Photo by Tom Rivers: These apples are in a bin at Kirby Farms in Brockport last fall.
Press Release, Orleans County Department of Planning and Development
ALBION – The Orleans County Agricultural District No. 1 is Orleans County’s only Agricultural District that covers over 118,000 acres or approximately 48% of the land mass of the county.
Orleans County is currently undergoing an eight-year review of the Orleans County Agricultural District No. 1. During this process, landowners must affirm in writing their intent to be included in the agricultural district.
All currently included landowners will receive notification of the review and the forms should be returned by March 31.
Agricultural Districts are established by New York State Agriculture and Markets Law to provide for the protection of agricultural lands. The law was enacted to allow for the creation of a local mechanism to ensure agricultural land remains a viable segment of the local and state economies as well as an environmental resource.
Agriculture is the dominant industry in Orleans County and as such, the Orleans County Agricultural District No. 1 is important to maintaining our economic base.
Agricultural districts do not have to be made up completely of farmland. However, they must contain a predominance of viable farmland. At the same time, the rural nature of an area is protected when viable farmland is included in the agricultural district.
The County Agricultural Farmland Protection Board, formed by the Legislature, is given the job of making recommendations concerning the effect of new water lines on land in an Agricultural District. Undeveloped land that is included in an agricultural district is not able to connect to new water lines for non-agricultural use because of the potential adverse effects on agriculture. Existing homes, residences, and farms within an agricultural district are not prohibited from connecting to new water lines.
For more information about agricultural districts or the ongoing review of the Orleans County Agricultural District No. 1, please contact Corey Winters (Planner, Orleans County Department of Planning & Development) at (585) 589-3197.
Gradual phase-in to lower overtime threshold in agriculture starts in 2024
File photo by Tom Rivers: A farmer plants seeds on May 23, 2019 in Carlton on Waterport-Carlton Road.
Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul
Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced the launch of the State’s new Farm Employer Overtime Credit advance portal, which is now open for farmers to register and begin preparing the documents they will need to apply for reimbursement.
Later this year, eligible farm employers may apply to the Department of Agriculture and Markets for a certificate of advance payment of eligible overtime paid to their employees between Jan. 1 and July 31, 2024. As tax season opens, this opportunity is part of Governor Hochul’s plan to support New York’s farmers through a series of new and increased tax credits and other initiatives.
“Our farmers and farm workers are essential, and I want to do everything in my power to ensure that they can thrive in their work to bring fresh, local products to the tables of New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “The Farm Employer Overtime Credit is a big part of that, reducing the tax burden for our farm businesses while allowing them to continue supporting their hardworking staff. I encourage all eligible farmers to learn more about this program, get registered and talk to their tax preparer so they can be prepared to apply later this year.”
The Farm Employer Overtime Credit is a refundable tax credit available for eligible farm employers who pay overtime wages after January 1, 2024, based on the gradual phase-in of the overtime threshold in New York State. Farmers can apply for this refundable credit if they or their business:
are an eligible farmer; and
employ eligible farm employees that were paid eligible overtime.
Farm employers are encouraged to prepare to apply this year by taking the following steps:
Ensuring that they are registered for a NY.gov ID through My.NY.gov.
Taking the farm employer eligibility assessment to establish if they (the farm employer) expect to meet the eligible farmer income requirements for their tax filing type at the end of the tax year.
Discussing the program with their tax and payroll advisors to ensure they are keeping necessary records during the January 1 – July 31 period this year.
Registering their farm in the online portal now if they plan to apply for the advance payment in 2024. The application portal can be accessed by visiting taxcredit.agriculture.ny.gov.
Optionally, choosing to delegate authority to a representative (e.g., a tax preparer), who may complete and submit the application on the farm employer’s behalf later in the year.
After July 31, farm employers may upload supporting payroll documentation to the portal and submit to the Department of Agriculture and Markets AGM for a certificate of advance payment of eligible overtime paid between Jan. 1 and July 31. Applications must be submitted to AGM by Sept. 30.
After eligibility review, AGM will issue a certificate of advance 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 advance payment from the New York State Department of Tax and Finance (DTF). This request must be made no later than November 1, using the online services account at DTF’s website.
“Farm labor is a critical issue, and we at the State are working hard to ensure that farmers have the resources they need to support their workforce and while meeting their food production goals,” said State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball. “I encourage farmers to take a look at the resources we have available, learn more about the Farm Employer Overtime Credit program, and talk to their tax and payroll advisors to ensure they can take part in this great opportunity.”
Photos by Tom Rivers: Richard Ball, the state’s agriculture commissioner, spoke at the Legislative Luncheon on Friday for the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce. About 75 people attended the event at the White Birch Golf Course. Agriculture is a $155 million industry in Orleans County, according to the 2017 federal ag census.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 January 2024 at 12:10 pm
LYNDONVILLE – Richard Ball, the state’s agricultural commissioner, sees brighter days ahead for the New York’s farm economy, which totals nearly $6 billion in total revenue.
