NNY Ag Development Program

Northern New York Agriculture

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Hoard’s Dairyman Notes NNYADP Kefir Research

May 19, 2023.  Hoard’s Dairyman , The National Dairy Farm Magazine, made note of the NNYADP kefir probiotic supplement research with dairy calves in its E-News Industry Buzz yesterday: https://hoards.com/article-33643-nnyadp-research-results-kefir-as-probiotic-for-neonatal-dairy-calves.html.

Last Month:
April 12, 2023. Click here: https://www.wwnytv.com/video/2023/04/12/ag-report-exploring-kefir-use-calves/ to see WWNY TV 7’s Ag Report by Emily Griffin on the NNYADP-funded research by Miner Institute  exploring the use of kefir as a probiotic for dairy calves. Emily interviewed project leader Cari Reynolds and NNYADP Co-Chair Jon Greenwood and visited Greenwood Dairy for the report. Thank you, all!

Click here to read the “Effects of Kefir Supplementation During the First 21 Days of Life on Growth, Diarrhea Incidence, and Antibiotic Use in Holstein Calves“ NNYADP 2022 project report.

Funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (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.

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NNYADP Receives $300,000 in State Budget for Vital Agricultural Research

Northern New York Agricultural Development Program logoPlattsburgh, New York; May 11, 2023.   The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) has announced that the farmer-driven research program has received $300,000 in funding from the 2023-2024 New York State Budget through the support of the New York State Assembly.  The funding will support research on the unique micro-climates, soils, challenges, and opportunities for the diverse agricultural sectors across New York’s six northernmost counties: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence.

The New York State Legislature established the NNYADP in 1961. Since then, the program has supported the region’s growth into a major agricultural economic engine for northern New York and New York State.

NNYADP Co-Chair Joseph Giroux, Plattsburgh, New York, said, “We thank the New York State Assembly, particularly the members of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, with special gratitude for Assemblyman Billy Jones’ stalwart support of the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, the value of its prioritized research to our farms, and the financial sustainability of our communities.”

Giroux co-chairs the NNYADP with Jon Rulfs, Peru, New York, and Jon Greenwood, Canton, New York.

Assemblyman Billy Jones (D-Chateaugay Lake) said, “The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is an important asset not only to the North Country, but for agriculture across the state and the country. Between the research into beech tree syrup, manure and food waste co-digestion, and calf probiotics, NNYADP is leading the way in developing innovative agricultural practices. I am proud to have supported them during budget negotiations to once again secure funding so that they are able to continue their important work supporting North Country farmers.”

Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, Chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, said, “The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is widely recognized as a leader in the development of New York’s agricultural industry, producing quality research with statewide and national significance. Northern New York is critical to our state’s thriving food economy, and I am pleased that this funding will support their vitally important work. I’d like to acknowledge and thank my colleague Assemblyman Billy Jones for continuing to prioritize the NNYADP’s funding request.”

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, a member of the New York State Assembly Agriculture Committee, said, “Supporting and investing in our state’s agriculture sector has never been more important as it is today. The innovators and entrepreneurs who literally ‘plant their roots’ in the North Country have made a tremendous impact on our way of life and our local economy, and push boundaries when it comes to offering new agricultural products in the global marketplace. This state investment continues to signal New York State will remain a serious competitor when it comes to agricultural opportunities in the North Country.”

More than 80 farmers representing diverse farming enterprises across Northern New York voluntarily serve on the NNYADP Farmer Committee that prioritizes research for grants. Projects range in focus from agricultural environmental stewardship and farm tile drainage to dairy, field crops, local foods, horticulture, honey, maple, and forestry production. The results of NNYADP projects are posted at www.nnyagdev.org.

