Learn About Ag With Tours, Text Messages at New York State Fair

Don't forget.

As you head to the New York State Fair, there are some more ways this year to learn about the state's biggest industry -- agriculture.

The New York State Fair is offering fairgoers a new and exciting way to learn more through free, guided. The tours will be led by MooU, a private tour company, and will take visitors through the fair’s various animal barns, offering insight about the animals and their place in agriculture.  

Tours will begin at the MooU tent, which will be located behind the Agriculture Museum. They will depart every hour starting at 10 a.m. daily with the last tour departing at 5 p.m. 

Tour #1, beginning at 10 a.m. and running every two hours, will include stops at the Dairy Cattle Barn, Beef Barn, Poultry Barn and the Dairy Cow Birthing Center. Tour #2 will begin at 11 a.m, and run every two hours, stopping at the Goat, Sheep and Swine Barns as well as the World of Horses tent.

Fairgoers also have the chance to text an ag question to an expert on the fairgrounds. Agricultural experts will monitor a text channel during the fair, answering questions texted to them.

Signs in each of the barns will provide the phone number where text messages can be sent.

 

The New York State Fair, operated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, runs now through Sept. 4.

USDA Surveying Sheep and Goat Operations

Starting in late December, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will measure sheep and goat inventories and wool and mohair production during a nationwide survey.
 
Operators surveyed will be asked to provide information about their sheep and goat inventories, counts of lambs and kids born during 2016, and production and prices received for wool and mohair.
 
“Accurate data on sheep and goat inventory and production is a significant decision-making tool for USDA and the industry to be more responsive to domestic and international markets and consumer needs,” said King Whetstone, Northeast regional director of the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

“The information can also help create public appreciation for the many benefits of U.S. sheep and goats and their needed products,” said Whetstone.
 
To make it as easy as possible for producers to participate in the survey, the statistics service offers the option of responding online, by telephone, mail, or a personal interview with a local representative.
 
The statistics service safeguards the privacy of all responses and publishes only state- and national-level data in aggregate, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified.
 
Survey results will be published Jan. 31 in the Sheep and Goats report. This and all statistics service reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov. 

For more information, call the Northeastern Regional Field Office at (800) 498-1518.

Goat Fest Aug. 7 in Cuyler

Check out this Facebook link to find out about this weekend's Goat Fest.

Go to https://www.facebook.com/events/900293140117179/

June is Dairy Month -- Milk Comes from More Than Just Cows

As Dairy Month is winding down, here is an oldie but goodie post from Empire State Farming from three years ago.

While 90 percent of all milk consumed by humans comes from cows, there are other animals that provide milk to us.

Here is a list from the Dairy Farmers of Washington website. Some might be a little surprising, I think:

Goats:  This is probably a no-brainer for most people. Who hasn't heard of that great creamy cheese made from goat's milk? Some people also drink goat's milk because they find it easier to digest because fat globules in the milk are smaller than those in cow's milk.

Sheep: Not as popular as goat's milk, but still something that can be found in the United States. Sheep's milk has twice the fat of cow's milk. It is used to make French Roquefort and chevre cheeses. 

Horse: Not popular in the United States. The Washington website said Mongolian warriors back 700 years ago used horse milk to produce a concentrated paste. Later, during their long marches, they would add water to the paste and make a liquid to drink. Also, in southeastern Russia, people use horse milk to make an alcoholic drink.

Camel: In the desert, camel milk will keep for seven days at temperatures above 80 degrees. If refrigerated, it can stay good for nearly three months.

Water buffalo: Half of all the milk that people drink in India comes from water buffaloes.

Yak: In Tibet, yak butter tea is made from yak milk.

Reindeer: The only source of milk for Laplanders in Northern Scandinavia is reindeer milk. The fat content of this milk is 22 percent, six times as much as cow's milk.




Photos from National Public Radio, University of Wyoming

Want to Cuddle Some Goats? Check This Out

Cute story. 

Check it out at https://gma.yahoo.com/farm-seeks-volunteers-snuggle-baby-goats-161630608--abc-news-pets.html?cid=fb_gma_sf#

Sheep and Goat Week Program Set for Early December

NNY Sheep and Goat Week programs are scheduled for the first week of December.

