Photo by Tom Rivers – This field on Brown Road in the Town of Gaines was saturated with water after a lot of rain last July 28, 2014.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Farm Bureau Federation and Congressman Chris Collins are among the many to react strongly against an announcement today by President Barack Obama for clean water regulations.

The president, despite opposition from Farm Bureau, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and many Republicans in Congress, announced he would use executive authority to impose a rule known as “Waters of the United States.”

The federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers jointly proposed the rule. Farm groups say the rule could result in higher new costs and burdens, forcing farmers to pay for environmental assessments and to obtain permits to till the soil near gullies, ditches or dry streambeds where water flows only when it rains, The New York Times reported.

A federal government will require a permit for any activity, such as farming or construction, that creates a discharge into a body of water covered under the Clean Water Act or affects the health of it, like filling in a wetland or blocking a stream, according to The New York Times.

Congressman Chris Collins (R-Clarence) issued the following statement after the Obama Administration finalized its Clean Water Act Waters of the United States Rule.

“The Obama Administration’s ruling today is a continuation of their regulatory assault on our nation’s farmers. The EPA’s overreach is causing real harm for local farmers and stalling business development. When I visit with local farmers, the heavy burdens under the Clean Water Act come up each and every time. When the bureaucrats at the EPA decide to call a divot in the ground that fills with rain a ‘navigable waterway’ under the CWA, we know our federal government has run amuck. I will continue to do all I can to fight this burdensome and business crushing ruling.”

Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, issued this statement today:

“We are undertaking a thorough analysis of the final WOTUS rule to determine whether the Environmental Protection Agency listened to the substantive comments farmers and ranchers submitted during the comment period. Based on EPA’s aggressive advocacy campaign in support of its original proposed rule – and the agency’s numerous misstatements about the content and impact of that proposal – we find little comfort in the agency’s assurances that our concerns have been addressed in any meaningful way.

“The process used to produce this rule was flawed. The EPA’s proposal transgressed clear legal boundaries set for it by Congress and the Courts and dealt more with regulating land use than protecting our nation’s valuable water resources. EPA’s decision to mount an aggressive advocacy campaign during the comment period has tainted what should have been an open and thoughtful deliberative process. While we know that farmers and ranchers were dedicated to calling for substantial changes to the rule, we have serious concerns about whether their comments were given full consideration.

“We expect to complete our review in the next few days. We are looking in particular at how the rule treats so-called ephemeral streams, ditches, small ponds and isolated wetlands. We will decide on an appropriate course of action once that review is complete.”

Provided photo – Kristina Gabalski, an Orleans Hub correspondent, completed the master gardener course in Orleans County. She is pictured with her flowering shrubs.

You might call me a “plant-a-holic” or maybe a “compulsive planter”, whichever the case, I’ve loved growing things since I was a kindergartener.

Up until a few months ago, gardening had always been a hobby for me. I love the seasonal process of clearing, digging, planting, watching something grow and harvest. I even love weeding.

Last fall I decided to finally get some formal training in horticulture and since my kids are Orleans County 4-Hers and I’ve really enjoyed Master Gardener programs I’ve attended in the past, I signed up for the 16-week Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Training Program. I knew I would enjoy helping and being a part of the activities and programs organized by Master Gardeners.

A group of more than 25 people started the program last October and those of us who made it all the way through – a few less than the beginning number – received our Certificates of Completion during the May 20 regular monthly meeting of the Orleans County Master Gardeners.

We celebrated with a pot luck dinner and cake before the business meeting took place and now Orleans County can boast of a register of 32 Master Gardeners – both experienced and new.

The training was rigorous and the size of the training manual itself a bit daunting, but the course was broken up with eight classes last fall and eight classes this spring. We covered a long list of topics – garden botany, soils and fertilizers, insects, plant diseases, diagnosing plant problems, woody plant materials, pruning, ecological lawn care, organic gardening, vegetable gardening, herbaceous perennial gardening, annuals and bedding plants, growing herbs, and nuisance wildlife management.

The training included open book mid-term and final exams. The most important part of training, however, was to provide us with the skills necessary to find information provided by Cornell University to help answer questions from residents and gardeners.

This spring we were also excited to welcome our new Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension horticulture educator, Katie Oakes. She taught several of the spring training classes and was particularly helpful in learning more about fruit production, a subject in which she has great expertise, as she is a member of the Oakes family, owners of Lynoaken Farms.

