Organic and integrated pest management strategies will be covered related to fresh market vegetable crop production. Topics include sweet corn scouting and laser scarecrow update, alternatives to Lorsban for cabbage maggot control, foliar sampling for improved fertility management, best practices for biopesticide use, and gauging soil biological activity. 1.25 DEC credit in 1a and 23.

This potato production meeting will cover organic and integrated management strategies. Topics include fertility, insect management, soil health, late blight prevention, and hand-on scouting skills practice. 1.0 DEC credit in 1a and 23.

Dr. Lynn Sosnoskie, assistant professor of Weed Ecology and Management for Specialty Crops at Cornell University, will be holding two field meetings in Eastern New York on Palmer Amaranth management in July. More information and registration details are available here: https://files.ctctusercontent.com/50bc2eb5701/95a6adb3-c71f-4bac-8223-43f4c893d55b.pdf?rdr=true

Peel sap sampling/collection ended for Western NY/Finger Lakes regions on July 13.

An organized discussion of the Good, the Bad, & the Ugly of using cover crops and reduced tillage systems.

• When and how to terminate cover crops for corn planting 
• Planting Green 
• Strip-till / No-till / Reduced-till… 
• Coulters / Row Cleaners / Closing Wheels / Seed Firmers…

1.75 recertification credits approved in categories 23 (veg) and 24 (greenhouse). This course will demonstrate pest management in fresh market vegetables in both field and greenhouse (high tunnel) vegetables, primarily for those growing for wholesale auction. A hands-on demonstration of weed, insect and disease identification in vegetables including management options such as inter-row cover crops, grafting and where appropriate, spray options will be used to educate growers. Judson Reid, Senior Extension Associate with the Cornell Vegetable Program along with CCE staff will instruct participants and facilitate peer-based learning. Details on each topic will focus on field observations at the farm. 

1.75 recertification credits approved in categories 23 (veg) and 24 (greenhouse). This course will demonstrate pest management in fresh market vegetables in both field and greenhouse (high tunnel) vegetables, primarily for those growing for wholesale auction. A hands-on demonstration of weed, insect and disease identification in vegetables including management options such as inter-row cover crops, grafting and where appropriate, spray options will be used to educate growers. Judson Reid, Senior Extension Associate with the Cornell Vegetable Program along with CCE staff will instruct participants and facilitate peer-based learning. Details on each topic will focus on field observations at the farm. 

Rulf's Orchard, 531 Bear Swamp Road, Peru, NY 

Many berry topics will be discussed including growing Juneberries (Amelanchier, not strawberries), using entomopathogenic nematodes to control strawberry root pests, low tunnel production in June bearing strawberries, SWD monitoring and management. 2.5 DEC pesticide recertification credits available in categories 1A, 10, 22, and 23. Contact Elisabeth Hodgdon (eh528@cornell.edu or 518-650-5323) or Laura McDermott (lgm4@cornell.edu or 518-746-2562) with questions.

2 DEC credits available in 1a, 10, and 23. Field-walk style meeting with planned topics on soil health, pest control, and disease management.

We have been increasingly noticing tree collapse in New York orchards over the past several years. There are a number of causal factors, both biotic and abiotic, that can cause tree death. In this webinar, Cornell and Penn State experts will provide a quick summary of some of the common agents of tree collapse typical of northeast apple orchards. Hosted by CCE-ENYCHP and CCE-LOFP.

1.5 DEC credits requested. Field meeting featuring weed and disease control. Chris Smart, Cornell's Plant Pathologist, will be discussing control of bacterial diseases in tomato, Alternaria in brassicas, and other current/hot topics in disease. Weed Scientist Lynn Sosnoskie will introduce new pigweed species that are appearing in our region and give updates on herbicide resistance and new mechanical weed control techniques. Smaller topics include soil health. 

Join us for a fun, potato-centered twilight meeting at Mahany Farms! Come hear about updates from this year's chipping potato variety trial, and learn more about disease forecasting and management. Network with fellow growers, event speakers, and Cornell Cooperative Extension staff following the talks.

Join Cornell Cooperative Extension's Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program for a field day at Philia Farm in Johnstown, NY from 4-6 pm on August 5th. The meeting will showcase a variety of research projects, including a high tunnel pea variety trial; a storage onion trial; a leek trial; a biofungicide trial on beets; a mesotunnel insect netting trial; and a reduced tillage trial for fall vegetable crops. 

2 DEC pesticide credits will be available in category 23

The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) and HealthWorks is pleased to provide respirator fit testing clinics in your region in 2021.

During the clinics NYCAMH will provide medical evaluations; respirator fit tests; and WPS compliant trainings on how to properly inspect, put on, take off, fit, seal check, use, clean, maintain, and store respirators.

