Important tile drainage survey-

Passing this in for Heather Darby, UVM Extension. There is interest in regulating tile drainage in the state, and she is looking for information from farmers. –TB

Dear Vermont Producer,

My team and I have developed this survey with the goal of learning about the agronomic, economic, and environmental benefits associated with implementation of subsurface tile drainage on fields in Vermont.

By gaining a better understanding of the acreage and cropland impacted, as well as the conservation opportunities made available by installing drainage systems, we hope to evaluate how tile drainage has mitigated financial and environmental risks. This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2015-49200-24225.

We are asking all Vermont farmers to participate in this survey. However, taking part in this study is completely voluntary. You are free to not answer any questions and/or withdraw at any time.

If you choose to participate in the survey, it will take about 10 minutes to complete. All information

collected will be stored without any identifiers (anonymous). To understand risk management strategies on fields with subsurface drainage, we are interested in learning both the field management and conservation practices that are being implemented on tiled fields to produce high yielding crops while reducing potential risks to water quality.

The survey can be taken at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/UVMTileDrainage

If you have any questions about this survey, you may contact me at (802) 524-6501. If

you have questions or concerns about your rights as a survey participant, you may contact the

Director of UVM’s Research Protections Office at (802) 656-5040.

Thank for your time,

Dr. Heather Darby, UVM Agronomist

Your NEWA blog post: Apple Tools made Easier to Use

This update on new tools to improve the functionality of NEWA for Apple IPM is available on the Your NEWA blog. Please sign up there directly to receive alerts as they are posted. -TB

Your NEWA blog

Apple Tools made Easier to Use

NEWA now (1) will save your apple biofix dates, (2) has a button to click out of apple biofix dates that are too early, and (3) provides Read more…

by jec3@cornell.edu on March 27, 2018

Apple Talk conference call

By Terence Bradshaw

I hope everyone’s ‘second winter’ is going well. While we’ve had some pretty good cold snaps this week, I don’t expect that the warm spell in February significantly reduced apple bud hardiness. Time will tell, however, if I’m right, but keep up with your pruning because spring will be here before we know it.

I am posting a link to a program sponsored by IPM Institute of North America and University of Wisconsin Eco-Fruit Project, “Apple Talk”: https://ipminstitute.org/projects/specialty-crop-grower-services/appletalk/. The IPM Institute operates on a subscription system, and Apple Talk registration is $150 for the year. This weekly conference call covers numerous aspects of apple pest and crop management in an interactive environment. I was a subscriber and occasional contributor about ten years ago and the quality of material was very good. I recommend it as a means to get a sense of what other growers are facing during the growing season. However, keep in mind that the program is based in the upper Midwest, and conditions there may not always translate to those in our region.

Where trade names or commercial products are used for identification,

no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied.

Always read the label before using any pesticide.

The label is the legal document for the product use.

Disregard any information in this message if it is in conflict with the

label.

The UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Program is supported by the

University of Vermont Agriculture Experiment Station, a USDA NIFA E-IPM

Grant, and USDA Risk Management Agency Funds.

Upcoming Grape Webinar

The 2nd in our series of 4 fruit webinars is next Tuesday, March 20 at 12:15 noon. This one is on grapes and is titled “Strategies for canopy management for optimal juice quality”, with Dr. Elsa Petit of UMass.

The registration link for the webinars is http://s.uconn.edu/44y

Have a great day. Spring begins in 6 days!!!

Mary

Mary Concklin

Visiting Associate Extension Educator – Fruit Production and IPM

Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture

1376 Storrs Road, U-4067

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT 06269-4067

Telephone: (860) 486-6449

Email: mary.concklin

www.ipm.uconn.edu

Funded in part by USDA-NIFA

Produce Safety Training in St Johnsbury April 11

By Terence Bradshaw

Produce Safety Alliance (PSA) Grower Training Course

Hosted by University of Vermont Extension & Vermont Agency of Agriculture

Date: April 11, 2018

Time: 7:30 AM–5:00 PM

Location:

The Summer Room at Springfield College St. Johnsbury
347 Emerson Falls Rd, St Johnsbury, VT 05819

Registration Link: https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/?eventid=2251020

Who Should Attend

Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), and co-management of natural resources and food safety.

Benefits of Attending

This training satisfies the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement for covered farms that "at least one supervisor or responsible party" completes "food safety training … recognized as adequate” by FDA (21 C.F.R. §112.22(c)).

Click here to determine whether your farm may be covered by the FSMA Produce Safety Rule.

Growers that wish to participate in an On-Farm Readiness Review conducted by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture and University of Vermont Extension should complete a this training prior to scheduling an OFRR. (An On-Farm Readiness Review is a voluntary, non-regulatory assessment to help farms prepare for PSR compliance.)