In Orleans County, the total farm receipts are $155 million annually. Those figures are according to the 2017 ag census. The census is done every five years and data from 2022 will be released on Feb. 13.
Ball said Gov. Kathy Hochul sees the agricultural sector as critical to the state’s economy. Hochul kept Ball as the ag commissioner after she took over on Aug. 24, 2021 following Andrew Cuomo’s resignation.
“Whenever she calls me or whenever I see her we talk ag,” said Ball, who spoke at Friday’s Legislative Luncheon organized by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce. “When she started, she told me she wanted me to stay and asked what do I need. We have a governor who gets agriculture.”
Ball, a farmer from Schoharie County, has been the state’s agricultural commissioner for nearly a decade.
He highlighted the governor’s executive budget, including these new investments for agriculture:
$34 million in capital grants for on-farm milk storage technologies and processing infrastructure to improve supply chain efficiency.
$21 million to a new Alternative Waste Management and Enhanced Precision Feed Program to further the mitigation of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions
$10 million to continue a multi-year investment in support of kitchen facilities that prepare meals for K-12 schools from New York State farm products.
$10 million to reinvigorate New York’s aquaculture industry through the Blue Food Transformation and to grow New York’s bioeconomy.
Ball said the agriculture economy also can play a role in helping the state meet its climate change and resiliency goals by sequestering carbon. The state Department of Agriculture and markets supports renewable energy projects, Ball said in response to a question at the luncheon, but those projects shouldn’t be at the expense of good farmland. The state is working on a plan to have solar projects be pushed to land that isn’t being farmed or isn’t considered good for growing crops, Ball said.
Richard Ball said agriculture remains a critical industry in the state, especially in rural communities like Orleans County.
Agriculture does face challenges, including a shortage of workers. He said Congress needs to overhaul the immigration system, which hasn’t been updated in about three decades. He isn’t optimistic Congress will pass meaningful legislation about the issue.
That leaves farmers to try to work with a federal guest-worker program that is cumbersome, costly and doesn’t fill the employment needs for farmers, Ball said told.
Ball said some farms are turning to technology and robotics to get some farm work done. The state is also stepping up workforce recruitment for local residents to learn skills and work in the ag industry, Ball said.
Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia, said the industry is particularly challenged in New York due to high taxes, high costs for equipment and escalating expenses for workers, especially now that an overtime threshold has dropped from 60 hours a week to 56 hours, part of a phase in to get agriculture’s OT standard down to 40 hours .
Ball said the state is working to strengthen the food supply chains, including a stronger relationship between upstate farmers and the big market of New York City.
He sees an industry that will remain strong in the long-term future.
“New York has good land and access to water, the best land-grant system and some of best farmers in the world,” he said. “I like our chances.”
During his presentation, Ball also commended Amy Machamer of Holley for serving on the state’s agriculture task force. She is the owner of Hurd Orchards.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 January 2024 at 9:28 pm
Provided photo: Jody Neal and his sons Zachary, left, and Jayden, formed Udder Ways LLC.
An Albion dairy farmer and his two sons finished second today in an agricultural innovation challenge at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Jody Neal and sons Jayden and Zachary have formed Udder Ways LLC, a startup business with their new system to sanitize and prepare udders for milking.
The Neals won a $20,000 prize for second place. In September, American Farm Bureau announced Udder Ways was one of 10 finalists for the ag innovation competition. On Saturday, they made it to the final four.
Jody Neal is a partner a Poverty Hill Farms in Albion, a dairy farm on East County House Road. His sons were active in the Orleans County 4-H Robotics program, where they learned programming and tech skills as part of a team that competed in the Rochester region.
The Neals worked on their udder cleaning system the past eight years. The device is used just before a cow is milked. Their invention uses a unique, brushless technology to gently stimulate cows and ensure clean and dry teats, the family states on their website.
“With our patented vortex-style application, you can achieve consistent stimulation and promote milk letdown effortlessly,” they said.
The $50,000 first prize went to Barn Owl Precision Agriculture from Colorado which utilizes small robots (micro-tractors) for planting crops, precision weeding and collecting soil samples.
Provided photos: Businesses and organizations in the Roy-Hart community are displaying posters and boots in a fundraiser for the Roy-Hart Agriculture Foundation.
Press Release, Roy-Hart Agriculture Foundation
MIDDLEPORT – At the National Agriculture in the Classroom conference, author Lisl H. Detlefsen shared her book, “Farm Boots” with educators from across the country. This joyful verse text that takes readers through the seasons and many types of boots that are needed to get all the jobs at the farm done.
