File photo by Tom Rivers: Bob Schumacher of Schumacher Farm in Ridgeway gives a tour of his sugar shack on Mill Road on March 19, 2016. Schumacher Farm was one of 160 maple farms in New York that participated in Maple Weekend.

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that New York’s maple industry hit a 74-year record in 2018 with the production of 806,000 gallons of maple syrup. The maple industry in New York has grown by nearly 50 percent in the last five years and continues to maintain the state’s standing as the second leading producer of fresh maple syrup in the nation.

“The maple industry is one of New York’s most important agricultural sectors, and it continues to grow year-over-year, infusing millions into the economy and bringing New York national recognition for its quality,” Governor Cuomo said. “The growth of the industry is an indicator of our fantastic producers, who work hard to make some of the best maple syrup in the country and the innovative and unique maple products that consumers are demanding.”

According to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York’s maple production constituted about 19 percent of the national total. The number of maple taps also continues to climb, with more than 2.73 million taps in production in 2018, the highest number of taps since 1943. New York producers also benefited from a long season in 2018 which lasted 52 days, compared to 43 days in 2017.

Maple Day at the New York State Fair

In celebration of New York’s growing maple industry, the New York State Fair will hold its first-ever Maple Day on Monday, August 27. Maple Day is sponsored by the New York State Maple Producers Association and will feature maple products, such as maple cotton candy, maple donuts, pancakes with maple syrup, and more, that can be sampled at locations across the Fairgrounds. Cooking demonstrations using pure New York maple syrup will be held throughout the day in the Wegmans Demonstration Kitchen and maple vendors will be sampling and selling products at the Taste NY Marketplace in the Horticulture Building. Maple Day joins Dairy Day, Beef Day, and Agricultural Career Day in a lineup of special days created at the fair to highlight and promote New York State agriculture.

New York State Grown & Certified

The New York State Grown & Certified program recently expanded this past winter to include the New York maple industry. Since February 2017, the number of maple producers in the program has nearly tripled, from 14 to 37. For a complete list of producers in the program, click here.

New York State Grown & Certified promotes New York’s agricultural producers and growers who adhere to food safety and environmental sustainability standards. For maple, the syrup must be sourced from New York maple trees and processed in New York State. To meet the food safety standards, participants must have successfully completed a maple food safety class, developed in partnership between Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Western New York Maple Producers Association, and must follow food safety best practices that are subject to an onsite audit.

In addition, the maple producer must participate in an environmental management program that promotes sustainability and keeps forests healthy and productive, such as the New York State Agricultural Environmental Management program, which is administered through the Soil and Water Conservation Districts, or the Certified Tree Farmer, administered by the American Tree Farm System.

“Maple is agriculture’s first crop of the season and its certainly one that we do extremely well here in New York,” said State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball. “Thanks to our dedicated maple producers, more of whom are joining the NYS Grown & Certified program, New York continues to be a top producer in the country, with record production figures and number of taps in recent history. We are pleased to promote the industry through Grown & Certified and at the State Fair, where more than 1.1 million people will get to taste some of the very best maple syrup and maple products in the country.”

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Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that several provisions she secured in the Farm Bill have passed in the Senate. These include new grant programs to help invest in New York’s rural economies and $77 million for dairy farmers who paid millions of dollars into an insurance program that did not help them when milk prices dropped.

Gillibrand worked in the Senate Agriculture Committee to include these provisions in the Senate Farm Bill to strengthen New York’s rural economy and protect farmers, and helped ensure that they were passed by the full Senate.

“New York has one of the best agriculture traditions in the country, and this year’s Senate Farm Bill will help feed families all over our state, it will protect our farmers and producers, and it will strengthen our rural economy,” said Senator Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “I was proud to work hard to make sure that this year’s Senate Farm Bill had New York’s best interests at its core. I will continue to fight to make sure the final Farm Bill that is eventually signed into law serves every New Yorker, and I am very pleased that my Senate colleagues have passed this legislation.”

Below are the provisions that Senator Gillibrand successfully included in the recently passed Senate Farm Bill:

Dairy Insurance Refunds

Gillibrand secured a provision in the Senate Farm Bill to refund more than $77 million in insurance premiums to farmers who paid millions of dollars into an insurance program, the Dairy Margin Protection Program, that did not help them when milk prices dropped. This provision in the Senate Farm Bill was modeled after Senator Gillibrand’s Dairy Premium Refund Act, which she introduced in February.

