Photos courtesy of Assemblyman Hawley

BROCKPORT – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley on Tuesday presented a citation to the Kirby family in Albion for being on the NYS Historic Business Preservation Registry.

The Kirby family runs Kirby’s Farm Market on Route 104, just past the Orleans County line in the town of Clarkson.

The market was established in 1970 by brothers George and Bob Kirby. George’s son Tim and his wife Linda have been owners of the market since 1989. They run it today with their daughter Stacey Steward, son Chad and his wife Mandy, as well as their dedicated employees.

The Historic Business Preservation Registry was established by the State Legislature in 2020. The program is administered by the Division for Historic Preservation at the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Steve Hawley joins the Kirby family at the market on Tuesday. Pictured in front from left include Linda and Tim Kirby, and Stacey Kirby Steward. In back are Mandy and Chad Kirby with Steve Hawley.

The farm market has expanded from one-room garage-style building to a “cozy market” with gift shop, five greenhouses, and CSA with 320 members getting weekly subscription of fruits and vegetables.

“Kirby’s Farm Market creates an environment where family shares knowledge freely and endeavors to bring out the best in local farming,” the citation from Hawley states. “They are committed to cultivating and managing resources to ensure services are available for generations to come.”

Most of the fruits and vegetables are grown in Albion. Kirby’s is a “regenerative farm” with a strong focus on healthy soils and plants.

Business run by Albion family honored for more than 50 years on Ridge Road in Brockport

Photos by Tom Rivers: Linda and Tim Kirby, front, have been part of Kirby’s Farm Market for more than 50 years. The business was started in 1970 by Tim’s dad George and George’s brother Bob. In back are their daughter, Stacey Kirby Steward; daughter-in-law, Mandy Kirby; and son, Chad Kirby. They are shown in front of the market with some of their pumpkins.

BROCKPORT – A business run by an Albion family has been welcomed into the NYS Historic Business Preservation Registry, which honors businesses that have endured for more than 50 years and also are an important part of their community’s fabric.

Kirby’s Farm Market is located just outside Orleans County on Ridge Road in the town of Clarkson. The market was built in 1970 by George and Bob Kirby, brothers from Albion. Since 1989, it has been run by George’s son, Tim and his wife Linda.

The site today offers fruit and vegetables, including 320 customers on a weekly subscription in a Community Supported Agriculture membership that goes for 23 weeks. Kirby’s remains a farm-driven operation that has expanded into a gift shop and greenhouse market.

Most of the fruits and vegetables are grown in Albion. Kirby’s is a “regenerative farm” with a strong focus on healthy soils and plants.

“We’re growing the most nutrient dense food possible,” said Chad Kirby, who has worked full-time at the farm the past 12 years. “Healthy food is medicine.”

This photos from the 1950s shows Dennis Kirby on the tractor with his sons, from left: Francis, Bob, George and John.

Chad, 34, earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and was planning to be a physical therapist. But he switched to farming with his family, believing he good make a bigger impact on the health of the community by offering fruits, vegetables and nutritional knowledge.

He has added some fruits and vegetables to the market, including tatsoi, a leafy Asian green. Chad also is the Orleans County Farm Bureau president.

Chad’s wife, Mandy, is a key part of the market. She switched from being a school teacher to working with the public at Kirby’s.

Chad’s sister, Stacey Kirby Steward, also helps run the market, and keeps up Kirby’s social media presence, website and newsletter. She also works on the events at Kirby’s with open houses and greenhouse tours.

“The focus is connecting with the community,” she said.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley will present the honor of being in the New York State Historic Business Preservation Registry to the Kirby’s on Tuesday at 1 p.m.

The Historic Business Preservation Registry was established by the State Legislature in 2020. The program is administered by the Division for Historic Preservation at the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. No business in Orleans County is currently listed in the registry.

Some nearby businesses in the registry include Lift Bridge Book Shop in Brockport, Max Pies and Chapin Manufacturing in Batavia, Liberty Pumps and Viking Valhalla Restaurant at Rose Garden Bowl in Bergen, and Lapp Insulators LLC in LeRoy.