The book is published by Feeding Minds Press – a project of the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture whose mission is to build awareness and understanding of agriculture through education.
“Farm Boots” especially touched the heart of Roy-Hart Elementary teacher Shelly Budziszewski because farm boots were always part of the back room decor at her grandparents farm.
“I was inspired with the idea to host a boot drive, much like the firefighters do, to collect donations for our Ag program at RH,” Budziszewski said.
The story was shared with the Green Team, Roy-Hart Elementary’s afterschool ag club, and members were asked to write about how they currently use their farm boots for work or play and how they will plan to use farm boots in future.
Green Team members’ boots are now on display at local businesses in Middleport, Gasport, Lockport, and Medina for the Roy-Hart Agriculture Foundation Farm Boot Drive. If you see a pair around town, please drop your spare change or a few dollars in to help the RHES Green Team and all PreK-12th grade Ag programs at Royalton-Hartland.
The boot drive concludes on Friday, January 19th, when RHAF will also be hosting a Movie Fundraiser showing “The Biggest Little Farm.” Farm-themed concessions open at 6 p.m. and the movie begins 6:30 p.m. at Roy-Hart High School. This event is open to all community members.
The boot drive locations include:
• Gasport – Chop’s Shop, Ports Pizza & Subs, Harland Abattoir, US Post Office, Stockham Lumber, Schwab’s Farm Market, Drum Oil & Propane, Olear’s and Hartland Town Hall.
• Middleport – Village Pizzeria, RH Community Library, US Post Office, Middleport Family Health Center, Darrell’s Place, T+S Crop Services, Alternative Grounds, Amy Hansen Training Center and Royalton Town Hall.
• Lockport – Ace Hardware, Scapelliti’s, Half Baked Cookies and Howell Motors Ford.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 December 2023 at 10:04 am
Weekly overtime drops from 60 to 56 hours, as part of phase-in reduction to 40 hours
Photo by Tom Rivers: Workers harvest cabbage on Route 98 in Gaines in August 2017.
The threshold for overtime will decrease for agricultural workers starting Jan. 1. The current limit is 60 hours a week at straight pay before workers can earn overtime. That will drop to 56 hours in the new year.
It is part of a phase-in reduction where the overtime threshold will be lowered by four hours every other year to 40 hours a week in 2032.
“Our agricultural industry is the backbone of New York, feeding people across the country, and farm workers are an essential piece in that process,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “Introducing a phased transition allows farmers the necessary time for adjustments while protecting the farm workers who are a huge part of putting food on New Yorkers tables. These regulations reinforce New York State’s ongoing dedication to its workers.”
The change has been fought by many in the agricultural community, who said it would increase farms’ operating costs in a state where New York already is at a competitive disadvantage with other states and countries. Farmers during previous hearings said the change may lead to smaller paychecks for workers because the ag businesses may need to rein in costs by avoiding overtime. (The state is offering some tax credits to farms to help offset the increase in wages.)
“Commissioner Reardon’s decision to lower the farm labor overtime threshold will make it even tougher to farm in this state and will be a financial blow to the workers we all support,” New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher said when the lower threshold was finalized. “Moving forward, farms will be forced to make difficult decisions on what they grow, the available hours they can provide to their employees, and their ability to compete in the marketplace.”
File photo: A bee pollinates a flower in an apple orchard in May 2020 in Knowlesville.
Governor Kathy Hochul has signed into law Legislation S.1856-A/A.7640, known as the Birds and Bees Protection Act.
This nation-leading legislation protects New Yorkers from potentially harmful toxins by prohibiting the use of certain neonicotinoid pesticide (neonics) treated corn, soybean, or wheat seeds and neonicotinoid pesticides for outdoor ornamental plants and turfs, creating important protections for New York’s pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.
“By signing the Birds and Bees Protection Act, New York is taking a significant stride in protecting our kids, environment and essential pollinators,” Governor Hochul stated on Dec. 22. “This law underscores our commitment to fostering a thriving ecosystem while we prioritize sustainable farming and agricultural practices.”
Legislation S.1856-A/A.7640 is a proactive measure to protect pollinators by restricting the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on certain seeds, outdoor ornamental plants, and turf. It allows sufficient time for innovative research on alternatives and the development of more cost-effective products that are less harmful to the environment. After this period, the use of neonicotinoids will be subject to science-based evaluations and waiver provisions to assist farm and agriculture operations in the transition to this new program.
New York is committed to promoting the health and recovery of pollinator populations, as highlighted in the State’s Pollinator Protection Plan (PDF). Pollinators contribute substantially to New York’s environment and economy. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pollinators provide approximately $344 million worth of pollination services to New York and add $29 billion in value to crop production nationally each year. The state’s ability to produce crops such as apples, grapes, cherries, onions, pumpkins, and cauliflower relies heavily on the presence of pollinators.
