Save the Date for the First Annual NYS Farm to School Summit!

By Katie Sheehan-Lopez, MPH, Regional Farm to School Coordinator, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Harvest NY

The Inaugural NY Farm to School Summit will take place in Syracuse, NY on November 21st and 22nd, 2024 with optional pre-summit field trips on November 20. The Summit will have sessions for all farm to school stakeholders including farmers and producers, food service directors, educators, school administrators, and more! The sessions will be wide-ranging and suitable for stakeholders just starting out in their Farm to School journeys, or those who have been working in the field for many years.  

Trade Floor 

To foster NY business-to-business relationships, Thursday, November 21 will feature a large trade show exclusively featuring: 

• Producers of NY products, where schools and other institutions can sample products. 

• Support service organizations designed to support Farm to School program development.  

If you are interested in joining us on the trade show floor as vendor, check below for pricing tiers and stay tuned for information on registration.  In the meantime, if you have questions about the trade show, please contact me directly at kms369@cornell.edu or 845-340-3990 x334. 

Call for Workshop Proposals 

We are also seeking proposals for high-quality educational workshops that allow for information sharing and peer-to-peer learning opportunities for all Farm to School stakeholders including farmers and producers, food service directors, educators, school administrators, and more. Workshops should be tangible, practical, and give attendees a call to action. They should also align with the summit theme: It Takes a Village: Cultivating Community in Farm to School. Please feel free to submit multiple proposals.  If you have a great program you would like to share, find more information here.  Proposals are due May 1.   

Sponsorship 

Sponsorship opportunities will also be available.  More information will be coming soon. 

This Summit is made possible thanks to USDA Federal Formula Funds and the NYS Education Department. Summit planning and development is being guided by a Steering Committee comprised of representatives from the following organizations:  American Farmland Trust, Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY, Julie Raway, NY Agriculture in the Classroom, NY Farm Bureau, NY School Nutrition Association, NYC Mayors Office of Urban Agriculture, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, NYS Education Department, Our Core 

This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.   

H-2A Wage Rates & SOC Codes Explained

By Richard Stup, Cornell University, reprinted from the Ag WorkForce Journal 

The 2024 Becker Forum was hosted by New York State Vegetable Growers Association on Monday, January 22, 2024. At the event, recent changes to the H-2A program were discussed in detail, including from U.S. Department of Labor’s senior H-2A administrator, Mr. Brian Pasternak. Mr. Pasternak shared incredibly important information with the audience and I want to revisit a few key points here. Much of this message is good news, especially the fact that most H-2A jobs will still fit into the traditional AEWR pay rates. However, employers must carefully describe jobs by using the task language from O*NET as detailed later in this message. Note that everything presented here is for education purposes only and is not legal opinion.

U.S. DOL issued a “Final Rule” effective November 2022 that changed how program wage rates apply to some H-2A jobs. Essentially, it makes certain H-2A jobs such as supervisors, mechanics, some heavy truck drivers, and other jobs subject to wage rates that reflect the broader economy, not just farm jobs. These wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupation Employment Wage Survey (OEWS). Generally, these OEWS wages are higher than the farm AEWR wages, so employers are keen to keep most H-2A jobs under the farm AEWR. The following slides are from Mr. Pasternak’s presentation. The column on the left shows the “Big 6” farm jobs with standard occupation classification (SOC codes) that remain under the farm AEWR rates.

The slide below provides a link to the USDOL website that provides the current AEWR and OEWS wages. In the right column it explains that one H-2A job requested by an employer, depending on the job tasks required, could be subject to more than one SOC code. H-2A employers must be very careful about the tasks they list in the job description for H-2A jobs, because these tasks will be used the state and federal agencies to determine which SOC codes apply, and thus which wage rates.

Following are a few examples of the different H-2A wage rates that could be applied in New York. Note that if a higher wage rate is applied, then that rate must be paid for every hour that an employee works, not just when they are performing the higher skill task.

Certainly, the OEWS wages are higher than the FLS-based AEWRs, for this reason, it is important for employers to carefully and accurately describe their positions in their H-2A applications. Fortunately, the vast majority of farm jobs should still fit under the Big 6 SOC codes. The slide below shows typical tasks in the left column that are all under the Big 6, in the right column it shows tasks that would likely move the job into the higher-paid OEWS category.

It is important for employers to become familiar with SOC codes and the descriptions found in O*NET Online, because this is where the job descriptions and specific task lists for certain jobs can be found. Employers can directly use the words from the O*NET descriptions to describe the jobs in their H-2A applications. Following are direct links to O*NET descriptions of the Big 6 agricultural jobs:

• 45-2041: Graders and Sorters

• 45-2091: Agricultural Equip. Operators 

• 45-2092: Farmworkers and Laborers

• 45-2093: Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals

• 45-2099: All Other Agricultural Workers

• 53-7064: Packers and Packagers

The slide below provides directions to O*NET Online in the left column. In the right column it focuses on drivers and encourages employers to provide details about any driving duties listed.

Mr. Pasternak shared a clear example in the slide below that most driving duties in H-2A jobs should fit into the Big 6. The red text below describes most driving duties and would fit into SOC codes 45-2092 and 45-2091. Now, if a worker was assigned to drive a regular bus route for other H-2A workers, or required to have CDL and deliver farm product over-the-road to distant deliver points, then these would likely be driving duties that fall outside of the Big 6 codes.

