/c-873-cornell-coop-ext.aspx or call Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2660 Ext. 403 or email jma358@cornell.edu
Contact Janice Degni at 607.391.2660 Ext. 414 or email jgd3@cornell.edu with questions.
Broome-Tioga-Chemung Farmers Discussion Group Meeting
March 23, 2016
1-3 pm
Owego, NY
Pro Dairy's Robert Lynch will be our featured speaker. Please RSVP to Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2660 Ext. 403 or email jma358@cornell.edu. For questions contact Betsy Hicks at 607.391.2660 Ext. 415 or email bjh246@cornell.edu.
Feeder School: Hands-On Training for Feeders on Dairy Farms
March 24, 2016
Registration 10:00am, Program 10:30am-2:30pm
Ithaca, NY
Topics:
Intended Audience: Feeders who are looking for a refresher on some of the basics of feeding management or those who are new to the position.
Cost: $25 per person pre-reg by 3/22, $30 at door
Register online or call Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2660 Ext. 403 or email jma358@cornell.edu. For questions, call Betsy Hicks at 607.391.2660 Ext. 415 or email bjh246@cornell.edu.
- Feeder Basics
- Economic Impacts of Feeding
- Communication of Feed Manager w/ Owner/Herd Manager/Nutritionist
- Dry matter: what it is and why it matters, including Feeder Math
- Feed Bunk scoring - causes of intake fluctuations, adjusting consequent feedings
- Bunk Face maintenance, sampling techniques
- Strategies to minimize shrink, including pre-batching grain
- Feeder Safety
Intended Audience: Feeders who are looking for a refresher on some of the basics of feeding management or those who are new to the position.
Cost: $25 per person pre-reg by 3/22, $30 at door
Register online or call Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2660 Ext. 403 or email jma358@cornell.edu. For questions, call Betsy Hicks at 607.391.2660 Ext. 415 or email bjh246@cornell.edu.
Upcoming Events
Tioga County Summer Pasture Walk #3
September 12, 2024
Candor, NY
Join Us for our no cost Tioga County Summer Pasture Walk #3 on September 12th, 2024 at 1-3:30pm.
Location: Michael Troyer's farm, 696 Honeypot Rd, Candor
Topics: parasite management w/ grazing small ruminants, record keeping, pasture rejuvenation, winter management, stockpiling
Presenters: Jess Waltemyer, Cornell University Small Ruminant Specialist; Troy Bishopp, USC, Madison County SWCD, Janice Degni & Betsy Hicks, CCE Dairy & Field Crops Team
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