Thursday, August 13, 2015
Million-Dollar NFL Player Works on Farm in Offseason
Check this out -- http://finance.yahoo.com/news/nfl-player-made-28-million-211934333.html?soc_src=mediacontentstory&soc_trk=fb
Oswego County Harvest Dinner Set for Oct. 2
The sixth annual Oswego County Harvest Dinner is set for 6:15 p.m. Oct. 2 at The American Foundry.
The dinner has become a popular event in its first five years and those who want to attend should get tickets early because the event usually sells out.
Tickets for the event are $35 for one or $65 for two and must be purchased ahead of time. Prepaid reservations can be made by contacting Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County at 315-963-7286 or e-mailing lkw39@cornell.edu. No tickets will be sold at the door.
The dinner has become a popular event in its first five years and those who want to attend should get tickets early because the event usually sells out.
Tickets for the event are $35 for one or $65 for two and must be purchased ahead of time. Prepaid reservations can be made by contacting Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County at 315-963-7286 or e-mailing lkw39@cornell.edu. No tickets will be sold at the door.
The annual event celebrates Oswego County agriculture and all the local food it provides. The dinner features locally grown and sourced food. It begins with a social hour, including a sampling of
Oswego County beverages. Guests will be served a six-course meal
showcasing delicious Oswego County food prepared by the
chefs of The American Foundry.
Following dinner a guest speaker will
entertain the crowd. There will also be raffle baskets featuring Oswego
County’s finest agricultural products and more.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Homer Farm Honored With Ag Environmental Management Award
E-Z Acres in Cortland County has won the state's top environmental award – the 2015 Agricultural
Environmental Management Award.
Each year, the award honors the outstanding efforts of a farm to protect soil and water quality. E-Z Acres Farm , located near Homer, and its owner Mike McMahon were recognized for its environmental ethics, progressive production practices and community service work.
The honor was presented during a ceremony at Empire Farm Days in Seneca Falls. Also honored was the Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District.
The McMahon family operates a 680-cow dairy farm on 2,500 acres of land in the Skaneateles Lake watershed. To support their dairy operation, they also raise corn, alfalfa, and grass hay crops.
As early adopters of the principles of agricultural environmental management, E-Z Acres farm has implemented several conservation practices that have also increased productivity.
The farm has replaced the traditional alfalfa-corn silage rotation with intensive grasses, which enhances soil conservation while also benefiting dairy herd health.
With E-Z Acres’ land resting over Cortland County’s sole-source aquifer, the McMahons are also dedicated to quarterly monitoring of the water quality through stream and well testing.
In addition, the farm uses a monitoring system and liner for the farm’s three million gallon manure storage, cover cropping of corn silage fields annually, and precision feed management to protect soil health. The farm has also taken energy efficiency measures by replacing lighting with energy efficient fixtures throughout the farm.
“I’m humbled to receive this esteemed award," McMahon said. "At McMahon’s E-Z Acres, it’s about doing things right and not about doing it for the awards. Like many in our business, we believe if we take care of the environment, the environment will take care of us.”
The McMahons were the first animal welfare-approved farm in New York State and have been leaders in the community representing the farm and the agriculture industry’s interests.
E-Z Acres hosts several annual community events, including an annual Farm Field Day for Cortland County fifth graders and a Cornell University farm management class. They also partner with the Syracuse Rotary Club to provide farm tours for low-income families.
The farm has worked closely with the Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District, which provides technical assistance to advance agricultural environmental management practices within the county.
Each year, the award honors the outstanding efforts of a farm to protect soil and water quality. E-Z Acres Farm , located near Homer, and its owner Mike McMahon were recognized for its environmental ethics, progressive production practices and community service work.
The honor was presented during a ceremony at Empire Farm Days in Seneca Falls. Also honored was the Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District.
The McMahon family operates a 680-cow dairy farm on 2,500 acres of land in the Skaneateles Lake watershed. To support their dairy operation, they also raise corn, alfalfa, and grass hay crops.
As early adopters of the principles of agricultural environmental management, E-Z Acres farm has implemented several conservation practices that have also increased productivity.
The farm has replaced the traditional alfalfa-corn silage rotation with intensive grasses, which enhances soil conservation while also benefiting dairy herd health.
With E-Z Acres’ land resting over Cortland County’s sole-source aquifer, the McMahons are also dedicated to quarterly monitoring of the water quality through stream and well testing.
In addition, the farm uses a monitoring system and liner for the farm’s three million gallon manure storage, cover cropping of corn silage fields annually, and precision feed management to protect soil health. The farm has also taken energy efficiency measures by replacing lighting with energy efficient fixtures throughout the farm.
“I’m humbled to receive this esteemed award," McMahon said. "At McMahon’s E-Z Acres, it’s about doing things right and not about doing it for the awards. Like many in our business, we believe if we take care of the environment, the environment will take care of us.”
The McMahons were the first animal welfare-approved farm in New York State and have been leaders in the community representing the farm and the agriculture industry’s interests.
E-Z Acres hosts several annual community events, including an annual Farm Field Day for Cortland County fifth graders and a Cornell University farm management class. They also partner with the Syracuse Rotary Club to provide farm tours for low-income families.
The farm has worked closely with the Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District, which provides technical assistance to advance agricultural environmental management practices within the county.
Erie County Fair Offers 'Little Hands on the Farm'
Cool story out of Buffalo.
Go to http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/erie-county/little-hands-on-the-farm-teaches-young-fairgoers-about-agriculture-20150810 to check it out.
Go to http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/erie-county/little-hands-on-the-farm-teaches-young-fairgoers-about-agriculture-20150810 to check it out.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Cornell University, Ithaca College Offer Master's Program for Ag Teachers
From Cornell University and Ithaca College:
Cornell University and Ithaca College will offer a new Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program to help meet growing demand for qualified agricultural educators.
Students in the graduate program will earn a degree in agriculture education from Ithaca College in collaboration with Cornell Connect, a program of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).
“This unique M.A.T. in agriculture education combines the strength of an established, highly regarded education program at Ithaca College with the internationally recognized agricultural knowledge of Cornell,” said Jeff Perry, education specialist in CALS’ School of Integrative Plant Science.
“Students will graduate with a strong knowledge of the agricultural education community while also being comfortable with their general education peers,” he said.
This cross-university partnership, unique in the United States, reflects CALS’ commitment to agricultural science education.
“Our goal has been to expand opportunities for Cornell students to obtain teacher certification. This innovative program is a true partnership with Ithaca College’s nationally accredited, state-approved and much-respected teacher education programs,” said Kathryn J. Boor, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
“Ithaca College and Cornell University have been collaborating in the preparation of teachers for many years,” noted Linda Hanrahan, chair of graduate programs in education at Ithaca College. “The newly approved M.A.T. program in agriculture education provides us with yet another avenue for continued collaboration.”
The intensive 13-month program is an extension of other articulation agreements that exist between the two schools, including the transition of prospective teacher candidates from Cornell’s education studies minor program into the M.S. in childhood education or the M.A.T. in adolescence education at Ithaca College.
The program comes at a time when agricultural education programs are growing in popularity in suburban and urban high schools throughout the country.
According to a 2014 National Association of Agricultural Educators supply-and-demand report, more than 200 additional agricultural teachers are needed due to program growth and expansion each year.
In the 36-credit program, 27 credits will be taken through Ithaca College in general education and field experience and nine credits will be taken in agriculture through CALS’ Cornell Connect.
The first cohort in the new program will enter May 31, 2016, and will be eligible for graduation, initial certification and a teaching position by the following summer.
Cornell University and Ithaca College will offer a new Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.) program to help meet growing demand for qualified agricultural educators.
Students in the graduate program will earn a degree in agriculture education from Ithaca College in collaboration with Cornell Connect, a program of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS).
“This unique M.A.T. in agriculture education combines the strength of an established, highly regarded education program at Ithaca College with the internationally recognized agricultural knowledge of Cornell,” said Jeff Perry, education specialist in CALS’ School of Integrative Plant Science.
“Students will graduate with a strong knowledge of the agricultural education community while also being comfortable with their general education peers,” he said.
This cross-university partnership, unique in the United States, reflects CALS’ commitment to agricultural science education.
“Our goal has been to expand opportunities for Cornell students to obtain teacher certification. This innovative program is a true partnership with Ithaca College’s nationally accredited, state-approved and much-respected teacher education programs,” said Kathryn J. Boor, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
“Ithaca College and Cornell University have been collaborating in the preparation of teachers for many years,” noted Linda Hanrahan, chair of graduate programs in education at Ithaca College. “The newly approved M.A.T. program in agriculture education provides us with yet another avenue for continued collaboration.”
The intensive 13-month program is an extension of other articulation agreements that exist between the two schools, including the transition of prospective teacher candidates from Cornell’s education studies minor program into the M.S. in childhood education or the M.A.T. in adolescence education at Ithaca College.
The program comes at a time when agricultural education programs are growing in popularity in suburban and urban high schools throughout the country.
According to a 2014 National Association of Agricultural Educators supply-and-demand report, more than 200 additional agricultural teachers are needed due to program growth and expansion each year.
In the 36-credit program, 27 credits will be taken through Ithaca College in general education and field experience and nine credits will be taken in agriculture through CALS’ Cornell Connect.
The first cohort in the new program will enter May 31, 2016, and will be eligible for graduation, initial certification and a teaching position by the following summer.
Monday, August 10, 2015
Empire Farm Days Open Tuesday Outside Seneca Falls
 |
| Overview of Empire Farm Days at Rodman Lott & Son Farm just south of Seneca Falls |
The theme of this year’s Empire Farm Days is “Nobody Wants to Be Left Behind, So Everyone is Here.”
Farmers and vendors alike know this to be true. Empire Farm Days is the largest outdoor farm show in the Northeast and if farmers want to see the latest in technology, equipment and materials for farming, this is the place to be.
The 82nd edition of Empire Farm Days will be held Tuesday through Thursday at the Rodman Lott & Son Farm in Seneca Falls.
It features more than 600 exhibitors and 70,000 visitors each year along with scores of educational programs, equipment and machinery displays, and demonstrations and activities on the 300-acre site.
“It’s a good opportunity to interact with vendors and suppliers,” said Douglas W. Shelmidine, owner of Sheland Farm in the town of Ellisburg, Jefferson County.
“You can see lots of innovative products because there is a tremendous cross section of vendors,” said Shelmidine, who has attended Empire Farm Days for several years and hopes to go again this year. “And you can see all the newest technology.”
“I went for seven or eight years, and the show is where you should be to see what is out there in agriculture,” said Paul Mason, of River Haven Farm in Cape Vincent. “You have a lot of different dealers, like John Deere and International, and you can compare them all. And they do demonstrations there — you can see the equipment actually being used. There is so much information at that show.”
Everyone from dairy producers and cattle ranchers to cash croppers, equipment operators, horse owners and farm families attend the show each year.
One of the highlights of this year’s show is the Confined Space Manure Pit Simulator to help farmers protect themselves from the hazards around manure pits. The four different gases from manure pits and lagoons can render someone unconscious in seconds and could lead to injury or death.
Manure pits also can be explosive.
Farmers attending demonstrations of the simulator will learn about the importance of air quality monitoring, along with how to properly use breathing apparatus, harnessing and rigging.
Dan Neenan, agricultural safety director at the National Education Center at Northeast Iowa Community College, will offer 20-minute safety-education demonstrations every hour throughout the show. There also will be free, four-hour Confined Space Manure Pit Rescue Training for emergency services personnel. This special training for EMTs will be after the show closes at 5 p.m. Aug. 11 and 12.
The Manure Pit Simulator will be located near the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health and Safety tent. EMTs can register for the training by calling James Carrabba at the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health at 800-343-7527 ext. 2216 or emailing jcarrabba@nycamh.com
Some other new items at the show this year:
*** Seminars on pop-up fertilizer and using a tile plow to install drainage. From 10 to 10:30 a.m. daily in the Welcome Center, presentations will be given on the advantages of using pop-up fertilizers in direct contact with seed plants to increase early season nutrient availability of corn and soybeans.
From 10:30 to 11 a.m., the presentations will focus on how tiling impacts water management for crop production and how farmers can use tile plows to install farm drainage tile or corrugated tubing.
*** The dairy industry will be the featured agricultural sector at the Farm Bureau Family Education Center. Exhibits and resources will focus on the wide array of dairy products in New York state. Visitors can test their dairy knowledge with the Wheel of Agriculture. Another new exhibit this year will showcase programming created by the Seneca County Farm Bureau and highlight local agricultural sites of interest.
*** Also at the Farm Bureau center will be another new exhibit showcasing the successful programming created by the Seneca County Farm Bureau and highlighting local ag points of interest. Meanwhile, the pictorial tour of New York agriculture around the perimeter of the tent will note major statistics on farming in New York, with photos depicting agriculture throughout the 11 Farm Bureau regions of the state.
*** The new Soil Health Seminar Center will feature two speakers and a farmer panel each day of the event. Presenters will include a soil-health-testing innovator and representatives from the Cornell University Pro-Dairy Program, Western New York Crop Management Association, Seedway and Kings Agriseeds.
*** Growers can learn new apple and grape grafting techniques by talking with scientists from the Agricultural Research Service Plant Genetic Resources Unit in Geneva. There will be daily demonstrations of grafting techniques used with apple trees and grapevines.
Running a Dairy Farm a Blend of Hard Work and Rewards
Be sure to check out this story and photos from my colleagues at the Watertown Daily Times.
Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/running-a-dairy-farm-blend-of-hard-work-and-rewards---20150809 to see it.
Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/running-a-dairy-farm-blend-of-hard-work-and-rewards---20150809 to see it.
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