Another provision also directs the National Agricultural Statistics Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to present dairy farm data in order to better describe the health of the dairy industry and help ensure that policy makers understand which types of dairy producers are most at risk of farm failure.

Rural Broadband

The Senate-passed Farm Bill includes a provision to make grant funding available for rural broadband projects in high-need areas. This provision, based on Senator Gillibrand’s bipartisan Broadband Connections for Rural Opportunities Program Act (B-CROP Act) would help encourage more high-speed broadband deployment to high-need areas by awarding grants in combination with the current loan funding available through the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service.

Federal funds would target the highest-need rural and tribal areas, allowing for grants of up to 50 percent of a project’s cost, and up to 75 percent for remote, high-need areas, to be awarded in combination with the current loan funding available through USDA. The Senate Farm Bill also increases the annual funding level of the USDA broadband program to $150 million.

Rural Jobs and Investment

The Senate-passed Farm Bill includes a bipartisan provision led by Senator Gillibrand to expand access to much-needed resources and investment for rural entrepreneurs in Upstate New York to start and expand local businesses. This provision is based on Gillibrand’s Rural Jobs and Investment Act and would create a new grant program to invest in local efforts to launch new companies and create new jobs in New York’s rural communities. It would also expand the use of the USDA Community Facilities Program to invest in business incubators, makerspaces, and job training centers to provide additional resources for communities to support their entrepreneurs.

In addition, Gillibrand’s provision would also expand access to capital for rural entrepreneurs by encouraging investment in rural areas. Currently, the USDA’s Rural Business Investment Program helps address these capital challenges, but this program is limited in the types of industries that it can invest in, as well as the amount of capital it can attract. Gillibrand’s provision would improve the program to allow investments across all industries, encouraging more capital to be invested in rural entrepreneurs.

Aquaculture

Gillibrand also included a provision to protect Long Island shellfish producers by expanding their insurance coverage options. Shellfish producers are at high risk of losing their crops and equipment because of weather, diseases, and changes in the marine environment. Gillibrand’s provision would treat the different growth stages of shellfish and other aquaculture species as separate crops, which would allow the Whole Farm Revenue Insurance Program policies to be more comprehensive and fair for shellfish producers.

Shellfish production is a growing industry in New York. Clam production in the state increased by more than 70 percent between 2012 and 2013, and in 2017, the New York shellfish industry was valued at $16.2 million.

Barley

The bill directs the National Agricultural Statistics Service of USDA to document barley production in New York State. This would ensure that producers have the information they need to decide on future plantings. The information would also be valuable for growers because it would provide sufficient data for crop insurance companies to expand insurance offerings and eventually offer a malting barley endorsement.

Banning Dog and Cat Slaughter

Senator Gillibrand introduced an bipartisan provision with Senator Toomey (R-PA) to ban the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption. This provision was cosponsored by Senators Rubio (R-FL) and Blumenthal (D-CT) and a similar provision is included in the House Farm Bill.

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Press Release, U.S. Kirsten Gillibrand

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today proposed an amendment to this year’s Farm Bill that would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue to authorize $300 million in emergency relief funding for dairy farmers immediately.

Dairy farmers across New York are suffering from historically low dairy prices and are forced to shoulder an increasing amount of debt in order to continue operating their farms. This funding would be authorized through the USDA Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). The USDA has the authority to provide direct financial assistance to struggling agricultural industries, and last month, Gillibrand called on the USDA to utilize this authority once more for dairy farmers in New York and across the country.

After receiving a negative response from the USDA, Gillibrand is now introducing an amendment to the Farm Bill to require the USDA to assist New York dairy farmers during this crisis. This authority was used most recently in 2016 and 2018 to support and protect cotton farmers.

“Dairy farms are at the heart of New York’s rural economy, but milk prices are so low that more than 1,200 dairy farms have shut down in just the last decade, and many more are on the brink of failing. This is a crisis right in our own backyard,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I’m proud to introduce this amendment to require the USDA to immediately provide financial assistance to our dairy producers. I want this emergency funding to go directly to the farmers who need it, so they can keep producing milk without going bankrupt. The USDA should do the right thing and give our dairy farmers the help they need now.”

