Two Northern New York Agricultural Development Program meetings were held in the region in February. The meetings provide members and friends of the farmer-driven research, outreach and technical assistance program for the six northernmost counties of New York State with project updates and the opportunity to brainstorm research and education needs and opportunities for the coming year.
The following photos are from the NNY west-side meeting in Watertown.
Above, Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) Co-Chair Jon Greenwood (center) spoke with Tim Scee (right), a representative of NYS Senator Patty Ritchie, and Jim Durkish, constituent representative for NYS Senator Joseph Griffo, at the February 2013 NNYADP meeting in Watertown. Both Senate representatives cited the importance of agriculture to the Northern New York economy.
NNYADP Horticulture subcommittee members discussed needs and opportunities for regional vegetable, fruit, nursery, and greenhouse producers. Left to right seated: Cornell Small Farms Program Director Anu Rangarajan, Cornell Willsboro Farm Manager Mike Davis, Cornell Horticulture Professor Dr. Steve Reiners; standing, CCE Jefferson County Horticulture educator Sue Gwise, and Jefferson County grower Gail Millard.
Cornell University Animal Science Senior Extension Associate Karl J. Czymmek provided an update on the positive impact of NNYADP-funded agricultural environmental stewardship projects led by Cornell Crop and Soil Sciences Associate Professor Quirine M. Ketterings. Czymmek spoke about whole farm mass nutrient balancing projects that help farmers precisely target the use of soil nutrients, fertilizer, and manure resources.
Members of the NNYADP Livestock Committee attending the annual meeting in Watertown included (l to r) Cornell University Beef Extension Specialist Dr. Mike Baker, Ithaca, NY; livestock producer and CSA supplier Steve Winkler of Rodman, NY; NNY Cornell Cooperative Extension Livestock Specialist Betsy Hodge, Canton, NY; beef producer Don Holman, Adams, NY; sheep farmer Harold Boomhower, Rutland, NY; and CCE Community Educator and livestock farmer Steve Ledoux, Croghan, NY.
Cornell Entomologist Dr. Elson Shields points out the range of alfalfa snout beetle (ASB) in nine counties in New York State. Shields has been honored by the Entomological Society of America for his body of work, including the NNYADP-funded development of a biocontrol for the destructive ASB. Farmers using nematodes to control the beetle are once again harvesting high quality alfalfa crops to feed dairy cows and other livestock. NNYADP-funded trials, led by Dr. Donald Viands and Dr. Julie L. Hansen of Cornell, breeding ASB-resistant varieties of alfalfa are developing a second means of ASB control for tandem use with the nematodes.