This new law will build on action the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has already taken to restrict the use of many neonics and work with registrants to narrow the uses of many of these products to protect pollinators or state resources.
Last year, DEC took action to limit the unrestricted use of pesticides that can harm bee and other pollinator populations by reclassifying certain products containing the neonicotinoid (neonic) insecticides imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and acetamiprid as “restricted use” to ensure applications are limited to trained pesticide applicators in specific situations.
Governor Hochul continues to prioritize agriculture and recognizes its critical importance to New York’s economy and role in protecting the environment. The state is proud to be home to over 33,000 farms producing some of the world’s best food and beverages.
New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher said, “New York Farm Bureau greatly appreciates Governor Hochul’s leadership in offering thoughtful chapter amendments on the “Birds and Bees Protection Act.” She sought input from all sides and reached consensus on a balanced approach that ensures farms will have safe risk management tools that they need to grow food for our state. New York Farm Bureau also is pleased about the continued role the Department of Environmental Conservation will have in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Markets to make science based regulatory decisions. The Governor once again demonstrated her willingness to find a reasonable pathway forward to support New York agriculture.”
New York Corn and Soybean Growers Association Vice President Brad Macauley said, “On a very complicated and consequential issue, Governor Hochul showed great leadership in protecting the agricultural industry while advancing environmental policy. Our association believes strongly in our role as stewards of the environment and following science backed policy. Governor Hochul struck the right balance for our industry and we look forward to continuing to work with the Administration on the implementation of the new law to properly protect both our environment and industry.”
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York Policy Manager Katie Baildon said, “By signing the Birds and Bees Protection Act Governor Hochul is protecting human and ecosystem health and supporting the viability of the thousands of NY farms that rely on native and honeybee populations to pollinate their crops each year. By restricting wasteful neonic use, NY is protecting not only pollinators but also insect predators that farmers count on for natural pest control and soil microbial life critical for capturing carbon and nutrient cycling. NOFA-NY is celebrating this important win that will significantly curb contamination of our environment, our bodies and the entire NY food system.”
Farmers could be forced to use older, more toxic pesticides to control pests
Press Release, New York Farm Bureau
ALBANY — Harvest season has wrapped in what has been a challenging year for New York’s farmers, including a wet growing season and increased pest and disease pressures.
Farmers need safe and effective risk management tools at their disposal to grow food needed to feed a growing population. This is why New York Farm Bureau is asking Gov. Hochul to veto the so-called “Birds and Bees Protection Act” (S1856-A/A7460) that would ban an entire class of pesticides and treated seeds known as neonicotinoids.
The bill is deeply concerning, especially because of the precedent it sets. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and its scientific expertise should maintain the authority to properly review and register risk management tools, something the legislature is attempting to strip away. This is the same justification cited by Gov. Hochul in her veto message earlier this month of S5957/A5949, that would have allowed local governments to ban the use of certain pesticides in freshwater wetlands.
Seeds treated with neonicotinoids were designed to be safer and reduce pesticide use. In many cases, it uses 99 percent less of a chemical versus traditional broadcast spraying. While New York Farm Bureau shares the same goal as supporters of the legislation, to always look for ways to reduce our environmental footprint, we believe the result of this ban will force farms to revert to spraying greater amounts of older, more toxic pesticides as well as increasing tillage to combat harmful pests. This would release more carbon from the soil and increase the likelihood of soil erosion, creating additional environmental and climate issues for the state, moving us backward.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 November 2023 at 9:31 am
GAINES – Lake Ontario Fruit is pushing for another expansion of the apple packing business on Route 104. The company is working on a 28,070-square-foot addition of controlled atmosphere storage, a $5.5 million project that would mirror a similar expansion in 2013.
The new space is needed because many of the new apple trees that were planted in recent years are coming into maturity, with a full crop expected next fall. Lake Ontario Fruit packs just over 1 million bushels of apples a year for more than 30 local farms.
The new addition would allow the company pack about 220,000 more bushels, said Robert Brown, president of Lake Ontario Fruit and co-owner of Orchard Dale Fruit Co. in Waterport.
Lake Ontario Fruit is pushing to have the new CA facility ready by Sept. 1. The company needs to have the site plan reviewed by the Orleans County Planning Board, with a final approval from the Town of Gaines Planning Board.
“We are growing a commodity that is a perishable crop,” Brown told the Planning Board.
He said the addition is an investment in the local fruit industry, which is seeing a new generation of growers taking the lead in their farms and also at the Lake Ontario Fruit facility.
Gaines planners met last week to review the site plan. Chris Watt, the Planning Board chairman, said LOF needs a final agreement from the state Department of Environmental Conservation on a stormwater management plan for the project. Watt doesn’t want to send the site plan to the county for review until there is an agreement from the DEC about the plan.