The schedule is:

** 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1, CCE Jefferson County office, Watertown, $5 per farm, contact Ron Kuck, 315.788.8450, rak76@cornell.edu
** 7 p.m. Dec. 2, CCE St. Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm, Canton, $5 per farm, contact Betsy Hodge, 315.379.9192, bmf9@cornell.edu
** 6 p.m. Dec. 3, youth meeting (info on breeds and general animal care), 7 p.m. adult meeting, CCE Clinton County office, Plattsburgh, free, contact Sara Bull, 518.561.7450, slk95@cornell.edu.

Dr. tatiana Stanton of the Cornell University Sheep and Goat Program will present a detailed update on parasite control research funded in part by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program. 

Field trials were conducted at the CCE St. Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm in Canton and at Asgaard Farm and Goat Dairy in AuSable Forks, Clinton County.

"Producers at these December programs will learn how the use of birdsfoot trefoil as a pasture based means of parasite control worked in real-life situations under our regional conditions," says Cornell Cooperative Extension Northern New York Regional Livestock Specialist Betsy Hodge.

Funding from the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program supported the first-ever research trial of birdsfoot trefoil as a natural parasite control practice for sheep and goat farmers in the NNY region. 

The NNY trials are part of a four-year project being conducted by Cornell University, Cornell University Cooperative Extension, the University of Rhode Island, Virginia Tech, West Virginia University, and the University of Wisconsin.

At the Dec. 1, 2 and 3 programs, Hodge will also present information on winter feeding basics, including when and what feed products to use to supplement sheep and goat diets through the cold weather season. She will cover how to evaluate the content and quality of hay and forage and related feeding program adjustment options.

Cornell Sheep and Goat Symposium Oct. 2-4

The 2015 Sheep & Goat Symposium at Cornell University is set for 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 2-4.

The event will be chock full of speakers, tours to sheep farms and other learning opportunities.

Included will be:

** A workshop by Cornell Small Ruminant Specialist tatiana Stanton and Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County Livestock Educator Betsy Hodge who will talk about goat and sheep management skills, such as eartagging, hoof trimming, tattooing, drenching, vaccinating, body condition and FAMACHA scoring. Dr. Michael Thonney of the Cornell Sheep and Goat Program will cover hay evaluation

** Dr. Mary Smith, a veterinarian and co-author of Goat Medicine, will conduct a necropsy while discussing how farmers can do their own field necropsies to determine a cause of death in their sheep

** A pasture management talk includes Northwest NY CCE Livestock Educator Nancy Glazier presenting the steps of planning a grazing system; Northern New York Field Crops & Soils Specialist Dr. Kitty O’Neil focusing on pasture renovation and Stone Barns Farm Center Livestock Manager Craig Haney) reviewing the basics of electric fencing and how to determine your equipment needs. A pasture walk will help producers with forage plant identification.

** A session on poisonous plants with Dr. Dan Brown, Cornell Animal Science Nutritional Toxicologist, will show participants a simple test for measuring the amount of cyanide in cherry leaves and walk to the Vet School’s Poisonous Plants garden to learn to identify plants that commonly poison livestock. 


** Veterinarian Dr. Mary Smith will talk about preventing, controlling and eradicating diseases such as foot rot, CL abscesses, Johnes, CAE and OPP

** Veterinarian Dr. Jen Nightingale and Betsy Hodge will discuss nutritional and health management of does and ewes through the critical period from late pregnancy through early lactation.

** Mary Rose Livingston from Northland Sheep Dairy, will discuss her experiences during 2015 studies evaluating whether grazing birdsfoot trefoil pastures can help control worms in sheep and goats

** An Integrated Parasite Management Course will also be offered for farmers and educators wishing to obtain FAMACHA certification.
 
2015 Cornell Sheep & Goat Symposium events on Oct. 3 will be at Morrison Hall on the Cornell campus. Sunday's programs will includes tours at Shepherds Way LLC in Locke, Cayuga County, a dairy sheep and goat farm where attendees will observe some of the newest technology available for artificially rearing suckling lambs and kids, and at Kyle Farms, Avon in Livingston County, which produces a large volume of lambs yearround with minimal stress.

The 2015 Cornell Sheep & Goat Symposium fees are Friday: $10 per person; Saturday: $50 for the first farm member with $40 for each additional farm or family member; Sunday tour is $10 per person if providing your own transportation or $30 per person in a Cornell van.

The 2015 Cornell Sheep & Goat Symposium schedule, registration forms and online registration are available online at www.sheep.cornell.edu/calendar/sheep_goat_symposium.html <http://www.sheep.cornell.edu/calendar/sheep_goat_symposium.html> or by calling Barbara Jones at 607.255.7712. 

