Help is Here for Farms Dealing With Winter Storm Stella

From Cornell University:

Keith Tidball, director of the Extension Disaster Education Network, put together some a list of resources and actions steps to assist farmers with dealing with Winter Storm Stella. 

As the recent winter storm loses steam and thoughts turn towards digging out, Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Disaster Education Network (NY EDEN - http://eden.cce.cornell.edu) continues to assist the citizens of New York state with helpful resources.  

Examples of evidence-based resources being distributed throughout the state before, during, and after the storm via the Cooperative Extension System include:

• Farmstead Recovery Checklist: Snow Load & Barn Collapse​ 
• Roof Ice Damming and Attic Condensation Problems  
• Preparing for the Thaw​ 
• Heavy Snow Loads and Agricultural Buildings
• Do’s and Don’ts for Barn Snow Removal

Also note that the Cornell Cooperative Extension Disaster Education Network hosts an active Twitter account where timely information is posted beyond the resources above, as well as updates and situation reports as incidents unfold. Find the Twitter account at https://twitter.com/CCE_Disaster

First Maple Weekend Set for March 18-19

Maple Weekends, New York’s annual celebration of all that is maple, are being held March 18 and 19 and March 25 and 26.
 
On those weekends, many producers throughout the state open up their operations so the public can see how trees are tapped, how sap is collected and how sap is boiled down to make syrup. Some producers even operate pancakes breakfasts featuring their fresh maple syrup.
 
Go to http://www.nysmaple.com/maple-weekend-search/plan-your-maple-weekend/ to find a maple weekend site near you.
 
The production of maple syrup is extremely weather dependent — producers need cold night in the upper 20s and daytime temperatures in the low to mid-40s. 

According to statistics from the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, the earliest a maple season began was Jan. 10 in 2011. The latest a season began was April 1 in 1940.
 
Last year, temperatures were a bit crazy, going up and down for a couple of months.
 
At the beginning of February, the weather warmed up just enough for many producers to head out to their trees, tap and start harvesting sap. Temperatures need to be about 40 degrees or a little higher during the day to get the sap flowing and then down below freezing (not too cold, in the upper 20s is best) at night.
 
As producers relished making syrup early in the season, their happiness was short-lived as temperatures plummeted in mid-February — even hitting single digits for highs Feb. 14 and lows way below zero for three straight days (Feb. 13, 14 and 15).
 
Producers got back to harvesting sap and making syrup in March and the season ended on a great note — a record 707,000 gallons of syrup were made.
 
The biggest maple county in the state is Lewis County, which also is home to the state’s Maple Museum.
 
Most recent figures for value of maple syrup production in New York:
2005: $7,037,000
2006: $8,020,000
2007: $7,638,000
2008: $13,907,000
2009: $17,820,000
2010: $12,293,000
2011: $22,052,000
2012: $15,660,000
2013: $25,026,000
2014: $21,676,000
2015: $25,242,000
Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service

Ethics Questions Dogged Ag Secretary Nominee as Georgia Governor

Here's an interesting story about the nominee for agriculture secretary.

Check it out https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/08/us/politics/sonny-perdue-georgia.html?_r=0 at this link.

Onondaga County Farm Bureau Begins After-School Program

Dairy Ambassador Nataila Palladino and NYS Dairy Princess Sarah Rohe of Onondaga Hill with Mott Road Elementary students at the first meeting of the Farm to Kids program March 6

The Onondaga County Farm Bureau has begun a Farm to Kids Club at Mott Road Elementary School in the Fayetteville-Manlius school district.

The club is for students in grades kindergarten through four. The club met for the first time March 6 and will continue on March 13, 20 and 27 and April 3 and 10.

Onondaga County Farm Bureau President Dan Palladino said six farms in Onondaga County will get together with the children to teach them about foods that are grown or raised right here in Onondaga County and how eating fresh is best.

The program already has a waiting list of kids wanting to get in. 

"We had a great first day," Palladino said. "On the first day of sign-ups 30 kids responded already more than the 25 limit placed on all clubs. The school decided to expand the club to 50 kids and over 60 signed up! We already have more than 10 kids on the waiting list for the fall."

Eagle Hill Elementary teachers have already requested Farm Bureau expand the program there in the fall.  

The first club event was hosted by the Onondaga County Dairy Princess team with our new New York state Princess Sarah Rohe, and Onondaga County Alternate Princess Zoie Skinner and Ambassador Nataila Palladino.  

Palladino said the girls split the hour into exercise for the kids with refueling with chocolate milk to teach the benefits of daily exercise and the benefits of replenishing essential nutrients with chocolate milk.  

The second half of the program was teaching the process "From Cow to You" (covering how the farmers take care of the cows, environmental stewardship the benefits of dairy nutrition and the importance of three dairy servings every day). Samples of chocolate milk and cheese sticks were provided by the Onondaga County Dairy Promotions Committee.  

