Keep Farmland for Farmers

So what do you all think of this?

Thanks to FarmNet for sharing on Facebook.

Here's http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/01/opinion/keep-farmland-for-farmers.html?_r=2& the story.

NYCAMH Goes the FarmAid

Here's what http://www.farmingmagazine.com/blog-5783.aspx the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health was up to at FarmAid in Saratoga.

Cornell Researchr Says Corn Yields Could Be High

Good news about this year's corn harvest:

Margaret Smith, professor of plant breeding and genetics at Cornell University and leading corn researcher, has encouraging news regarding corn yields.

“As the corn crop in New York and throughout the country matures, estimates of this year's grain yields are getting more concrete," Smith said. "Temperatures in N.Y. and throughout the major growing areas of the U.S. Corn Belt were generally favorable this summer, with heat accumulation at or just slightly above long-term averages. Combine that with plenty of timely rains in many areas, and we could be seeing some really high grain yields.

“Around New York, fields that did not get planted before about May 20 were mostly too wet to get back into until early June," she said. "This later-planted corn did not deal well with the frequent rains that prevailed through much of June and July. So those fields don't look great.  

“All that moist weather also favored northern leaf blight on corn, which hit some fields very heavily in late August.  At this point, however, the later planted fields and the leaf blight damage don't appear to be enough acres to really dampen what should be a strong corn grain harvest year for New York.”

A Day in the Life of a Farmer's Wife

A great read.

See it here http://adayinthelifeofthefarmerswife.blogspot.com/2013/09/i-want-consumers-to-feel-farming.html at this link.

Wine Trail Legislation Will Help Industry, Experts Say

Here are two statements about the new wine trail and wine selling legislation in New York state:

Bradley Rickard, assistant professor at Cornell and leading expert in the economics of horticultural markets, said this about new legislation allowing roadside farm market stands to sell wine as well as expand wine trails designations on state roadways.

 

Rickard says:

 

“Similar to laws that have allowed wineries to sell their products at farmers’ markets and that have created wine trails, the new legislative change allowing wine to be sold at roadside farm markets will enable more New York State wine to be sold to consumers and will benefit the industry in some capacity.”

 

The New York Farm Bureau commented on the law expanding the state wine trail system:

In a press release, it said "local wineries across Upstate New York now have new opportunities to lure in visitors with the recent expansion of the state wine trail system. Gov. Cuomo just signed legislation that will allow the Niagara Wine Trail Ridge and Niagara Wine Trail Lake to grow in western New York in addition to the expansion of the Shawangunk East Wine Trail in the lower Hudson Valley.

"The governor also put pen to paper creating the Adirondack Coast Wine Trail in Clinton County.

"We appreciate the governor’s support of New York’s vineyards and farm based wineries. The wine trail system has proven itself to be an economic generator drawing in tourists from around the state and the world to sample and purchase our award winning wines. The wineries themselves pay for the road signs marking the trail, and there is no cost to the state, only an economic benefit.

"The cross promotion and branding of a Wine Trail as a destination allows the state’s smaller farm and commercial wineries the opportunity to work together to capture new customers. Also, the additional visitors to the respective regions provide a spin-off boost to the rural economies as well.

"In addition to the expansions, a separate bill changes the name of the Chautauqua Wine Trail in Chautauqua County to the Lake Erie Wine Trail.

Dean Norton, president of New York Farm Bureau, said “New York Farm Bureau worked closely with the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, a number of winemakers and their respective state legislators, as well as the New York Department of Transportation to make these important changes to the wine trail system.  We very much appreciate Governor Cuomo’s support and faith in our local wineries to provide an economic boost to their communities and to add to the quality of life in the state.”

Cornell Vet School Beginning Construction Project

News from Cornell University:

The College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell will begin a $63 million capital project to upgrade and expand its infrastructure and teaching facilities to accommodate increasing the pre-clinical (first three years of study) class sizes from 102 to 120 students.

 

Plans call for demolishing 68,000 square feet of existing space, replacing it with 65,000 square feet of new space, and renovating 33,000 square feet. 

Construction is scheduled to start next summer with completion in fall 2017.

 

Cornell currently has the smallest class size among top-tier veterinary schools, due in part to facilities that lack lecture halls and other spaces capable of supporting more than 102 students. The fourth-year class size is now 120 students; an additional 18 students, many from Caribbean schools, complete their clinical training during their final year at Cornell in the college’s veterinary teaching hospital, which already has capacity for the additional students.

