Wellesley Island, N.Y.: December 23, 2019.  Enchanted Edible Forest Garden grower Dani Baker of Cross Island Farms, Wellesley Island, N.Y., will be among the presenters at the 2020 Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) conferences in Massachusetts and New York in January. Baker is a Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) Committee Member-Farmer.

Baker’s presentations at the two NOFA conferences will focus on the edible forest garden she began developing in 2012. NNYADP research-related plantings in the certified organic, multi-purpose, perennial garden include the “super fruits” Juneberry, honeyberry, and aronia. The garden’s fruits, nuts, berries, herbs, and other edibles are grown for u-pick and for sale at the farms and to restaurants.

Data from Baker’s garden is adding to the NNYADP project evaluating high-antioxidant fruits for production in New York and the Northeast. The project established and supports New York State’s only genomic research nursery of wild-collected and commercial cultivars of Juneberry.

NNYADP Juneberry project leaders Michael Burgess, Ph.D., a State University of New York botanist at Plattsburgh, N.Y.; and Michael Davis, Ph.D., Willsboro Research Farm Manager, Willsboro, N.Y., currently also have honeyberry, and aronia trials underway with Baker and other growers.

Participating in and attending workshops on NNYADP research results has also influenced the way Baker grows cherry tomatoes in her hoop house and her use of cover crops for weed suppression. Her latest NNYADP-related trial involves the application of biocontrol nematodes for pest management.

“I learned about the potential for using biocontrol nematodes at a Northern New York Agricultural Development Program meeting where Cornell University Entomologist Elson Shields spoke about the successful transfer of the biocontrol nematodes for alfalfa snout beetle management to pest management in berry crops. I am excited to see if the nematodes will help manage plum curculio in my garden long-term. This past year I did not have any issues; so-far, so-good,” Baker said.

While the one-acre permaculture garden draws researchers, growers, chefs, home gardeners and food enthusiasts to the NNY farm, Baker credits the NNY food hub feasibility survey funded by the NNYADP and conducted by Cornell Cooperative Extension with analysis by Cornell University with creating a foundation for marketing her products to other areas of New York State.

“The Northern New York food hub project was a boon for our farm, opening up market opportunities for our livestock, fruits, herbs, vegetables and niche products in the Syracuse and Utica markets,” said Baker, who co-owns Cross Island Farms in New York State’s 1000 Islands region with David Belding.

Baker will speak at the NOFA Massachusetts Winter Conference on January 11, 2020, at Worcester State University, Worcester, MA. She will be among the presenters at the NOFA NY Winter Conference on January 17-19 at the Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y.

The results of the NNYADP berry and other horticultural and local foods projects are posted at www.nnyagdev.org.

Funding for the farmer-driven 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.

Moira, Lowville, and Watertown, N.Y.  An update on a project funded in 2019 by the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) to determine the level of Salmonella Dublin and its potential economic impact on regional dairy farms is on the agenda for three January 2020 Dairy Day events organized by the Cornell University Cooperative Extension North Country Regional Ag Team.

The Extension Dairy Day events will take place from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on January 4 at the Brushton-Moira Legion in Moira, Franklin County; January 22 at the Lowville Elks Lodge in Lowville, Lewis County; and January 24 at the Watertown Elks Lodge, Watertown, Jefferson County.

Lindsay Ferlito, a Regional Dairy Specialist with the Cornell University Cooperative Extension North Country Regional Ag Team, will present an update on her project collaboration with Cornell Quality Milk Production Services and the sampling of bulk tanks on NNY dairy farms to assess the presence of Salmonella Dublin. These bacteria can cause pneumonia and illness in calves and negatively impact dairy cow reproductive health. Concern has developed about drug-resistant strains. Ferlito will provide information on herd management for prevention.

The Extension Dairy Days programs will also include a keynote presentation by Dr. Chris Wolf of the Cornell Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management focusing on milk prices and market updates, and presentations by Eileen Jensen of the New York Animal Agriculture Coalition and local Extension agriculture educators.

To register for any of the Extension Dairy Day events, contact Tatum Langworthy, tlm92@cornell.edu, 315-788-8450. The cost including lunch is $10 by paid pre-registration, $20 at the door.

The results of NNYADP-funded research projects are posted on this website (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.

Lowville, N.Y.; December 9, 2019.  The results of vegetable crops production and season extension research funded by the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) will be presented at the January 3, 2020, What’s Bugging Your Vegetables Workshop at the Lewis County Educational Center, 7395 East Road, Lowville, N.Y. Registration for the 3 pm to 5 pm program is requested by January 2 to Mellissa Spence at 315-376-5270, mms427@cornell.edu. Snow date is January 6. Cost is $5.00

Cornell University Vegetable Extension Specialists Judson Reid and Elizabeth Hodgdon will discuss various vegetable pests and diseases common in the northern region of New York State. Topics include NNYADP season extension and high tunnel research updates; integrated pest management; how to identify and treat tomato diseases; management of potato beetle, cucumber beetle, cole crop caterpillars and other pests; and invasive species to watch for in 2020.

Judson Reid is a vegetable specialist with the Cornell Vegetable Program and Harvest New York. His focus areas include high tunnel production and season extension, soil fertility, and small farms.

Elizabeth Hodgdon is a vegetable specialist with the Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program that includes the northeastern NY area. She is based in Plattsburgh and assists diversified vegetable and fruit growers with crop production issues including pest management, season extension, high tunnel production, and food safety.

The results of NNYADP high tunnel, season extension and other horticultural crops research projects are posted on this website (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.

