This all day event provides 2 near-identical programs available on the West and East sides of Rochester on consecutive days.  We are featuring an intensive Precision Honeycrisp management school in addition to updates on Labor, Fruit Farm Business Summary, as well as pests and diseases, including European Cherry Fruit Fly.

Join Cornell Cooperative Extension to learn what precision agriculture entails, the economics of using precision ag, and the preferred methodology and benefits. This free, 3-day event series is being organized by CCE Niagara County with assistance from Dr. Ali Nafchi, Precision Ag Specialist of the CCE Cornell Vegetable Program and CCE NWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops team. Topics for each day will be determined by the audience interests and questions.

Join us for a day-long program featuring grower presentations, small group discussions and demonstrations, and extension presentations focused on a number of production topics.  These will include fertility management, injection systems, grafting, variety selection, pruning, trellising systems, pest and disease management, and more!

This all day event provides 2 near-identical programs available on the West and East sides of Rochester on consecutive days.  We are featuring an intensive Precision Honeycrisp school in addition to updates on Labor, Fruit Farm Business Summary, as well as pests and diseases, including European Cherry Fruit Fly.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. Join Cornell Cooperative Extension to learn what precision agriculture entails, the economics of using precision ag, and the preferred methodology and benefits. This free, 3-day event series is being organized by CCE Steuben County with assistance from Dr. Ali Nafchi, Precision Ag Specialist of the CCE Cornell Vegetable Program and CCE NWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops team. Topics for each day will be determined by the audience interests and questions.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. Join Cornell Cooperative Extension to learn what precision agriculture entails, the economics of using precision ag, and the preferred methodology and benefits. This free, 3-day event series is being organized by CCE Seneca County with assistance from Dr. Ali Nafchi, Precision Ag Specialist of the CCE Cornell Vegetable Program and CCE NWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops team. Topics for each day will be determined by the audience interests and questions.

Growing strawberries in substrate (soil-less media) can help prevent soil-borne diseases. It can also increase yields, improve quality, and reduce the costs associated with pesticides, fertilizer, and water.

Join us for a day-long program featuring grower presentations, small group discussions and demonstrations, and extension presentations focused on a number of production topics.  These will include fertility management, injection systems, grafting, variety selection, pruning, trellising systems, pest and disease management, and more.

A bit of something for everyone! This meeting will feature experts from Cornell Cooperative Extension discussing food safety in auction lots and quality control, how to successfully lengthen the growing season, making the most of a small grain rotational crop, and common disease and pest info. Summer squash, cabbage and pepper production tips will be presented by Mark Zittel, an experienced produce and greenhouse grower for 20+ years. Participants will have the opportunity to join group discussion in breakout sessions of their choosing. And don't forget to stop by the Demo Table to see weeds and soil health exhibits. FREE but registration is requested by February 12.

Pollinator habitats are in the news, but how exactly do you create one? 

We cover some installation methods that we have tried and discuss benefits and costs. 

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. Join Cornell Cooperative Extension to learn what precision agriculture entails, the economics of using precision ag, and the preferred methodology and benefits. This free, 3-day event series is being organized by CCE Erie County with assistance from Dr. Ali Nafchi, Precision Ag Specialist of the CCE Cornell Vegetable Program and CCE NWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops team. Topics for each day will be determined by the audience interests and questions.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. Join Cornell Cooperative Extension to learn what precision agriculture entails, the economics of using precision ag, and the preferred methodology and benefits. This free, 3-day event series is being organized by CCE Genesee County with assistance from Dr. Ali Nafchi, Precision Ag Specialist of the CCE Cornell Vegetable Program and CCE NWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops team. Topics for each day will be determined by the audience interests and questions.

At this meeting co-hosted by Timac Agro USA and Cornell Cooperative Extension, representatives from IVA Sprayers, BASF, Timac Agro USA, and Gowan will share information about their product offerings and how to use them on specialty crops. Dr. Chris Smart from Cornell will discuss sanitation and prevention techniques for greenhouse and transplant handling to minimize bacterial diseases in peppers and tomatoes. Dr. Lynn Sosnokie, Weed Scientist for Cornell, will lead a focus group to identify grower research priorities. Additionally, Sosnoskie will provide insights on how to recognize herbicide resistance and adjust weed management strategies appropriately. FREE! DEC credits will be available.