But Lake Ontario Fruit officials convinced the board to send a referral to the county, with the approval from the DEC expected soon and to be added to the application that will be sent to the county. The company asked the town to submit the application to the county so LOF could be on the county agenda for its December meeting.
Brown said the construction timeline is already about a month behind schedule.
“Every day counts,” he told the Gaines Planning Board last week.
He said supply-chain issues also are posing some challenges.
The Gaines board agreed to send the application to the County Planning Board for its review. Watt said the town will consider if there are any comments from the county in the town’s final review of the site plan. Watt said he is also hopeful the DEC will OK the stormwater management plan so the town can give its approval.
The Gaines Zoning Board of Appeals also is being asked to approve a 1-foot height variance for the building. It is proposed for 36 feet in height, just above the town threshold of 35 feet. A public hearing on that variance is scheduled for 705 p.m. on Dec. 12.
The Lake Ontario Fruit has 71 employees and will add 10 more jobs as part of the controlled atmosphere storage expansion. The project was backed by the Orleans Economic Development Agency with nearly $600,000 in incentives.
The EDA on Oct. 18 approved sale tax abatements of $240,000 on construction and $156,000 on fixtures and equipment.
The EDA also approved a 10-year PILOT that gradually phases in the taxes on the new addition. Lake Ontario Fruit would get a 100 percent exemption or $34,496 off in property taxes the first year, and then 10 percent will be added each year until it’s at 100 percent in year 11. That PILOT will save the company $189,729 in property taxes over the 10 years. Lake Ontario Fruit also will be paying $155,233 more in taxes during than 10 years than is currently paid on the existing building.
Press Release, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer
Photo from Schumer’s Office: Sen. Chuck Schumer speaks in June at Har-Go Dairy Farms in Pavilion.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today revealed that he has secured an extension for the vital Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program dairy farmers rely on, that was set to expire this year, and which could’ve left farmers facing a “dairy cliff,’ cutting off payments to farmers and harming consumers by raising the price of milk.
Schumer secured the extension of the Farm Bill in the Continuing Resolution budget deal which President Biden signed today.
“Our dairy farmers are the beating heart of Upstate, and when they came to me worried that this year we could be going over the ‘dairy cliff,’ I immediately started ringing the cowbell and promised I would churn up support to ensure these payments wouldn’t lapse,” Schumer said. “I helped enact the Dairy Margin Coverage Program in the 2018 Farm Bill, and I am proud to have secured this vital year-long extension while we work to develop a bipartisan Farm Bill in the next year.”
Schumer explained the “dairy cliff” refers to the expiration of the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, a risk management tool that offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed price (the margin) falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.
The dairy industry would be the first impacted, as dairy farmers would lose out on monthly payments through the DMC, whereas farmers participating in other support programs are paid just once per year around harvest time. If we went “over the dairy cliff” that would have meant an end to monthly price support payments to dairy farmers who participate in the Dairy Margin Coverage program, supply chain disruptions causing increased milk prices, and potentially billions in wasted government spending as the federal government would be forced to make milk purchases at a highly inflated price.
Schumer fought to include a one-year Farm Bill extension in the Continuing Resolution budget deal and ensure dairy farmers were protected from going over the cliff at the end of the year. The extension keeps the vital Dairy Margin Coverage Program intact for another year to protect NY’s critical dairy industry while also giving members of Congress extra time to continue to work through the negotiations for the full Farm Bill.
The dairy industry is one of New York’s largest contributor to the agricultural economy. According to the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Dairy statistics, there are approximately 3,200 dairy farms in New York that produce over 15 billion pounds of milk annually, making New York the nation’s fifth largest dairy state.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 20 October 2023 at 4:19 pm
Project expected to save Extension $4,000 a year
Photo by Katie Oakes: Officiating in a ribbon cutting Thursday afternoon to dedicate installation of solar panels on the Knights Building at Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds are, from left, Orleans County Legislator Bill Eick; Cooperative Extension board president Marlene Seielstad; Eileen Banker, representing Assemblyman Steve Hawley; Rich Marino of Horseheads, chair of the board of Everybody Solar; and Robert Batt, executive director of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension.
KNOWLESVILLE – There was no mistaking Robert Batt’s joy on Thursday as he checked his phone and learned the newly-installed solar panels on the roof of the Knights Building had generated more than enough power by noon to power a home for a day. The carbon offset to the environment is equal to planting one tree, Batt added. The panels were activated two days prior.
Batt presided at a ceremony at 1 p.m. Thursday to dedicate the solar panels, which included Rich Marino, chair of the board of Everybody Solar; Marlene Seielstad, chair of the board of Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension; Legislator Bill Eick; and Eileen Banker, representing Assemblyman Steve Hawley.