Cost to Attend

$20 Registration fee includes coffee, tea, and other beverages, lunch, and snacks; PSA Grower Training Manual ($60 value); and Certificate of Course Attendance from AFDO ($35 value).

After attending the entire course, participants will receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course. To receive an AFDO certificate, a participant must be present for the entire training and submit the appropriate paperwork to their trainer at the end of the course.

What to Expect at the PSA Grower Training Course

The trainers will cover the content contained in these seven modules:

§ Introduction to Produce Safety

§ Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training

§ Soil Amendments

§ Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use

§ Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water)

§ Postharvest Handling and Sanitation

§ How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module. There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.

Additional Information

This course will be delivered entirely in English, and participants must easily understand English to complete the course. Participants will receive an English-language PSA Grower Training manual.

For more information about scheduled PSA Grower Training Courses, please visit the PSA website at http://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu.

Please note that smoking is prohibited on the Springfield College St. Johnsbury Campus, including the building, entrances, parking lots and grounds.

In addition, the campus is a fragrance-free environment. Please respect the health of others by refraining from using scented lotions, shampoos, hair spray, perfumes and colognes.

Please note that we will not be accepting cash or check payments for this training. Registration fees will only be accepted by credit card using the RegOnline link above.

UVM Extension helps individuals and communities put research-based knowledge to work. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Vermont Extension, Burlington, Vermont. University of Vermont Extension, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status.

To request a disability-related accommodation to participate in this program, please contact Rachel Schattman at 802-651-8343 ext 509 by March 21, 2018 so we may assist you.

For questions about this course, please contact: Rachel Schattman, rschattm, 802-651-8343 extension 509

Funding acknowledgement

Funding for this event was made possible, in part, by the Food and Drug Administration through grant PAR-16-137. The views expressed in written materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

Funding for NECAFS was made possible, in part, by the Food and Drug Administration through grant 1R01FD005686, views expressed in written materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does any mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organization imply endorsement by the United States Government.

Where trade names or commercial products are used for identification,

no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied.

Always read the label before using any pesticide.

The label is the legal document for the product use.

Disregard any information in this message if it is in conflict with the

label.

The UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Program is supported by the

University of Vermont Agriculture Experiment Station, a USDA NIFA E-IPM

Grant, and USDA Risk Management Agency Funds.

PSA_GrowerTrainingCourse180411.pdf

National Survey: Help Researchers Understand Farming Practices

Also, new farming videos (Spanish) and local food website

S.gif
Having trouble viewing this email? Click here
S.gif
S.gif
shr_drw_left.png shr_drw_fb.png shr_drw_twit.png shr_drw_linked.png shr_drw_divider.png shr_drw_more.png shr_drw_right.png shr_btn_like_sm.png
S.gif

s.gif

S.gif
: Cornell
Website I Online Courses I Plan Your Farm | Projects I Resources I Contact
S.gif
556c2809-8ddf-40bb-baf2-8a9d40893cc1.jpg
March 12, 2018
7e6f4fba-7c65-427d-a304-c2b0650be777.jpg

Throughout the United States, farmers are using innovative approaches to sustainably produce crops and improve soil health.

However, farmers are also faced with numerous challenges, and they are often not included in decision-making that affects the way they farm.

Cornell University, University of California-Berkeley, and The Nature Conservancy are conducting a nationwide survey for all fruit, vegetable, grain, and field crop producers to identify the biggest challenges that farmers face, as well as the best solutions.

Our goal is to understand what the most important factors are for farm owners and managers when deciding whether or not to use certain practices related to soil, crop, and pest management.

Key findings from the survey will be published and communicated to grower organizations and other farmer advocates so that recommendations, actions, and outcomes reflect what growers identify as being most helpful for their operation.

Click here to fill out the survey

All responses will remain anonymous. If you choose to enter your e-mail address at the end of the short survey, you will receive a summary report of the findings and you will be eligible for a chance to win $500. The survey closes on March 16th.

S.gif
Also in Small Farm News….

New! Labor Ready Farmer Videos

S.gif 6216a31bead048f0a5b1ad71cfa45dc5

Four new Labor Ready Farmer videos share the advice of individuals who have climbed the ladder on farms in New York from laborer to management or owner. Los videos son en español con subtítulos en inglés. For those interested in following a similar path, the Labor Ready Farmer (LRF) project is developing materials to cultivate a stronger workforce in the fruit and vegetable industry, and build human resource capacity of new farm managers or owners. Roundtable discussions will be taking place mid-March to gather feedback from Latino agricultural employees, which will influence program development. Visit the Labor Ready Farmer website to review available resources.

