NNY Ag Development Program

Northern New York Agriculture

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WAMC Radio Puts Spotlight on NNYADP Birch Syrup Research

Jars of syrup made from beech trees
Left, beech syrup made using reverse osmosis; right, beech syrup made without RO. Photo: Adam D. Wild.

March 17, 2023.  WAMC Assistant News Director Jim Levulis has shared a link to his recent interview with Adam Wild about this result of Wild’s Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP)-funded project evaluating the economic feasibility of tapping birch trees for syrup production. The interview aired mid-day today on WAMC Northeast Public Radio, produced in Albany, New York. A shorter version will air today at about 3:50 p.m, or listen here: https://www.wamc.org/news/

Click here to read Wild’s NNYADP 2022 beech syrup product report

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NNYADP Dairy Employee E-Training Project Results Presented to National, International Audiences

Man looking at dairy learning page on a smart phone
A farm employee participating in the NNYADP-QMPS dairy worker e-training pilot project. Photo: QMPS

March 9, 2023; Canton, New York.  The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program announces that the results of dairy worker E-training research funded by the farmer-driven program, and conducted by Quality Milk Production Services, have recently been presented to the National Mastitis Council at its 2023 meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, and in an article now available worldwide through the JDS Communications Journal of the American Dairy Science Association. The journal is an open access resource that allows researchers to make their work globally accessible.

The article, “Dairy farm worker milking equipment training with an E-learning system,” reports the impact of the 3-year “Assessing the Effect of E-Learning Training Systems on Milk Quality and Dairy Parlor Performance” project that developed and tested online training with the help of 15 commercial dairy farms in northern New York. The article cites previous research noting that the lack of training has been considered “one of the main reasons for lower detection of animal health problems, poor animal handling and management of calving events, and poor milking routines,” whereas, it states that “farms with frequent training of milking personnel achieve faster milking speeds and lower rates of clinical mastitis.”

Veterinarian in a dairy farm milking parlor
Paul D. Virkler, D.V.M., QMPS, Canton, NY

“During farm visits, Quality Milk Production Services began to see a need for training dairy personnel about proper procedures for tasks in the milking parlor and for collecting aseptic milk samples. This project allowed us time to develop a cloud-based platform as an adjunct to face-to-face instruction to improve and enhance dairy worker knowledge and performance in the milking parlor with a related benefit to cow health,” project leader Paul D. Virkler, D.V.M., Quality Milk Production Services, Canton, New York, explained.

Fourteen of the 15 commercial dairy farms participating in the project had milking equipment problems as one of their top three risk factors for mastitis. For 13 of the 15 farms, inadequate milking routine was also a significant risk factor for mastitis.

Of the 95 dairy farm workers participating in this pilot project, 90 identified Spanish as their native language. The article notes the communication challenges inherent with language barriers and cultural differences as well as different levels of pre-farm arrival dairy experience and on-farm training.

Poster with information on NNYADP dairy worker e-learning project
This poster illustrated the NNYADP, QMPS dairy worker e-learning project results at the 2023 National Mastitis Council meeting in Atlanta, GA. Photo: Paul D. Virkler, D.V.M.

“Our research documents the importance of and need for efficient dairy worker training and employee-manager communications. The use of E-learning systems can serve dairy farms as a tool for developing an on-farm learning culture that incorporates effective training programs to support employees, management, cow health, quality milk production, and sustainable farm businesses,” Virkler said.

“This project addresses an information gap with an on-farm, real-world approach to improve dairy employee performance with related positive impact on milk production and quality. We are pleased to see this study being published in a forum that can help farms not only here in northern New York but nationally and internationally to keep the dairy industry strong,” said Northern New York Agricultural Development Program Co-Chair Jon Greenwood, Canton, New York.

The authors of the “Dairy farm worker milking equipment training with an E-learning system” article are Virkler; Valeria M. Alanis, a Cornell University graduate student from the National Autonomous University of Mexico; W. Recker, Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, New York; Paula A. Ospina, D.V.M., Lechear LLC, King Ferry, New York; and Wolfgang Heuwieser, D.V.M., Professor Emeritus, Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany.

A link to the article (https://www.jdscommun.org/article/S2666-9102(22)00081-3/fulltext) and the 2019-2021 NNYADP project reports for this 3-year project are project are publicly accessible at https://www.nnyagdev.org under the Research: Dairy tab. Funding 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 Research: Untapped Economic Potential of American Beech Trees

Jars of syrup made from beech trees
Left, beech syrup made using reverse osmosis; right, beech syrup made without RO. Photo: Adam D. Wild, Uihlein Maple Research Forest, Lake Placid, N.Y.

Lake Placid, N.Y.; March 1, 2023.  The farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has announced the results of research into the economic feasibility of producing syrup from American beech trees. Conducted by Adam D. Wild, director of the Uihlein Maple Research Forest in Lake Placid, New York, the research examined the yield potential and economic feasibility of tapping beech trees for syrup production.

American beech is an abundant hardwood species in northern New York forests. Based on current pricing in some areas of $4.50 per ounce of beech syrup, a gallon would price at $576, but before you start tapping beech trees, be sure to read Wild’s report.

Beech trees with sap collection tubing
Photo: Adam D. Wild

“The tapping of beech trees for syrup production has potential for creating a new product that would allow the utilization of a tree that currently has low economic value. There is a market for beech syrup, and even a beech beverage, with the potential for value much higher than maple; however, more research is needed to develop best practices for tapping and processing,” says Wild.

“Cooking beech sap down into syrup produced a delicious product with notes of raisin, dried plums, and dried pears, but required a significant amount of concentrating to produces 1 gallon of syrup from 140 gallons of beech sap,” Wild points out.