Sheep, Goat Seminar Scheduled for May 5

A workshop titled Raising Sheep and Goats 101 is set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. May 5 at Chicks and Hens, 3150 Erie Blvd East, Syracuse.

Anyone with any interest in learning how to raise sheep or goats should attend. The cost is $10 per family.

For information, call Erin Hull at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County at 424-9485, ext. 224 or email elh233@cornell.edu 

Agriculture Literacy Week Begins Monday

By Debra J. Groom
Watertown Daily Times

The book for this year's Ag Literacy Week

The beautiful story of a young girl caring for her animals and then using their fleece to make a tapestry will be read to second-graders throughout the north country during Agriculture Literacy Week, March 16 through 20.

The featured book this year is called “Weaving the Rainbow,” by George Ella Lyon and illustrated by Stephanie Anderson.

Now in its 10th year, Ag Literacy Week is sponsored by the New York Ag in the Classroom program. During Ag Literacy Week, volunteer readers go into second-grade classrooms and read that year’s chosen book about a certain aspect of farming.

The elementary schools are given copies of the book and teachers and the readers discuss the book with the students.

Volunteers who go into the classrooms to read the book usually are somehow connected with agriculture — such as dairy princesses, master gardeners, farmers, Cooperative Extension agents, etc. But anyone can volunteer to read.

Ag Literacy Week Coordinators in Lewis and St. Lawrence counties still are seeking more readers to help out in local schools.

St. Lawrence County coordinator Betsy Hodge said she is being helped by FFA members in the Gouverneur, Canton and Edwards-Knox school districts. “Anyone else who wants to get involved should call or email Bobbi-Jo at our office,” Mrs. Hodge said. The phone number is 379-9192 and the email is bmr37@cornell.edu

To be a reader in Lewis County, email coordinator Jennifer Karelus at jlbeckman34@yahoo.com.

“My volunteers and I will be reading in all the elementary schools in Lewis County, including Harrisville, Lowville Academy, Beaver River, River Valley Mennonite School, Glenfield Elementary, Port Leyden Elementary and West Leyden Elementary,” Mrs. Karelus said. She also said any teachers who would like to have a reader come to their class should drop her an email. 

In Jefferson County, coordinator Sue Gwise said she has lined up readers and 43 classrooms for Ag Literacy Week. Readers will be visiting Belleville Henderson, Antwerp Elementary in the Indian River school district, General Brown Elementary and Dexter Elementary in the General Brown school district, Lyme, Augustinian Academy in Carthage, Wilson and Mannsville Manor elementaries in South Jefferson, Immaculate Heart Central Elementary in Watertown and Ohio Street, North, Starbuck, Sherman Street and Knickerbocker elementaries in the Watertown city district. Readers from Jefferson County also will visit the Copenhagen school district.

Both Mrs. Hodge and Mrs. Karelus said in addition to having volunteers read the book, they also like to line up others to come to the classes to beef up what the children learn.

For example, the year the Ag Literacy Week book was about honey and beekeeping, a beekeeper visited with her bees, and some readers came dressed in full beekeeper gear. This year, the coordinators hope to have some people who can use a spinning wheel to spin yarn, some fleece recently shorn from a sheep to show to the children and a finished product (a knitted sweater or mittens) so the children can see that the fleece from the sheep was used to make the article of clothing.

Mrs. Hodge said demonstrations like this make it easier for children to learn about what is done on a farm and how farming affects them.

She remembers the year the Ag Literacy Week book was about poultry. She said the children learned about raising chickens and how chickens lay eggs.

“We talked about what eggs are used for,” Mrs. Hodge said. “Then in a moment of a light bulb going off, one little girl said, ‘Then without chickens, we wouldn’t have eggs to make chocolate chip cookies.’ This is the coolest part of this experience.”

When reading “Weaving the Rainbow,” children will learn all the steps to making a woolen or woven item, from shearing, carding, spinning and dying.

Fiber production is an important part of agriculture in New York state, although not a huge part of the industry. A few thousand farms in the state raise goats, sheep, alpacas, llamas and rabbits and take the fleece or hair from those animals to make fiber and, eventually, clothing or woven items.

Some of the previous topics covered by books during Ag Literacy Week are poultry; maple sugaring; nutrition and knowing your farmer; vegetable and fruit growing; apples; tree growing; bees and honey; and dairy and making cheese.

For more information, go to www.agclassroom.org/ny/programs/literacy.htm.