The Kirby family is shown inside the market at 9739 West Ridge Rd., Brockport. Linda, Tim, Mandy, Chad and Stacey have turned the site into a farm market with a gift shop. On Tuesday at 1 p.m., Assemblyman Steve Hawley will present them with the honor of being in the NYS Historic Business Preservation Registry. The sign notes Kirby’s is a “regenerative farm” with a focus on healthy soil and plants.

Linda Kirby said she became aware of the registry when Lift Bridge Book Shop was honored. Kirby’s was encouraged to apply for the distinction by Town of Clarkson officials. Linda completed the application, which also needed testimonials from the community.

The Kirby family for many years grew tomatoes for large processors, including Hunt-Wesson which closed in Albion in 1970. Other large canning factories in the county also closed around that time. Duffy-Mott shut down in Holley in 1971 and H.V. Heinz closed its Medina site in 1963. The area also lost the Morton Canning Company, Wallace Dale Canning Factory in Barre Center and the Birdseye Plant in Medina.

The Kirby brothers needed a market for their product, a market that wouldn’t suddenly shut down and leave them in the lurch.

When the brothers were considering their future, they stopped by Zehr’s Market in Burt, Niagara County. That farm had a market, and the customers came right to the site to buy directly from the farm.

“My dad was impressed by what they were doing,” said Tim Kirby, George’s son.

George also was a people-person who enjoyed interacting with the public. The farm market was a great fit for him.

The brothers considered locations for their market and what they could afford. They wanted to get close to the larger population base in Monroe County. The site for their market used to be a melon farm.

Tim and Linda Kirby have run Kirby’s Farm Market together since 1989.

Tim Kirby has been part of the operation since the beginning. His wife, Linda, started working there in 1972. Tim and Linda became owners of the site in 1989.

The Kirby family grows most of the produce in Albion for the market. The site in Clarkson also has 30 acres of good sandy soil for growing crops.

Kirby’s Farm Market looks a lot different from its early from a one-room garage-style building to a cozy market with a gift shop. Kirby’s has five greenhouses and they start their own seedlings in March that they then can transport into the fields.

The market also has thousands of annuals in the spring. The perennial area has expanded to hundreds of varieties. Kirby’s has extended its season into December, offering Christmas trees, wreaths and Poinsettias.

“We’ve changed with the times,” Tim said. “But we remain farm-driven with a focus on consistency.”

Photo courtesy of Jim Panek

ALBION – This combine from Panek Farms is out at sunrise to harvest soybeans on Route 98 between Route 31A and Barre Center.

The farm is trying to beat the rain this morning.

It’s been a tough year for the farmers due to the drought conditions in Orleans County. Jim Panek said the farm’s soybean yields are down to about 60 percent of normal.

‘This global experience had to be one of the most impactful things that ever happened to me on a personal level, spiritually and educationally’ – Todd Eick

Photos courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES: (Left) Todd Eick, former Medina teacher now an animal science teacher for Orleans/Niagara BOCES, holds a pig in Uganda. (Right) This group builds a structure.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Todd Eick, the Animal Science teacher at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center, recently spent a month over the summer in Uganda with fellow educators to support education initiatives in a small village at the Lira Secondary School.

“It is without a doubt the best professional development and experience I have ever had,” said Eick, who previously worked in Medina for 14 years as FFA advisor and animal science teacher.  “There are not enough adjectives to describe that trip.”

The Global Teach Ag Network sent 12 educators, across the United States, to work with local schools in East Africa on global issues like agriculture and food security.  The Teach Ag Uganda project is funded by the USDE (United States Department of Education) Fulbright-Hays Program and partners with Field of Hope.

The teachers had the opportunity to work one-on-one with peer educator colleagues in Uganda to advance agriculture projects in local schools. Eick was assigned to work on a team with the students on building a piggery for pig farming.  He worked directly with two US teachers, one from Indiana and the other from Washington state, and three Uganda educators.

