Long-time Lysander Vegetable and Fruit Farmer Cecil Reeves Dies

From the Bville Blotter:

New York and Central New York has lost a giant in farming.

Cecil Reeves, who began Reeves Farm in Lysander, has died.

See the following obituary:

Cecil E. Reeves, 95, of Baldwinsville passed away Friday at his home. 

He was a 1942 graduate of Baldwinsville where he lettered in 3 sports and was All-County First Team in football for the 1941 season. He spent most of his life in partnership with his wife, Dorothy, and their nine children in the creation and success of Reeves Farms, after purchasing his grandfather's farm in 1951. 

He was a veteran of WW II serving with the Navy as a machinist mate on submarines serving in The Philippines. 

He was a past president of the Onondaga County Vegetable Growers as well as a former member of the Lysander Planning Board, Town Board and Baldwinsville Central Schools Board of Education. He and his wife, Dorothy with members of his family, donated land, money, equipment, labor and many hours of time for the establishment of the Diane Reeves Memorial Park. 

He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy, daughter Diane, son Chris, and grandson Ryan. 

Surviving are daughters, Carol (David) Norris of Mobile, Alabama and Joan Reeves of Baldwinsville; sons, Tim (Joan), Bruce (JoAnn), Mark, Andy, and Brian all of Baldwinsville; 22 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; sister, Rosalie Depew of Henderson, Nevada; brother-in-law, Gerald Snow of Warners, and several nieces and nephews. 

Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Baldwinsville Volunteer Center, 8 Mechanic St., Baldwinsville, NY 13027 or Maureen's Hope Foundation, 44 Oswego Street, Baldwinsville, NY 13027. online@falardeaufh.com

Sweet Corn Ready to Pick in Central New York

Sweet corn ready to be picked at Emmi farms in Lysander.

Homegrown sweet corn is hitting some local stands this weekend.

A sampling of area farmers say they are close to picking fresh sweet corn.

Brian Reeves in Lysander said he'll have fresh sweet corn in the stands Sunday, July 12. Tony Emmi, also in Lysander, said this weekend also is a possibility for the first picking of sweet corn.

JoAnn Delaney, of Delaney Farm in Onondaga, said she is about three weeks out.

State Begins new Ag Task Force

A new Strategic Interagency Task Force on Lessening Obstacles to Agriculture (SILO) has been formed in New York state to address barriers to the growth of New York’s agricultural economy. 

Task force members, comprised of leadership from state government and representatives from the field of agriculture, will work together to ensure that state agencies that deal with farmers are communicating regularly, interacting efficiently, and lessening regulations on farms. 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo already has conducted a number of "summits" to learn more about various parts of the agriculture industry to try to help them grow. The summit approach already has paid dividends for New York agriculture. 

Since the inaugural Yogurt Summit, where state government listened to the needs of industry and acted accordingly, New York has become the yogurt capital of the nation and reclaimed its status as the number three producer of milk nationwide. New York has also experienced a 72 percent increase in farm-based beverage licenses since 2011, in part as a result of reforms enacted at the first Wine, Beer and Spirits Summit.

Additionally, New York is traditionally the second highest producer of apples in the nation and by many accounts, 2013 was the best year for the state’s apple industry in a generation. New York also ranks first in cabbage production, second in maple production, and third in wine and grape juice production. 

Industry members of the Task Force are as follows:

      Brian Reeves, co-owner, Reeves Farms, Baldwinsville, NY

Jeff Williams, Director of Public Policy, New York Farm Bureau
Jim Bittner, President and General Manager, Singer Farms, Appleton, NY
Cathy Martin, Co-Owner, Martin Farms, Brockport, NY
Ken Schmitt, retired vegetable farmer, Melville, NY
Dave Fisher, Owner, Mapleview Dairy, Madrid, NY
Tim Stanton, Owner, Stanton’s Feura Farm and Markets, Feura Bush, NY
Tonya Van Slyke, Executive Director, Northeast Dairy Producers Association

State agencies taking part in the Task Force are as follows:

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets 
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 
New York State Department of Labor 
New York State Department of Transportation 
New York State Public Service Commission
New York State Department of Health
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
Empire State Development 
Department of Tax and Finance
State Liquor Authority