Oswego County Ag Agency Awareness Day May 8 in Mexico

The annual Ag Agency Awareness Day is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 8 at the Mexico VFW on Scenic Avenue in Mexico.

Attendees will learn about the agriculture agencies in Oswego County that are there to serve farmers, foresters and homeowners. 

Providing information and presentations will be Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County, the Oswego County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm Service Agency.

Representatives of each agency will talk about how they can assist individuals in starting, improving and expanding their agricultural businesses.

It is too late to register for lunch, but attendees can show up for the program only.

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Community Garden Workshop March 8 in Mexico

Info from Cooperative Extension of Oswego County:

Calling all gardening enthusiasts! 

Are you interested in starting a community garden? 

Come join us as we present "Planting the Seed: An Introduction to Establishing a Community Garden" from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 8,at the Mexico VFW, 5930 Scenic Ave (State Route 3), just north of the village of Mexico.

No previous gardening experience is necessary! Just $10 and a desire to learn more about establishing a community garden. 

Call 963-7286 by March 4 to register for this educational workshop.

Oswego County Harvest Dinner Oct. 2

Always a great event. Get your reservations in now!

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 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.

Marketing on the Internet Focus of Cooperative Extension Workshops

Workshops titled Internet Marketing 101 and 102 are being offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 21 at the Fulton campus of Cayuga Community College, computer lab F162.

Farmers will learn how to connect with customers and potential customers online by improving their farms web presence.

Two workshops are being offered. In the morning session, farmers will learn how to build and launch a farm website. In the afternoon, the focus will be on social media platforms to promote a farm operation. 

Producers can choose to come to one workshop or both. The first workshop is 10 a.m. to noon and the afternoon one is 1 to 3 p.m.

The cost for one workshop is $15 or or two for $30. Register by April 20 by calling 963-7286. Space is limited.

Workshop on Hops, Wines Set for March 24 in Mexico

A workshop titled "Producing Farm Beverages" is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday March 24 at the Oswego County Federal Credit Union on Scenic Avenuie (Route 3) in Mexico.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County is hosting the workshop called  at which  featured presenters Steve Miller, Cornell Cooperative Extension Hops Specialist, and Chris Gerling, manager of the Vinification and Brewing Laboratory at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, willlearn how to grow hops, as well as the rules, regulations and techniques for making beer, wine and hard cider.

Recent New York State laws have made it easier to produce and sell these items for New York farmers.

The price of the workshop is $15. Refreshments will be served. Pre-registration is required by March 20. To register, call 963-7286, e-mail LKW39@cornell.edu or send payment to CCE of Oswego County, 3288 Main St., Mexico, NY 13114.

Winter Dairy Management Meeting March 2 in Mexico

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County will host the 2015 Winter Dairy Management Workshop via webinar from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, March 2 at its office on Main Street, Mexico.

Speakers will focus on improving milk components to increase profit. The cost is $15 and includes lunch. Call 963-7286 to register.

Days Agenda:

9:30 a.m. – Registration & Sign-up for FSA Borrower Training Credits

9:45 a.m. - Introductions & Introductory Points

10 to 10:30 a.m. - Impact of Milk Components on the Milk Check
Jason Karszes, Cornell PRO-DAIRY Program

10:30 to 11:15 a.m. - Understanding Income over Feed Costs and its Impact on Profitability
Betsey Howland, Cornell PRO-DAIRY Program

11:15 to noon - Nutrition’s Impact on Milk Components Part 1
Dave Balbian, Cornell Cooperative Extension

Noon to 1 p.m. - LUNCH - Registration includes light lunch

1 to 1:45 p.m. - Nutrition’s Impact on Milk Components
Dave Balbian, CCE (continuation of morning presentation)

1:45 to 2:30 p.m. - Case Farm Example
Producer story of increased profitability through improved milk components

Oswego County Harvest Dinner Tonight in Oswego

We'll be celebrating all that's great in agriculture in Oswego County tonight at the annual Harvest Dinner at the American Foundry in Oswego.

Harvest Dinner in Oswego County Set for Oct. 3

Onions, apples, meats and more, all grown in Oswego County, will be featured during the upcoming Harvest Dinner on Oct. 3 at the American Foundry in Oswego.

To celebrate the rich bounty of local food Oswego County produces, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County is holding the fifth annual Oswego County Harvest Dinner beginning at 6:15 p.m. The event will showcase the quality and diversity of agriculture in Oswego County by featuring food grown and sourced from local farmers and agriculture businesses.

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 sending payment to CCE of Oswego County, Harvest Dinner, 3288 Main St., Mexico, NY 13114. No tickets will be sold at the door. 

As in the past the event is expected to sell out, so make your reservations now!

The evening will start with a social hour, including appetizers and a sampling of Oswego County beverages. Guests will be served a six-course meal showcasing the delicious and diverse agricultural products produced in Oswego County, followed by guest speaker Terry Ettinger, the host of "Garden Journeys" on Time Warner Cable News television.

There also will be raffle baskets featuring Oswego County’s finest agricultural products and more. 

For more information on the Oswego County Harvest Dinner please call 315-963-7286 or e-mail LKW39@cornell.edu.