Dairy farmers could receive $8,000 on average directly from the USDA if Gillibrand’s amendment were to be included in this Farm Bill. New York is the third-largest dairy producing state, with more than 4,400 dairies producing nearly 15 billion pounds of milk each year. These farms are the bedrock of the agricultural economy and rural communities throughout the state. Every dollar of on-farm milk sale generates $2.29 in the local economy, and for every full-time worker on a dairy farm, another 1.5 jobs are created in other parts of the food industry.

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Press Release, Congressman Chris Collins

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) today voted for the 2018 Farm Bill that he said will strengthen and grow the Western New York dairy economy. In recent years, the dairy industry has faced significant challenges, including an overall decline in milk consumption due to unfair trade practices with nations like Canada. Provisions in the Farm Bill make commonsense reforms to safety net programs put in place to help farmers during a downturn.

Collins has been a staunch advocate for expanding the current H-2A visa program that has not met the need of dairy farmers to find a legal, experienced workforce. Provisions to address issues with visas were not included, although Collins was assured by House Leadership that a separate bill to solve these problems will be considered in July.

“Our nation’s dairy farmers are struggling and we have to do everything we can to keep this industry alive in Western New York,” said Collins. “I’ve met with local farmers who have told me on numerous occasions that the Margin Protection Program was simply not working and was based on flawed logic. The reforms passed in today’s bill are going to help these farmers better utilize this program as we continue to make reforms that will boost this industry.”

This legislation would provide greater coverage to dairy farmers through the Margin Protection Program (MPP) and will allow a farmer to participate in both the livestock and dairy protection programs. Additionally, the program will be relabeled the Dairy Risk Management Program (DRMP).

The newly created DRMP eliminates the current 25% minimum coverage level and allows producers to elect levels in 5% increments. It will also add higher coverage levels of $8.50 and $9.00 per CWT, a provision Collins advocated for in a 2017 letter to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway (TX-11).

The legislation will also require the United States Department of Agriculture to study the accuracy of milk and feed costs used to determine the margin. This was implemented in response to the large amount of farmers that were unable to utilize the program because of ineffective calculations.

“Since I have gotten elected to Congress, our region’s agriculture industry has been a main priority and I’m committed to continuing to do what is best for our farmers,” Collins said. “While we still have work to do to turn this industry around, I’m pleased with the reforms we passed today.”

For more information on H.R. 2, Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, click here.

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Press Release, Congressman Chris Collins

LE ROY – Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) toured Stein Farms in Le Roy on Saturday to discuss dairy issues he has been leading in Congress that deal with the decline in milk consumption and economic challenges facing dairy farmers.

Collins announced a letter he sent with 11 of his colleagues to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue encouraging the agency to continue advertising campaigns such as “Got Milk?”.

“Years ago, messages that resonated with all Americans included ‘Got Milk?’ and ‘drink milk, love life,’ and we saw some of our favorite celebrities with milk mustaches,” said Collins. “The fact is, this type of marketing works. In recent years, we’ve seen an overall decline in milk consumption, which has created tough economic times for our dairy farmers and we are hoping Secretary Perdue can provide some additional help.”

Milk prices have dropped over 9 percent since 2014, and are expected to continue to decrease given the decline in milk consumption and Canada’s unfair trade practices, Collins said.

The bipartisan letter voices support of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), which is responsible for programs dedicated to educating consumers and increasing the consumption of fluid milk. Past AMS campaigns successfully helped push the consumption of milk as it competes with other beverage products on the market.

Collins’ letter requests that the USDA not only continue these programs but also look for other ways to boost our nation’s dairy industry and has the support of members from across the country. To read a copy of the letter, click here.

Representing one of the nation’s leading dairy producing districts, Collins has been a strong advocate for issues related to nutrition, labeling, trade, and immigration as they impact our nation’s farmers.

“I want to thank Congressman Collins for helping raise the awareness of the situation dairy farmers are going through right now, and his help in showing New York consumers the benefit of having dairy as part of a healthy nutritious diet,” said Dale Stein, co-owner of Stein Farms. “So have that extra glass of milk, that serving of cheese and yogurt. Enjoy that ice cream on a hot summer afternoon and know in doing so you are also helping your local dairy farmer.”

The following members of Congress also weighed in on the issue:

“I care about the struggling dairy farmers across our district, and I am proud to stand with them through difficult times,” said Congressman Tom Reed (NY-23). “Low milk prices and unfair Canadian dairy tariffs are causing tremendous harm. I am happy to urge our Agriculture Secretary to pull out all the stops so that we can provide relief for dairy farmers.”

