5 Reasons Farm Kids are More Successful in Life

Check out this story from American Agriculturalist.

Go to http://farmprogress.com/blogs-5-reasons-farm-kids-are-more-successful-life-10930 to see the story.

State Seeks Nominations for Environmental Award

From the state Department of Ag and Markets:

Nominations are being accepted for the statewide Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Award.  

Each year, the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, Empire State Potato Growers, and American Agriculturist magazine host this distinguished award, which highlights the outstanding environmental stewardship accomplished by farmers in partnership with respective County Soil and Water Conservation Districts.  

The winner will be announced during the Agricultural Leadership Luncheon at Empire Farm Days in Seneca Falls this August.

“As a farm owner for 20 years, my land is my livelihood, and I’ve worked with the Soil and Water Conservation District in Schoharie County a number of times to get the most out of it in an environmentally sound way,” said Ag and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball.

“This year, our goal is to honor the farm that takes environmental stewardship through the AEM program to that next level.  We’re looking for creative ideas and examples of good partnerships with local districts. We look forward to a worthy competition in 2014,” he said.

AEM is a voluntary, incentive-based program that helps New York state farmers make common-sense, cost-effective and science-based decisions to help meet business objectives while protecting and conserving the State’s natural resources.  

The winning farm family and nominating district will each receive a financial incentive to help them continue their environmental programs. In addition, all nominees will receive recognition for their valuable efforts.

            The nomination form must be received at the Department of Agriculture and Markets via email no later than close of business on Wednesday, June 11 to jodi.shain@agriculture.ny.gov. 

            The form can be downloaded at the following link:

            http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/2014_AEM_Nomination_Form.pdf

New York Farm Show Opens Thursday, Feb. 20

The New York Farm Show opens at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at the New York State Fairgrounds in Geddes.

This year's event, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 20, 21 and 22, will include more than 400 exhibitors in six buildings -- Arts and Home Center, Center of Progress, Dairy, Horticulture, International Pavilion and Science.

The Farm Show also includes many seminars on a wide range of agriculture topics. Included will be 30-minute briefings in the Bistro Room of the Arts and Home Center beginning at 12:30 p.m. each day concerning changes in the recently adopted Farm Bill that will affect crop and revenue insurance options. These briefings are important because farmers must make decisions on insurance programs by the March 15 signup deadline.

These briefings are being put on by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. More details about the Farm Bill's impact also will be available at the Ag and Markets exhibit in the International Pavilion.

Some of the special displays this year include:

Robotics -- Daily Dairy Robotonomics mini-seminars put four robotic manufacturer experts on the platform.

New York Beef Producers -- Offers a pen-of-five beef improvement topics daily on cattle show fitting, fencing and handling, grazing and forage management and more.

Anaerobic Digesters -- There could be big money available for digesters this year, so the UEM Group (AD designer) and New York State Energy and Research Development Authority and the Antares Group (NYS digester ombudsman) are teaming up for a Dairy Anaerobic Digester Profits mini-seminar at 1 p.m. Feb. 21 (Friday) at the show.

New York Forest Owners Association -- Offers many workshops during the show on 14 topics ranging from forest/woodlot management, market outlook, low-impact harvesting, portable sawmills, wildlife habitat, feral pigs, timber pasturing and more.

For an exhibitor list by category, go http://newyorkfarmshow.com/customPage.aspx?p=273 to this link.

Admission is $ 5 at the door; children under 18 are free. Tickets are available for free from Northeast Equipment Dealers.

Parking is free, and shuttle buses run all day to the six farm show buildings.

New York Farm Show is co-sponsored by the Northeast Equipment Dealers Association and American Agriculturist magazine.