Important for Farmers To Know How To Properly Spread Manure

Check out this story about manure spreading.

Go to http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/manure-a-key-for-soil-respect-for-neighbors-a-part-of-the-mix-20150419 to find the story.

Certified Organic Meeting Focuses on Hemp, Forage

The last of the 2017 New York Certified Organic winter meetings is scheduled for Monday, March 13 at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva.

The meeting will include an update on organic hemp production trials plus presentations on nutrient balancing, crop production, and alternative forage production for organic farming systems. 
Presenters include Cornell University and University of Vermont faculty and a New York organic dairy farmer.

The meeting will start promptly at 10 am in Jordan Hall. There is no cost or need to register to attend the New York Certified Organic meetings; participants are asked to bring a dish for potluck lunch.

Heather Darby, an agronomic and soils specialist with the University of Vermont, will review field trials conducted at the University research farm on organic hemp production in the Northeast and narrow row organic spring grain production.

Quirine Ketterings of the Cornel University Nutrient Management Spear Program and Cornell PRO-DAIRY Program Senior Extension Associate Karl Czymmek will show how doing annual whole farm mass balance assessments can help farmers understand the long-term capacity to support optimum yields, identify management strategies that will optimize farm nutrient imports and exports, quantify a farm’s footprint and track how it is changing over time, and summarize and evaluate the farm as a whole system.

Organic dairy farmer Tim Demeree from Little Falls, Herkimer County, will talk about his experience with growing annuals, including sudangrass, millet and sorghum for forage and how they fit in his crop rotation. 

Demeree will also share a comparison of the ensiling profiles of baleage using different preservatives. Nutritionist Adam McFarland of Agriking worked with Demeree to develop this comparison.

Round table discussions after lunch provide farmers the opportunity to ask questions and hear from the combined experience of the group that includes new and transitioning farmers and long-time organic producers.

The March 13 meeting also includes a brief description of how crop insurance can benefit organic farmers.

The New York Crop Insurance Education Team and Cornell Cooperative Extension provide support for the New York Certified Organic meetings. 

For more details, contact Fay Benson at (607) 391-2699 or at afb3@cornell.edu

Benson is an educator with the Cornell University SCNY Regional Team, project manager for the NY Organic Dairy Program, coordinator of the NY Soil Health Trailer, and a member of the New York Crop Insurance Team.

Emmi & Sons Named Conservation Farm of the Year in Onondaga County

From Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District:

The outside of the Emmi & Sons farm stand on Route 370 in Lysander

Emmi and Sons, Inc. in Lysander has been awarded the Onondaga County 2016 Conservation Farm of the Year Award for environmental stewardship.

The award is given by the Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Tony Emmi is the primary owner of the farm, a third generation, 300 acre fruit and vegetable farm. The farm was started by Anthony Emmi (grandfather of Tony Emmi) who came to the United States in 1921, began work as a ditch-digger, and saved enough money to start the farm north of Syracuse.

Emmi & Sons was incorporated in 1961 as a partnership between Anthony Emmi, Carmen Emmi and son-in- law Sam Mangano. Since 2006, the Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District has worked with the Emmi Farm to deliver conservation practices through the state Agricultural Environmental Management Program.

District projects at the farm include an agrichemical mixing facility and a produce process wash water treatment system. The farm has also worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service to install micro-irrigation to conserve water and reduce the risk of soil erosion and runoff.

The farm does a significant amount of conservation work on their own, including Nutrient Management to prevent the over-application of fertilizer, Integrated Pest Management to
reduce pesticide and herbicide usage, and Crop Management Practices such as conservation crop rotations, cover crops and leaving fields fallow; all of which improve soil function and viability, leading to healthier soils and crops.

Tony Emmi was presented with the award at the Onondaga County Farm Fest Sept. 24.

Chocolate Milk Great for Post-Workout

ABC News had a report this morning about chocolate milk.

Here it is. Check it out and then make up your own mind:

https://gma.yahoo.com/video/could-chocolate-milk-perfect-post-130121417.html

Why You Should Try Chocolate Milk After a Workout

Check out this Washington Post story at http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/why-you-should-try-chocolate-milk-after-a-workout/2015/02/02/efe27658-a708-11e4-a7c2-03d37af98440_story.html

Organic, GMOs, Yes or No??

Check out this interesting http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2014/02/27/243163/#.UxTs__RdUjf blog entry from the Genetic Literacy Project.

Then send some comments on what you think.

June is Dairy Month -- Dairy Packs a Powerful Punch of Nutrition

Dietitians throughout the country, state and even locally believe dairy products are a good source of nutrition in a healthy diet.

But, local dietitian Linda Quinn, of Syracuse, said most favor eating lowfat versions of dairy, since many dairy products can be high in fat and calories.

She said people should opt for skim milk instead of whole milk, lowfat ice cream, ice milk or frozen yogurt instead of regular ice cream and lowfat yogurt and cheese.

Dairy products include lots of calcium, protein, potassium (especially yogurt and fluid milk) and Vitamin D. Quinn also said yogurt, which is all the rage today, also includes probiotics, bacteria that live in our guts and help keep our digestive tracts healthy and operating at peak efficiency.

Quinn also said most dietitians in the United States believe in the "3 Every Day" mantra of people eating at least three portion of dairy a day.

But people should watch their portions. According to choosemyplate.gov, a portion of cheese is only 2 ounces or one-third of a cup of shredded cheddar. An 8-ounce cup of milk or yogurt is one serving and one 8-ounce cup of frozen yogurt or a scoop of ice cream is one serving.

Quinn said while it's good to get those servings of dairy, the thing to remember is all in moderation -- don't go hog wild and eat too much dairy. 

Here is some more nutritional info from Michelle Barber, dietitian with the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council:

8 oz. cup of skim milk = 83 calories, 0 fat

8 oz. cup of whole milk = 149 calories, 8g fat

8 oz. cup of yogurt = (lowfat, fruit variety) = 238 calories, 3g fat; (nonfat, fruit variety) 233 calories, 0g fat

1 oz. lowfat cheese (Monterey, low fat) = 87 calories and 6 g fat

4 oz. ice cream (soft serve, chocolate)=191 calories, 11 g fat

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. 2012.

June is Dairy Month -- Just What Can One Cow Do??

For today's June is Dairy Month feature, I found this great graphic that explains just what one dairy cow does for all of us.

It produces food and nutrients for us, deposits nutrients into the soil for other crops grown for people and animals, saves items from being deposited in landfills and even helps produce electricity.

That's a lot to ask from one bovine. And according to the 2007 Census of Agriculture, there were more than 600,000 dairy cows in New York state.

Cornell University Part of $9.9 M Grant to Reduce Dairy's Environmental Footprint

Go to http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2013/05/99m-grant-reduce-dairys-environmental-hoofprint to see the story.

Healthy Nutrient Might Lead to Heart Disease

Uh oh.

Please, say it ain't so.

Go to http://www.everydayhealth.com/heart-health/healthy-nutrient-might-lead-to-heart-disease-study-finds-6684.aspx?xid=aol_eh-cardio_6_20130429_&aolcat=ESR&icid=maing-grid7|aim|dl2|sec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D307491 to read about a new study that finds foods that we've been told for years are good for us, might not be so good.

Know Your Greens and their Nutrition

Here's something that was posted on Facebook by the Richardson Farm. Enjoy and learn!!

State Links Contaminated Well Water in Marcellus to Runoff From Farm Field

Go to http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/04/state_links_contaminated_water.html#incart_river_default to see the story.