Chazy, N.Y.; December 5, 2019.   Leanna Thalmann of Chazy, N.Y, earned nationally-recognized First Place honors for her poster presentation on the water quality research funded by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) at the joint annual meeting of the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America in November 2019 in San Antonio, TX.

Thalmann, a University of Vermont soil science graduate student, has been involved with data collection and analysis as part of the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute team conducting the NNYADP-funded water quality research. Thiwork plays a key role in building the data-driven science needed to accurately guide water quality conservation for New York State and beyond.

The NNYADP water quality project results to-date have been requested for presentation by the Lake Champlain Basin Program and other groups in New York and Vermont, the Southeast Extension and Research Activity Information Exchange, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and interested groups in Canada.

Thalmann has been collecting data continuously since September 2018, measuring the amount of surface runoff and tile drainage from on-farm fields and trial sites, and analyzing water samples for phosphorus and nitrogen content. This data allows for a better understanding of how farming practices, extreme weather, and landscape interact to impact the fields’ nutrient budgets and local water quality.

The data being collected by Thalmann is helping to build the foundation of a knowledge base to support water and soil conservation while maintaining the viability of farming communities.

“Leanna’s work and this honor certainly supports the importance of the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program-funded water quality science research not only locally in the Lake Champlain basin area and to all of New York state, but on a national level as well,” said Katie Ballard, Director of Research at Miner Institute.

“I was impressed by how much feedback I received all through the two-hour poster presentation in Texas, not only from people from New York and other states but from scientists attending the conference from as far away as Denmark,” Thalmann noted.

Thalmann, who is working toward her Master’s Degree in Plant and Soil Science, was selected for First Place from among 20 students making presentations in the Soil & Water Management & Conservation division at the international conference.

Her role with the NNYADP water quality project has influenced Thalmann’s future plans.

“Being involved with this Northern New York project that is so important to the Lake Champlain basin and is the leading research of its kind for New York and the Northeast has inspired me to continue on in the environmental water quality field once I complete my degree,” said Thalmann, a native of Patchogue, N.Y.

Miner Institute Nutrient Management Researcher Laura Klaiber serves as the NNYADP water quality project leader. Year-to-year results of the project are posted at 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.

Chazy, N.Y.; November 25, 2019.  Water quality, winter calf care, and heat stress abatement projects funded by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program are on the December 11, 2019 Dairy Day program at Miner Institute in Chazy, N.Y. The presentations will share results and updates on water quality science field trials, dairy cow heat stress abatement research, and winter calf feeding trials made possible with grants from the farmer-driven NNYADP.

This Dairy Day event is free and open to the public; lunch will be available for $5/person. Pre-registration is appreciated; contact Wanda Emerich at 518-846-7121 x117, emerich@whminer.com.

Miner Institute Nutrient Management Researcher Laura Klaiber will present an update on the unprecedented water quality research related to agricultural production being conducted in the Lake Champlain region of New York State.

Klaiber notes, “Until the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program established these research trials there had been very few in-depth year-round studies in the Lake Champlain basin designed to investigate how the use of tile drainage impacts nutrient balances in agricultural fields.”

The data generated by the real-world field testing at Miner Institute, on regional farms, and at a long-term data collection established for the NNYADP project  at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Lake Alice Wildlife Area in Chazy, N.Y., will serve as a science-based foundation to drive water quality conservation for New York State and beyond.

USDA Agricultural Research Service Soil Scientist Eric Young, Marshfield, WI, comments, “The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program-funded projects provide critical runoff monitoring within dairy systems and generate important results with broad interests from farmers, regulators, manager,s legislators, and scientists in New York, New England, and Canada.”

At the December 11 Dairy Day event, Klaiber will specifically speak on edge-of-field studies that are developing data critical for guiding environmentally-focus farm management metrics.

“As we all know, weather events can be highly variable and extreme, so multi-year data collection that increases our knowledge base is the foundation for developing the best management recommendations to positively impact nutrient use, farm economics, and environmental stewardship,” Klaiber says.

The American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Franklin Watershed Committee, Green Mountain Dairy Discussion Group, Lake Champlain Basin Program, and others throughout the eastern U.S. have requested the results of this NNYADP-funded water quality research.

Heat Stress Abatement and Winter Season Calf Care Research for NY Dairy Farmers
The Dairy Day program also includes Miner Institute Director of Research Katie Ballard presenting Beat the Heat: Are North Country Cows Susceptible to Heat Stress?, a research update on studies with the cows in the Miner Institute dairy herd and on farms in Northern New York, evaluating how warm weather climate extremes impact dairy cow comfort and milk production.

“This research has shown us dairy cows are adversely impacted by episodic bouts of heat stress, even during a summer without any true heat waves. We are evaluating various heat abatement measures that farmers can match to their individual farm facilities to help increase cow comfort and maintain milk production during periods of heat stress,” says Ballard, who began building this climate-adaptability knowledge base for dairy producers with a Northern New York Agricultural Development Program grant in 2015.

At the December 11 Dairy Day, Miner Institute Research Scientist Sarah Morrison will share details from a project funded by the NNYADP in 2019 to investigate ways to enhance dairy calf well-being during the winter season. She is especially looking at how dietary nutrient management for calves influences their health and growth in various housing systems.

“This research is providing insights to help farmers target their nutrient programs for calves in different housing systems. The information from this study is highlighting strengths and opportunities for managing calves through the coldest months of the year. By focusing on both nutrient and management, calves will have the greatest opportunity for optimal growth and health,” Morrison notes.

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. Learn more at www.nnyagdev.org.