agriculture

Albion family’s innovation for milking cows named finalist in Grow-NY competition

Provided photo: Jody Neal and his sons Zachary, left, and Jayden, formed Udder Ways LLC and are finalists in a $3 million Grow-NY competition.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 August 2024 at 10:39 pm

ALBION – An invention by an Albion dairy farmer and his two sons is among 20 finalists in food and agriculture startups from around the world.

UdderWays LLC in Albion is competing with 19 others to win a combined total of $3 million in prize money in Grow-NY, a business competition focused on enhancing the emerging food, beverage and agriculture innovation cluster in upstate New York.

There were 312 startups that applied from 26 states, and 50 countries. There were 89 entries from New York.

Jody Neal and his sons Zachary and Jayden have formed UdderWays. They finished second in January in an agricultural innovation challenge at the American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Neals developed a new system to sanitize and prepare udders for milking. The Neals have already won a $20,000 prize for second place in the American Farm Bureau competition.

Jody Neal is a partner a Poverty Hill Farms in Albion, a dairy farm on West 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 for nearly a decade. 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.

Empire State Development and Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement announced the 20 finalists year six of Grow-NY. Winning companies will be required to make a positive economic impact in the Grow-NY region, which comprises 22 counties located in Central NY, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier regions.

A Genesee County-based company also is among the finalists. Zordi in Oakfield builds autonomous greenhouses with robots and AI to make high-quality produce.

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball, said, “From farming to food production, New York is an innovative, world-class leader in agriculture. Year after year, the Grow-NY competition is instrumental to bringing new, high-growth businesses in the industry focused on critical areas to our state. This event has once again brought to light just how critical agriculture is to our communities and to our economy, and I congratulate these finalists on their innovation that will help bolster our food systems, feed our communities, and move our state forward.”

A panel of 30 judges with knowledge of the region’s agriculture and food production communities, and entrepreneurial experience, reviewed all the applications to determine the top 20 finalists that will pitch their business plans at the Grow-NY Food and Ag Summit in Ithaca in November.

Grow-NY will award a total of $3 million in prize money to seven winners. This includes a $1 million top prize, two $500,000 awards, and four $250,000 prizes.

To see the other finalists for Grow-NY, click here.

Hail took big bite out of Orleans County apple crop

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 August 2024 at 11:06 am

‘In some spots this is the worst damage I’ve ever seen’

Photos by Tom Rivers: These Honeycrisp apples grown by Jim and Adam Kirby were badly by hail last Sunday. The Kirbys lost about 100 of their 170 acres of apples from the hail. The apples have numerous bruises and cuts from the hail.

GAINES – It’s a word fruit farmers fear: hail.

Those fast-moving pellets from the sky can turn a crop, that has been months in making, into a largely worthless field of ruin.

Last Sunday hail hit in the afternoon and it left a swath of destruction for farmers, especially those near Route 104.

Jim Kirby and his son Adam grow 170 acres of apples, as well as other vegetable and grain crops. About 100 acres of their apples were pummeled by the hail, including their most valuable apples, the Honeycrisp. They were going to start picking some of those apples this week.

Instead they were reaching out to their insurance agent, and trying to calculate the losses.

“This is a heart-breaker for me,” Jim Kirby said looking at a block of apples along Lattin Road. “This is a bumper crop of Honeycrisp. But it five minutes it’s all over.”

Jim Kirby has been growing apples for 50 years and said the hail storm is one of the most devastating in his career. He is shown with Honeycrisp apples, the top variety, in an orchard on Lattin Road.

Kirby and a crew of 12 workers spent the previous three weeks hand-thinning Honeycrisp apples, removing some so the others would max out on size and color.

But the storm left apples with many bruises and cuts. Sometimes hail will leave one or two bruises on an apple. This time the apples have 20 or more bruises, showing they were hammered by the hail. They can’t be sold on the fresh market for top dollar. They could go for juice, but that market will now be saturated and it may not pay to have workers pick those apples and then haul them for processing, Kirby said.

The storm was especially brutal for many apple farms in Orleans County, but also damaged corn, soybeans and vegetables, said Larry Meyer, the Farm Service Agency director in Orleans County.

He has been working for the FSA for 41 years. The Sunday hail storm cut a wide path of damage, but also missed some fields and orchards as it moved from Niagara, through Orleans and further east.

“In some spots this is the worst damage I’ve ever seen,” he said. “There is a lot of loss in the county. The people who got hit got hit real bad.”

These apples were almost ready to be picked but now likely will be left on the tree and later left on the ground unless the low-price juice market makes it worthwhile to pick them.

Meyer expects a federal disaster declaration will be issued which will allow for emergency low-interest loans for farmers without crop insurance.

Many of the farms now have private insurance, which can cover up to 65 percent of the crop’s value. Meyer said the apple market has very tight profit margins this year. The crop insurance will help the farmers, but still leaves them in a difficult position, especially when they were so close to harvest.