Batt said it has taken them nearly 30 years to get to the point of activating the solar project.
“In 1996, I was a youth representative on the fair committee and I heard leaders discussing solar energy,” Batt said. “One leader said roofs are a waste if they are not used to generate solar power. This has been a dream of ours for 30 years, but cost prohibited us from doing it.”
In 2020, while at a YMCA camp, Batt met a counselor who knew about Everybody Solar, a company that seeks out non-profits and solicits money from donors who are passionate about climate change.
Batt was immediately intrigued and contacted Everybody Solar. That set the wheels in motion, which culminated in the ceremony Thursday to dedicate installation of 77 solar panels on the roof of the Knights Building at Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.
“The power they generate will offset our electric bill for the entire fairgrounds,” Batt said.
Marino said the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds is the third major project for Everybody Solar in New York state. The other two are the Ithaca Science Center and YMCA in Penn Yan. He acknowledged substantial donations from the Rochester Community Foundation and $30,000 from Cargill, in addition to individual donors which made the project a reality at the fairgrounds.
He explained Everybody Solar has done solar installations from Maine to Florida and California for worthy organizations, including homeless shelters, Native American communities and in Glacier National Park.
“This is our first agriculturally-centered project,” Marino said. “We are proud to be part of this.”
Photos by Ginny Kropf: (Left) Robert Batt, director of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County, welcomes people to the fairgrounds Thursday to witness the dedication of solar panels on the roof of the Knights Building. (Right) Robert Batt is all smiles as he checks the app on his phone Thursday and discovers the newly-activated solar panels on the Knights Building have already generated 37.2 kilowatts of power as of 1 p.m. Thursday. It takes about 30 kilowatts to power a home for a day.
Seielstad addressed the crowd, commending those who worked on the project.
“This is a way we are bringing the past into the future,” she said.
She acknowledged two volunteers whose efforts were crucial in making the solar project a reality, Marty Zwifka, who chairs the fair committee, and Charlie Ricci, who chairs the property committee.
“The power saved by this project will enable us to invest in other projects that will better our fairgrounds,” Seielstad said.
Representing Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Banker presented Batt with a proclamation and thank him for his forward-thinking project.
County Legislator Bill Eick also commended Batt and the Cooperative Extension board, on which both he and Legislator Ed Morton sit.
“This will be a big asset to the fairgrounds,” Eick said.
Final speaker was Nate Bureau with Paradise Energy, the company which installed the panels.
He explained the inverter on the wall of the Knights Building, which converts power to AC and sends it into the grid, and answered questions about the life of solar panels and their ability to stand up to hail. He said when the panels produce more power than the fairgrounds can use, it kicks it into the grid. When the fairgrounds demands more power, it will pull it back off.”
“Projects like this are so important to us,” Bureau said. “We love it when we get the opportunity to work with companies like Everybody Solar to make good things happen. It is pretty cool.”
He explained solar panels are quite hardy and have a life span of 30 to 35 years, while the inverter may last between 10 and 15 years, perhaps even 20.
In a prior press release, Batt stated they are thrilled to be going solar and taking a leadership role in sustainability.
“We are excited to see the positive impact this project will have on our community and our mission to provide relevant, accessible and research-based information to grow confident youth and successful farms and gardens for a strong and healthy community,” he said.
The power generated annually by the solar panels will prevent 45,535 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere, Batt said. This is the equivalent to averting the greenhouse gas emissions of 2,324 gallons of consumed gasoline.
He explained each dollar saved helps cover operating expenses and provides resources to the organization’s various programs. For example, $1,000 in savings will allow OCCCE to invest in improvements to livestock housing and show supplies, and increase hands-on components in educational workshops. Overall, the system is anticipated to save OCCCE more than $4,000 in the first year alone.
Photos courtesy of Medina FFA: The Medina FFA will have an open house Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. where the public can meet the alpacas at the FFA farm and also purchase some alpaca products.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 September 2023 at 11:35 am
Five alpaca farms in Orleans and western Monroe counties will be open this weekend as part of National Alpaca Days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.
“We will have kids games, demonstrations, educational pieces, and, of course alpacas and alpaca products,” said Todd Eick, the Medina FFA advisor.
The Medina FFA is open of the five alpaca farms that is promoting the weekend open houses with four other local alpaca sites. The five farms include:
Stoney Meadows Alpacas at 16038 Glidden Rd., Holley
MayFields Equestrian and Alpaca Farm at 3263 Allens Bridge Rd., Albion
Medina Chapter of the FFA Model Farm, 2 Mustang Dr., Medina
SanGer-La Alpacas at 2845 Colby St., Brockport
Ladue Alpacas at 1186 Ladue Rd., Brockport
If people visit all five farms they can qualify to win an alpaca-themed raffle basket worth over $300.