 

Additionally, the project will support the growing needs of an annual veterinary conference held at the college that attracts about 700 people. Along with practicing veterinarians and students, the conference is attended by veterinary technicians who will have access to Cornell’s new facilities to augment their programs with experiential learning.

 

“The facility enhancements made as part of this project will enable the college to match the admission size of our veterinary student intake with the capacity of our hospital, thereby achieving the maximum benefit from our extraordinary teaching hospital,” said Michael Kotlikoff, the Austin O. Hooey Dean of Veterinary Medicine.

 

“The program will also benefit regional veterinary technician programs, who need greater hands-on opportunities," he said.. "Having access to Cornell’s facilities will empower the State University of New York and other veterinary technician training programs to attract the most promising students to their programs, provide them with the most effective training and facilitate their ongoing success in practice.”

 

While uniting major teaching, clinical and research spaces of the college, the project enhances the sense of community and collaboration opportunities among students, faculty and staff.

 

The design includes creating a public auditorium; larger classrooms to expand pre-clinical education, including two additional tiered lecture halls; a dining facility closer to the hospital; renovating existing anatomy, tutorial and student surgery areas; and developing meeting and event spaces, an e-learning center and study spaces as well as a central student locker area.

 

Construction plans also include replacing James Law Auditorium with a new three-story structure: The first floor will house the Flower-Sprecher Veterinary Library, which is central to the teaching and research mission of the college. The second-floor will contain the modular resource center and E-learning Center, where students and others can access innovative learning tools. The third floor will be used for administrative offices.

 

The project is predominantly funded by New York state with the remainder coming from gifts and other college resources.

 

Ritchie Says Fall Means Apples and Pumpkins

A column from state Sen. Patricia Ritchie:

To many people, fall is more than just a change in the weather. 

It’s everything from apple picking and fresh cider to homemade pumpkin pie and taking a drive to see the change in colors.  Here in Upstate New York, we’re lucky to have an abundance of fall flavors and activities right in our backyard. 

This year, there’s no shortage of fall fun — and food — to be had.

A highlight this fall is one of the best apple crops in recent years.  Following last year’s warm spring and early frost that led to less than ideal conditions for apple growers, this year’s orchards are full of fruit that is crisp, flavorful and ready for picking.

New York State is home to more than 650 apple orchards — in fact, the Central and Northern New York regions boast more than a dozen places where you can pick your own.

For a full list of apple growers who sell directly to the public, visit www.nyapplecountry.com.  There, you’ll find not only a listing of orchards in our area, but also information on apple varieties, recipes, a history of New York State apples and so much more.

Along with apples, nothing says fall like a patch full of pumpkins.  Here in New York State there are an estimated 1,400 growers who produce roughly 50,000 tons of pumpkins annually.

Most of these pumpkins are for decorative use with a smaller number designated as “pie pumpkins.”  One of the most popular places pumpkins are popping up?  Craft beer.  With everything from pumpkin ales to Oktoberfest beverages, it’s estimated that eighty-four percent of people who drink craft beer, choose their drink depending on the season. 

As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I’m working hard to make sure New York’s farm industry continues to grow — producing not only your favorite foods, but also the new businesses and jobs our state depends upon.

This year,  the state budget included key elements from my “Grown in New York” plan, including restored funding for vital marketing and research programs from apples to dairy and maple.

In addition, the Senate and Assembly also lent their support to my innovative new plan that connects state prisons, hospitals and agencies directly with New York farmers to boost purchases of locally produced foods, bringing better nutrition and boosting farmers’ bottom lines.

This year, I also sponsored new legislation that boosts production and sales of cider products by New York farmers, modeled on successful measures that have helped propel New York’s farm winery, distillery and craft brewing sectors.

With the season only lasting several short months, we have to make the most of fall while it lasts (and before the snow starts falling!). 

One of the best places to find everything the season has to offer is your local farmers market.  While many markets have closed for the season, there are a number that will still be open in the weeks to come.

Go to http://www.nyfarmersmarket.com/farmers-market-profiles/markets/markets.html to find a list of farmers markets in your area of the state. There also is a list of winter markets at this site.

Best wishes for a happy — and healthy — fall!