February 20 - Basics of Mushroom Production - Steve Gabriel, Specialty Mushrooms and Agroforestry Specialist, Cornell Small Farms.  Mushrooms are an emerging niche crop with many benefits, including improving farmer stewardship of forested lands and the ability to offer a unique and highly desired product. Steve will introduce students to mushrooms that can be easily grown in the woods. 

A grower training course developed by the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) that meets the regulatory requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule.  At least one person per farm producing more than $25,000 worth of fruits and vegetables must attend this course once.  Participants will receive a certificate of course completion by the Association of Food and Drug Officials.

Join us for two days filled with informative sessions on Tree Fruit, Vegetables, Small Fruit, Grapes, Hemp, and more!

Join us for two days filled with informative sessions on Tree Fruit, Vegetables, Small Fruit, Grapes, Hemp, and more!

Join us for two days filled with informative sessions on Tree Fruit, Vegetables, Small Fruit, Grapes, Hemp, and more!

Join us for a morning of hands-on pruning discussion and demonstration with Dr. Terence Robinson.  Terence will walk us through the key steps of pruning the tall spindle orchard, and will also review pruning techniques for other orchard systems commonly grown across the Capital Region. Please note this meeting will be held the morning following our annual winter conference in Albany.

February 27 - Cracking Into NYS Nut Production - Sam Bosco, PhD candidate, School of Integrated Plant Science, Cornell.  

Interested in learning about a valuable, highly nutritious food crop that grows well on marginal land and helps combat climate change? Go nuts! Temperate nuts are an emerging crop with a powerful potential for the future of sustainable NYS agriculture. Get introduced to the basics of growing nuts and receive an overview of the nut-work of people planting the seeds of a new industry. 

2-day, hands-on workshop to explore best practices in supervising farm employees in Millbrook, NY

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. Join Cornell Cooperative Extension to learn what precision agriculture entails, the economics of using precision ag, and the preferred methodology and benefits. This free, 3-day event series is being organized by CCE Seneca County with assistance from Dr. Ali Nafchi, Precision Ag Specialist of the CCE Cornell Vegetable Program and CCE NWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops team. Topics for each day will be determined by the audience interests and questions.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. Join Cornell Cooperative Extension to learn what precision agriculture entails, the economics of using precision ag, and the preferred methodology and benefits. This free, 3-day event series is being organized by CCE Erie County with assistance from Dr. Ali Nafchi, Precision Ag Specialist of the CCE Cornell Vegetable Program and CCE NWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops team. Topics for each day will be determined by the audience interests and questions.

March 5 - Adding Poultry to Your Small Farm - Jason Detzel, CCE Ulster Co. and Ashley Pierce, CCE CAAHP.  Jason and Ashley lead livestock and poultry educational programs in the Capital District and Hudson Valley regions of the state.  Poultry production is relatively low-investment with a quick turnaround time but farmers need specific skills to produce a product that is safe and profitable. This course will provide basic information to build a successful poultry enterprise.

Join Cornell Cooperative Extension to learn what precision agriculture entails, the economics of using precision ag, and the preferred methodology and benefits. This free, 3-day event series is being organized by CCE Niagara County with assistance from Dr. Ali Nafchi, Precision Ag Specialist of the CCE Cornell Vegetable Program and CCE NWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops team. Topics for each day will be determined by the audience interests and questions.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. Join Cornell Cooperative Extension to learn what precision agriculture entails, the economics of using precision ag, and the preferred methodology and benefits. This free, 3-day event series is being organized by CCE Genesee County with assistance from Dr. Ali Nafchi, Precision Ag Specialist of the CCE Cornell Vegetable Program and CCE NWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops team. Topics for each day will be determined by the audience interests and questions.

Join experts from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell University, and the University of Georgia for a day full of updates on best practices for muck onion production in New York. Researchers will share the results from trials studying herbicide efficacy, pink root management in transplanted onions, Stemphylium leaf blight fungicide programs, timing of copper applications for reducing bacterial bulb rots, adjuvant selection and use, and more! 

Join us for research and production updates on dry bean varieties and bean breeding, weed management, Western bean cutworm, and white mold disease. A market analysis will be provided as well. We will review research priorities and gather suggestions for future educational programs. 1.25 DEC recertification credits (categories 10, 1a, 21, and 23) will be available.

The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) is pleased to provide an Agricultural Respirator Fit Testing Clinic for NYS DEC Region 3 which services the following counties: Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester. Clinic appointments will be held March 11 to 12, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County (CCEUC), 232 Plaza Road (Hannaford Plaza) in Kingston. 