“We are all still in a group chat all the time” says Eick.  “We built great friendships and had so much fun together. Such amazing memories and knowledge to share. I love telling people I know someone who knows something about this and that. I had such a wonderful time there.”

The staff at a school joins for a group photo.

Eick had applied for the grant opportunity to take part in the program last October and was thrilled to find out that he was selected to be part of the project.

“I was kind of the elder statesman since I had more time in education than anyone else on the team, but I learned a lot from everyone I worked with,” he said. “We helped the school build the piggery and showed them how to select the pigs and care for them. We left educational artifacts for them to use after we returned home to help them run the farm.”

The visiting teachers were fascinated on how the Lira Secondary school was run.  A boarding school, there are 20-80 students in a classroom and the teachers rotate through each classroom.

Classes ran three weeks on and then three weeks off to allow the students to go home and help their families, many of them using the skills they learned in school to help their families generate extra money.

The students would be considered sophomores, juniors and seniors here.  “Most of the seniors were learning so they could take the state test and had a lot of project-based learning as part of their education as well,” Eick said. “The students were shy at first, but they warmed up pretty quickly to us. They were so eager to learn. How they implemented their curriculum was cool. For one hands-on learning project, we worked together to string a barbed wire fence. The students caught on very fast.”

There was no cafeteria, but everyone ate together. “We stood in line with the students with our bowls and we usually had some sort of stew made with beans, maize and rice,” explained Eick. “It was fascinating. It is a very poor country, but they were rich in hospitality.  They are truly the kindest, warmest people I have ever met.”

Eick, along with his fellow educators, also enjoyed a morning and evening safari to see the wildlife.

“It was magical,” he said. “We went to the Nile River. I must have taken hundreds of photos.   We visited several villages and a dairy farm and that was eye-opening on how varied milk production is there than it is here.”

He brought back a Uganda hoe as a souvenir.  “It cost me $3.75 and I had no idea how to use it, so the students had to show me. They thought it was hysterical. I have to say I learned as much from them as they did from me. I love this kind of teaching. It is a hand up not a handout. This global experience had to be one of the most impactful things that ever happened to me on a personal level, spiritually and educationally.  I am enjoying bringing these lessons into my classroom, especially doing more with less and embracing a worldwide perspective on things. My students here have really embraced this and we now share things in class from art to the practical from different countries. I am really looking forward to taking some of the students to Belgium and the Netherlands next year to learn about their agriculture and way of life. I really want them to have the same experience I did with seeing a different culture.”

Photo by Assemblyman Steve Hawley: The site of a former farm field in Elba, which once produced large amounts of crops, is now a parking area where a developer plans to install industrial-grade solar panels throughout the rest of the property.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) recently sent a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul urging her administration to halt two large-scale solar projects underway in Genesee County.

Hawley voiced strong opposition to the $950 million Cider Solar project and the $345 million Excelsior Solar project, both of which would consume nearly 6,000 acres of productive farmland. He noted that Genesee County is one of New York’s leading agricultural regions, yet the state has seen alarming losses in recent years. Between 2021 and 2022 alone, New York lost 14% of its farms and more than 9% of its farmland.

“While farmers across Western New York are struggling to keep the lights on, Gov. Hochul is busy taking away thousands of acres of vital farmlands to advance her radical climate agenda,” Hawley said.

As part of his letter, Hawley invited Gov. Hochul and members of her administration to visit his district, which overlaps with part of her former congressional district, to hear directly from local residents whose livelihoods are at risk.

 “My colleagues and I have spent decades fighting in Albany to make sure local agriculture is not left behind,” Hawley said. “Now, this administration is forcing taxpayers to foot the bill while they bulldoze and pave over the lifeblood of so many families and small businesses. Western New Yorkers are tired of politicians who’ve never stepped foot on a farm making policy for agriculture. It’s time for Gov. Hochul to put the shovel down and start protecting our farms, not putting them out of business.”