This weekend alpaca business owners throughout North America will celebrate the 17th annual National Alpaca Farm Days.
Alpaca Owners Association urges the public to learn more about these inquisitive, unique animals, the luxury fiber they produce and why the alpaca business is perfect for environmentally conscious individuals.
Alpacas are primarily raised for their fleece in North America. Alpaca fleece has a variety of natural colors: pure white, several shades of fawn and brown, several shades of gray and true black.
Press Release, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer’s Office
Photo by Tom Rivers – This photo from October 2015 shows apples at an Albion orchard. Orleans County is one of the leading apple-growing counties in the state, behind only Wayne and Ulster counties.
Following their repeated calls earlier this year, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved the New York State Farm Service Agency’s request for a federal Agricultural Disaster Designation following this past May’s deep freeze that destroyed thousands of acres of crops for 31 counties across Upstate New York.
Schumer personally called USDA Secretary Vilsack to advocate on New York’s behalf, and working with Senator Gillibrand fought to deliver the disaster designation for NY. The senators said Upstate NY suffered major crop damage from the extreme cold weather this past May, destroying grapes, apples, strawberries, blueberries, and other crops vital to the Upstate NY economy, and that with harvest season just beginning, this relief will be critical to supporting impacted farmers on the long road to recovery.
The Secretarial disaster designation has officially been approved for 31 counties including Albany, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Columbia, Cortland, Dutchess, Greene, Jefferson, Onondaga, Ontario, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Washington, Wayne and Westchester and Yates.
The senators also said that an additional 24 counties across Upstate NY have been designated by the USDA as contiguous disaster counties including: Allegany, Fulton, Madison, Orange, Bronx, Genesee, Monroe, Rockland, Chenango, Hamilton, Montgomery, St. Lawrence, Delaware, Herkimer, Nassau, Sullivan, Erie, Lewis, Niagara, Warren, Essex, Livingston, Oneida, and Wyoming.
“From the vineyards of the Finger Lakes to the orchards of the Capital Region, family-owned farms are the backbone of Upstate New York’s agriculture economy,” Schumer said. “But this past May they suffered from one of the most devastating deep freezes in recent memory, destroying thousands of acres of crops.”
A Secretarial disaster designation makes farm operators in primary counties and counties contiguous eligible to be considered for critical low-interest FSA Emergency Loans. Impacted NY producers will be able to borrow up to 100 percent of the actual amount of production or physical losses to a maximum amount of $500,000.
According to the USDA, emergency loan funds may be used to: restore or replace essential property, pay all or part of production costs associated with the disaster year, pay essential family living expenses, or reorganize the farming. Farmers in eligible counties have 8 months from the date of a Secretarial disaster declaration to apply for emergency loans. Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers with further information.
“This past May’s deep freeze destroyed thousands upon thousands of acres of crops, threatening the livelihoods of farmers and their communities,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This designation unlocks emergency relief funds for farm operators in eligible counties and my message to farmers is this: apply for this relief quickly and my office is here to support you.”
The severe cold temperature and frost in May resulted in significant crop losses for several types of fruit, including grapes, apples, strawberries, peaches, pears, plums, blueberries, apricots, cherries, and caneberries across the state and flower and hay damage in certain areas. According to the National Weather Service, New York had multiple dates where the temperature dropped below freezing between May 14 and May 25, but the time period that caused the most widespread damage happened overnight from May 17 to May 18.
These freezing temperatures caused severe frost damage to multiple crops across the majority of the state. However, Schumer said that grapes and apples were hit especially hard, with vineyards across New York reporting losses ranging from 5 to 100 percent.
According to Empire State Development, New York State is the third-largest producer of grapes, grape juice and wine in the United States. In addition, the state is the second-largest producer of apples in the country. These crops make a significant contribution to the state’s agricultural economy and support many local businesses and jobs, employing close to 100,000 New Yorkers and producing $11.5 billion worth of economic impact annually.
Ag & Markets has quarantine on boxwood for Orleans, Niagara and Erie counties
Photos provided by NYS Department of Agriculture: Adult box tree moths generally have white bodies with a brown head and abdomen tip. Their wings are white and slightly iridescent, with an irregular thick brown border, spanning 1.6 to 1.8 inches, at Forest Pest Methods Laboratory, Buzzards Bay, MA.
Press Release, NYS Department of Agriculture
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets announced additional findings of the Box Tree Moth, an invasive pest.
The Box Tree Moth is a major threat to boxwood plants, which are a valuable portion of the nursery and horticultural industry. Previously, the Department had announced that Box Tree Moth was found in Niagara County, near the Canadian border.