Appointments are 1-hour long and are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, only during the date range below. Groups of 8 workers can be seen at a time. Medical evaluations, fit tests, and trainings are available in both English and Spanish.

March 12 - Basics of Tree Fruit Production - Mike Basedow, CCE ENYCHP. Planting and managing apples, pears, and stone fruit is a rewarding hobby and business, but it's not as simple as planting and picking. There's a lot that goes into successful orcharding! Mike will provide some of the bare essentials to help you determine if growing tree fruit is right for you. 

Join us the morning of March 16 via webinar to review current best management practices for some of our most challenging insect, disease, and weed pests of New York stone fruit orchards.  Speakers include Dr. Art Agnello, Dr. Kerik Cox, and Dr. Lynn Sosnoskie.

Join us the morning of March 16 via webinar to review current best management practices for some of our most challenging insect, disease, and weed pests of New York stone fruit orchards.  Speakers include Dr. Art Agnello, Dr. Kerik Cox, and Dr. Lynn Sosnoskie.

CANCELLED - this class will be available online at a later date, check back for updates - 2-day, hands-on workshop to explore best practices in supervising farm employees at CCE Orleans County in Albion, NY

"Thus meeting has been CANCELLED due to low regsitration numbers- to be rescheduled at a later date.

CANCELLED - Specific test areas of concern can be discussed via phone click event for more details

This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.

*This event is postponed until further notice.*

Have farm employees that need recertification credits? At this meeting, we will cover the basics of integrated pest management, including how to monitor traps, evaluate insect thresholds, and use prediction models to better manage common orchard pests of Northern New York.   In the second portion of the meeting we will discuss as a group IPM tactics for managing apple scab, phytophthora root and crown rot, plum curculio, tarnished plant bug, and some common weeds in the orchard.  We will also review sprayer safety.  

We will be offering 2 DEC recertification credits in categories 1a, 10, and 22.  

This one-day educational program is co-sponsored by UConn Extension, USDA Risk Management Agency and the CT Agricultural Experiment Station.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from UConn Extension and a cooperative effort of UConn Extension and the USDA Risk Management Agency.

Five pesticide recertification credits have been approved for this event for attendees from all New England States. 

CCE prioritizes the health, safety and well-being of the communities we serve. Given the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, and due to an abundance of caution, our Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Workshop that was to be  held on March 19 at CCE-Wayne in Newark has been cancelled.  We hope to have the course in June, you'll be notified when we reschedule.

March 19 - Food Safety for Small Farms - Elisabeth Hodgdon, CCE ENYCHP. Elisabeth is a regional vegetable specialist and farm food safety lead for the ENYCHP. She is actively involved in high tunnel research, invasive pest management, and pesticide and food safety education. In the final segment of our series, Elisabeth will guide the audience through a thoughtful approach to designing diversified farming systems with food safety in mind.   

The point of a pollinator habitat is to attract pollinators and other beneficial insects. 

We look at the insects we found in our plots and discuss whether they are 'good' or 'bad' and what benefits this may have for your environment.

Join us for a morning of hands-on pruning discussion and demonstration with Dr. Terence Robinson.  Terence will walk us through the key steps of pruning the tall spindle orchard, and will also review pruning techniques for other orchard systems commonly grown across the Champlain Valley.

This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.

CCE prioritizes the health, safety and well-being of the communities we serve. Given the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, and due to an abundance of caution, the Pruning Workshops at both locations on March 23rd and 25th have been cancelled.  However, the content will be videoed and the recording will be made available to all of our enrollees shortly thereafter. Look for an email with the information later next week or early the week of March 30.

CANCELLED -

A Certification Exam will be administered on March 24th at 9am by the DEC to Qualified Applicants. The fee for the exam is $100: bring a check payable to NYSDEC the day of the exam.  You must register with DEC to take the exam. To register for the exam or if you have questions regarding the Certification Process, please contact Justin Schoff at the Avon DEC office @ 607-622-8290.

CCE prioritizes the health, safety and well-being of the communities we serve. Given the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, and due to an abundance of caution, the Pruning Workshops at both locations on March 23rd and 25th have been cancelled.  However, the content will be videoed and the recording will be made available to all of our enrollees shortly thereafter. Look for an email with the information later next week or early the week of March 30.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. Join Cornell Cooperative Extension to learn what precision agriculture entails, the economics of using precision ag, and the preferred methodology and benefits. This free, 3-day event series is being organized by CCE Steuben County with assistance from Dr. Ali Nafchi, Precision Ag Specialist of the CCE Cornell Vegetable Program and CCE NWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops team. Topics for each day will be determined by the audience interests and questions.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN SWITCHED TO AN ONLINE FORMAT. Online registration is now open! Note that 3.0 DEC credits are still available in categories 1a, 10, and 23.