MEDINA – The Canal Village Farmers’ Market will have a special feature on Saturday, as they celebrate the family farms who have supported them.

Earlier this month, market manager Gail Miller was trying to figure out how to celebrate National Farmers’ Market Week.

“I wanted to make our market celebration a celebration of the farmers that make up the farmers’ market,” Miller said. “I thought of my own farm history. It was such hard work every day, but my siblings and I remember the fun we had picking cherries with classmates, while WKBW played on the radio, and the long walks in the orchards. I remembered going to the large Buffalo market at 2 a.m. with my father. My family often talks about growing up on the farm, and I thought it would be nice to find out about the history of the market’s farmers.”

Miller knew several of the farms, but wanted to share the history of all the farmers at the market.

“Many friends fondly recall their experiences on family farms, and I hope this will bring back memories for them, as well as allow people who are unfamiliar with farms a chance to get a glimpse of farm life,” Miller said. “It is important to celebrate the farms and farmers who grow our food.”

At the market this Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be a few antique farming implements on display from the Medina Historical Society, Miller’s family farm and another vendor’s father who collects farming equipment. There will also be old pictures and books on display, with a short summary of each farmer’s history on their tables.

There will also be picture opportunities and a chance to speak with the farmers, who will include Baker Farm, Human Farms and Greenhouse, Bower Family Farm and Greenhouse and Rosario Farm, a first-generation farm. History will also be available on Miller’s family farm, the Herbst Farm, and the Larry Jantzi family farm.

“It is my hope that people coming to the market will see that many farms and farmers have been working their farms for a few generations,” Miller said. “Also, that they will note that all of the farms are very local in Orleans and Niagara counties. Hopefully, market visitors will find the displays interesting and educational – showing how labor intensive farming was and continues to be. There is such a rich history of farming in our two counties.”

There will also be a game on Saturday for kids to identify some historical items found at the market.

The Canal Village Farmers’ Market is located at the corner of West Center Street and West Avenue.

Eligible farmers can seek reimbursement for overtime paid since Jan. 1, 2025

File photo by Tom Rivers: These farmworkers pick cucumbers in August 2019 along Townline Road in Barre.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that eligible farm employers may now apply for the Farm Employer Overtime Credit Advance program and receive reimbursement for eligible overtime paid to employees since January 1, 2025.

Now in its second year, the Farm Employer Overtime Credit Advance program is a part of Governor Hochul’s plan to support New York’s farmers through a series of new and increased tax credits and other initiatives and helps to ensure that farm employers can continue to support their workers while reducing their tax burden.

“Our farmers and farm workers are the backbone of New York, and I’m doing everything in my power to ensure that they can thrive in their essential work of bringing fresh, local products to communities across New York,” Hochul said. “The Farm Employer Overtime Credit Advance is a big part of that, reducing the tax burden for our farm businesses while helping them to continue supporting their hardworking staff, caring for animals and harvesting perishable products. I encourage all eligible farmers to learn more about this program and submit their applications now for a certificate of advance payment.”

The Farm Employer Overtime Credit is a refundable tax credit available for farm employers who pay overtime wages, based on the phase-in of an overtime threshold in New York State. Beginning today, farm employers may submit an application to the Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) for a certificate of advance payment of eligible overtime paid between January 1 and July 31, 2025 so they can receive reimbursement from the Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF).

Farms that used a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) in 2024 may also apply for certification for eligible overtime paid between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2024. Applications must be submitted to AGM by September 30.

After eligibility review, AGM will issue a certificate of payment to each approved farm employer. With a certificate of advance payment, the approved farmer or business owners (for example, partners or shareholders) can then request their share of the payment from the Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF). This request must be made no later than November 1, using the online services account at DTF’s website.

Farmers can apply for this refundable credit if they or their business:

• is/are an eligible farmer; and
• directly employ eligible farm employees that were paid eligible overtime or indirectly pay eligible overtime via the services of a PEO.