Small Livestock Parasite Workshop Set for Feb. 7 in Canton

There will be a parasite assessment, management training workshop fro m10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday Feb. 7 at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Learning Farm, 2043 Route 68, Canton.

The program is for small livestock farmers to reduce and manage parasites that affect pastured sheep and goats.  

The cost is $30 per person; second person from same farm added for $10. Lunch, materials included. 

Preregistration is required by calling 379-9192 or emailing bmf@cornell.edu

New York State Fair Opens Today

Go to http://www.nysfair.org/your-fair-visit/agriculture-info/ for information on all agriculture exhibits, schedules and events.

New York state is agriculture.

And agriculture is New York state.

How can you tell? Just visit the Great New York State Fair.

Yes, folks, there is much more to the fair than the rides, the concerts and the food. It’s amazing what you will see if you venture just a short ways outside the Grandstand, Chevy Court or the Midway.

Step inside any of the animal buildings and see all the different breeds of cows, sheep, goats, horses and poultry. Talk to the farmers. Ask them questions. They don’t mind. In fact, they love it.

Beef cattle in the beef barn in 2013

Do you know the difference between a Charolais and a Limousin? Go to the beef cattle barn to find out. Why do some farmers raise Jerseys or Belted Galloways instead of the ever-popular black and white Holsteins? Ask the farmers in the dairy cattle building.

Why do roosters crow? Each day at 11 a.m. in the poultry building, roosters from across the state compete in a crowing contest. I bet some farmers there can give you the low-down on that noisy affair.

And while the state doesn’t have a lot of goat, pig and sheep farmers, that doesn’t mean these folks aren’t passionate about their animals.

This goat checks out the photographer at the 2013 fair.

Go to the goat barn to find out the difference between meat and dairy goats and what goat meat and milk are used for. In the same building, see all the swine of different colors and sizes. Watch a sheep being shorn and find out about what all that wool is used for in the sheep barn. 

Also check out the llamas and alpacas, other animals which supply fiber for clothing. They also are some of the most curious creatures and love having their photos taken.

There are few animals more beautiful than horses and you not only can see them up close and personal in the horse barn, but then go to the Coliseum to watch them compete. There is every type of horse imaginable in this great state of ours – from miniatures to the grand workers Percherons and Belgians – and they all are majestic and mighty and worthy of our attention.

And of course, agriculture isn’t just animals.

Maple syrup at the 2013 State Fair

Be sure to stop at my favorite building – the Horticulture Building -- to see the busy bees making honey, taste some gooey sweet maple products or buy a New York state apple for a delicious and nutritious State Fair snack.

There also are many booths and exhibits of other state agriculture products, such as grains, beer, plants, vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees (yes, folks, this all is agriculture).

And just outside the right front door of the Horticulture Building, fairgoers can begin to dream of a white Christmas by checking out the New York State Christmas Tree Growers Association and its display of award-winning trees. You might even see Santa and some snow!

The biggest part of the state’s agriculture industry is, of course, dairy.

New York ranks third in the United States in dairy production, behind California and Wisconsin. It ranks number 1 in the country in the production of cottage cheese and yogurt. Annual sales of New York milk total nearly $500 million.

Farmers in New York supply milk to plants throughout the state that are making all types of hard and soft cheeses, fluid milk, ice cream, regular and Greek yogurts, butter, cream and half and half. There’s nothing better than coming out of a store with some dairy products that you know were made just a day or two ago from fresh, New York milk.

While at the State Fair, be sure to taste some of these dairy products in the Dairy Products Building, where you can get milk at the ever-popular Rainbow Milk Bar, cheese, ice cream and – new this year – yogurt at the Yo2Go Yogurt Bar.

Photo supplied by NY Animal Agriculture Coalition

Also, be sure to stop into the dairy cattle building and see all the different breeds that call New York home. Then head back toward the FFA Building and next door, stop at the Dairy Cow Birthing Center. The center, run by the New York Animal Agriculture Coalition, is in its second year and features the live births of dairy calves.

This is where the process of all that delicious milk begins.

Anyone who wants a beverage with a little more a kick than milk can go to the Colannade (the columned area between the Dairy Products and Science and Industry Buildings) to visit the Wine Court. Here you can buy and taste wonderful New York state wines. Talk to the winery owners and find out about just what New York state has to offer.