Fresh Market cole crop production has gotten tougher over the last few years. In addition to scouting, ID and management of common pests, diseases, and weeds, the morning includes special seminars on controlling swede midge, alternaria, and on winter high tunnel production strategies. This school is designed for organic and conventional fresh market growers who consider themselves beginner or intermediate skill-level cole crops producers.

Join us via webinar to learn about bloom thinning with the pollen tube growth model.  We will hear from Dr. Greg Peck, Assistant Professor of Horticulture at Cornell University in Ithaca.  

Topics that will be covered:

• Extend pollination period to enhance fruit set in apples, pears and cherries
• Improve fruit set following a frost event
• Improved branching and revitalizing blind wood
• Improved vigor on new plantings
• Control of San Jose scale and codling moth
• Long-lasting weed control in young orchards

View Details for Update on Annual Fit Testing Requirements and Temporary Exemptions here https://www.nycamh.org/programs-and-services/respirator-fit-test-clinics.php

Click details for temporary enforcement guidance on Annual Fit Testing.         

- CANCELLED - In a collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension Wayne County, Wayne County Farm Bureau and the Finger Lakes Occupational Health Services (FLOHS), we are offering the opportunity for Fit Test and Training provided by the FLOHS.

Revised Program Accommodates Social Distancing Guidelines

Special Permit Training (SPT) for 2020 has been revised to an online format that accommodates current restrictions on public meetings, recommendations for social distancing, and projected delays in H2A guest worker processing imposed by COVID-19. 

In time for the originally proposed in-person SP Trainings on April 7 and 8, we hope to have available pre-recorded training modules. It will be the responsibility of the Supervisor/Certified Pesticide Applicator(s) on each farm to administer the training modules and written exam to their Special Permit trainees. Once registered, all of the necessary training materials and documents associated with Special Permit applications will be sent separately to each farm along with a private link to access the training modules.

Special Permits will only be issued for 10 specific pesticide labels. This will relieve the certified pesticide applicator from "on-site within voice contact" supervision of non-certified pesticide applicators when they are handling federally-restricted-use pesticides for which they hold a Special Permit. The labels that will be covered include Lorsban Advanced (for control of black stem borer in apple only), Endigo ZC, Warrior II with Zeon Technology, Agri-Mek SC, Beseige, Leverage 360, Danitol 2.4EC, Mustang Maxx, Asana XL, and Lannate LV (no Gramoxone this year.)

UPDATE: NYS DEC has approved a revised Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Special Permit Training (SPT) Program for 2020 that accommodates current restrictions on public meetings, recommendations for social distancing, and projected delays in H2A guest worker processing.  Our previously announced SPT in-person training sessions scheduled in Wayne and Orleans counties for April 7 and 8 have been cancelled.  However, a recorded webinar is being developed that will satisfy the requirements. Registration deadline for this Revised Special Permit Training is April 3rd.

View Details for more info.

Special Permits (SP) will only be issued for specific pesticide labels and SP trainees will have to pass a test. This will relieve the certified pesticide applicator from "on-site within voice contact" supervision of non-certified pesticide applicators when they are handling federally-restricted-use pesticides for which they hold a Special Permit.

Workers requiring general pesticide training/Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Handler training who do not need special permits are welcome to take the class; they will not be tested and will receive a course participation certificate.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. Join Cornell Cooperative Extension to learn what precision agriculture entails, the economics of using precision ag, and the preferred methodology and benefits. This free, 3-day event series is being organized by CCE Seneca County with assistance from Dr. Ali Nafchi, Precision Ag Specialist of the CCE Cornell Vegetable Program and CCE NWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops team. Topics for each day will be determined by the audience interests and questions.

THIS IN-PERSON EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED BUT A REVISED PROGRAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED. THE DATE AND TIME OF THE REVISED PROGRAM WILL BE DETERMINED SOON. 

Special Permits (SP) will only be issued for specific pesticide labels and SP trainees will have to pass a test.This will relieve the certified pesticide applicator from "on-site within voice contact" supervision of non-certified pesticide applicators when they are handling federally-restricted-use pesticides for which they hold a Special Permit. Certified Supervisors are required to attend the first 30 minutes of training.