Master Gardener volunteers will now begin applying their knowledge and information gathering skills in a wide variety of ways. It is hoped that the Master Gardener hotline will be staffed soon, enabling residents with questions to call or come into the Extension office during mid-day hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Details will be determined in the near future.

Now that we are into the growing season, a number of special events are also planned by Master Gardeners. A Healthy Garden Walk is set for July 11 and features a walking garden tour of the Village of Medina.

Master Gardeners will have a strong presence at the 4-H Fair, July 27-Aug. 1, with a booth in the Lartz Building and the first ever Flower Show planned. The annual Plant Sale is set for Sept. 12 and the winner of the Master Gardener Makeover will be also be announced that day in the Lartz Building on the fairgrounds.

Tickets for the Makeover are available now for $10 each and can be purchased at the Extension office, 12690 Rt. 31, in Knowlesville. The winner will receive a beautiful new perennial garden installed by Orleans County Master Gardeners. The design will be created by Master Gardeners with the approval of the winner. The makeover sight can be a new planting or addition to an existing garden. The prize, including installation and plant material, is valued at $1,000.

Horticulture Educator Katie Oakes is also working with Master Gardener volunteers to develop summer children’s programming for local libraries and Master Gardeners will again be teaching local 6th graders about composting during Conservation Field Days May 26 and 27 at the fairgrounds.

New Master Gardeners are always welcome. If you would like to become involved, contact the Extension office at 585-798-4265 or click here.

Other graduates in the new class of Master Gardeners include: Catherine Adams, Erin Anheier, Denise Bedard, Paula Bensley, Jena Buckwell, Colin Butgereit, Cindy Confer, Janelle Flammger, Kristine Fredrick, Mari Hoffmeister, Deborah Hoy, Audry Liao, Barbara Linhart, Wayne Litchfield, Mary Mann, Amanda Mrzywka, Eileen Sorochty, Jennifer Tynan, and Mary Jane Woodworth.

Photo by Kristina Gabalski – Master Gardener volunteer Amanda Mrzywka is helping to organize the first-ever Flower Show at the 2015 Orleans County 4-H Fair.

KNOWLESVILLE – Something new and fun is planned for flower lovers at the annual Orleans County 4-H Fair in July.

For the first time, the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program and 4-H Youth Development are sponsoring a Flower Show, which will be held in the Lartz Building on the fairgrounds.

There are Open and Junior Divisions and everyone is welcome to enter.

The show will take place throughout the week of fair, from July 27 to Aug. 1. Judging of exhibits is set for Monday afternoon to kick off the fair. Following judging, the exhibits will be on display all week next to the Master Gardener booth.

“We are so excited to be having our first annual flower show here at Orleans County 4-H Fair,” said Master Gardener volunteer Amanda Mrzywka, who is helping to organize the event. “There is a class for everyone. We hope that this is a success and we are excited to see everyone’s creative flair. They can let their minds go wild. The more creative, the better.”

There are ten categories for entries: Cut flower bouquet (single or multiple stems); kissing ball design; miniature gardens or fairy gardens; dried flower or dried flower bouquets; edible container arrangement; foliage or flowering houseplants; made for the shade; bountiful baskets; pedestal or regular urns for sun; painting or drawing of a flower garden.

Plants must predominate – no artificial plant material is permitted in an exhibit. Exhibits must remain on the fairgrounds during the entire fair and exhibitors must keep entries in show condition.

“Plant material must be kept fresh and/or watered as needed. Unsightly or wilted plant material must be replaced,” general rules state.

Entries may be made individually, as groups/ organizations, or as businesses. Up to three entries may be submitted per individual per class. Groups or businesses may submit one entry per class. 4-H youth may elect to show as Open, but may not exceed three entries per class total.

Pre-registration is due 4:30 p.m. on July 20. Entries can be dropped off at the Lartz Building on Sunday, July 26, from 4 to 7 p.m. or on July 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

In addition to the Flower Show, a variety of programs will be held each evening (except Wednesday) at 6 p.m. by Master Gardeners and local gardening clubs.

On Wednesday evening, July 29, a Fresh Bouquet Competition is planned and open to the public beginning at 6 p.m. The entry fee is $10. Register the week of fair at the fair office.

More information including rules, entry cards and registration forms is available online by clicking here (then click on fair tab) or at the Cooperative Extension at the fairgrounds, 12690 State Rt. 31.

Move made to protect against avian flu

File photo by Tom Rivers – These turkeys were part of last year’s meat auction at the 4-H Fair in Knowlesville. The state has banned turkeys, ducks and other fowl from fairs this year.

