Attention Capital District Vegetable Growers!

2016 Capital District Commercial Vegetable Growers' School and Mini Trade Show!  Wednesday, February 24, 2016, Best Western Albany Airport Inn, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

We have received 4.0 DEC Recertification credits for this location in Categories 1A, 23 and 10.

Click here for the full agenda
Click here for registration form
Click here to register and pay on-line

Attention Hudson Valley Vegetable Growers!

Hudson Valley Commercial Vegetable Growers' School & Mini Trade Show
Thursday, February 25, 2016, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Best Western Plus of Kingston, 503 Washington Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401
We have received 4.0 DEC Recertification credits for this location in Categories 1A, 23 and 10.

Click here for the full agenda
Click here for the registration form
Click here to register and pay on-line

Peer to peer classes for farmers who want to strengthen and expand their business
This three-part series is designed to bring farmers together to share experiences and ideas.Your participation, discussions and experiences will help shape each session. The mission of the peer to peer network is to strengthen the future of our local agricultural economy by fostering connections and support between farmers. Sessions 1 & 2 will feature local food prepared by the SUNY Adirondack Culinary Arts students.

Cost:
$35 per person for the full series, $20 per person if you would like to attend just one of the sessions. Add $5 per session for additional guests from the same farm. Session #3 is free.

We do not want cost to be a barrier and scholarships are available through the SUNY Adirondack Sustainable Agriculture Fund, administered through the SUNY Adirondack Foundation. Please contact Jared Woodcock at woodcockj@sunyacc.edu for more information regarding scholarships

Pres-registration through the Office of Continuing Education
is required. Phone: (518) 743-2238 | Fax: (518) 743-2318 | sunyacc.edu/ContinuingEd

Through this full-day day course on Effective Orchard Spraying growers will learn how to improve their timeliness and therefore apply sprays when needed and not be forever chasing the calendar. Correct application at the correct time will allow growers to make better use of their spray over the season.

This training is for English speakers.


We will again hold training programs so that DEC can issue "special permits" to these non-certified applicators that work under the supervision of a private certified applicator. This "special permit" will enable trained workers to apply restricted-use pesticides to tree fruit for the 2016 season without "direct, on-site supervision". These DEC "special permits" are being made available to assist individuals who have difficulty taking English written tests and are therefor not certified.

Supervisor Requirements: The supervising certified applicator is required to attend the beginning portion of the English Speaking session.

Registration Must be completed by Thursday, March 31, 2016.  No walk-ins will be taken.

This training is for Spanish speakers.


We will again hold training programs so that DEC can issue "special permits" to these non-certified applicators that work under the supervision of a private certified applicator. This "special permit" will enable trained workers to apply restricted-use pesticides to tree fruit for the 2016 season without "direct, on-site supervision". These DEC "special permits" are being made available to assist individuals who have difficulty taking English written tests and are therefor not certified.

Supervisor Requirements: The supervising certified applicator is required to attend the beginning portion of the English Speaking session.

Registration Must be completed by Thursday, March 31, 2016.  No walk-ins will be taken.

We will again hold training programs so that DEC can issue "special permits" to these non-certified applicators that work under the supervision of a private certified applicator. This "special permit" will enable trained workers to apply restricted-use pesticides to tree fruit for the 2016 season without "direct, on-site supervision". These DEC "special permits" are being made available to assist individuals who have difficulty taking English written tests and are therefor not certified.

Supervisor Requirements: The supervising certified applicator is required to attend the beginning portion of the session (Free of Charge).

Registration Must be completed by Monday, April 18, 2016.  No walk-ins will be taken.

Come join Jim O'Connell and Laura McDermott of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Eastern NY Berry Team at Christopher Jacobs Winery at Pennings Vineyards, on June 22, 2016, where they will present the preliminary results from the Haskap berry trial. 

 
In addition to learning about Haskaps, growers will also learn about general site selection for berry crops.

Please join us for an educational bus tour of several Canadian farms in Quebec
Departure: 6:00am from Albany, NY *Pick-up stops will be planned for Saratoga, Glens Falls & Plattsburgh as needed
Return: 9:00-9:30pm Arrive in back in Albany, NY
Cost: $75 (includes bus fare, lunch and a light dinner)
Stops: Sherrington, St. Clotilde & Napierville Region of Quebec

All those attending must have a valid passport or enhanced drivers license

Please Contact Amy Ivy, with any questions: 518-561-7450, adi2@cornell.edu

Registration and Payment due by Monday, May 23rd

Please include your phone number in the online registration, so we can contact you about pick up sites.

Growers are invited to join the discussion of on-going vegetable production projects including cherry tomato training and high tunnel production, leaf mold resistant variety trial, summer cover crops, and this year's vegetable disease challenges.

Guest speakers include Amy Ivy of the Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program, Judson Reid of the Cornell Vegetable Program, Mike Davis of the Cornell Willsboro Research Farm and Christine Smart, Cornell Professor of Plant Pathology.

Guest speaker- Margaret MgGrath from the Long Island Research and Extension Center, Cornell University.  Also,  Ken Greene from the Hudson Valley Seed Company will be joining us to showcase some breeding work he's conducting at the Farm Hub and will have a new local "Stone Ridge" tomato variety for tasting.

Registration is not required, but is appreciated.  There is no fee for this program

Come and learn about the ins and outs of growing table grapes in New York. This session will cover subjects such as table grape biology, trellis construction, vineyard management, as well as marketing and planning for your new enterprise. Topics will be presented by specialists from CCE ENYCHP, New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, Northeastern Vine Supply, and Hudson Valley growers.

If you have questions, please contact Laura McDermott at lgm4@cornell.edu - 518-791-5038 or Abby Henderson aef225@cornell.edu - 518-746-2553                      

By participating in this conference, you will be able to:
 -Implement new insect and disease pest management strategies
 -Understand the role of soil health in plant health
 -Consider the long-term with crop rotations
 -Apply business management tools and expand your market

To register online: https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/cutflowerconf_201

The Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program is offering a 2-hour program to help farmers learn about current grant and financial incentive programs for their farm business and how to assess whether a program is a good fit.

1. No free lunches!  What makes a good grant project - how to assess if a grant program is a good fit for your farm business?
2. Understanding common grant program terminology and requirements - knowing what will be required before you apply!
3. What programs are available now, and where do you look for programs in the future?  Some of the programs to be covered include:
        -NYS Beginning Farmer Grant (due January)
        -USDA Value Added Producer Grant
        -NYS Consolidated Funding Application
        -NRCS EQIP Cost Share Program
        -USDA REAP Energy Efficiency
        -NYS and USDA loans for farmworker housing
        -USDA SBIR
4. Where can you get help?

Elizabeth Higgins is the Ag Business Management Extension Specialist for the Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program.  She has over 15 years' experience grant writing and project management and has assisted growers in successfully applying for USDA and NYS grants and has served on many USDA grant review panels.