THIS IN-PERSON EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED BUT A REVISED PROGRAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED.  REVISED PROGRAM & REGISTRATION

Special Permits (SP) will only be issued for specific pesticide labels and SP trainees will have to pass a test. This will relieve the certified pesticide applicator from "on-site within voice contact" supervision of non-certified pesticide applicators when they are handling federally-restricted-use pesticides for which they hold a Special Permit.

Workers requiring general pesticide training/Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Handler training who do not need special permits are welcome to take the class; they will not be tested and will receive a course participation certificate.

Topics that will be covered:

• Timing and use of PGR to optimize fruit size and quality
• Thinning and sizing
• Russet control plus improved fruit quality
• Codling moth, leaf rollers and San Jose scale protection

THIS IN-PERSON EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED BUT A REVISED PROGRAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED.  REVISED PROGRAM & REGISTRATION

Special Permits (SP) will only be issued for specific pesticide labels and SP trainees will have to pass a test. This will relieve the certified pesticide applicator from "on-site within voice contact" supervision of non-certified pesticide applicators when they are handling federally-restricted-use pesticides for which they hold a Special Permit.

Workers requiring general pesticide training/Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Handler training who do not need special permits are welcome to take the class; they will not be tested and will receive a course participation certificate.

THIS IN-PERSON EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED BUT A REVISED PROGRAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED. THE DATE AND TIME OF THE REVISED PROGRAM WILL BE DETERMINED SOON. 

Special Permits (SP) will only be issued for specific pesticide labels and SP trainees will have to pass a test.This will relieve the certified pesticide applicator from "on-site within voice contact" supervision of non-certified pesticide applicators when they are handling federally-restricted-use pesticides for which they hold a Special Permit. Certified Supervisors are required to attend the first 30 minutes of training.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. Join Cornell Cooperative Extension to learn what precision agriculture entails, the economics of using precision ag, and the preferred methodology and benefits. This free, 3-day event series is being organized by CCE Steuben County with assistance from Dr. Ali Nafchi, Precision Ag Specialist of the CCE Cornell Vegetable Program and CCE NWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops team. Topics for each day will be determined by the audience interests and questions.

**This event has been CANCELLED**

The Institute for Food Safety at Cornell University, the University of Vermont and CCE Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture are hosting a workshop on Cleaning, Sanitizing and Hygienic Design. 

This one-day workshop will include:

• A brief review of produce safety
• Presentations focused on cleaning, sanitizing and drying best practices
• An introduction to hygienic design principles
• Several hands on exercises to reinforce cleaning, sanitizing and hygienic design concepts

DUE TO CONCERNS REGARDING THE CORONAVIRUS, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

Put farm food safety into daily production practice! 

Participants will learn why and how to design, clean, sanitize, and dry produce handling equipment and buildings. Classroom presentations will be supplemented with demos and hands-on activities with produce wash equipment. 

Weekly Berry Office Hours held on Thursdays at 12:30pm via Zoom or on your phone.  Format will be a short, in-depth presentation about a production issue and then Q&A.

Daily, folks are being bombarded with news on the effects of COVID-19 in our industry.  On Thursday 4/23 at 7pm, Nicole Tommell, Farm Business Specialist CCE CNYDLFC, Myron Thurston CCE Madison Ag Economic Development & Marketing Specialist and Liz Higgins Ag Business Specialist, CCE Eastern NY Horticulture Team will give an update on the USDA COVID-19 relief package announced by Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on 4/20. 

Got commercial vegetable questions? Get LIVE answers every Thursday night from 7:00-8:00pm! This event is hosted on Zoom or you can call in for farmer-driven production conversations, dynamic troubleshooting with CCE Specialists, and photo diagnostics of crop issues and pests. Learn how to identify the pests affecting your crops.

The USDA Risk Management Agency and Agralytica will conduct a listening session for grower and stakeholder feedback about potential revenue coverage options for apple crop insurance.

For New York State stakeholders the sessions will be:

In light of what we understand about the spread of COVID-19, new management practices will be needed to protect your U-Pick farm team and your customers. This will take some more planning as well as possibly adding more staff to your team. 

Join free webinar today - click details for link.

Got commercial vegetable questions? Get LIVE answers every Thursday night from 7:00-8:00pm! Join us for farmer-driven production conversations, dynamic troubleshooting with CCE Specialists, and photo diagnostics of crop issues and pests. Learn how to identify the pests affecting your crops.