“After traveling across the district and meeting with numerous people in the dairy industry, I understand the problems they face each day,” said Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22). “Farm milk prices are dropping at an alarming rate and in order to stop this trend, we are asking Secretary Perdue to look into ways to boost our nation’s dairy industry and promote dairy consumption. The dairy industry is the backbone of our rural communities and I encourage the USDA to work to support all of our vital dairy farmers.”

“Dairy farmers play a vital role in Ohio’s agriculture economy,” said Congressman Jim Renacci (OH-16). “It is important that we continue to look for ways to promote the dairy industry and protect the dairy farmers who are so important to our local economy.”

“Dairy products are nutrient-rich and have many positive health benefits for consumers. It’s essential that American families are informed about the positive health benefits of dairy products so they can make the most-informed consumer decisions,” said Congressman Sean Duffy (WI-07). “That’s why it’s imperative that the USDA continue to their efforts to raise awareness through the Dairy Research and Promotion Program. Secretary Perdue has been an incredible ally for dairy, and I am hopeful that he will continue to work with us to make sure families know of the dairy options available to them.”

“Dairy farmers across the country are struggling to stay afloat in the face of low milk prices and new trade threats. While there are no easy solutions to these challenges, USDA has played an important role in spurring demand for dairy through advertising and marketing campaigns made possible by dairy checkoffs,” said Congressman Peter Welch (VT-at large). “I encourage USDA to continue supporting these efforts, and will do all I can to keep supporting the industry.”

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Farmers, gardeners urged to keep watch for late blight

Press Release, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

Image from NC State University: This photo shows a potato late blight lesion

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today urged New York’s home gardeners, greenhouse growers, and vegetable farmers to look for and report any suspicions of late blight in their tomato and potato plants and crops this summer.

Late blight is a plant disease that has the potential to cause devastation to these crops, infecting and destroying the leaves, stems, fruits, and tubers of potato and tomato plants. Photos and additional information of late blight on potatoes and tomatoes can be found by clicking here.

“Late blight is a serious plant disease that can wreak havoc on the state’s tomato and potato industry, which ranks high nationally in production,” said Commissioner Ball. “We want home gardeners, greenhouse growers and vegetable farmers to be vigilant and, at the first sign of late blight, report the finding to the Department and a local Cornell Cooperative Extension office so action can be taken as quickly as possible to prevent the spread of this extremely harmful disease.”

Late blight was detected in several tomato plants in Onondaga County as a result of an inspection conducted by the Department’s Division of Plant Industry, and confirmed this week by Cornell University’s Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic. The plants were destroyed and inspectors will continue to monitor field plantings of tomatoes. The late blight strain detected was not one of the known or common strains.

Late blight was first discovered in the United States in the early 1840s, devastating crops across the northeast. It was also responsible for the Irish potato famine in the mid-nineteenth century.

Growers can identify late blight of potato and tomato by looking for black/brown lesions on leaves and stems. In humid conditions, visible white spores appear. As many lesions accumulate, the entire plant can be destroyed in only a few days after the first lesions are observed. The plant disease thrives in humid, wet conditions and can spread quickly from field to field, and over several miles.

Home gardeners should monitor for late blight as it can be transferred from the home garden to commercial operations. If home gardeners observe tomato plants with late blight symptoms, the Department urges them to contact their local Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) for assistance. It is important not to compost any diseased plant material.

Greenhouse growers should contact the Department’s Division of Plant Industry at 518-457-2087 if late blight is suspected. In addition, commercial vegetable growers should survey their tomato and potato fields for late blight and watch the blight forecast, which predicts disease incidence and directs growers to apply fungicides to protect plants.

If a commercial vegetable grower suspects late blight on their crops, they should work with a local CCE office or regional vegetable specialist, who can help commercial growers select the appropriate fungicide to treat the crops. Vegetable growers should employ standard late blight management procedures. Because we do not know if the strain detected is sensitive to fungicides containing mefenoxam, growers should use fungicides with other active ingredients and should be certain to rotate chemistries. Organic growers will want a product with copper.

Dr. Christine Smart, Professor of Vegetable Pathology and Director of the School of Integrative Plant Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, said, “Cornell is working as quickly as possible to learn more about the strain of the pathogen identified here in New York.  We are glad to partner with the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets to help potato and tomato growers manage late blight.”