Tastings of various wine and cheese pairings also are available in the Pride of NY Room located in the back of the Horticulture Building at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. every day except Labor Day. Each day will be hosted by a different New York. On Labor Day, the area will host beer tasting seminars at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.

Holstein ready to show at the 2013 State Fair

You see – you could spend an entire day at the Great New York State Fair and do nothing but check out the agriculture offered by the farmers of this state. This is the time for the farmers to shine, to show off what they do 365 days a year to all of the great consumers in the state.

So, even if you do attend a concert, play some games on the Midway or chow down on sausage sandwiches or blooming onions, please try to spend some time with the farmers. Thanks to them, we have the most fabulous food in the world that is grown or raised right here in our backyards on our plates each day.

I can’t think of anything more wonderful than that.

Running of the Goats

OK, is this the cutest thing you've ever seen?

Enjoy!!

Sheep and Goats Workshop June 24

There will be a sheep and goats workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. June 24 at the Onondaga Free Library on West Seneca Turnpike.

It is being presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County.

To register, go to extendonondaga.org. For more information, call Erin Hull at 424-9485, ext. 224.

Animal Shows This Weekend at the Fairgrounds

Two animal shows are on tap this weekend at the New York State Fairgrounds in Geddes, west of Syracuse.

The New York State Horse Breeders Association holds the second weekend of its show starting Thursday in the Toyota Coliseum.

The Empire State Boer Goat Show takes placed beginning Saturday in the Goat, Llama and Swine barn.

Admission to both events is free.

What's New at Cross Island Farm

Here is news from Cross Island Farm on Wellesley Island, NY submitted by farmer Dani Baker

THE ROADSIDE STAND IS OPEN, stocked with recently dug wintered-over "rainbow" carrots and sweet parsnips, lettuce, chard, spinach, asparagus, rhubarb, our coveted certified organic free range pastel colored (by the chickens) eggs, as well as our delicious duck eggs.  As we add new items, we will try to post them on our facebook page which you are welcome to "like" and comment on.  When you stop at the stand, remember that our USDA inspected cuts of beef and pork including  a new item, lean and tasty hot or sweet pork rope sausage perfect for the grill, are available at the house.

ORGANIC EDUCATONAL FARM TOURS, available daily by appointment, include picking and eating a vegetable or fruit right from the plant, a walk through the edible forest, a visit outside or inside the paddock with the goats and cows, petting or holding a baby goat, tickling the tummies of a pig, and petting or holding a newly hatched chick or duckling.  Fun for the whole extended family!

THE EDIBLE FOREST IS BLOOMING, now in its second year,  with a few plum, honeyberry, juneberry, current, strawberry, pineberry, and two tiny pale pink almond blossoms beckoning for bees.  If the bees find them, we might have our first fruit and nuts this year!!  Stay tuned.

INTERNS IN ABUNDANCE will grace our farm this season.  Within the week we are welcoming three student interns: an  Environmental Conservation and an Environmental Biology major from SUNY ESF and an Environmental Science major from Clarkson U., who are residing with us for the season.  We are grateful to all our volunteers who help us complete many projects.  Top priorities this season are improvements in the Edible Forest Garden.

CLAYTON GOES ORGANIC!  In addition to some of our veggies and meats being available at the Clayton Food Co-op for you to prepare at home, our salad vegetables are now featured on the menus of both Bella's Bistro and the Clipper Inn in Clayton.  So when you patronize these establishments for a meal out, please let them know you appreciate their providing local organic produce from Cross Island Farms.

SPRING FEVER IS RAMPANT  in our animal herds as the weather is warming. 

The first knock on the door:  "Did you know your cows are in the road?"  Apparently the paddock assigned by Farmer Dave was insufficiently suitable, so the herd headed to Nut n' Fancy for a bite.  When they found it closed, they "high tailed" it back, past the farm, and were on their way to the State Park when Dave and our neighbor, Dick Huntley, were able to induce them to return. 

A few days later, another knock:" did you know your goats are in the road?"  Seems the grass WAS greener on the other side of the fence, a fact not unnoticed by the hungry moms and babes.  So over the portable fence they went.  So much for Farmer Dave's planned priorities for the day.  Two hours later they were secured in a new paddock with fresh grass, but for how long?

Then, as I was heading out on an errand, I saw two of our little kids (goat kids, that is) prancing atop their new goat house which has a roof fashioned of  discarded  pallet wrapping from Wellesley Island Building Supply..  Although the "patter of little hooves" is a joy to hear and observe, it can be quite destructive to a fabric roof..  I quick pulled out my cell phone and called Dave to tell him.  "I'm glad we didn't buy a tarp this time," was his response.