Next week is Maple Week and Dutch Hill Maple from Tully will be teaching about maple production and the differences between Real New York maple syrup and artificial maple syrup. The kids will be able to sample maple candy and will have activities and contests to learn about maple production.

The farms taking part in the program are:
Dutch Valley Maple, Tully, Nate and Christie Williams
Hiwire Honey, LaFayette, Chip Lowe
Clean Slate Farm, Apulia, garlic and fermenting, Dave Lenweaver
2 Kids Goat Farm, Cuyler, cheese making and goat care, Barry Sperat
Piglets and raising pigs, Pompey, Rich Root
Pastureland Dairy (organic dairy tour), Pompey, Pete Mapstone

Former Ag Secretary Yeutter Dies

Check out the story here https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/perspectives/blogs/ag-policy-blog/blog-post/2017/03/05/former-agriculture-secretary-yeutter at this link.

Why Consumers Don't Understand Agriculture

This is a great read.

And even though it was written by someone from Indiana, I think it holds true in New York state too.

Check it out https://www.hoosieragtoday.com/why-consumers-dont-understand-agriculture/ at this link.

New York Farm Bureau Members Meet with Legislators in Albany

Farmers from across the state spent two days in Albany this week visiting with lawmakers on March 6-7 to highlight New York Farm Bureau’s public policy priorities for the year. 

They kicked things off with the popular Taste of New York Reception at the Empire State Plaza for state lawmakers, commissioners and staff. Nearly 90 county Farm Bureaus and agricultural organizations hosted tables featuring local farm products for people to sample. 

New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan were among the many dignitaries who attended the event.

 New York Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, and Long Island Farm Bureau President Karl Novak are enjoying the New York Farm Bureau Taste of New York Reception in Albany on March 6.

Following the evening reception, more than 250 members participated in the annual lobby day on March 7 where they met with both their local senators and assembly members. The county Farm Bureaus also visited with their “adopted” lawmakers who represent the New York City area. 

In addition, NYFB’s executive committee met personally with legislative leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Flanagan and the Chairs of the Agriculture Committees, Senator Patty Ritchie and Assemblyman Bill Magee.


“We had record participation for our Taste of New York reception and Lobby Day this year. The high turnout is a testament to our organization’s strong grassroots support, and it demonstrates the value our members place in meeting to face-to-face with their elected officials,” said David Fisher, New York Farm Bureau president.


The state priorities for the organization include securing a refundable investment tax credit for farmers. With 2015 farm income down nearly 20 percent to $5.3 billion across the state, according to the latest figures from the National Agriculture Statistics Service, it is important that tools be in place to help farmers weather the downturn. 

This initiative would incentivize farm investment to meet the needs of global competition.


In addition, farmers pushed to double the minimum wage tax credit from $30 million to $60 million. The first step of the minimum wage hike climbed at the beginning of the year on its way to $15 for farms on Long Island and $12.50 for Upstate farmers.  

New York Farm Bureau led the way in opposition to the hike last year, resulting in a $250 tax credit per employee for this first year of the increase. That will cover only a small fraction of what it will cost family farms to implement the wage hike.


State funding for critical farm programs is another top priority for Farm Bureau. The governor included a number of things in his budget plan which would help agriculture in the state. 

This includes funding for the Environmental Protection Fund, which will assist farms with water quality, conservation and farmland protection programs, as well as necessary investments into animal health programs. 

Farm Bureau also asked lawmakers to restore funding for promotion and research programs that also benefit agriculture. New York Farm Bureau also supports the governor’s proposed $2 billion clean water infrastructure program that includes $70 million for nutrient management and conservation programs to reduce farm runoff.


The Farm to Food Bank Bill is another top priority for farm bureau members who have seen the governor veto the popular legislation the past two years. Members asked their lawmakers to include the tax credit that encourages greater fresh food donations to regional food banks and local food pantries to be included in their one-house budget bills.


These priorities are based on member-approved public policies that originate every year at the county Farm Bureau level and are passed by the full delegate body at New York Farm Bureau’s State Annual Meeting in December.


In addition to advocating for priorities with lawmakers, members also participated in a special panel discussion with the commissioners from the Departments of Agriculture and Markets, Environmental Conservation and Labor. Members asked the public officials questions about a number of issues facing the state’s family farms.


“Our organization is grateful for the time our members spent off their farms to advocate on these important issues in Albany," said Fisher. 

"In addition, New York Farm Bureau appreciates the time lawmakers and staff spent meeting with their constituents. The relationships we have built on both sides of the aisle serve our members well as legislators make policy decisions in Albany that impact every farmer in this state,” he said.