Due to the limited amount of sap produced for this small-scale project, Wild used a steam kettle and stovetop to process the beech sap into syrup. His report notes the higher mineral content of the beech syrup as well as data recorded for sap flow timing, sap yield and sweetness, tree health and taphole closure, and economic calculations.

“This research is a first step toward determining whether the abundant beech saplings with prolific root sprouts could yield enough sap for profitable syrup production for northern New York’s maple producers. At this time, it looks like tapping beech trees has great potential and does not impact the growth of the trees,” Wild explains.

Northern New York’s maple industry value has increased over the past 14 years from $3.25 million annually to more than $20 million with room yet to grow. Beech syrup production, beech-maple syrup blending, and beech beverage bottling are among product options for additional research.

Beech syrup samples were provided to the public during the 2022 New York State Maple Weekends at the Uhilein Maple Research Forest and at maple producer conferences in northern New York and the Hudson Valley in early 2023.

You can read the “Feasibility of American Beech Syrup Production in Northern New York” report on this website under the Research: Maple, Beech, Birch and Honey tab. Tree syrup producer, Michael Farrell, Ph.D., CEO of The Forest Farmers in Lyon Mountain, New York, is a project collaborator.

Funding 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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Feb 22-23: NNYADP Research Updates at Crop Congresses

Prior to an application of biocontrol nematodes four years ago, this alfalfa field in North Bangor, New York, was only able to grow grass hay. Photo: Mary DeBeer

The February 2023 Crop Congresses to be held February 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension office in Lowville, New York, and February 22 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Miner Institute in Chazy, New York, will include updates on several Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) research projects. Both programs include lunch; register with 315-778-3929, tlm92@cornell.edu.

Agricultural entrepreneur Mary DeBeer will present information on the use of native New York nematodes as a biocontrol for farm pest management – a protocol built by long-term support from the farmer-driven NNYADP.

NNY drainage research on-farm, edge-of-field trial site. Photo: Miner Institute

Cornell University Cooperative Extension Field Crops Specialist Michael Hunter will present the results of NNYADP-funded soybean herbicide trials, and a field crop weed control update, at both programs. The February 22nd Crop Congress also includes an update on NNYADP-funded on-farm agricultural tile drainage research by Miner Institute Research Scientist Laura Klaiber.

Other sessions at both locations include how to maximize on-farm use efficiency for high-price fertilizers by Cornell University Cooperative Extension Crops and Soils Specialist Kitty O’Neil, and an overview of seed corn maggot research by Ken Wise of the New York State Integrated Pest Management program. The program at Miner Institute also includes a presentation on the results of Miner Institute corn biologicals testing during the 2022 growing season by Miner Institute Forage Agronomist Allen Wilder.

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Biocontrol nematodes raised by agricultural services entrepreneur Mary DeBeer are applied to an alfalfa field in Potsdam, New York. Photo courtesy of DeBeer Seed and Spraying

DeBeer established DeBeer AgriService and her own biocontrol nematode rearing laboratory in 2016 at her family farm and spraying service in Moira, New York. DeBeer’s enterprise was sparked by research funded by the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) aimed at developing a solution for an invasive pest that was destroying alfalfa crops fed to dairy cows and other livestock. DeBeer learned how to rear and apply the biocontrol nematodes with guidance from entomologist Dr. Elson Shields and research support specialist Antonio Testa, who pioneered the science and developed the protocol for using persistent biocontrol nematodes as a means for managing alfalfa snout beetle, corn rootworm, and a complex of berry weevils.

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 administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

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Jan 9 High Tunnel Winters Greens Webinar: NNYADP Research Update

High tunnel filled with winter green crops at Willsboro Research Farm
This high tunnel at Willsboro Research Farm hosts crop trials year’round. Photo: Michael H. Davis

Plattsburgh, NY; December 20, 2022. With increasing consumer interest in local foods, growers in northern climates want to learn how to extend their sales opportunities through high tunnel production of greens in the winter season. Winter greens marketing tips developed from high tunnel research trials funded by the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) will be provided in a January 9, 2023 High Tunnel Winter Greens webinar. Speakers for the 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. webinar will also address pest and disease management for winter greens production. Pre-registration is required; for details and cost, see https://enych.cce.cornell.edu/events.php, or call 518-569-3073. The webinar is organized by the Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program; DEC credits are available.

As part of the January 9 webinar, Lindsey Pashow, a regional agricultural business specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Harvest New York, will present findings from her NNYADP-funded project exploring winter greens production and marketing potential for northern New York growers. Her discussion will include packaging, pricing, and marketing of winter greens.

Grower Lissa Goldstein of Wild Work Farm, located in Keene Valley in northern New York, will share her experiences with managing food safety, washing, and efficiently packing winter greens.

Webinar organizer and CCE Horticultural Specialist Elisabeth Hodgdon, Ph.D., will cover a broad range of food safety considerations for leaf greens growers.

Additional speakers include Carol Glenister, with IPM Labs, presenting information on the biological control of aphids on winter greens in high tunnels, and Cornell Professor Margaret McGrath, Ph.D., with the Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center, sharing knowledge on managing disease in high tunnel-grown winter greens.

Collaborators with the NNYADP-funded winter greens production and marketing project include northern New York-based growers currently growing winter greens; Cornell Vegetable Specialist Judson Reid; and Willsboro Research Farm Manager Michael Davis, Ph.D. A full project results report and related podcasts developed by Hodgdon, Reid, and Pashow will be available in 2023 and 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.