S.gif

New! Local and Regional Food System Website

c4933909-722f-460e-b202-d619e9b9d8e4.jpgLocal and Regional Food Systems at Cornell recently launched a new, dynamic website to better demonstrate, strengthen, and build the network around local & regional food systems in New York State. Learn about the network of people, projects, resources, and locations of their work , connect with others who are working on food system issues;participate in events or online forums;share info on your Cornell or CCE based programs in LRFS; and explore CU/CCE expertise across various areas of local food systems work. Nominate someone, including yourself, for a spotlight interview. Or, upload your own here! http://localfood.cornell.edu/

S.gif
Stay Connected

Like us on Facebook Visit our blog

Copyright © 2017 All Rights Reserved.
S.gif
Cornell Small Farms Program, 15A Plant Science Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
SafeUnsubscribe™ jake.jacobs@uvm.edu
Forward this email | Update Profile | About our service provider
Sent by smallfarmsprogram
S.gif

New winegrape cultivar evaluation publication and continued new research from UVM Fruit Team.

Last week our paper on a long-term evaluation of winegrape cultivars suitable for production in Vermont was recently published in the European Journal of Horticultural Science: https://www.pubhort.org/ejhs/83/1/6/index.htm. That research was conducted over eight years and was part of the larger NE-1020 Multistate Evaluation of Winegrape Cultivars and Clones and USDA Specialty Crops Research Initiative (#2011-51181-30850) Northern Grapes Project. Research support was also provided from Vermont Agriculture Experiment Station.

Prior to the turn of the 21st century, the Vermont winegrape industry was essentially non-existent. The development and release of cold-hardy grape cultivars with juice characteristics suitable for quality winemaking has allowed for the development of a multi-million dollar industry in Vermont and other northern regions with cold climates. However, selection of cultivars suited to the climate, soil, and wine market conditions in this region will likely take decades. Because new vineyards may cost $20,000 per acre to plant, full production is not attained for four years, and evaluation into of fruit quality and crop yield may take another five years, independent field-based cultivar evaluation is critical to ensure that farmers make the best choices when establishing their vineyards.

Following up on that research, last fall our lab received a three-year Vermont Specialty Crops Block Grant to evaluate the next generation of promising grape cultivars through the 2020 growing season. We will have our first harvests from that project this year. We look forward to sharing that information with winegrape producers and Vermont wine enthusiasts as it develops.

Bradshaw, T.L., Kingsley-Richards, S.L., Foster, J. and Berkett, L.P. (2018). Horticultural performance and juice quality of cold-climate grapes in Vermont, USA. Eur.J.Hortic.Sci. 83(1), 42-48. DOI: 10.17660/eJHS.2018/83.1.6 https://doi.org/10.17660/eJHS.2018/83.1.6

Apple Insurance Listening Session for New England Orchardists

Combined message from George Hamilton (UNH Extension) and Cornell Cooperative Extension:

Risk Management Agency has contracted a private company to make changes to the USDA Apple policy (Apple Crop Insurance Policy). This policy has worked very well for our growers. The fresh fruit quality option component of the policy alone has been an enormous benefit for New England growers.

After reviewing the number of policies in this region, the private company has decided to conduct an Apple Insurance Listening Session for New England Orchardists. It is important that apple orchardists attend this session to express the importance of the fresh fruit quality option component of the policy and the importance of the Apple Crop Insurance Policy to orchardists in New England. We invite you to attend and help in getting orchardists to this listening session.

Friday March 30, 2018

Hillsborough County

New Hampshire

UNH Cooperative Extension – Hillsborough County
329 Mast Road
Goffstown, NH 03045

Tel: 603-641-6060

Time: 10:00 am -12:00 pm

Other meetings in New York include:

Wednesday March 21

Monroe County

Irondequoit Public Library

1290 Titus Ave.

Rochester, NY 14617

Tel: 585-336-6060

Time: 1:30 -3.30 pm

Friday March 23

Ulster County

Hudson Valley Research Lab

3357 US Hwy 9W

Highland, NY 12528

Tel: 845-691-7151

Time: 9:00 – 11:00 am

If anyone would like an individual meeting, Agralytica staff will be available at the above locations. To arrange a time, contact Tom Earley by cell at 703-981-6004 or by email at tearley. Alternatively, anyone who cannot attend can submit e-mailed comments. Please us “Apple policy” as your subject line.

This is an opportunity for orchardists to communicate concerns and possible improvements for consideration in the development of future apple crop insurance policy.

Announcement of Apple Insurance Listening Sessions – New England.docx