Curious, Scared, Running Cows

OK, everyone. Check this out. 

Hilarious. Thanks to the New York Center for Agricultural Health and Medicine for posting on FB.

Blueberry Festival Coming at Abbotts

From Abbotts Farms in Lysander:

BlueBerry Festival coming Aug. 9 and 10!

Festival Hours   Saturday  Store 8 am - 9 pm   Fields   8 am - 6 pm 

                                     Sunday   Store & Fields 11 am - 5 pm

  

Blueberry Fest Times & Info: 

Saturday - 8/9: 

Pancakes -  8 am - ?.  pancakes available all day (blueberry, plain). Syrups made with our own blueberries,  After breakfast, enjoy them with ice cream 

Barbecue - 11am  - Abbott's hamburgers & cheeseburgers, Hofmann's dogs, 

Live Music TBA - noon - 3:15 pm.  Bring a chair & stay for awhile!

Wagon Rides - free, start at 10 on Saturday

Face Painting - free all day

Bounce House - free all day

Super Tunnel Slides - free all day

Barnyard Animals - help us welcome our new baby goats!

Kids Activity Table by our own "Art on the Farm" team - free all day

Sunday - 8/10: 

Pancakes -  8 am - ?.  pancakes available all day (blueberry, plain). Syrups made with our own blueberries,  After breakfast, enjoy them with ice cream 

Barbecue - 11am  - Abbott's hamburgers & cheeseburgers, Hofmann's dogs, 

Live Music TBA - noon - 3:15 pm. Bring a chair & stay for awhile! 

Wagon Rides - free 11-4 

Face Painting - free all day

Bounce House - free all day

Super Tunnel Slides - free all day

Barnyard Animals - help us welcome our new baby goats!

Kids Activity Table - free all day

 

  

Crops in Season

Blueberries lots and lots

Raspberries - Red, Purple & Black  the season is winding down so don't miss those Raspberries!

Cherries - lots available but only in the store, u-pick is done for the season

  

U-pick Field Hours (varies by crop)

Call 638-7783 or check facebook before you come to make 

sure we are picking that day 

  

Buy Tickets to State Fair Online

The state is making it easier to buy tickets for the Great New York State Fair.

For the first time ever, people can buy tickets online to attend the fair, which runs from Aug. 21 ot Sept. 1.

The fair has debuted a new online purchasing page on its website at nysfair.org/buy-tickets that offers tickets at a 40 percent discount over the price at the gate.

The secure website sells five products including the single-day ticket, which will be mailed free of charge to buyers:

• A single-day advance sale ticket, for $6. That’s a 40 percent savings over the $10 charge for admission at the gate during the Fair.
  
  
• A Frequent Fairgoer ticket book, which contains 6 days’ worth of tickets, for $30. That’s a 50 percent savings over the full general admission price.
  
  
• A single-day rides wristband voucher, for $20. The voucher saves $5 over the weekday price and $10 over the weekend price. The wristband allows a fairgoer to ride the all-new Wade Shows Midway rides all day.
  
  
• A voucher for the Mega Pass, for $70, which allows a fairgoer to ride Midway rides all day every day of the Fair.
  
  
• A daily parking pass for $5.​

This is the first time that the Frequent Fairgoer ticket book and parking passes have been available beyond the State Fair Box Office. The online site joins a massive network of grocery and drug stores, including nearly every Wegmans, Price Chopper, Tops, and Kinney Drug, that last year sold more than 300,000 advance sale tickets. Select stores also sell ​one-day ride wristbands.

Apple Association Unveils New Website

Right before the apple harvest in September, the New York Apple Association has revamped its website at NYAppleCountry.com

The refreshed site features:

** profiles on 24 of New York state's top apple varieties, including Honeycrisp, Gala, and McIntosh
** almost 100 recipes using apples or apple products
** facts about the New York apple industry and apples in general as well as frequently asked questions
** a large nutrition section, including apple Nutrition Facts, health and weight benefits of eating apples and research updates from New York Apple Association Consulting Dietitian Linda Quinn, of Syracuse.

"Our goal is to be New York state apple fans' 'go to' resource for apple information," said Jim Allen, apple association president. "So we've provided everything we think they'll want in one attractive, easy-to-use site."
  

St. Lawrence Wine Trail OKed by Governor

State Sen. Patty Ritchie just announced that her St. Lawrence Wine Trail has become a reality.

Here is what she had to say on Facebook: "The governor has just signed my bill created the St. Lawrence Wine Trail. The 80-mile path connects the big county's three wineries and craft brewer, helping us show off our good taste to tourists and area residents alike, while supporting new jobs, farmers and small businesses along the way."