Meyer said farmers are in a better position to recover from the losses, compared to previous years. He recalled the Labor Day wind storm of 1998 that decimated the local apple crop. At the time the federal government to assist apple farms with disaster aid and there wasn’t private insurance to help cover the loss of an apple crop.

About a quarter of the apple farms went out of business in Orleans County after that storm.

But this time most of the farms have their own crop insurance, and the federal government can provide some disaster aid for the others.

The FSA is working to try to determine the extent of the damage.

“This was a long storm,” he said. “It had a lot of energy and it kept going.”

Apples and other fruit totaled $59.0 million in revenue for Orleans County farmers in 2022, according to the U.S. Agricultural Census. Orleans County’s total ag revenue is $233.6 million.

Ag district review could add 7,600 acres, remove nearly 6,000

Photo by Tom Rivers: A corn field is pictured on Telegraph Road in Ridgeway in October 2022.

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 August 2024 at 9:39 am

ALBION – Orleans County is doing a once-every-8-year review of the county-wide agricultural district and about 7,600 additional acres will be added with nearly 6,000 to be taken out.

That is how it stands now, but the numbers could change before an Aug. 16 deadline, said Corey Winters, planner with the Orleans County Department of Planning.

The agricultural district covers about 118,000 acres or approximately 48% of the land mass of the county. The county every year gives property owners a chance to be included in the district, but parcels can only be removed every eight years. This year is that chance to pull out property.

Undeveloped land that is in the district is not allowed to hook into waterlines for non-agricultural use because of the potential adverse effects on agriculture, Winters said. Existing homes, residences, and farms within an agricultural district are not prohibited from connecting to new water lines.

Winters said some of the land being removed from the district is owned by older property owners who want to give their relatives the option to connect to waterlines in the near future.

The County Agricultural Farmland Protection Board and Department of Planning are leading the review. Winters and Barry Flansburg, chairman of the Farmland Protection Board, went over the data during a public hearing on Tuesday with the County Legislature.

The review right now would add about 1,600 acres to the district.

“We’re thrilled we’re not losing agricultural acreage,” Flansburg said.

The county tried three times to get a response from 139 parcel owners, representing 3,150.9 acres. That land will be removed from the ag district unless there is an affirmative response by an Aug. 16 deadline.

Parcels that did not respond: 139 parcels – 3,150.9 acres

  • Town of Albion: 6 parcels – 166.6 acres
  • Town of Barre: 19 parcels – 579.8 acres
  • Town of Carlton: 18 parcels – 451.6 acres
  • Town of Clarendon: 11 parcels – 632.6 acres
  • Town of Gaines: 5 parcels – 13.8 acres
  • Town of Kendall: 17 parcels – 276.9 acres
  • Town of Murray: 8 parcels – 98.9 acres
  • Town of Ridgeway: 32 parcels – 522.9 acres
  • Town of Shelby: 11 parcels – 201.7 acres
  • Town of Yates: 12 parcels – 205.9 acres

Parcels to be excluded from district: 88 parcels – 2,804.8 acres

  • Town of Albion: 6 parcels – 166.6 acres
  • Town of Barre: 8 parcels – 321.4 acres
  • Town of Carlton: 6 parcels – 149.5 acres
  • Town of Clarendon: 34 parcels – 975.2 acres
  • Town of Gaines: 2 parcels – 90.4 acres
  • Town of Kendall: 8 parcels – 257.4 acres
  • Town of Murray: 3 parcels – 93.1 acres
  • Town of Ridgeway: 13 parcels – 597.2 acres
  • Town of Shelby: 10 parcels – 259.4 acres
  • Town of Yates: 2 parcels – 1.6 acres
  • Village of Lyndonville: 1 parcel – 57.8 acres

Parcels to be added: 166 parcels – 7,656.9 acres

  • Town of Albion: 15 parcels – 809.4 acres
  • Town of Barre: 18 parcels – 776.8 acres
  • Town of Carlton: 27 parcels – 1,951.5 acres
  • Town of Clarendon: 8 parcels – 353.9 acres
  • Town of Gaines: 20 parcels – 830.5 acres
  • Town of Kendall: 12 parcels – 214.1 acres
  • Town of Murray: 21 parcels – 1,253.6 acres
  • Town of Ridgeway: 8 parcels – 77.4 acres
  • Town of Shelby: 14 parcels – 709.6 acres
  • Town of Yates: 13 parcels – 616.6 acres
  • Village of Lyndonville: 6 parcels – 63.5 acres

‘Bicentennial Ox’ starred at Orleans County 4-H Fair

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 July 2024 at 9:56 pm

More oxen statues could be added to landscape in 2025

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – An ox in the Trolley Building emerged as one of the stars of the Orleans County 4-H Fair last week. Stacey Kirby Steward, an Albion native, spent several days at the fair painting the all-white fiberglass ox into a realistic creature.