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Press Release, Orleans County Department of Planning and Development

Photo by Tom Rivers: Fruit trees at Watt Farms in Gaines are shown in bloom on May 9.

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

This annual 30-day window is for inclusion of property which is predominantly viable agricultural land. During this time period, land may only be added and not removed from County Agricultural District No. 1, which in 2016 became the sole agricultural district in the county as a result of a consolidation process.

This opportunity supplements, but does not replace, enrollment in an existing agricultural district during the eight-year, formal review process. The next eight-year anniversary review — the only time during which parcels can be both added and removed — will not occur for several more years. Presently, there are over 116,200 acres in County Agricultural District No. 1.

Requests for inclusion in District No. 1 this month 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. Enrollment forms are available from the Orleans County Department of Planning and Development both in-person and online by clicking here.

Completed forms should be sent by July 2nd to:

Sarah Gatti

Orleans County Department of Planning and Development

14016 Route 31 West

Albion NY 14411

Please note that requesting enrollment during this 30-day time period is not a guarantee that your property will be added to Agricultural District No. 1. Moreover, it will not automatically qualify your property for a reduced agricultural property tax assessment. For information on obtaining a reduced agricultural property tax assessment, please contact your local assessor.

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Photo by Tom Rivers: Blossoms at an Albion fruit orchard are pictured on May 9.

Press Release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced nearly $38 million is now available through the Farmland Protection Implementation Grant program to help farmers across New York protect valuable and at-risk farmland. Since Governor Cuomo took office, the state has reinvigorated the program and committed historic investments, including doubling the funding in this latest round from last year – marking the highest level of ever offered through the program.

“By investing in the sustainability and growth of New York’s farmland, we are protecting an important economic driver for communities across the state while providing opportunities for our agriculture industry to grow,” Governor Cuomo said. “This unprecedented $38 million commitment to land preservation will ensure New York’s vast farmland is used for agricultural purposes and remains protected for generations.””

Municipalities, counties, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and land trusts are eligible to apply for individual grants of up to $2 million to help offset the costs of conservation easement projects that protect viable agricultural land from being converted to non-agricultural use. The Farmland Protection Implementation Grant program is funded through New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund, which was included in the State Budget at $300 million for the third consecutive year. The application deadline is August 31, 2018 and the Request for Proposals is available by clicking here.

Since the governor took office in 2011, the state has invested more than $62 million in 82 farmland protection projects statewide. This funding opportunity continues the state’s commitment to provide financial and technical assistance for farmland protection on a predictable two-year cycle. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ previous streamlining measures have resulted in significant reductions in the overall time needed to complete projects.

This year, to explore additional tools in preserving land for agricultural production, the state has included preemptive purchase rights as an eligible cost that may be partially covered through the grant program. This is the first time state financial assistance may be used toward this eligible project cost.

The Department has established certain criteria to guide the use of this unique easement provision in awarded projects. Preemptive purchase rights encourage agricultural land to remain in active production and to be sold to other farmers at its agricultural value. Certain requirements must be met in order for eligible applicants to use grant funding for these purchase rights, which will also provide a potential avenue for new and beginning farmers in acquiring land.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “The Department has made great strides in improving regional collaboration on its farmland preservation programs and ensuring we move the Farmland Protection program forward.  We are pleased to make available nearly double the funding this year than we have in previous years and are committed to preserving our land base, which not only retains the state’s farmland for our future New York farmers but also helps protects our environment.”

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Dairies, facing historically low milk prices, are critical to rural economy

Press Release, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, on Tuesday called on U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to authorize $300 million in emergency relief funding for dairy farmers immediately.

Dairy farmers across New York are suffering from historically low dairy prices and are forced to shoulder an increasing amount of debt in order to continue operating their farms. The USDA has the authority to provide direct financial assistance to struggling agricultural industries. This authority has been used most recently in 2016 and 2018 to support and protect cotton farmers. Gillibrand called on the USDA to utilize this authority once more for dairy farmers in New York and across the country.

“Dairy farms are at the heart of New York’s rural economy, but milk prices are so low that more than 1,200 dairy farms have shut down in just the last decade, and many more are on the brink of failing. This is a crisis right in our own backyard,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I’m calling on the USDA to immediately provide financial assistance to our dairy producers. I want this emergency funding to go directly to the farmers who need it, so they can keep producing milk without going bankrupt. The USDA should do the right thing and give our dairy farmers the help they need now.”

