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Northern New York. Dairy farmers may have an opportunity to add income through enhancing their breeding bull selection. Research funded by the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) provides information to help dairy farmers decide if adding a crossbreeding enterprise for beef production would be a good addition for their dairy business.

Cornell University Beef Extension Specialist Dr. Michael Baker notes that according to the USDA Market News, in New York, Holstein-beef crossbred bull calves can bring up to a $100 per head premium compared to purebred Holstein bull calves, however, the majority of these calves born in New York are raised outside of New York.

“Given the abundant supply of high-quality forage in Northern New York, producers have the potential to raise calves to feeder weights of 300 to 800 lbs. or to finish them using feed refusals from their dairy enterprise,” Baker says. “This can provide an additional income stream for dairies as well as a supply of calves for the burgeoning beef stocker industry.”

Baker notes that market competition will increase when the type of calves arriving at auction are segregated. The result?

“Calves with a vetted sire selection and raised with birth, health, and nutrition protocols are bringing the highest premiums according to one semen supplier and livestock auction owner. Those with no sire selection are bringing smaller premiums,” Baker explains.

The NNYADP research describes how using Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) data points can help dairy farmers make a good-fit beef breed bull selection for their milk cows.

“Holstein cows should be bred to beef sires whose traits complement the cows’ genetic makeup, are economically-competitive to feed, and meet consumer demands for beef quality,” Baker summarizes.

He adds that other considerations for bull selection, based on studying EPD data points, are traits that indicate the opportunity for good average daily weight gain and ribeye quality.

Four farms in Northern NY assisted this NNYADP project; data was collected on 125 calves born to Holstein cows bred to an Angus beef breed bull. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets provided additional funding to support USDA grading of 100 calves to develop economic value data.

On Saturday, March 28, 2020, Baker will be among the speakers at the “How to Get a Better Price for Your Beef or Dairy Animal in the Ring at the Auction Barn” 11 am open house-luncheon at the N.N.Y. Farmers Marketing Co-op, 8204 NY Route 26, Lowville, N.Y. The event is co-sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County. For more information, call the Co-op at 315-376-7441.

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. For more information, see www.nnyagdev.org.

Click here to read the NNYADP 2019 Final Report for Where’s the Beef in Value-Added Dairy-Beef Crosses Research Project

Note: Johne’s is pronounced yo-knees

Plattsburgh, Canton, and Watertown, N.Y.; January 15, 2020.   The results of a project funded by the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program to survey and test regional sheep flocks and provide information on how to reduce the risk of Johne’s disease will soon be presented at meetings in Plattsburgh, Canton, and Watertown. The regional data is also being shared in support of a Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab project evaluating different testing methods and protocols for identifying Johne’s disease.

Dr. Jessica Scillieri Smith, DVM, with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and Cornell Cooperative Extension Livestock Educator Betsy Hodge will present the project results at meetings as follow:

Tuesday, January 28, 7:00-8:30 pm, Cornell Cooperative Extension, 6064 State Route 22, Plattsburgh, N.Y.; register at 518-561-7450 or lsw89@cornell.edu

Wednesday, February 5, 7:00-8:30 pm, Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm Classroom, 2043 State Highway 68, Canton, N.Y.; register at 315-379-9192 x227 or bmf9@cornell.edu;

Tuesday, February 11, 7:00-8:30 pm, Cornell Cooperative Extension, 203 N. Hamilton Street, Watertown, N.Y.; register with 315-379-9192 x227 or bmf9@cornell.edu.

Those interested in participating at any of the three sites can also register online at http://stlawrence.cce.cornell.edu/. Registration will assure notification of any date change due to winter weather.

Johne’s disease is a wasting disease of sheep and other ruminant animals. It is contagious, chronic, and usually fatal. The program at each site will include a discussion of the Northern New York survey results, clinical signs, testing and diagnosis, and how to reduce the risk of infection of Johne’s disease. Symptoms of the infection can be difficult to differentiate from other diseases and frequently exist in animals that appear healthy.

“Many producers are unaware of Johne’s disease, but we know it exists in flocks and herds in New York state. Local veterinarians cooperated with this survey by helping with sampling and participating in the New York State Sheep and Goat Health Assurance Program with producers,” said Hodge.

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.

Click here to read the Surveillance of Johne’s Disease in High Risk Sheep Flocks in NNY, 2019 report.

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.

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.