Clinic appointments are one hour long, and groups of 4 workers can be seen at a time. Medical evaluations, fit tests, and trainings are available in both English and Spanish.

Missed online pre-registration?  We are sorry to inform you that it's required for any part of the tour.  Call Craig Kahlke at 585-735-5448.

LOF is excited to inform our stakeholders that we will be having a summer tour in 2021. Thanks to eased restrictions due to continued decreases in COVID infections and many millions of New Yorkers getting vaccinated, Cornell is following New York State's guideline for outdoor public meetings. So, mark your calendars for Thursday, August 12, - LOF Summer Tour featuring Wayne County. We will be visiting 2 farms in the Marion-Williamson area (Morgan Farms & Hermenet Fruit Farm), with lunch and sponsor visits at Williamson Town Park (NOT B. Foreman Park as previously advertised).

The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) and HealthWorks is pleased to provide respirator fit testing clinics in your region in 2021. 

During the clinics NYCAMH will provide medical evaluations; respirator fit tests; and WPS compliant trainings on how to properly inspect, put on, take off, fit, seal check, use, clean, maintain, and store respirators. 

Clinic appointments are one hour long, and groups of 4 workers can be seen at a time. Medical evaluations, fit tests, and trainings are available in both English and Spanish.

Now that we are able to host field meetings again, we invite you to the Champlain Valley to view some of our current field trials, listen to talks and discuss your management concerns with many of the scientists from Cornell AgriTech, and to reconnect in person with other growers from around Eastern New York.  DEC credits are available in categories 1A, 10, and 22.

Join us for our Hard Cider Summer Tour, sponsored by the Cornell Hard Cider Program Work Team and the New York Cider Association.  We will visit 3 different locations and finish the day with a hard cider tasting.

Experienced growers and UVM's Ag Engineering present new strategies and cleaning tools to increase the efficiency and efficacy of bin cleaning, sanitation and management practices. Lead growers show and tell their bin systems, with lessons learned. Participants leave with a plan to improve/implement new practices.

CSFP's new season of online courses is almost halfway through, and now's the time to register for their upcoming block three courses which begin in the new year. Upcoming courses include their new offering on social media and online marketing, farm business courses, and production courses covering beekeeping, mushrooms, sheep and more.

CCE Cornell Vegetable Program, NYS IPM, and Cornell Faculty will be attending this twilight meeting to share updates on Western bean cutworm trapping, white mold management, soybean cyst nematodes and field mapping, and pigweed identification and resistance screening. After the meeting, stick around to enjoy dinner and network with other dry bean growers and industry members.

1.5 DEC recertification credits (categories 10, 1a, 21, and 23) and CCA credits will be available.

Evaluate low-cost (either money or time) improvements that make a big difference. Experience growers show and tell the thrifty improvements they made and summarize lessons learned, including trade-offs of spending money (or not) to lower risks and increase efficiency. 

Learn to improve or repair a concrete floor so that it is smooth and easy to clean. This workshop highlights concrete repair, cleaning and sanitation techniques, water management, products and resources, as well as show and tell from experienced growers, and Chris Callahan from UVM's Extension Ag Engineering.

Due to predictions of extreme weather tomorrow evening, Wednesday, September 15th, the Exclusion Netting Workshop at the Berry Patch, Stephentown, NY has been postponed until Tuesday, October 5th, 4-6pm.  If you already registered for the Berry Patch session, there is no need to re-register.

The western NY site at Albers Acres in Kennedy, NY will still hold the workshop tomorrow night, Sept 15.

If you have any questions about eastern NY meeting - please call Laura McDermott, 518-791-5038, or email lgm4@cornell.edu.

2021 season review of SWD management techniques

Join us at either The Berry Patch in Stephentown (Oct 5) or Abers Acres in Kennedy (Sept 15) for a two-hour review of Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) management techniques.  We'll cover the basics of SWD monitoring of adult and larvae populations and also discuss implementing a pesticide program.

The program will focus on what has been learned about designing an exclusion netting support system that provides long term control of SWD and maximum utility for berry farmers.

Exclusion netting is being used on field blueberries where it controls SWD while also excluding birds and moderating impacts of hail and heavy rain.  Raspberries and strawberries also benefit from exclusion netting on  the sides of high tunnels.   

1.5 DEC credits available in categories 1A, 10, and 22

Experienced growers and facilitators dig into the fundamentals of managing produce wash water, including show and tell with lessons learned about wash water management, use and monitoring of sanitizers. All participants leave with a plan to improve/implement new practices.

Develop management strategies/systems to retain and empower high-value workers, while improving crew morale and culture. Learn from experienced managers of loyal and reliable crews, the pros and cons of their current management systems, and how they came to be. Participants leave with resources and a plan to improve/implement one or more new practices or strategies.