Specialists

Chuck Bornt
Team Leader, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Reduced Tillage, Production Systems, Pest ID and Control
Crops: Cucumbers, Melons, Potatoes, Pumpkins / Gourds, Squash - Summer, Squash- Winter, Sweet Corn, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes

Elizabeth Higgins
Team Leader, Business Management Specialist
Areas of Interest: Business Management & Planning, Risk Management, Agricultural Economics

Mike Basedow
Tree Fruit Specialist
Areas of Interest: Cultural practices, training systems, beginning orchards, cider orchards
Crops: Apples, Cherries, Peaches, Pears, Plums

Dan Donahue
Tree Fruit Specialist
Areas of Interest: Horticulture, orchard management, post harvest technology
Crops: Apples, Apricots, Peaches, Pears, Plums

Ethan Grundberg
Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Organic Production Systems, Small Farm Equipment, IPM, Cover Crops

Elisabeth Hodgdon
Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Pest management, high tunnel production, season extension, organic agriculture

Heather Kase
Berry Specialist
Crops: Blueberries, Raspberries / Blackberries, Strawberries, Currants, Gooseberries, Unusual Fruit

Teresa Rusinek
Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Pest ID, Pest Control Recommendations, Biocontrols, Greenhouse Vegetables and Ornamentals
Crops: Squash - Summer, Squash- Winter, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes

Jeremy Schuster
Viticulture Specialist
Areas of Interest: Viticulture
Crops: Grapes

Crystal Stewart-Courtens
Extension Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Small and Beginning Farms, Organic Production Systems, Garlic

Maire Ullrich
Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Muck Soils, Onions, Ethnic Vegetables, Marketing, Labor Relations
Crops: Carrots, Ethnic Vegetables, Lettuce / Leafy Greens, Onions


Upcoming Events
Cover Crop Field Meeting

October 21, 2025 : Cover Crop Field Meeting
Willsboro, NY
Thinking about upping your farm's cover cropping game? New technology for seeding and crop tracking, research-driven recommendations for high tunnel cover cropping, cold tolerant varieties for North Country climates, and farmer expertise will be shared at this field event.
New York State Agritourism Conference
November 10 - November 11, 2025 : New York State Agritourism Conference
Saratoga Springs, NY
The first-ever New York State Agritourism Conference, hosted by the CCE Agritourism Program Work Team, is designed to support farms in growing successful visitor experiences. This statewide gathering will feature expert-led sessions, peer networking, and practical tools to help farms expand direct sales, education, hospitality, and entertainment offerings.
Date:
- November 10: A full day of educational sessions targeted at beginning or experienced agritourism operators.
- November 11: A half-day, interactive networking session with fellow attendees.
ASL 104sp Seleccion y organizacion del personal (Staffing and Organizing Your Team) taught in Spanish
November 12, 2025 : ASL 104sp Selección y organización del personal (Staffing and Organizing Your Team) in Spanish
ASL104-SP: Selección y organización del personal (Staffing and Organizing Your Team - impartido en español) ¡Inscripciones abiertas!
En este curso identificamos cómo escribir descripciones de puestos disponibles en el trabajo para atraer a los mejores candidatos. Aprenderá a encontrar empleados con un perfil deseado, cómo entrevistar y seleccionar a las personas adecuadas. Descubrirá cómo completar la documentación de nuevos empleados, la autorización de empleo y la contratación de personal (on-boarding): es decir, cómo efectivamente incorporar nuevos empleados al rancho en una manera exitosa y productiva.
Los temas incluyen:
- Convertirse en un lugar de trabajar preferido
- Planear cuántos y qué trabajadores se necesitan
- Diseñar descripciones de trabajos para un mejor reclutamiento
- Cómo evitar favoritismos y discriminación
- Cómo buscar y entrevistar los nuevos trabajadores
- Cómo decidir a quién contratar
- Y cómo dar una buena bienvenida al nuevo trabajador
Inicio del curso: miércoles, 12 de noviembre de 2025
Discusiones en vivo por Zoom: Cada martes 18 de noviembre - 23 de diciembre, de 1:00 a 2:00 p.m. (hora del Este)