Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023

9:30 am - 2:30 pm

Whallonsburg Grange (1610 Route 22, Essex, NY 12936)

 Cost: $30 per person

Join us for presentations, discussions, and hands-on demonstrations focusing on soil health concepts and best management practices for vegetable growers. Topics include tarping, maintaining soil health in high tunnels, cover cropping, reduced tillage, compost microbiology, and more.

 1.75 DEC pesticide recertification credits available in categories 1A, 10, and 23.

Register by Oct. 27

 For more information, contact Elisabeth Hodgdon (eh528@cornell.edu or 518-650-5323).

 Agenda:

 9:30 am: Welcome & introductions, coffee & refreshments

9:45 am: Soil health concepts and the effects of soil type, cropping system, and management on soil health (Joseph Amsili, Cornell Soil Health Initiative)

10:15 am: Explore the intricate world of the soil food web (John Culpepper and Jennifer Perry, Compost for Good)

 11 am: Tarping research updates (Crystal Stewart-Courtens, CCE Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program and Philia Farm)

11:30 am: Cover cropping in reduced tillage systems (Jean-Paul Courtens, Philia Farm)

12 pm: Grower panel and discussion: How we maintain soil health using tarps, reduced tillage, and other practices (Lissa Goldstein, Wild Work Farm; Adam Reed, Tangleroot Farm; TBD)

12:30 Lunch

1 pm: Maintaining soil health in high tunnels (Jud Reid, CCE Cornell Vegetable Program and Harvest NY)

1:45 pm: Tying together soil health and climate change resiliency (Kitty O'Neil, CCE North Country Regional Ag Team)

2:15 pm: Overview of services offered by the Essex County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Lake Champlain Basin Program

2:30 pm: End program

This workshop is sponsored in part by the Northern NY Agricultural Development Program and the New York Farm Viability Institute