KNOWLESVILLE – The annual 4-H Fair in late July will be missing some mainstays – turkeys, chickens, ducks, peacocks and other fowl.

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has banned the birds from all county fairs and the state fair this year. Richard Ball, state agriculture commissioner, issued the order on Tuesday, saying the state needs to be proactive in fighting the potential spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

“Avian influenza has not yet been detected in New York State, but it is a very serious threat to poultry and all breeds of fowl and is continuing to spread,” Ball said on Tuesday. “Despite the efforts of the best poultry health experts in North America, we do not fully understand the cause of the rapid spread of this virus. This commonsense step will help limit the spread of the influenza to other farms and chickens.”

Orleans County had 126 entries in fowl events in last year’s fair from 27 kids in the 4-H program. The news from the state is disappointing to the 4-H’ers, but the kids will still work to educate the public about poultry, said Cara Wachob, the poultry superintendent along with her husband Jim.

“It’s definitely a disappointment, but we want to do our part to stop the spread of avian flu in New York State,” she said.

Robert Batt, the 4-H educator in Orleans County, said kids in the poultry program may do photography displays of their chickens, turkeys and other fowl. They may also have other educational displays about the birds.

Batt said the ban is the first he’s experienced in a 4-H career going back about two decades. He understands the need to safeguard the poultry industry.

“It’s absolutely a safety thing,” he said.

Wachob said the local 4-H’ers will put some of the energy they would have used in preparing the birds for the fair into educational displays about the industry and poultry sicence.

The ban covers all breeds of fowl, including chickens, pigeons, turkeys, pheasants, guinea fowl, bantam poultry, geese, and ducks. Exhibitors who have already registered fowl for the 2015 New York State Fair will be contacted and will receive a refund of their entry fees.

“This is a disappointment to us as well as to fairgoers and our exhibitors, who look forward to this competition every year,” said Troy Waffner, acting fair director. “But we believe people understand that we are stewards of the animals in our care and I know they understand that we’re doing what’s best for everyone, and especially for the birds.”

The State Fair has already made plans to fill the space in the Poultry Barn normally used for displaying chickens with rabbits and cavies, and the daily rooster crowing contest will be replaced by a rabbit hopping demonstration on seven days.

While the current strains of avian influenza circulating in the Midwest are extraordinarily deadly to birds, experts stress that the H5N2 and H5N8 strains are not a threat to humans. Chicken and eggs are safe to eat, the Department of Ag and Markets advised.

Press Release, Governor Cuomo’s Office

ALBANY – Gov. Andrew Cuomo today announced new initiatives to streamline regulatory burdens currently placed on farmers in New York. The first-ever “Strategic Interagency Task Force on Lessening Obstacles to Agriculture” identified new opportunities for improving the regulations for pesticide registration and certification without compromising current environmental protections.

Additional regulatory changes for the benefit of New York agriculture as a result of the Task Force will be rolled out in the coming weeks.

“This administration remains committed to supporting farmers and cutting red tape to make it easier for agricultural businesses to grow and thrive in New York,” Cuomo said. “Through this task force, we are implementing commonsense solutions that will improve business for our farmers and maintain this state’s strong commitment to protecting the environment.”

The Task Force is comprised of leadership from state government and representatives from the agriculture industry. It met five times during 2014, working together to develop recommendations to streamline the regulatory process for the state’s robust agricultural economy to grow. During these meetings, farmers identified concerns on a variety of current regulations and posed them to the task force, which responded with the following solutions:

Easier Pesticide Registration Process

In response to feedback from farmers, the Department of Environmental Conservation improved its pesticide product registration processes by scheduling pre-application meetings with registrants, reducing potential delays. It has also improved notification of new pesticide registrations to applicators and distributors.

Faster Recertification Process for Pesticide Applicators

Farmers using pesticides are required to be certified as private pesticide applicators and take either continuing education courses or a recertification exam every five years to remain current. The DEC now tracks applicator certification status in a new database, which improves the renewal notice process. Later phases will allow farmers to view and update their own information online.

Simplify Categories for Pesticide Applicators

New York State has seven private pesticide certifications. To make it easier for farmers to diversify the commodities they grow, the DEC now allows an applicant to request to switch their category, in most cases, and will propose consolidating the categories to simplify certification requirements.

“Based on these recommendations, the Department of Environmental Conservation has identified actions that will reduce the regulatory burdens on farmers and help them use approved products without weakening environmental protections,” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said. “Farmers are excellent stewards of the environment and we will continue to work with the agriculture community to promote New York’s agricultural economy and natural resources.”