The deadline to apply for an advance credit certificate from AGM is September 30, 2025. Farmers are encouraged to reach out to FarmOTAdvance@agriculture.ny.gov with any questions. More information about the program, including guidance documents, is available on AGM’s website at agriculture.ny.gov/farming/farm-employer-overtime-credit-advance.

AGM hosted a special webinar in July to help eligible farmers prepare for the launch of the program. A recording of the webinar is available on AGM’s YouTube page.

New York State Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Farm labor is a critical issue, and we are working hard to ensure that farmers have the resources they need to support their workforce while meeting their food production goals. Last year, the Overtime Tax Credit initiative had a great start, and we are looking forward to continuing to grow the program and make sure that our farmers and farm workers have the support they need.”

$139,852 more than doubles last year’s record of $64,128

Photos by Tom Rivers: Lane Miller, 9, of Lyndonville has the grand champion steer in the ring during Saturday’s Market Auction. Lane raised the 1,465-pound beef animal, one of 12 beef cattle in the auction, up from four last year. Todd Jantzi, auctioneer with Bontrager Real Estate & Auction Service in Batavia, gets the bids going up for Lane’s steer. Western New York Energy paid $7 per pound, well above the market price. Jantzi is owner and president of Bontrager and serves as auctioneer at four market auctions at county fairs.

KNOWLESVILLE – Saturday’s Market Auction to cap the Orleans County 4-H Fair was a record-breaker.

4-Hers sold animals, fiber and even cookies that brought in $139,852. That obliterated the previous record high set last year at $64,128. The auction typically was bringing in $20,000 to $28,000 until the recent jump.

There were many more 4-Hers they entered animals and their fiber creations for the auction, and those kids brought more energy and bidders to the event, committee members said.

The big crowd of budders was a relief to the 4-Hers and their parents. Some of the them were worried that so many more animals in the auction could lead to smaller prices. But the 4-Hers were able to recruit more bidders, and many of the mainstays in recent years were back with open wallets.

Carissa Klossner of Holley made this shawl out of 100 percent alpaca yarn. Matt Hughson of the Redtail Cattle Company paid $260 for it. The fiber products where introduced to the auction for the first time last year.

“I 100 percent support 4-H,” Hughson said. “Every 4-Her is important and they all deserve it.”

Zack Welker, one of the callers, maintained high energy during the 2 ½-hour auction. Here he signals the bids are going up for a pig by Jacob Forte, 18, of Hamlin. There were 27 pigs in the auction, up from 19 last year.

Hugh Gabalski, 18, of Byron leads the grand champion lamb in the ring. It was bought by Joe Sidonio for $570. Hugh said he was happy to see the high bids for the animals at the auction. He said in some years, especially the online auction during Covid in 2020, he lost money or barely broke even.

“In 2020, the prices were dirt cheap,” Gabalski said.

Hugh said he has used the profits to buy and raise other animals over the years, and has been able to save some of the money for college.

Natalie Miller, 11, of Lyndonville keeps her 1,300-pound steer steady in the show ring.

It was purchased by Jed Torrey of Torrey at $6.75 a pound. Torrey said Natalie visited Torrey Farms in Elba, asking Torrey’s to consider bidding on her steer. Torrey said the personal visit made a big difference.

“It’s good to support the kids because they really do work hard,” Torrey said.

Travis Walton, owner of Walton Manure Management based in Linwood, holds up his number after being the winning bidder, paying $13 per pound for a pig raised by Natalie Miller.

Walton does manure work for Chaffee Farms, where Natalie’s dad is a partner. Natalie met Walton at the farm and asked him to come to the market auction.

Walton was a 4-Her as a kid in Genesee County. Saturday was his first time at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.

He said Natalie’s personal request to attend the fair made the difference in him going and spending over $3,000 for her pig.

“She reached out,” he said. “It’s hard to say no to a young kid.”

There were eight lots of rabbits up for bid, plus four lots of turkeys, and five lots of chickens.