Dairy farmers could receive $8,000 on average if the USDA complies with Gillibrand’s request. This funding would be paid directly to farmers as part of their milk check. New York is the third-largest dairy producing state, with more than 4,400 dairies producing nearly 15 billion pounds of milk each year. These farms are the bedrock of the agricultural economy and rural communities throughout the state. Every dollar of on-farm milk sale generates $2.29 in the local economy, and for every full-time worker on a dairy farm, another 1.5 jobs are created in other parts of the food industry.

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Press Release, Orleans County Departments of Planning & Development and Tourism

File photo by Tom Rivers: Medina held its first Farm-to-Table dinner event on a closed off Main Street on Aug. 4, 2016. There were 137 people at that dinner, a fine dining experience featuring locally grown food and wine.

ALBION – The Orleans County Departments of Planning & Development and Tourism are in the process of developing the “Orleans County Culinary Guide” featuring a restaurant guide and an updated directory of local producers’ markets/retail outlets. Producers include fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy, botanicals and craft beverages/wineries.

The purpose of this brochure is to highlight Orleans County’s Farm to Table culture and act as a guide, for both visitors and residents, to local and fresh culinary options as well as food related special events. To be eligible for inclusion in the Producer’s Section, a roadside farm stand and/or farm market must be a part of your operation. The final product will display the location of the restaurant, farm stand/market as well as hours, contact information, and description of items being sold.

If your business is qualified for inclusion, please complete our registration form on our webpage at www.orleanscountytourism.com/enroll. Submit the form appropriate to your business: Producers/Markets or Restaurants/Prepared Foods. The deadline to register to be included in this year’s guide is June 15, 2018.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions; contact information can be found below. Please share with any other producers you think may be eligible and interested in our Farm Producer/Culinary Directory Initiative.

Contacts:

Sarah Gatti, Dept. of Planning & Development

Sarah.Gatti@orleanscountyny.gov or 585-589-3187

Lynne Menz, Tourism Dept.

Lynne.Menz@orleanscountyny.gov or 585-589-3103

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Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Orleans County’s fruit trees are in bloom, adding lots of color to the countryside. These photos were taken on Wednesday evening at Watt Farms, near the pond behind their country market on Route 98.

The apple trees have white blossoms.

Peaches and cherries have pink blossoms. I can’t say for sure whether these are cherries, peaches or some other fruit.

New York is the country’s second-leading apple producer behind only Washington state, and Orleans County is among the top counties in NY for producing apples, trailing only Wayne and Ulster counties.

While some fruit-growing areas have festivals during blossom season, the spring bloom doesn’t get much attention in Orleans County, despite the visual and olfactory sensation.

The blossom season can be an anxious time for fruit growers who need bees to be busy pollinating so the fruit can grow.

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Press Release, GCC

BATAVIA – Genesee Community College on Thursday will host more than 100 high school students from across the GLOW region.

About 120 students from Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties will be participating in high-tech, agricultural career experience at GCC, hosted by The BEST Center. The third annual Precision Agriculture Day at the Batavia campus features a wide array of presenters from the industry who will share information on the latest technological, science, engineering, and agricultural trends including drones, embryo transfer, precision farming and processing, GPS/GIS, auto steering and robotics.

This emerging technology is anticipated to create new employment opportunities in the future. High schoolers from 13 districts across the four counties have the opportunity to discover more about these potential and exciting career pathways and will be checking out how these technologies are used in their own backyard of Western New York.

The Precision Agriculture Committee, chaired by Nathan L. Rudgers, senior vice president of Business Development at Farm Credit East, was formed in 2015. The committee, comprised of local precision agriculture consultants, agricultural leaders, as well as high school representatives, has been providing guidance and input on the development of programs to address the educational and awareness needs of this growing field.

Advances in technology have resulted in agricultural systems collecting data and using it in multiple operations all controlled through a computer, tablet or smart phone. This technology has created education and training opportunities, but there is a lack of skilled workers. Enter The BEST Center, which is working to provide multiple educational opportunities in this growing arena.

The BEST Center provides businesses and organizations with customized training solutions ranging from supervisory skills to technical training. The Center also offers numerous professional and personal development courses for individuals, including classroom and on-line opportunities.

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