What Happens When Goat Poop Spontaneously Ignites?

Oh No!

This story is just too strange for words. Check http://connecticut.cbslocal.com/2013/08/22/foul-smell-spreads-for-miles-after-pile-of-goat-manure-spontaneously-catches-fire/ it out.

New York State Fair 'One Thing" Series Begins on Empire State Farming -- Today's Feature, Dairy Goats

A dairy goat at the New York State Fair checks out the photographer

This year's New York State Fair series for the Empire State Farming blog is called "One Thing."

What I have done is visited folks involved with various agricultural endeavors and asked them the one thing they would like the public to know about their animal or agricultural product.

The first one up: Dairy Goats.

"They are like productive dogs," said Holly Phillips, of Pultney in Steuben County. "And I want people to know goats are friendly, outgoing and trainable."

Added Trudy Lombard, of Skaneateles, superintendent of the goat barn at the fair: "They also produce milk and a lot of people make cheese and other things out of the milk."

There were about 30,000 goats in New York state in 2010. About 13,000 were milk (dairy) goats and the rest were meat goats. The goat industry is growing in the state because more and more consumers are interested in goat cheese and goat milk.

Empire State Farming Blog to Highlight New York State Fair with 'One Thing' Series

Well, the New York State Fair's 2013 edition is almost here.

And in the spirit of the fair, Empire State Farming will be celebrating with a series that will run each day of the fair and some special stories along the way.

Later today, look for a photo and news about this year's Butter Sculpture. Also there will be a story about a new exhibit this year in which fair visitors can see the live birth of a dairy calf.

Then on each day of the fair, I will post an item I am calling "One Thing." Stay tuned to find out what it's all about.

Have fun at the fair. And remember, while riding the rides and eating all that food, stop in to the animal barns and talk to the farmers and check out the beekeepers and maple producers in the Horticulture Building.

These people are what the fair is really all about. 

Don't Forget -- Finger Lakes Cheese Festival is Saturday July 27

I love this photo. Perhaps because I can't imagine anyone not loving cheese.

Sure, I understand some people can't eat it due to allergies or digestive issues. Believe me, I feel for these people. But for the rest of us, cheese is one of the true wonders of the world.

What doesn't taste better with a hunk of cheese on it? What's better for a quick snack than a piece of fruit and a piece of cheese?

And, of course, the best cheeses ever are those made locally, by hard-working farmers raising the cows or goats and then taking that milk and making some yummy products.

You can all learn more about the great cheeses made in Central New York by visiting the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail and especially, by going to the Finger Lakes Cheese Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday July 27 at Sunset View Creamery on County Road 14 in Odessa, Schuyler County, just outside Watkins Glen.

This might seem like a hike, but the trip down is beautiful and you'll see some of the most gorgeous parts of New York state. And then, when you get there, you can sample all of the cheeses of the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail, check out the Barnyard Olympics, see goat milking, tour the petting zoo, take farm tours and check out cheese cooking and pairing seminars.

A barbecue, juice, water and local foods will be available for purchase.

Admission is free and parking is $5 per car. Attendees also receive a commemorative gift bag.

Go to http://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/WGVA-OD to hear a radio interview about the Finger Lakes Cheese Festival that was broadcast about a week ago. You also can go to http://www.whec.com/news/stories/s3106150.shtml?cat=565 to see a television interview about the festival.

Learn About Raising Goats, Sheep at July 23 Workshop

Have you ever considered raising goats or sheep?

Well to get some more information on what these animals require on the farm, Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County is planning a workshop July 23.

Sheep and Goats 101 will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Thistle Dew Farm, 8108 State Route 80, Fabius. The cost is $30 (which includes lunch). To register, go to www.extendonondaga.org or contact  Erin L. Hull at elh233@cornell.edu or at (315) 424-9485 ext. 236.

Topics to be covered in the workshop include care, nutritional needs, hoof trimming,inoculations, parasites, proper housing and worming. Dairy, fiber and meat breeds will be discussed.
Attendees will learn how to get started, how to care for the animals as well as what the market demands
are for your product. Anyone looking to start a farm or who is already farming will find helpful information at this workshop from the experts participating in the event.

The morning will be a classroom setting and the afternoon will be hands on working with the animals. Please
dress appropriately as we will be in a barn working with animals. A light lunch will be provided.