From Empire Farm & Dairy magazine:
By DEBRA J. GROOM
In addition to all the new items at the New York Farm Show, there are some returning workshops and items that everyone must see.
They are:
Machinery galore
Every type of tractor, backhoe, harvester, baler or any other kind of farm machinery a person would want will be on display at the New York Farm Show.
Attendees can see them up close and talk to sales personnel about what they offer. You also can get prices and equipment information to compare. Anyone in the market for something new will find it here.
Woodlot seminars
The New York Forest Owners Association is offering free daily Woodlot Seminars geared to help landowners boost the value of timber and woodlands. The seminars are in the Somerset Room of the Arts and Home Center.
Hot topics this year include cost-sharing for woodlot improvements, finding the right forester, the warning signs of disease and insects, as well as tips for successful timber sales. Other sessions include improving bird habitat, heating with wood, and forest farming, say Hugh Canham and Ron Pedersen, the program coordinators.
The Forest Owners Association is teaming up with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry to put on the program.
Here’s the daily lineup:
Thursday, Feb. 25
11 a.m.: You need a management plan: Step one for your woodlot, by Kristina Ferrare, Cornell Cooperative Extension
1 p.m.: Getting federal aid for woodlot improvements, by Michael Fournier, USDA/Natural Resource Conservation Service
2 p.m.: Improve bird habitat with smart timber management, by Suzanne Treyger, forest management specialist for Audubon New York
3 p.m.: What’s new in home heating with wood, by Guillermo Metz, renewable energy specialist, Cornell Cooperative Extension
Friday, Feb. 26
10 a.m.: Working with foresters: Finding the right one for you, by Peter Smallidge, NYS Extension forester at Cornell University
11 a.m.: Woodland thinning for timber health and production, by Peter Smallidge
1 p.m.: Signs of insect and disease threats to your woods, by Kim Adams, SUNY
2 p.m.: New wood products and opportunities for woodlot management, by William Smith, SUNY
3 p.m.: Getting federal aid for woodlot improvements, by Michael Fournier, U.S. Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Service
Saturday, Feb. 27
10 a.m.: Secrets to harvesting and heating with wood, by Michael Kelleher, SUNY
11 a.m.: Forest farming for mushrooms, medicinals, forest fruits and more, by Steve Gabriel, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute
1 p.m.: Making maple syrup for fun and profit, by Stephen Childs, Cornell Maple Program.
2 p.m.: Portable sawmills for woodlot owners, by David Williams, mill owner-operator from Bainbridge, Chenango County
3 p.m.: Dos and don’ts for a successful timber sale, by Hugh Canham, SUNY emeritus professor
For more on the New York Forest Owners Association, visit www.nyfoa.org
Beef seminars
The Beef Area in the Toyota Building has many seminars during the farm show.
The schedule is:
10 a.m. — Proper Care and Preparation of Cattle, Before The Show Season, Robert Groom and Jeanne White
11 a.m. — Start Them Right: Healthy Cows Raise Healthy Calves, Mark McCullouch, Merck Animal Health
Noon — Diagnosing Scours and the Choices to Treat Calves, Dr. Trent Lartz, veterinarian, Multimin, USA
1 p.m. — Cow Side Diagnostics, what is available to get answers quick, Dr. Trent Lartz, Multimin, USA
2 p.m. — Cattle Grading, grouping pooled cattle, Heather Birdsall, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cortland County
3 p.m. — How Ultra Sounding Improves EPDs and what it means for improving your herd, Andy Weaber
On Saturday, there will be three special presentations by New York Junior Beef Members
10 a.m. — How to prepare for a Junior Team Fitting Competition, Shelby Kelekenberg, junior beef member
10 a.m. — How to prepare for a Junior Team Marketing Competition, a New York junior beef member
Noon — Our National Livestock Challenge Experience in Louisville, Ky., Melissa Keller
Also, each day beginning at 11 a.m., the New York Beef Council will be on hand serving its famous Hot Beef Sundaes.
A live beef cattle display representing numerous beef breeds also will be on hand including breed information to take home.
Health and safety
The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health hosts an interactive exhibit in the NYCAMH booth in the Center of Progress building.
You will see:
n The new “Game of Logging” is hands-on logging safety training.
n Sign up for the Rollover Protective Structure rebate program.
n Check out the interactive youth displays of farm hazards
n Quiz New York State Police on road safety, machinery lighting and gun controls.
n Get your blood pressure checked for free.
4-H fundraiser
The 4-Hers are back with a hitch pin fundraiser.
You can buy Tisco 6-by-¾-inch hitch pins at $5 each or five for $20. Look for those smiling 4-H faces and the hitch pins at the main entrance doors of the Center of Progress, Dairy and Horticulture buildings.
The hitch pins will be available until they all are sold.
We want your opinion
American Agriculturist magazine will be at the show to take polls of show attendees.
Some of the questions may include:
n If the election for U.S. president was held today, who would you vote for?
n Should assault rifles be banned from U.S. sale?
n Are you using cover crops in 2016? If so, which ones?
n Due to current low prices, how will you cut corn production costs?
n What new ag technology (machinery, crops, livestock) are you most excited about?
n What certified organic products are you most interested in producing?
Taking the poll qualifies attendees to win a $350 Tractor Supply gift card, Leatherman tools worth $65 each or free one-year subscriptions. Sample magazine copies and special show-rate subscriptions are also available.
