Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Lewis County in conjunction with Mother Earth News is responding to the increasing numbers of people inquiring about raising backyard poultry, beef, and other livestock, food preservation, energy alternatives for homes and farms, and back-to-the-land management skills with a new educational event. A Homesteading Fair will be presented at the Maple Ridge Center in Lowville, NY, September 8 and 9, 2012.

This two-day event will offer more than 90 educational workshops, held rain or shine, under large tents, in a large, approved, kitchen and former barns, and on the expansive lawn at the Maple Ridge Center. Livestock shearing and wool spinning are among the many planned demonstrations.

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Grape grower and winemaker Richard Lamoy has received his third Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NESARE) grant in support of innovative cold-hardy grape research at his Hid-In-Pines Vineyard, Morrisonville, NY.

Lamoy is an entrepreneur who has converted his volunteerism with the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program-funded grape research trials at the Cornell University Willsboro Research Farm into his own successful vineyard and winery business.

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Those who would like to master the art and science of making jams, jellies, salsa and other processed foods, drying herbs, and canning, freezing and pickling may now register for the Master Food Preservation Training Course to be offered by the Cornell Cooperative Extension associations of Northern New York August 21-24 at the North Franklin Education Center BOCES at 23 Huskie Lane in Malone. Registration deadline for the four-day, 8:30am-3:30pm course is August 13.

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Late Blight Identified in NNY Tomatoes July 23, 2012

Crop-Scouting Takes Minimal Investment for Huge Returns
by Joe Lawrence, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County

I often find myself having the same conversation with farmers about the value of scouting their fields (or hiring someone to scout them if they don’t have the time). This year, the infestation of Armyworm and Potato Leafhopper has highlighted the importance of scouting your crops. Now the question is, sure it would have paid in 2012 but would it have paid in 2011 or any other year?

The answer is undoubtedly YES, it pays each and every year.

 

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