Dana Watson of Watson Enterprises smiles after paying over $6,000 for a pig raised by Lane Miller, 9, of Lyndonville. Watson paid $24.50 per pound for the pig, the biggest bid of the night among the pigs in the auction.

Watson Enterprises has built buildings for Chaffee Farms in Barker, where Lane’s dad Corey Miller is a co-owner.

Ruth Kuipers, 15, of Byron has her pig in the arena while Andy Beach and Zack Welker call out the bids. The Market Auction culminates several months of work with the animals by 4-Hers.

Madeleine Farrell of Holley holds a sign for a pen of two chickens that were auctioned off for $250. Auctioneer Todd Jantzi is in back with Janie (Schutz) Ledbetter, left, and Nicole Mrzywka. Andy Beach, in front, served as one of the ring men to track bids from the crowd.

Jantzi said the hard work by kids over many months paid off. They need to do a good job raising the animals and making their products for the auction. But they also need salesmanship – as well as showmanship.

“It’s how the kids get out and knock on doors,” Jantzi said. “That’s what makes the difference.”

Susan Hanson, right, paid $150 for a loom knit hat made by 4-Her Ginny Schofield.

Lena Grillo, 13, of Albion had a blue-ribbon lamb that was the top seller in the auction, getting over $8 per pound.

Kate Bennett of Brockport had two pigs in the auction and both were purchased by her grandfather, Tony Piedimonte of Piedimonte Farms in Holley. The ring men eyeing the crowd for bids include Chris Flansburg in front, and Zack Welker and Andy Beach in back.

Isabel Nesbitt, 12, of Lyndonville leads her beef animal into the barn for the market auction.

Megan Hartway made a successful bid at $3.75 per pound for a 1,120-pound beef steer raised by Isabel Nesbitt of Lyndonville. Hartway bid for her husband Nate, who is a crop consultant with Nutrien Ag Solutions in Fancher.

Mrs. Hartway said her kids weighed in on which animal to buy at the auction. They liked Isabel’s steer, a white animal she named Marvin.

“We want to support 4-H, and our kids thought it was just the prettiest white cow,” Mrs. Hartway said.

Helen Schofield of Holley holds up a wreath she made with a festive fall theme. The wreath sold for $110 at the auction.

Press Release, Orleans County Office for the Aging

ALBION – The Orleans County Office for the Aging (OFA) today announced that Farmers Market coupons are now available at their office, located at the Orleans County Administration Building, 14016 Route 31W in Albion.

The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, provided by the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, provides these coupons to all who meet age and income requirements to buy fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets throughout New York State.

To qualify for coupons, seniors must be 60 years of age and be within monthly income guidelines of $2,413 for a one-person household; $3,261 for a two-person household and $4,109 for a three-person household.

For households with more than three people, information is available by calling 589-3191. Also if you meet the age requirement, and are living in subsidized housing, you are eligible with no income guidelines.

Books are available at OFA between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. For those with mobility issues, park in the front row of the parking lot near the stop sign and call 589-3191 when you arrive, and OFA will come out to you.

Each person in the household is eligible to receive a booklet if they meet the age and income requirements. Only one coupon booklet per eligible senior in each house will be distributed while supplies last. The eligible older adult (or a Power of Attorney with proper paperwork) must sign for the coupon booklet in person.

Photos courtesy of NYS Department of Ag & Markets: The adults are about 1-inch long and half-inch wide with wings folded. Adults can hop several feet if startled. SLF feeding can stress plants, making them vulnerable to disease and attacks from other insects. SLF also excretes large amounts of sticky “honeydew,” which attracts sooty molds that interfere with plant photosynthesis, negatively affecting the growth and fruit yield of plants, negatively impacting agriculture and forest health.

Press Release, Congressman Joe Morelle

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Joe Morelle on Wednesday introduced legislation to stop the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly, an invasive species that poses a significant threat to the American agricultural economy in places like New York State.