The new finds, several of which were reported by area residents, have prompted the Department to increase its survey and trapping along Lake Ontario. The Department is now urging residents to report any additional sightings, which will help inspectors to assess impacted areas and reduce the spread of Box Tree Moth in New York State.
“The additional findings of the Box Tree Moth outside the current quarantine area are concerning to the Department,” said State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball. “We want to make sure we minimize the spread of this invasive pest, which can cause extensive damage to boxwood plants, and part of our proactive effort is seeking help from the public. We urge residents to help us combat this pest by looking for Box Tree Moth damage on their plants and reporting it to us right away.”
As part of the state’s response efforts, inspectors from the Department plan to visit residential properties along Lake Ontario in Cayuga, Oswego, and Jefferson counties, with the landowner’s permission, to place traps for Box Tree Moth. The Department is also urging homeowners to look for signs of Box Tree Moth infestation on their property, listed below.
Box tree moths overwinter as larvae. Once temperatures rise, overwintering larvae emerge and typically begin feeding in March, continuing until they pupate in late April to early May.
If Box Tree Moth is suspected, the Department is asking that residents report it. Click here for more information.
The Department also has a quarantine in place to manage the spread of Box Tree Moth, which includes Niagara, Erie, and Orleans counties. The quarantine prohibits the sale and movement of boxwood to areas outside of the quarantine area and requires companies selling boxwood to maintain sales records for inspection by the Department’s Horticultural Inspectors. The Department will revise the quarantine as necessary, depending on the outcome of its continued survey work.
In addition, the Department has been working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) on the management of Box Tree Moth, with USDA staff trapping for Box Tree Moth at the leading edge of the quarantine.
U.S. Department of Agriculture National Policy Manager Allen Proxmire said, “Residents can help prevent the box tree moth from spreading. Please allow state or federal agricultural officials to inspect your boxwoods and place an insect trap if they visit your property. If you have boxwoods, please inspect them for signs of box tree moth and once you report it, treat or trim the plant to save it because a box tree moth infestation is lethal to the plant.”
Pupation occurs on the host leaves in silk cocoons. If the boxwood host is defoliated, pupation may occur away from the host plant using leaves from the surrounding area. Pupae will typically first appear in April or May and will be present continuously through the summer and into the fall, depending on the local climate and timing of generations.
Property owners and managers looking for information on managing Box Tree Moth infestations can contact their local Cornell Cooperative Extension office or visit the NYS Integrated Pest Management website by clicking here.
Box Tree Moth larvae are easily recognizable; they are green and yellow with white, yellow, and black stripes and black spots. Signs of damage may not appear at the beginning of an infestation because young larvae hide among twigs and leaves.
Signs of a Box Tree Moth feeding on a plant include chewed, cut, or missing leaves, yellowing or brown leaves, white webbing, and green-black excrement on or around the plant. Larvae skeletonize the leaves and feed on the bark, causing defoliation and dryness, eventually leading to the plant’s death.
Adult Box Tree Moths generally have white bodies with a brown head and abdomen. Their wings are white and slightly iridescent, with an irregular thick brown border. Some adults have completely brown wings with a small white streak on each forewing. Males and females can show both colorations.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 July 2023 at 11:46 am
ALBION – The Orleans County Agricultural District will grow by nearly 1,200 more acres.
The county each year gives landowners an opportunity to join the ag district. This year, three different property owners asked to be included, representing 1,186 acres.
Darren Roberts, owner of a farm based in Kent, asked for 1,065 of those acres to be included. That land is in Carlton, Gaines and Kendall.
The Roberts land added to the district includes parcels in Carlton on Kent Road, Roosevelt Highway, Sawyer Road, Oak Orchard Road, Erway Sub Lane, Kenyonville Road and Transit Road. Roberts also asked for 105.5 acre son Ridge Road in Gaines and 91.2 acres on Carr Road in Kendall to be in the district.
Joseph Bringley also sought to have 82 acres on Telegraph Road in Murray included in the ag district and Gary Marciszewski asked for 39.3 acres on Lyndonville Road in Ridgeway to be added.
The County Legislature held a public hearing on Tuesday about the ag district additions. The Legislature voted to accept the changes, which were approved by the County Farmland Protection Board. The changes now go to the state Department of Agriculture and Markets for a final OK.
The county’s ag district now includes about 119,000 acres, which is 47.6 percent of the county’s total land area.
Next year will be the full review for the ag district where all 2,200 parcel owners in the district are notified by mail about staying in the district or removing land.
That is a very time-consuming and costly process for the county’s Department of Planning and Development, county legislators were told by Barry Flansburg, chairman of the County’s Farmland Protection Board.
The Farm Employer Overtime Credit is a refundable tax credit available for eligible farm employers who pay overtime wages after January 1, 2024, based on the gradual phase-in of the overtime threshold in New York State. Farmers can apply for this refundable credit if they or their business:
