August 16, 2021: Thank you to Spudman magazine for running this news item!
https://spudman.com/news/new-york-grower-test-biocontrol-nematodes-wireworms/

North Country Entrepreneur Will Test NNY Biocontrol Success with Potato Crop in Franklin County

Moira, New York; August 10, 2021.  Can a nature-based pest management protocol that has helped protect alfalfa, corn, berry crops, and some organically grown root crops do the same for an organic potato crop? This month, a potato grower in Franklin County and biocontrol nematode laboratory owner Mary DeBeer of DeBeer Seed and Spraying in Moira, New York, will make a trial application of biocontrol nematodes to reduce the population of wireworms that damage the roots, sprouts, and tubers of potato crops. This trial joins others nationwide applying the biocontrol nematodes protocol developed with the long-term support of the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program.

Cornell University Entomologist Elson Shields, Ph.D., who pioneered the science behind the use of a combination of native biocontrol nematodes to reduce crop pest populations, has advised DeBeer on the strains of nematodes and the rate of application to apply to the potato fields.

“Our biocontrol nematode applications on multiple organic farms in New York and Canada have resulted in reduced wireworm damage to root crops and reduced soil populations of wireworms. With this application in northern New York, we would expect some protection in year one with full activity of the biocontrol nematodes in the potato field in year two,” said Shields.

With the steadfast commitment of the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP), Shields and Cornell University Research Support Specialist Antonio Testa developed the use and rearing of biocontrol nematodes to first manage alfalfa snout beetle. Their subsequent research has shown the biocontrol nematodes to also be effective in managing corn rootworm, berry root pests, and wireworms.

“When we faced huge losses to alfalfa snout beetle, the farmers who direct the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program made a commitment to however long it would take to develop the real-world science needed to find a solution. Today, the success of the research made possible by that steadfast commitment is paying off not only for alfalfa growers and dairy farmers in northern New York, but for the growers of multiple crops in multiple states and Canada,” said NNYADP Co-Chair Jon Greenwood, Madrid, New York.

The NNYADP biocontrol nematode protocol is being applied to various crops in multiple U.S. states, from Texas to Minnesota. The trials have most recently expanded to cornfields in central and northern Midwest states. The research, which has also identified alternative methods of biocontrol nematodes application such as in manure applications and by center pivot irrigation system, has prompted parallel research trials in Ontario, Canada.

As part of her family’s agricultural services business, DeBeer established a biocontrol nematode rearing laboratory in 2016 after attending workshops with Shields and Testa.

“Northern New York’s farmers have been willing to invest in biocontrol nematode applications to protect their field crops. I hope this trial will expand that success to potato crops,” DeBeer said.

The history of the science and success of Shields’ biocontrol nematode research in field crops and berry crops is posted on the NNYADP website at https://www.nnyagdev.org. Funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by the New York State Legislature and administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

July 29, 2021. WWNY-TV, Watertown, NY, highlighted the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program grant-funded project on dairy calf health and barn ventilation with film and interviews from yesterday’s barn fogging demonstration at Beller’s Family Farm in Carthage. Different segments ran on the evening and morning news shows and included interviews with Cornell University Cooperative Extension Regional Dairy Specialists Casey Havekes and Lindsay Ferlito and Cornell PRO-DAIRY Dairy Farm Strategic Planning Specialist Tim Terry. Click here to see one of the segments by WWNY reporter Brendan Straub: https://www.wwnytv.com/2021/07/28/farmers-learn-about-barn-fogging/.

Barn fogging is a process that makes airflow visible for the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of natural and mechanical ventilation systems. The demonstration at Beller’s Family Farm and earlier at Stauffer Farm in North Lawrence was focused on the role of barn ventilation in maintaining the health of pre-weaned dairy calves on farms in Northern New York. This 2021 project is one in a series of dairy calf health projects funded by the NNYADP; to learn more see: https://nnyagdev.org/index.php/research-news/research-projects/

“Montebello” green variety of sprouting broccoli harvested from the NNYADP mini-brassica crops research trial at the Willsboro Research Farm on May 23, 2021. Photo: Elisabeth Hodgdon

Plattsburgh, N.Y.; June 30, 2021.  The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) has awarded a grant for trials of early spring high tunnel miniature cabbages and sprouting broccoli crops. These cold-tolerant brassica (cruciferous) crops have the potential to fill the sales gap that occurs between when winter storage crops are sold out and before spring field crop harvest begins in New York State’s northern region. The research team, which includes vegetable production specialists with Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Willsboro Research Farm, harvested its first miniature versions of these vegetables in May 2021.

The opportunity to produce miniature varieties of broccoli and cabbages that are quick-growing and able to grow in unheated high tunnels will help northern New York growers respond to the unprecedented surge in demand for local foods spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In 2020, wholesale buyers sought out more sprouting broccoli than the market could supply through the northern New York food hubs,” said Elisabeth Hodgdon, Ph.D., a regional vegetable specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program.

Hodgdon is overseeing trials of fall-overwintered and early spring-planted high tunnel-grown varieties of sprouting broccoli and mini-cabbages for harvest in April and May. The research will collect data on planting dates, crop establishment, growth patterns, and yield.

Sprouting broccoli is commonly grown in Europe. Growers harvest small heads of the broccoli in various colors on long stalks, which can be cooked similarly to asparagus. The miniature cabbages offer growers a fresh green crop to sell well before field cabbage is ready for fresh market sales. The mini-cabbages have tender green leaves that are excellent for salads.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Regional Agricultural Business Specialist Lindsey Pashow is working with regional growers on ways to package, price, and prepare these vegetable crops for wholesale and retail markets. Pashow and Hodgdon are also helping growers develop food safety plans and implement practices to meet Food Safety Modernization Act and Good Agricultural Practices requirements.

An additional aspect of this Northern New York Agricultural Development Program-funded regional vegetable project is focused on how to plant cold-tolerant brassica species as field cover crops to enhance soil health and to help suppress pests, weeds, and crop diseases. The researchers will examine different varieties and planting date effects on forage radish and mustard biomass production before killing frosts arrive in northern New York State.

Notices about in-person and virtual 2021 Brassica Workshops for growers, and the final 2021 project results, will be posted on the NNYADP website at https://www.nnyagdev.org.

Funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by the New York State Legislature and administrated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

June 15, 2021.  Cornell University Entomologist Elson Shields, Ph.D., shared this May 2021 photo of a lush alfalfa field in North Bangor (Franklin County), New York, with a note that prior to an application of biocontrol nematodes four years ago this field could grow nothing more than grass hay. It has now been restored to a substantial contribution to the farm’s cropping plan. Long-term support from the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program made possible Shields’ research to develop the science needed to find a nature-based solution for managing the #1 destructive pest of alfalfa crops, alfalfa snout beetle. That solution is now working in multiple states to combat different crop and berry pests. Photo: Elson Shields

Canton  N.Y.; June 9, 2020.   The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) has awarded a grant to Cornell Cooperative Extension Dairy Specialists Lindsay Ferlito and Casey Havekes to assess and troubleshoot barn ventilation systems and their  impact on the health of pre-weaned calves on farms in northern New York in 2021. The researchers will demonstrate barn fogging, a process that makes air flow visible as part of calf barn ventilation and calf health workshops on regional farms on July 27 in North Lawrence and July 28 in Carthage. Registration is free, but space is limited. Contact 607-592-0290 or lc636@cornell.edu for details.

This new research in 2021 builds on a series of dairy calf health assessment projects previously funded by the farmer-driven NNYADP:

• An observational baseline study evaluating 437 pre-weaned calves on 29 dairy farms in the region in 2015 indicated a slightly higher rate of respiratory illness than the national average. Research has shown ventilation to be one of the critical factors influencing calf respiratory health.
• An NNYADP-funded follow-up study with 2,408 pre-weaned calves in 2016-2017 highlighted how management practice changes and environmental factors impact calf health on a seasonal basis.
  
  
• In 2017 and 2018, Cornell Cooperative Extension and Quality Milk Production Services created the “Calf Health Risk Assessment Tool for Northern New York Dairy Farms” to support development of farm-specific best management practices planning to address key areas of calf health management, particularly during periods of cold winter temperatures. Every farm participating in that project made management adjustments as a result of the research.
  
  
• In 2019, the results of the NNYADP calf health project showed calfhood illnesses occurring most frequently at 8 to 31 days of age, with neonatal diarrhea, or scours, as the primary concern, and at 61 to 120 days of age with pneumonia as the primary distress. Participating farms developed or enhanced their protocols for preventing and treating calfhood illness.
• A follow-up study in 2020 identified the pathogenic causes of neonatal diarrhea and the benefit of supportive recovery care with electrolytes and plentiful water access.

Throughout this series of NNYADP-funded research, project leaders have been alert to the role of ventilation, housing, and management in reducing the rate of respiratory illness in calves.

Ferlito notes, “Our work in 2021 involves barn fogging and capturing video to analyze the ventilation efficiency in each barn and to identify any necessary changes to enhance calf health.”

The research team, which includes Cornell University PRO-DAIRY personnel, will deploy data loggers inside and outside barns. Data collection will include calf-level air speed and ammonia concentrations in bedding, monthly calf health scoring and weight gain, and bedding nesting scoring. Each participating farm’s calf management reporting and treatment protocols will be assessed. Final project results and insights will be shared via workshops, and posted on the NNYADP website at https://www.nnyagdev.org. The results of past project work are posted there now.

Funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by the New York State Legislature and administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.