“It’s hard to visit the Finger Lakes without enjoying our amazing vineyards and orchards, but sadly, they’re under serious threat from the Spotted Lanternfly,” Morelle said. “My legislation would provide additional support for both local and national organizations committed to fighting back against this invasive, destructive pest. I’m grateful to my colleagues—on both sides of the aisle—for joining together to support this critical bill, and I hope to see it passed and signed into law soon.”

Morelle’s bipartisan legislation, the Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act, designates the Spotted Lanternfly as a high-priority research and extension initiative under the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

This designation authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to make competitive grants available for research projects related to the mitigation of this invasive species so we can find creative solutions to stop the spread before New York’s cash crops are further decimated.

This is the latest in a series of actions Congressman Morelle has taken to combat the spread of the Spotted Lanternfly, including advocating for this legislation in previous legislative sessions and securing funding from federal agencies to support eradication efforts.

“Congressman Morelle’s decisive action through this legislation demonstrates his profound understanding of the challenges facing New York’s agricultural sector,” said Benjamin Houlton, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. “As New York’s Land-Grant institution, we are committed to developing science-based solutions to combat the spotted lanternfly threat. His leadership in securing crucial funding will strengthen our research and extension efforts, providing both our agricultural and residential communities with essential resources to protect New York’s rich agricultural heritage.”

How you can help stop the spread:

Learn how to identify the Spotted Lanternfly. Inspect outdoor items such as firewood, vehicles, and furniture for egg masses. If you visit other states with Spotted Lanternfly, be sure to check all equipment and gear before leaving and scrape off any egg masses.

Report sightings by completing this form (click here). If you see a Spotted Lanternfly, kill it immediately by stepping on it or crushing it.

Joining Morelle in supporting this legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives are Representatives Mike Kelly (R, PA-16), Chrissy Houlahan (D, PA-06), and Nick Langworthy (R, NY-23).

“The invasive spotted lanternfly continues to pose great risk to New York’s vineyards, fruit orchards, hops production and forestry,” said David Fisher, New York Farm Bureau President. “As with all invasive and harmful species, research and education are essential to mitigating the spread of the insect and to helping reduce its impact on crops and forestland. New York Farm Bureau thanks Rep. Morelle for sponsoring the Spotted Lanternfly Research and Development Act, which prioritizes funding in the Farm Bill and expedites the grants necessary to combat this serious problem.”

Photos from Roy-Hart Central School: Roy-Hart Middle School students learn about agriculture in multiple ways, including hands-on learning and agriculturally themed literature.

Press Release, Roy-Hart Central School

MIDDLEPORT – Royalton-Hartland Middle School is thriving—thanks in large part to the support of Cornell University’s New York Agriculture in the Classroom (NYAITC).

With the help of this statewide initiative, students are not only learning about agriculture—they’re living it.

This year, science teacher and Middle School Green Team Club Advisor Susan McLaughlin was selected to present her student-led project – “We Need Farms: You Get an Acre!” – at the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Minnesota. While McLaughlin is not an agriculture teacher by title, she has become a powerful advocate for agricultural literacy through the many programs and resources NYAITC offers.

“NYAITC has transformed how we teach agriculture at our school,” McLaughlin said. “It’s not just an add-on. It’s part of our curriculum, our cafeteria, and our community.”

Among the school’s achievements this year:

• Second place in the statewide Schoolyard Sugaring Maple Contest in the Middle School Division, where students collected over 45 gallons of sap from their backyard and boiled it into a gallon of maple syrup for the cafeteria. NYAITC provided the supplies at no cost.
• Participation in classroom competitions like the Mac and Cheese Challenge and Ice Cream Challenge, with creative student-made entries including: “What Up Mac?” — a carrot-based macaroni and cheese; “Maple Swirl” — made with maple sugar, RH maple syrup, and RH maple caramel; and “Deep Dirt” — chocolate custard ice cream with brownie chunks, green sprinkles, and a gummy worm on top.