Northern New York Agricultural Development Program logoThe funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is administrated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

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NNYADP Biocontrol Research: Protocols Now Easier for Farmers & Applicator

Two men standing in front of agricultural field equipment
Dean Wheeler, right, owner of D& D Spray Service, and A.J. Goblewski evaluated the 2022 NNYADP field trial of new protocols for the delivery and application of persistent biocontrol nematodes. Photo: NNYADP

Plattsburgh, New York; May 2, 2023.  The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) has announced the development of new protocols that make the use of New York-native persistent biocontrol nematodes for crop pest management easier for farms and custom applicators. The research developed protocols for the mass-rearing and delivery of the persistent biocontrol nematodes and extended their shelf-life in a holding solution prior to field application.

“This research has expanded the use of persistent biocontrol nematodes as a nature-based method that helps reduce populations of alfalfa snout beetle, corn rootworm, and berry weevils that have the potential for costly economic damage, and reached significant milestones in making the application of persistent biocontrol nematodes more convenient for farmers and applicators,” said NNYADP Co-Chair and dairy farmer Joseph Giroux, Plattsburgh, New York.

The new protocols developed by entomologist Elson Shields and research support specialist Tony Testa include a new liquid-based formulation that requires less water and less sawdust and achieves optimal ventilation and oxygenation with heat and humidity control for the mass-rearing of the persistent biocontrol nematodes.

The rearing technique developed earlier by Shields and Testa allows the northern New York-native persistent biocontrol nematode strains to retain their genetic ability to persist in soil for multiple years.

In 2022, the researchers successfully used the new formulation to rear persistent biocontrol nematodes for application to 3,350 acres in field trials on farms in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties in the spring and fall of 2022.

Seven farms participated in the on-farm application trial. Two commercial applicators evaluated the new field delivery and application methods.

“As a result of this Northern New York Agricultural Development Program research over time, I started my own persistent biocontrol nematode rearing lab in 2016. As a result of the field trials in 2022, I have adopted the new rearing and delivery protocols, which are more convenient, less costly, and less labor-intensive,” said Mary DeBeer of DeBeer Agri-Service, Moira, New York.

Ron DeBeer of DeBeer Seed and Spraying assisted the field applications for the NNYADP project in 2022.

“As  part of the persistent biocontrol nematodes field research in 2022, we applied to some fields that had had period infestation by alfalfa snout beetle and are now in a corn rotation. The much-improved delivery method and extended holding capacity allowed us much more flexibility in applying around the local weather constraints,” said Dean Wheeler of D&D Spray Service, Mannsville, New York.

Field lush with alfalfa crop.
Prior to an application of biocontrol nematodes, this alfalfa field in North Bangor, New York, was only able to grow grass hay. Photo: Mary DeBeer

Over time, northern New York farm fields treated with the persistent biocontrol nematodes for management of alfalfa snout beetle began to show their impact on corn rootworm populations.

Subsequent research supported by the NNYADP, other funders, and farmers themselves has extended the use or trials of the persistent biocontrol nematodes to multiple crops in states nationwide.

The “Developing a Farmer/Applicator-Friendly Persistent Biocontrol Nematodes Formulation for Field Application” is posted at www.nnyagdev.org.

Northern New York Agricultural Development Program logoFunding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program 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.

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NNYADP Kefir for Dairy Calves Project: WWNY TV 7 Ag Report

Two people with a dairy calf on a weighing scale.
Graduate student Taylor Turney, right, and Miner Institute Research Technician Salim Jones weigh a calf in the NNYADP kefir as probiotic reseach project. Photo: Cari Reynolds

April 12, 2023. Click here: https://www.wwnytv.com/video/2023/04/12/ag-report-exploring-kefir-use-calves/ to see WWNY TV 7’s Ag Report by Emily Griffin on the NNYADP-funded research by Miner Institute  exploring the use of kefir as a probiotic for dairy calves. Emily interviewed project leader Cari Reynolds and NNYADP Co-Chair Jon Greenwood and visited Greenwood Dairy for the report. Thank you, all!

Click here to read the “Effects of Kefir Supplementation During the First 21 Days of Life on Growth, Diarrhea Incidence, and Antibiotic Use in Holstein Calves” NNYADP 2022 project report.

Funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (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.