Jeff Williams, New York Farm Bureau’s Public Policy Director, said the Task Force was able to “look for common sense solutions.”

“Changes to the pesticide approval and certifications processes will create greater efficiencies while maintaining a high level of standards in this state,” Williams said. “New York Farm Bureau appreciates the leadership of Gov. Cuomo’s administration, including the efforts of the Departments of Environmental Conservation and Agriculture and Markets, and the work of the entire committee. We look forward to even more regulatory changes to support New York’s farmers.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

GAINES – An apple orchard on Route 98 in Gaines is full of apple blossoms in this photo taken at about noon today.

New York, the country’s second-leading apple state behind Washington, is out in bloom with white blossoms dotting the landscape in fruit country.

“Grab your cameras and take a drive this weekend,” Jim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association, said in a news release. “We’ve got more than 11 million trees across the state and they are putting on a gorgeous show right now.”

The state’s apple trees generally didn’t mind last winter’s cold temperatures and snow, Allen said. The apple trees actually need a certain number of “chilling hours” before they can develop next year’s buds, he said.

This year’s bloom is actually slightly ahead of the 2014 bloom, which was two weeks behind the perennial schedule. A late spring means less chance of crop-damaging frost such as New York saw statewide in 2012. Apple buds progress from dormant brown tips to green tips, to bright pink clusters as the buds start to open, to full white flowers.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Maggie Roberts is pictured with a hanging basket and other flowers in a greenhouse that opened last year at Roberts Farm Market on Maple Ridge Road.

MEDINA It was about 40 years ago when Joan and Ginny Roberts started a roadside stand on Maple Ridge Road. Like a lot of farm families, they wanted to sell some produce directly to consumers.

The family had success with the stand, so much that they started a farm market down the road. Roberts Farm Market has been growing steadily since then. Last year Roberts added a new greenhouse. Three years ago they remodeled the market and expanded its apple cider operation.

The family has also started an annual benefit for the Alzheimer’s Association. It sold hot dogs, chips and soda last weekend, with basket raffles that generated $1,500 for the Alzheimer’s Association. That topped the $1,380 raised in 2014 for the debut benefit.

Maggie Roberts and her husband Gary run the market and have pushed the recent renovations. Mr. Roberts makes the cider for the Roberts farm market and several other farms in the region.

Mrs. Roberts manages the growing garden center. They have four full-time and one part-time employee at the site, which is open from April 1 to Dec. 23, as well as on Tuesdays during the winter for the apple cider customers.

The new greenhouse, at 64 by 96 feet, has ventilation in both sides and vents in the roof peaks. It has an irrigation system that feeds the plants water and fertilizer.

“That has been marvelous,” said Mrs. Roberts. “Before it would take forever to water them by hand.”

The greenhouse also has a heater that is often turned on at night. The greenhouse, with all of its features, has kept the 500 hanging baskets and other flowers looking lush.

The market is next to a U-Pick orchard and those fruit trees were starting to bloom last week.

Mrs. Roberts said the family appreciates the community’s support, since the early days of the roadside stand to the more recent renovations and expansion.

Photos by Tom Rivers
GAINES – Jim Kirby checks the corn seeds in his planter this morning on Zig-Zag Road. Kirby and other local farmers are working long hours to get their crops planted.

After a dry April and early May, parts of New York, including Orleans County, are already in near-drought conditions. Nearly three-quarters of the state is considered “abnormally dry,” the condition just before a drought begins, according to The National Drought Mitigation Center.

Kirby operates the planter on a corn field on Zig-Zag Road, just west of Keitel Road.

Photos by Tom Rivers
The blossoms are starting to come out in local fruit orchards. These photos show blossoms on peach trees this afternoon at Watt Farms along East Bacon Road in Albion.

The peach trees tend to have pink blossoms. In a few days the apple blossoms should be out and those white blossoms will make for stunning drives in the countryside.

Chris Watt, owner of Watt Farms, said the blossom season can be an anxious time for fruit growers. When the blossoms are out, bees need to be busy pollinating so the fruit can grow, Watt said.

Photos by Tom Rivers
A tractor driver is pictured this afternoon with a planter at Roberts Farm in Shelby at the corner of Salt Works Road and Maple Ridge Road.

After a miserable last week, with so much rain and cold and wind, local farmers have been out in force the past few days with sunshine and temperatures in the 60s. Farmers have been plowing fields and planting seeds.

This photo shows a farmer with tillage equipment, getting a field ready for planting on West County House Road in Albion by Hu-Lane Farm.