Steward gave one side of the ox an agricultural theme and is working on the other side with fair scenes.

The ox is expected to stay on the fairgrounds, perhaps by the sign along Route 31 or by the giant pie tin for the World’s Largest Apple Pie in 1977. The ox may also be featured in lighted parades later this year, including Medina’s Parade of Lights and other Christmas parades in Albion, Barre and Clarendon.

The agricultural side shows a farmer and a team of oxen plowing a field. Kirby also painted apples and corn.

She enjoyed the feedback from the public, with many people exclaiming when they walked into the Trolley Building and saw a giant ox statue being painted.

“People have had a very positive response,” Steward said on Friday.

Steward has been a featured artist before at the fair, including back in high school when she did face painting. She also painted two murals with a cow theme on the Farm Bureau’s both, where milkshake and ice cream is served during fair week.

Steward said painting a fiberglass statue presented a new challenge, and often was time-consuming. But she thinks the statue showed it provides a nice canvas to paint scenes celebrating parts of Orleans County.

The statue was transformed during the week. It started off all-white.

The painting of the ox also was intended to gauge public interest in whether several oxen statues could be painted as part of a bicentennial tribute in 2025 when Orleans County celebrates its 200th anniversary.

Other communities have painted animal statues for civic pride, including horses in Rochester, buffalo in Buffalo, and squirrels in Olean. Saratoga Springs painted 5-foot-tall fiberglass statues of pointe shoes to celebrate dance. Saratoga is home to the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame.

The ox statue was made in Texas and shipped to the Fairgrounds last month by FedEx. The Orleans County Bicentennial Committee will see if there are enough sponsors to have more oxen painted around the county for the bicentennial next year.

Orleans County officially formed on April 15, 1825. The State Legislature recognized Orleans County that day, allowing it to splinter from Genesee County.

Oxen were critical in helping pioneers tame the wild land two centuries ago. The oxen pulled wagons across rough terrain and helped clear trees for the early Orleans residents. The animals also were put to work in building the Erie Canal.

The ox may be incorporated into the theme and logo for the county’s bicentennial.

State opens applications for overtime tax credit application for farm employers

Posted 19 July 2024 at 5:16 pm

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that eligible farm employers may now apply to the Department of Agriculture and Markets for a certificate of advance payment so they can receive reimbursement from the Department of Taxation and Finance for eligible overtime paid to their employees since January 1, 2024.

(Editor’s Note: The threshold for overtime decreased for agricultural workers starting Jan. 1. The limit was 60 hours a week at straight pay before workers could earn overtime. That dropped to 56 hours this 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.)

This Farm Employer Overtime Credit 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.

“Supporting New York’s farmers and farmworkers, who are essential to keeping New York State running, is a key priority for my administration – and our new Farm Employer Overtime Credit is one of many great initiatives that aim to help alleviate the challenge of rising costs,” Governor Hochul said. “I encourage all eligible farm businesses to learn more about this program and apply for reimbursement so that we can reduce their tax burden while helping them to continue supporting their hardworking staff.”

The Farm Employer Overtime Credit is a refundable tax credit available for eligible farm employers who paid overtime wages after January 1, 2024, based on the gradual phase-in of the overtime threshold in New York State.

As of now, farm employers who have registered in the new online portal at taxcredit.agriculture.ny.gov may enter eligible employee overtime information and submit their application to the Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) for a certificate of advance payment of eligible overtime paid between Jan. 1 to the date of their application.

Farmers may also wait until August to apply for reimbursement for the entire Jan. 1 through July 31 period, or they may choose to wait until they file their tax return to receive the credit. Between the advance payment and months claimed on their return, eligible farm employers will receive a full 12 months of the Farm Employer Overtime Credit.

A user guide to assist farmers in the application process is available at agriculture.ny.gov/user-guide-farm-employer-overtime-credit-advance.

Applications for a certificate of advance payment must be submitted to AGM by September 30. After eligibility review, AGM will issue a certificate to each approved farm employer. With a certificate of advance payment, the approved farm employer’s owner(s), partners or shareholders can then request their share of the advance payment from Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF).

Each of the farm’s owners, partners or shareholders who wants to receive their portion of the credit advance must apply individually. This request must be made no later than Nov. 1, using the online services account at DTF’s website.

Farmers may apply for this refundable credit if they (or their business): are an eligible farmer (click here); and employ eligible farm employees that were paid eligible overtime.

Earlier this year, the State encouraged farmers to prepare to apply by taking the following steps (click here):

  • 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 kept necessary records during the January 1 – July 31 period this year.
  • Registering their farm in the online portal at 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.

Additional information and resources are available on the AGM’s website at agriculture.ny.gov/OTadvance and the DTF website at tax.ny.gov/pit/credits/farm-employer-overtime-credit.htm. Questions may be directed to farmOTadvance@agriculture.ny.gov or (518) 457-7076.