Get Out and Visit a Maple Producer

The last of two Maple Weekend events begins today.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, many maple producers across the area will open for tours. People can sample products and learn how maple syrup is made. Some even will have pancake breakfasts.

Go to www.mapleweekend.com to find a maple producer near you.

Union Springs Woman Doing Well in Equine World

Nice story http://auburnpub.com/sports/local/union-springs-native-monica-sacco-working-her-way-up-modern/article_6be99391-1f1d-557a-b540-a7f2e711f694.html about a Cayuga County woman moving up in the horse world.

Man Dies in Farm Accident

So sad.

Farm accident in Jefferson County.

http://www.newzjunky.com/police2014/coplog140326sp2.htm

Register Now for Farm Service Agency Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan M. Garcia has recommended that farmers and ranchers who plan to participate in FSA programs register in advance.

Producers are encouraged to report farm records and business structure changes to a local FSA Service Center before April 15.



Enrollment for the disaster programs authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, including the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) and the Livestock Forage Disaster Program will begin by April 15.


"We expect significant interest in these programs,” said Garcia. “Early registration should help improve the sign-up process and allow us to expedite implementation of the programs. I strongly encourage producers to complete their paperwork ahead of time.”



For further information about disaster programs and USDA’s Farm Bill implementation plan, visit FSA’s 2014 Farm Bill Web page. FSA Service Center locations can be found on the FSA website.

Deadline March 31 to Nominate Someone As America's Farmers Mom of the Year

The deadline is approaching for nominating someone as the next America’s Farmers Mom of the Year.  

Those who would like to nominate an amazing farm mom – one who works every aspect of the farm, keeps everyone on task, and even advocates for the industry she loves -- will have through Monday, March 31, 2014, to submit their entry.

Anyone can nominate their favorite farm mom for a chance to win up to $10,000 -- whether it’s their own mom, sister, aunt, daughter, friend or community member.

To nominate a favorite farm mom, visit AmericasFarmers.com between now and March 31 and submit a brief essay online or by mail that explains how the nominated farm mom contributes to her family, farm, community and agriculture. 

Each nomination will be judged based on published criteria by a panel of judges from American Agri-Women, and Monsanto will select five regional winners based on the judges’ decisions. Each regional winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize. 

Profiles of the regional winners will then be posted to AmericasFarmers.com, where the public can vote for one national farm mom winner. Announced just prior to Mother’s Day, the national winner will receive an additional $5,000 cash prize above and beyond her regional prize.

For more information on the program or for complete eligibility requirements and official contest rules visit AmericasFarmers.com. Interested parties may also send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to America's Farmers Mom of the Year, Attn: Sue Dillon, 349 Marshall Ave., Ste. 200, St. Louis, MO 63119.

Happy Ag Day!!

Here also is a great video to watch. Click here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWARSDKUAiM&feature=share to check out the video.

Happy Ag Day, everyone.

What If There Were No Farmers?

A column by state Sen. Patricia Ritchie, R-Oswegatchie

From the food we eat to the products we use, not a day goes by that we don’t have a farmer to thank for helping to provide life’s necessities. 

But, what if there weren’t any farmers?  As recent research suggests, that’s a question we should be considering. 

Farming is our state’s most important industry, it’s also a way of life handed down from generation to generation. But as the recent USDA Census of Agriculture depicted, the average New York farmer is changing. According to the report, the average age of New York farmers is 57.1 years, with two farmers aged 65 and older for each one under 35.  

In addition, the survey also pointed to the fact that roughly 50,000 acres of farmland were lost in New York in each of the past five years. There are a number of factors—including skyrocketing start-up expenses, tight profit margins and high risk—that are contributing to this change. 

As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, protecting and preserving the farming industry is a top priority for me.  That’s why I recently unveiled my “Young Farmers NY” plan to help address issues related to the advancing age of New York’s farming population as well as protect the future of family farming by encouraging more young people to consider careers in agriculture and reducing financial roadblocks to starting a new agriculture business. 

Highlights of my “Young Farmers NY” plan include:

• Loans, grants and tax credits for the sale or lease of land and equipment, as well as for new technological innovations;

• Estate tax reforms to encourage farm preservation from generation to generation; and

• Agricultural education efforts including apprenticeship programs, student loan forgiveness and increased funding for the in-school FFA (Future Farmers of America) program.

This plan builds upon the hard work we’ve done in recent years to foster growth in the agriculture industry.  For the past three years, I have successfully fought alongside my colleagues to restore budget funds affecting key agricultural research, education and marketing programs.  

In addition, I was also pleased to back the “Grown in New York Plan,” and other important new laws that support our state’s hardworking farmers, including a cap on farmland tax assessments to cut land taxes and additional funding for efforts that promote farm safety, research and marketing.

Hardworking farmers are the foundation of New York State and in the weeks to come, I’ll be working just as hard to help support initiatives that encourage growth in the agriculture industry and ensure it stays vibrant for many years to come.