July 11, 2019.  As a testament to the success of the solution developed after many years of research that Cornell University entomologist Dr. Elson Shields and Research Support Specialist Tony Testa began at Peck Homestead Farm in Great Bend, NY, young farmer John D. Peck shares photos of his most recent alfalfa mix crop and notes, “The alfalfa that continues to grow well is a testament to the research done here after the devastation alfalfa snout beetle had caused.”

The Peck Homestead Farm family hosted alfalfa snout beetle on-farm research trials, funded by the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, for more than two decades in support of the long-term commitment required to develop a science-based, field-proven response to the devastating crop pest. The crop loss at the farm was significantly impacting milk production loss.

The development of the protocol for using native NY nematodes as a biocontrol for alfalfa snout beetle by Shields and Testa included an investigation into the pest’s history in Europe, creating a greenhouse protocol for rearing the biocontrol nematodes, and field trials. They pioneered and proved the protocol, showing that the nematodes will persist and spread (as they have at the Peck farm: see photo at left), making it possible for a single application to inexpensively provide relief from the pest that left unattended can destroy an entire field of alfalfa in a single season.

Following the many years of testing and proving the protocol on northern NY farms, Shields and Testa were able to attract additional funding from such groups as the New York Farm Viability Institute, Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, and entities in Texas, New Mexico and other states to extend the biocontrol testing and use across New York State and well beyond not only to protect the alfalfa crops so valuable to the dairy and livestock industries, but other crops as well.

This groundbreaking science and research prompted a contingent of Russian agriculturalists to visit Northern New York and to specifically meet with Dr. Shields. On that visit, they also heard from John D.’s father, John E. Peck, about the early research efforts on their farm.

Shields and Cornell Cooperative Extension NNY Field Crops Specialist Mike Hunter have received New York State Integrated Pest Management Awards for their work on alfalfa snout beetle management (July 11, 2019): https://nnyagdev.org/index.php/2019/07/11/congratulations-ipm-award-winners/

Click here for the research history of NNYADP-supported ASB biocontrol nematode research.

 

 

July 11, 2019.  Congratulations go to Cornell University Entomologist Dr. Elson Shields and Cornell Cooperative Extension Northern New York Regional Field Crops Specialist Michael E. Hunter for their recent New York State Integrated Pest Management Excellence Awards. Please read about each well-deserved award in the press releases as linked below.

Elson Shields: Senior Worm Wrangler Safeguards North Country Crops, wins Excellence in IPM Award
Mike Hunter:  North Country Cutworm Crusader and Worm Wrangler Honored with IPM Award

 

Chazy, N.Y.; July 9, 2019.  Researchers with the W.H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy, N.Y., are reminding dairy farms that adding sprinkler systems and fans over stalls and feed areas can reduce the negative impact of heat stress on dairy cows, add to cow comfort and well-being, and contribute to farm profitability.

“As expected, summer heat can adversely impact cow comfort and milk production to varying degrees. We encourage farmers to work with agricultural educators to determine what measures can be taken to match the appropriate heat abatement systems to individual farm facilities,” noted Miner Institute Director of Research Katie Ballard.

With funding from the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) in 2015, Miner Institute staff began evaluating the factors, including the type of heat abatement system a farm uses, that influence the severity of the impact of heat stress on dairy cows.

The NNYADP-funded research continues this summer with the focus broadened to include heat stress impact on cow comfort in terms of body temperature and rumen health. Miner Institute is currently pursuing what is believed to be the first research into how rumen health is impacted during times of high heat. The research includes monitoring rumen pH. Additionally, body temperature, activity level, and drinking behavior are being tracked to assess the direct impact of heat events on the cows.

The researchers work with the dairy herd at Miner Institute and on four participating northern NY farms has provided insight into how different housing systems and heat abatement measures can increase cow comfort and protect milk and milk component production. The research settings have included a tiestall, 4-row and 6-row freestall barns, and a converted tiestall barn, and different bedding types.

Results from this work have been reported at American Dairy Science Association meetings and submitted for future presentation to illustrate the scope of the research across trials in multiple years on consistently participating farms.

The annual reports are posted under the Dairy tab on the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program website at www.nnyagdev.org. The NNYADP has also funded research evaluating how to reduce cold and warm season climate stress on dairy calves.

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.

---

 

Dairy Herd Management has posted a story on the NNYADP-funded dairy labor survey project. Click here to read that story by Maureen Hanson: https://www.dairyherd.com/article/dairy-labor-survey-shows-trends-vulnerabilities

Willsboro, N.Y.: July 2, 2019. Young specialty fruit trials funded by the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) will be among the many crop plots for touring during the Cornell University Willsboro Research Farm Open House event on Wednesday, July 10 from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm. The tour of the farm facilities and research fields is free and open to the public. It will leave the main office at 48 Sayward Lane, Willsboro, N.Y., at 2:00 pm

NNYADP grants to the Willsboro farm support the research aimed at developing new specialty fruit crops suited to the Northern New York climate and growing conditions. Longer-term trials with Juneberry there and now on farms in the northern NY region have been joined by a newer investigation into Aronia and Honeyberry

“We think all of these new fruits will prove to be exciting new crops for Northern New York farmers for fresh market sales and value-added processing,” said Michael Davis, Ph.D., NNYADP new fruits project leader and Cornell University Willsboro Research Farm Manager.

The Juneberry nursery at the farm is a living collection of wild and commercial lines of the fruit considered to have tremendous potential to become a major fruit crop in Northern New York and the Northeast. Davis is collaborating with Juneberry expert and SUNY Plattsburgh botanist Michael Burgess, Ph.D., on Juneberry the trials.

This year marks the fourth full growing season for 11 commercial varieties and four ornamental varieties of Juneberry at the research farm, and the third season for nine wild-collected lines.

With numerous scientific studies documenting its high antioxidant and phytonutrient levels, Aronia has been labeled a “superfood” and has quickly blossomed into a multi-million dollar industry in North America. The Willsboro Aronia trial is focused on four fruit-producing varieties now in their third growing season

The blue Honeyberry is a perennial, fruit-producing shrub that is native to the cool temperate forest regions of North America, Asia and Europe. Fruit breeders in Oregon and at the University of Saskatchewan have prompted a surge in recent interest in this flavorful fruit in North America. The Honeyberry trial at the Willsboro Research Farm is evaluating 15 commercially-available cultivars.

Davis is also evaluating demonstration site plantings of the fruits with participating growers in Clinton, Franklin, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties. The research has been featured by Mountain Lakes PBS television in Plattsburgh, NY, and WCAX-TV, Burlington, VT.

Research reports on the new fruit trials are posted on the NNYADP website 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.