Here is a map of the wine trail:

Happy Ice Cream Day

Have a great day, everyone. 

Cows Die in Barn Fire in Fulton County

Go to http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/features/top-story/stories/breakingbarn-fire-fulton-county-17832.shtml?wap=0#.U8naNMFOlHI.facebook to see the story.

Truer Words Were Never Spoken

I love this.

Cheese Festival July 26 near Watkins Glen

Let's celebrate cheese.

Go to http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/lifestyle/rocflavors/2014/07/16/finger-lakes-cheese-festival-sunset-view-creamery/12768243/ to read about next weekend's Cheese Festival.

New York State Wood Energy Team Receives Federal Money

Submitted by Kara Lynn Dunn:

On July 15, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the New York State Wood Energy Team, led by the Empire State Forestry Foundation with support from the New York Biomass Energy Alliance, as one of 11 teams receiving cooperative agreements from the USDA Forest Service.  
 
In New York, the Forest Service funding of $250,000, which leverages additional state and private investment, will be used to develop and hold workshops to provide technical, financial and environmental information; offer preliminary engineering assessments; and conduct community outreach needed to support the development of wood energy projects.
 
Successful applications for projects will receive technical assistance to access additional financing for design and construction from the Forest Service, the USDA, and the New York State Green Bank, among other sources.  
 
‘The investment from the Forest Service will allow for a substantial outreach and education campaign that will support the existing bioenergy industry and New York State programs, such as Renewable Heat NY, by raising awareness and understanding of this local, affordable, renewable source of energy,’ says Alice Brumbach, executive administrator of the New York Biomass Energy Alliance. ’

"The New York State Wood Energy Team of dedicated and talented individuals from across the state and region will be working very hard over the next three years to move bioenergy to a mainstream renewable energy option for New Yorkers," she said.    
 
The New York State Wood Energy Team will begin its outreach and education campaign over the next few months in the Catskill Region, the North Country and the Southern Tier.  Contact Alice Brumbach for more information on how you can become involved. 
 
In addition to the Empire State Forestry Foundation and the New York Biomass Energy Alliance, the New York State Wood Energy Team consists of the Adirondack North Country Association, Catskill Forest Association, Clarkson University, Farm Credit East, Mesa Reduction Engineering & Processing, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Northern Forest Center, Richmond Energy Associates, Rick Handley & Associates, Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development Board, SUNY College of Environmental Science & Forestry, Tompkins County Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Yellow Wood Associates.  
 
The advisory board to the New York State Wood Energy Team includes the New York Farm Viability Institute, NYS Department of Ag & Markets, NY Farm Bureau, New York State Wood Products Development Council, Finger Lakes National Forest, and USDA Forest Service. 
 
To see the full list of states receiving Statewide Wood Energy Team cooperative agreements from the Forest Service, go to http://www.fs.fed.us/na/grants/index.shtml.

Why Growing Up on a Farm is a Good Thing

This from Science Daily. 

Go to http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140709095620.htm#.U8QYKNQD5iY.facebook to see the story.

Day On The Farm Event Aug. 2 in Manlius

From Cooperative Extension:

Join Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County, Onondaga County Farm Bureau and Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District for our "DAY ON THE FARM" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday Aug. 2 at the Tre-G Farm in Manlius.

This is a free event that's open to the public and a great opportunity to get up close and personal with the daily operations on a working dairy farm. 

The farm is located at 8183 US Route 20 in Manlius. The Tully FFA kids will serve a chicken barbecue lunch as well! Lots of activities for the kids (and kids at heart).

Farm Credit East Busts Farming Myths

Check out this story from Farm Credit East -- https://www.farmcrediteast.com/News-and-Events/News/20140714FarmingMyths.aspx

It's Sweet Corn Time!

OK, folks.

Start letting me know when the local sweet corn is in.

If you see any, email me at farmwriter56@gmail.com and tell me when you saw it and where. I'll get the word out. 

UPDATE: Well I've heard there was sweet corn for sale at the New Haven Farmers' Market Monday and I saw Hafner's in North Syracuse had its sign out touting sweet corn for sale.

So the corn is in. Let's enjoy. Keep me posted on other places with corn for sale.

Cow Lands in Man's Car in Ontario County

Go to http://www.uticaod.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20140623%2FNEWS%2F140629862 to check out the story by The Associated Press.

Cheddar Cheese Fesitval Saturday, July 12

Check this out -- who doesn't like cheese?

