Add All Dairy Team Events to View

Events - month view

view earlier months earlier months

July 2016

Organic Dairy & Crop Producer's Discussion Group

July 13, 2016
1-3pm
Groton, NY

Join us for Lunch at noon followed by discussion & farmstead tour from 1:00-3:00 PM

This is an opportunity to get together and talk about the crop season and share successes and challenges in your cropping programs. Ed and Eileen Sheffler will start the discussion with an overview of their dairy farm and supplemental enterprises including an oil press for biodiesel production, grain storage and farm store for farm raised milk, meat, eggs and excess garden produce. They are self sufficient with grains-corn and soybean. We can look at nearby fields. Crop rotation, crop choice, weed control and fertility strategies will be highlighted. Looking forward to seeing you. Come prepared to share your crop production practices.

Please rsvp for planning lunch to Jen at 391-2660 or jma358@cornell.edu
Please call Janice (391-2672) with any questions.

Timely Culling to Increase Profitability

July 14, 2016
7-9 pm
Dryden, NY

Looking for more revenue in this down milk economy?  Making sure you're getting the most out of cull cows when you send them to the sale barn can help.  We've put together a group of speakers to talk about timely culling for cows, from a local veterinarian's perspective to a state veterinarian's experiences, to the local sale barn manager's knowledge. 

Twilight Meeting - Stronghaven Farm LLC

July 19, 2016
6:30-8 pm
Barton, NY

Tour of new calf facility and informal discussion to follow at Strong's Pond, Depew Rd, Barton

The farm's veterinarian, Dr Ben Laudermilk, will be present to speak on changes the farm experienced after moving into the new facility, as well as common calf issues.

August 2016

Twilight Meeting - Glezen Farms LLC

August 2, 2016
7-8:30pm
Lisle, NY

Tour of the freestall facility and informal discussion around cow comfort to follow at the farm.  
Three separate NOVUS assessments have been completed on farm, and changes inbetween discussed.  Speakers will include:  Scott Glezen, owner; Brad Blaisure, Herdsman; and Chelsea Hoover, nutritionist with Shur-Gain. 

Pasture Walk & Farm Visit at Pastureland Organic Dairy

August 16, 2016
11:30am - 2:30pm
Manlius, NY

Pete and his son Jeremy will lead us on a tour of the pastures and farmstead. They have practiced intensive grazing since 1987. This year they topdressed pastures and hayfields with gypsum and chicken manure and see a huge benefit. 

In 2005, Pete began his transition to organic and began shipping organic milk in May of 2007. The farm is nearly grain self-sufficient. They currently milk 300, grown internally from 60 head in 1987. With the help of Dairy One testing and records, the farm maintains a low somatic cell count and received the Silver Cow Award for keeping SCC under 150,000 for a year. Pete was an early adopter of solar panels to supply the farm and home's electrical needs. The low maintenance panels run along a barn roof.

There will be lots of things to see and hear about on this farm from the cropping program and pasture management, calf care & new barn, breed selection, record keeping and decision making and home built facilities with a flat barn parlor that has a throughput of 100 cows/hr.  

Please rsvp for planning lunch to Jen at 391-2662 or jma358@cornell.edu or register online
Please call Janice (391-2672) with any questions.

Crop Practices that Support Soil Health

August 23, 2016
11:00am - 1:30pm
Ithaca, NY

Aiming to conserve his soil, Jamie Baker has been adding cover crops and no-till into his cropping system. He will share his trials and successes over the last 3 years. Getting the right equipment, properly adjusted has been an important step to his success.

We will explore:
Soil Function,
Soil Biology &
Soil Health

We will share results and interpretations from the Cornell Soil Health Test.

Featuring FIELD DEMONSTRATIONS with the Tools from the NYS SOIL HEALTH TRAILER. 

We will:
  • Measure soil compaction with a penetrometer
  • Measure aggregate stability with the rainfall simulator
  • Measure available food for microbes with the Active Carbon test

The Cornell Soil Health Test?What does it measure and what actions can we take to relieve constraints? 
  • Aaron Ristow, Cornell Soil Health Lab will lead a discussion to highlight management strategies for improving soil health based on measured constraints.

Supported with funding from NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets

Please rsvp for planning lunch to Jen at 391-2662 or jma358@cornell.edu or register online
Please call Janice (391-2672) with any questions.

September 2016

Corn Silage Harvest Workshop

September 6, 2016
1-3pm
Cortland, NY

Join us on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 from 1-3pm at East River Dairy, 4979 E River Crossing Rd, Cortland, NY for a Corn Silage Harvest Workshop!

Topics Will Include:
  • Minimizing Shrink 
  • Maximizing Packing Density
  • Proper Processing and Dry Matter
  • Getting a Handle on Inventory Early
  • Drought Stressed Corn & Nitrate Concerns
Speakers:
  • Steve Judd, Cargill Feed & Nutrition
  • Kevin Putnam, DuPont Pioneer
  • Janice Degni & Betsy Hicks, SCNY Dairy & Field Crops Team
** Come early and bring 3-4 stalks of your corn (label fields) to be chipped and dried down for dry matters **
  • Light refreshments & drinks will be offered
  • Live demonstrations for determining packing weight needed, bunk density, processing
  • Updates on current conditions?we may be into chopping! 
RSVP to Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2662 or email jma358@cornell.edu
Questions to Betsy Hicks at 607.391.2673 or email bjh246@cornell.edu

Corn Silage Harvest Workshop

September 7, 2016
1-3pm
Apulia Station, NY

Join us on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 from 1-3pm at Maplelane Manor, 6565 Route 80, Apulia Station, NY 13020 for a Corn Silage Harvest Workshop!

Topics Will Include:
  • Minimizing Shrink 
  • Maximizing Packing Density
  • Proper Processing and Dry Matter
  • Getting a Handle on Inventory Early
  • Drought Stressed Corn & Nitrate Concerns
Speakers:
  • Steve Judd, Cargill Feed & Nutrition
  • Kevin Putnam, DuPont Pioneer
  • Janice Degni & Betsy Hicks, SCNY Dairy & Field Crops Team
** Come early and bring 3-4 stalks of your corn (label fields) to be chipped and dried down for dry matters **
  • Light refreshments & drinks will be offered
  • Live demonstrations for determining packing weight needed, bunk density, processing
  • Updates on current conditions?we may be into chopping! 
RSVP to Jen Atkinson at 607.391.2662 or email jma358@cornell.edu
Questions to Betsy Hicks at 607.391.2673 or email bjh246@cornell.edu


more content - left
Dairy

Dairy

Livestock

Livestock

Grazing

Grazing

Forages

Forages

Grains

Grains

more content - right
view calendar of events

Upcoming Events

Labor Road Show IX

December 1, 2025

The Roadshow delivers essential updates on labor law, regulations, and workforce best practices—tailored for farm owners, managers, and ag service providers. Sessions also focus on practical strategies to boost communication, strengthen retention, and build a positive workplace culture.

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 


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



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


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