In addition to contests, Royalton-Hartland Middle School secured two NYAITC grants and a scholarship:

• The Grow with Us Grant funded the cultivation of Swiss chard and romaine lettuce, harvested for school lunches via three aeroponic grow towers. It also provided supplies for the Trout in the Classroom project, where students raised and released 100 brook trout while learning about ecosystems and the fish industry.
• The Agricultural Literacy Grant supported a place-based learning experience tied to agriculturally themed literature. Students visited Season of Alpacas, a hobby farm in Lockport, and participated in a reading of Lincoln Clears a Path by local children’s author Peggy Thomas—held in a real Lincoln Log Cabin. Each student received a signed hardcover copy of Thomas’s book.

McLaughlin also received a scholarship to attend and present at the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference, inspired by lesson plans from the National Agriculture Literacy Curriculum Matrix, a free online resource filled with ready-to-use agricultural lessons.

“These opportunities are available to every school in New York State,” McLaughlin emphasized. “All you need is a plan and a willingness to try.”

With global food needs expected to rise dramatically by 2050, agricultural education is more important than ever. Thanks to NYAITC, Royalton-Hartland Middle School is not just preparing students for the future—they’re helping them grow it.

Photo provided by Assemblyman Hawley’s Office: This photo was displayed at the podium of a news conference today.

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) stood in support with his colleagues today at the state Capitol to denounce a new proposal from the Majority that would place a ceiling on the number of cows allowed on New York dairy farms (A.6928).

This initiative would prevent the Department of Environmental Conservation from giving any permits for new or expanding dairy operations that exceed 700 cows. While the Majority claims this policy will help improve environmental conditions, Hawley believes this bill will put an unnecessary burden on local farms and hurt our state’s agriculture industry.

Over the last 25 years, New York has seen a dramatic decline in the number of dairy farms across the state. From 1997 to 2022, the number of dairy operations decreased from 9,300 to roughly 3,000. This decline has picked up substantially in recent years as the dairy industry has struggled to turn a profit and keep up with operating costs. Hawley is adamant that this proposal will only accelerate this trend a push more dairy farmers out of business.

“While small-scale dairy farms are struggling to make ends meet, members of the Majority who have never stepped foot on a farming operation are trying to regulate them out of business,” said Hawley. “As a former farmer myself, the assertion that our local farms are destroying our environment is completely ridiculous.

“Working families across our state rely on our dairy farms for their basic necessities, and this proposal will only bring up costs and reduce availability. We cannot allow this out-of-touch proposal to hurt our rural communities, and I will continue to stand with my colleagues in the state Assembly to ensure this initiative is shut down once and for all.”

Photo by Tom Rivers: These apple trees are shown on Sunday evening in the Carlton countryside.

Press Release, Orleans County Department of Planning and Development

ALBION – Orleans County is accepting enrollment of additional parcels in its existing, certified agricultural district during the month of June, pursuant to New York State Agricultural and Markets Law.

The annual 30-day window is for inclusion of property that consists of predominantly viable agricultural land.  During this time period, land may only be added and not removed from County Agricultural District No.1.

This opportunity supplements, but does not replace, enrollment in an existing agricultural district during a more comprehensive review process held once every eight years. In 2024, the County Agricultural District No. 1 went through its major eight-year review.

The next eight-year anniversary review – the only time during which parcels can be both added and removed – will not occur until 2032.  Presently, there are over 120,150 acres in County Agricultural District No. 1.

Requests for inclusion in District No. 1 will be evaluated, in order, by the Orleans County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board, the Orleans County Legislature, and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

To enroll, owners must complete and sign a Letter of Intent for Annual Enrollment form. These are available from the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development. Click here to access the form online.

Completed forms should be sent by July 1 to:

Corey Winters, Director

Orleans County Department of Planning & Development

14016 Route 31 West

Albion, NY  14411-9382

Please note that requesting enrollment during this 30-day time period is not a guarantee that an owner’s property will be added to Agricultural District No 1. Moreover, it will not automatically qualify your land for a reduced agricultural property tax assessment.

For information on obtaining a reduced agricultural property tax assessment, please contact your local assessor.  Any qualifying lot must be included entirely rather than partially.