Money Available to Help Seniors Buy Fresh Fruits, Vegetables

A total of $1.5 million in farmers’ market checks are being distributed across New York state as part of the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. 

Made possible with funding from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, the program provides checkbooks worth $20 to low-income New Yorkers age 60 and older to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. 

In Upstate communities, checks will be available at county agencies on aging. In New York City, checks can be picked up at congregate meal sites designated by the NYC Department for the Aging, as well as through Commodity Supplemental Food Programs run through the State Department of Health. 

Checks are available for low-income New Yorkers 60 or over, earning $1,800 or less per month for a single or $2,426 per month for a couple. The program provides them with the means to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers selling at community farmers’ markets.

Nearly 100,000 booklets consisting of five $4 checks are being distributed, and can be used to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables from 950 farmers vending at 500 community farmers’ markets across the state. 

The program is administered by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, in cooperation with the state Office for the Aging, the New York City Department for the Aging and the state Department of Health. Checks can be used at participating farmers markets through November 30 of this year. 

Eligible recipients must be age 60 or older and meet the income eligibility requirement, or affirm that they are currently receiving or eligible to receive one of the following benefits:

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Public assistance or Section 8 housing subsidy. 
Recipients cannot have received FMNP checks from any other location.

Aurora Farm Field Day set for July 17

It's just about time for the annual Aurora Farm Field Day.

The event this year is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 17 at the Musgrave Research Farm, 1256 Poplar Ridge Road, Aurora.

Here is information about the event from Cornell University:

New York’s farming community is invited to learn about the latest research on field crops, soil and pest management during the annual field day at Cornell University’s Musgrave Research Farm in Aurora, featuring farm tours, demonstrations and presentations.  

The event is hosted by the Integrated Field Crop, Soil, and Pest Management Program Work Team in conjunction with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station.

Presentation topics:

•    Advances in Cover Crop Management
•    Breeding and Genetics of Disease Resistance in Corn
•    Control of “Deep-Rooted” Perennial Broadleaf Weeds
•    Corn & Soybean Planting Date x Seeding Depth    Studies
•    Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Nitrogen- vs. Phosphorus-based Manure and Compost Management of Corn
•    Soil Health, Adapt-N and Cover Crop Interseeding for Adaptation and Resilience
•    Western Bean Cutworm and Other Field Crop 2014 Season Pest Updates
•    White Mold of Soybean

Farm Accident in Wisconsin

Go to http://www.wkow.com/story/25987841/2014/07/10/happening-now-grant-county-responding-to-emergency-outside-lancaster to check it out.

The Milkman Cometh

Cool story.

Go to http://modernfarmer.com/2014/05/milkman-cometh/ to check it out.

Should We Stop Romanticizing Farms?

Interesting story.

What do you think?

Go to http://modernfarmer.com/2014/06/stop-romanticizing-farms/ to check it out.

Stewart's coming to Onondaga County

Stewart's Shops, a Saratoga-based company that sells its own milk, ice cream and other dairy products, is coming to Onondaga County.

The company is hiring how for a store to open at the corner of Buckley Road and Morgan Road in Liverpool this fall. 

Stewart's is well known in the North Country and eastern New York. The closest shops to Syracuse are Minetto and Oswego in Oswego County and Camden, Boonville, north of Rome, Clinton, Waterville and Barneveld in Oneida County and Adams in Jefferson County.

Stewart's works closely with 30 local dairy farms for its milk for its products.  

Happy Fourth!!

Happy Independence Day.

And let's remember all the farmers out there who don't get days off like the rest of us.

Yogurt Bar Coming to NY State Fair

Now this is just a yummy idea.

The first-ever New York yogurt bar will debut at this summer's New York State Fair.

The bar, called YO2GO, will offer two types of yogurt – regular vanilla and Greek – made with 100 percent New York milk.

The yogurt bar will be in the Dairy Products Building, which has played host to New York's first-class dairy products since 1976. Two of its most popular exhibits are the butter sculpture and the Rainbow Milk Bar.

“We are very happy to announce that, in addition to buying a fresh cold glass of milk at the Rainbow Milk Bar, fair visitors also will be able to purchase fresh regular and Greek style yogurt with great toppings such as strawberries, blueberries and pineapple,” said Bruce Krupke, chair of the New York State Fair Dairy Products Building Advisory Task Force.

In addition to strawberries, blueberries and pineapple, other toppings will include peach, mango, carrots, black cherry, granola and dark chocolate bits. Low-fat cottage cheese also will be sold at the bar as New York is the largest producer of cottage cheese in the United States.