The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has posted its 2024 call for 2024 project RFP: Request for Proposals. Click here for forms and guidelines.

Funding for the NNYADP is supported by the New York State Legislature through the New York State Assembly and administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Willsboro, New York; September 7, 2023. The farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) has announced that the first occurrence of spongy moth caterpillar and berry-picking birds have influenced its research at the “superfruits’ nursery at the Willsboro Research Farm. Farm Manager Michael H. Davis, Ph.D., is developing best management practices against these pests for the nursery’s juneberry, honeyberry, aronia, and elderberry. The term “superfruit” is used to describe high-antioxidant, high-value fruits.

The first outbreak of spongy moth caterpillar in the fruit trials at the research nursery occurred in 2022. Davis noted, “Spongy moth caterpillar tends to occur cyclically about every 10 to 15 years. With each successive year of this research, we are building a comprehensive, field-tested database on such production factors as susceptibility to impact by pests, disease, and weather events; flowering and fruiting dates; fruit size and quality; and best management practices for year-to-year conditions.”

Davis and State University of New York at Plattsburgh Botanist and Assistant Professor of Biology Michael B. Burgess, Ph.D., initiated the NNYADP superfruits research. Using wild cuttings from several states and commercial fruiting and ornamental varieties collected in 2013 and 2014, they established New York State’s first and only juneberry nursery.

In 2022, the spongy moth caterpillar defoliated the nursery’s eleven commercial and nine wild varieties of juneberry. The plants produced new leaves but did not fruit. The four ornamental juneberry varieties were not damaged and flowered profusely.

Spongy moth caterpillar did some damage to the NNYADP trial’s four-year-old aronia trial but did not defoliated the plants. Damage by rose chafers and Japanese beetles plus the caterpillar’s impact in 2022 and dry growing conditions the year before may all have influenced unproductive fruiting by the aronia in 2022.

Blue honeyberry plants, added to the NNYADP “superfruits” research plan in 2018, have not yet grown to full maturity. None of the twenty varieties of blue honeyberry experienced spongy moth caterpillar damage in 2022; however, a tear in netting covering the planting allowed cedar waxwings to negate the opportunity for fruiting.

Spongy moth caterpillar did not harm the five American and two European varieties of elderberry that were added to the NNYADP trial in 2020. Davis pointed out that more than 95 percent of elderberries in the U.S. are imported, indicating a substantial domestic production market opportunity for American growers.

“Our elderberry plants are too young for any notable fruit production. They represent a significant future opportunity to ‘grow’ into the domestic market,” Davis said.

The results of the current NNYADP superfruits research year will be posted at www.nnyagdev.org in early 2024.

The New York State Legislature established the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program in recognition of the agricultural potential of the northernmost region of the state. Funding for the NNYADP is supported by the New York State Legislature through the New York State Assembly and is administrated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

Hoard’s Dairyman has recently (8/24/23) posted an article on the NNYADP-funded research into the possible benefits of using kefir as a probiotic supplement in young dairy animals. Click here to read the “Calves can benefit from farm-made products” article by Miner Institute Research Scientist Sarah Morrison: https://hoards.com/article-34064-calves-can-benefit-from-farm-made-probiotics.html.

Click here to read the NNYADP project results report: The Effects of Kefir Supplementation During the First 21 Days of Life on Growth, Diarrhea Incidence, and Antibiotic Use in Holstein Calves.

The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by funding from the New York State Legislature through the New York State Assembly. The funding is administrated by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets.

NNYADP Rye Cover Crop Research Adds Data to Local, State, National Programs
Northern NY region a high priority for this work

Northern New York (Canton, Chazy, Croghan, Mooers, Plattsburgh): July 31, 2023. The first-year results of cover crop research funded by the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program are contributing data to New York State, Northeast, and national programs. The regional project is being conducted by Virginia Moore, Ph.D., who is leading a new research program at Cornell University focused on breeding plants to support sustainable cropping systems in colder climate regions.

Moore is also a project director with the nationwide Cover Crops Breeding Network, the largest effort of its kind in the United States. Moore’s research includes an effort to develop cereal rye as a cover crop.

Moore’s first trials in northern New York planted six different varieties of cereal rye on four different dates in the fall of 2022 on working farms in Croghan, Mooers, and Plattsburgh, New York, and at agricultural research farms in Canton and Chazy in the fall of 2022.

Moore explains why Northern New York is ideal for her research.

“Northern New York’s colder climate and year-round agricultural conditions make it a high priority region for this research. Due to the regional climate and soil variability within New York State, it is critical to expand cereal rye variety development to northern New York where fall and spring growing conditions vary from other parts of the state,” said Moore.

Cereal rye is the most common cover crop in northern climate areas due to its cold tolerance and ability to suppress weeds. It also helps filter surface and groundwater, adds organic matter to support soil health, reduces soil erosion, and sequester carbon in the soil.

Participants in a focus group that Moore convened with northern New York growers, agronomists, Cornell Cooperative Extension specialists, and Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) staff identified challenges, including limited availability of cereal rye varieties suited to the northern New York region, a short planting window for cover crop seeding after fall harvest, and inconsistent growth in the spring. Moore’s research is helping to address these challenges, which all impact the potential of cereal rye as a double forage crop.

Early Data Promising, Work Continues
“Data from the first year showed excellent emergence and plant vigor with all varieties at all sites. Most plots, regardless of the planting date, reached 100 percent emergence before the onset of winter,” Moore noted.

The work continues with more data expected on the cereal rye stand quality, winter survival, maturity, termination, and biomass metrics later this year. A new planting will be made this fall.

Moore’s NNYADP “Cereal Rye Cover Crops for Northern New York: Variety Selection and Research Needs” project report for year one is posted under About: NNYADP Projects By Year: 2022 at www.nnyagdev.org.

SWCD personnel in Clinton and Lewis counties assisted the plantings following cash crop harvest at the three working farms. Data from a trial conducted at Cornell’s research farm in Freeville, New York, are also inducted in the report.

This NNYADP-funded research is also contributing data to the Northeast Cover Crop Council that has cereal rye trials located throughout the Northeast.

Funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by the New York State Legislature through the New York State Assembly and is administrated by the New  York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
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Happening September 7, 2023 – Space Limited,
Register Early for This In-Demand Training

July 25, 2023.  The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) is collaborating with the International Maple Grading School and Quality Control Program to offer a full day of hands-on maple education for beginning and advanced maple producers. The highly-requested training combines science-based instruction with intensive hands-on activities on how to accurately grade maple syrup and other quality control measures. The program will be offered on September 7, 2023 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the Lewis County Education Center, 7395 East Road, Lowville, New York.

The day-long program includes sessions on accurately grading maple syrup, the chemistry of the different maple grade colors, standard flavors, the cause of off flavors and how to detect them, density and equipment, clarity and filtering, and food safety.

Pre-registration is required; space is limited. This special presentation of the International Maple Grading School and Quality Control Program is being offered for $20 per person with lunch and training materials included. This program typically costs $100 per person.

Register online at https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aaXyv0JOpJuGgse or to register by mail request the registration form from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County Executive Director Michele Ledoux at 315-376-5270, mel14@cornell.edu.

Funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by the New York State Legislature through the New York State Assembly and administrated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The results of recent NNYADP maple, beech, and birch syrup production research projects are posted at https://www.nnyagdev.org under the Maple tab.

The International Maple Grading School and Quality Control Program is supported by the International Maple Syrup Institute and the North American Maple Syrup Council.