In summary, the Becker Forum communicated a lot of critical information this year. Much of it was good news clarifying that most H-2A work will fit into the Big 6 codes. Work closely with your H-2A advisors to accurately describe jobs in your applications. If you believe a job should fit into the Big 6, and all the tasks can be found in the Big 6 descriptions in O*NET, then be sure to insist on this position if the NYS Department of Labor makes a different determination or denies your application, you can also appeal to USDOL.

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The post H-2A Wage Rates & SOC Codes Explained originally appeared in The Ag Workforce Journal.

Discoloration in blueberry leaves: what does it mean?

Photo by Western Arctic National Parklands, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Adapted from Cornell’s Berry Diagnostic Tool

If you’ve noticed unusual colors, mottling, or spots on your blueberry leaves, chances are the plant is suffering from one of these common issues or pathogens.

Pale green leaves

This may indicate a nitrogen deficiency, which is common in blueberries. The uniform light coloring may be accompanied by a reduction in shoot growth, number of new canes, and yield. Nitrogen-deficient leaves may develop early fall color and drop.

Yellow leaves

If the yellow is interveinal, and there isn’t browning, this indicates iron deficiency. It begins in young leaves, and caused by high soil pH (greater than 5.2), which results in the blueberry plant’s inability to use iron and subsequently produce chlorophyll.

Yellow leaves with browning

If the leaves show interveinal yellowing and browning, it may indicate cane death or dieback. If the canes are not dying, it may be related to herbicide injury, Botrytis stem and leaf blight, mummyberry shoot blight, potassium deficiency, overfertilization, or drought stress.

Splotchy yellow leaves, possibly accompanied by pink and pale green

This patchwork pattern is most often caused by ophiovirus. The leaves may appear crinkled, and the discoloration can vary from branch to branch.

Reddish-purple or maroon leaves

As a response to cooling temperatures, blueberry leaves turn maroon in the fall. But they may develop a reddish-purple color in the spring if the weather is cold. The discoloration usually disappears as the weather warms up. A darker purple hue is attributed to phosphorous deficiency, but this is rarely observed in the field, as blueberries have a low phosphorus requirement.

Red leaves

If the reddening is interveinal, suspect magnesium deficiency, which is common in acidic soils, or viral diseases like blueberry scorch and Sheep Pen Hill disease (SPHD). The latter are more common on the West Coast and in New Jersey, but are typically observed in the spring following blossom blight.

Red spots on the upper leaf surface

Red ringspot virus is the culprit when the leaves appear to have red spots on the upper surface and only on young shoots.

Purple-brown leaves and stems

Gleosporeum infection causes twig dieback and canker. The fungus can also cause necrotic lesions on leaves and succulent stems.

Purple-brown mottling, with crinkled leaves

Ringspot viruses, such as tomato ringspot and tobacco ringspot virus may cause crinkling, without obvious discoloration. Before suspecting a virus, confirm that other causes of leaf discoloration are not to blame. Viruses can only be definitively confirmed with a lab test.

Purple-brown at margins and unusually narrow

This “straplike” leaf shape, accompanied by purple-brown discoloration, usually means blueberry shoestring virus. Before suspecting a virus, confirm that other causes of leaf discoloration and deformation are not to blame. Viruses can only be definitively confirmed with a lab test.

Whitish leaves

More common on the undersides of leaves, powdery mildew can also form a whitish film on the tops. More commonly, it will cause red or brown spots on the upper surface.

For more information and photos of each of these blueberry plant ailments, visit Cornell’s Berry Diagnostic Tool.

2024 Empire State Expo Berry Session Presentations

At the 2024 Empire State Expo, a variety of experts presented recent findings on berry studies and trials. They’ve kindly shared their presentations with us, which you can access here by clicking on the link beneath each photo. From trends in bramble culture to blueberry pruning, managing anthracnose resistance, and a unique rotating cross-arm trellis system, these presentations represent some of the newest and most innovative techniques in berry growing.

Caneberry Variety Update, by Courtney Weber, Cornell University

Trends in Bramble Culture, by Marvin Pritts, Cornell University

Blackberry Rotating Cross-Arm Trellis, by Timothy Stanton, Stanton’s Feura Farm

Fruitworm Review, by Anna Wallis, NYS IPM

Pruning Blueberries for Optimum Yield and Planting Longevity, by Laura McDermott, CCE ENYCHP

Blueberry Disease Management, by Kerik Cox, Cornell AgriTech

Preventing and Managing Strawberry Anthracnose Resistance, by Scott D. Cosseboom, Hudson Valley Research Laboratory

Advancing Strawberry Production in the Northeast: Update on Findings, by Laura McDermott & Elisabeth Hodgdon, CCE ENYCHP

Anaerobic Soil Disinfection and Biofumigation in Perennial Strawberry Systems, by Anya Osatuke, CCE, Harvest NY

Low Toxicity Strawberry Trial: Results from 2023, by Anya Osatuke, CCE, Harvest NY

2024 Cornell Pest Management Guidelines for Berry Crops Now Available

The Cornell Cooperative Extension Pesticide Safety Education Program (CCE-PSEP), part of the New York State IPM program, is pleased to announce the availability of the 2024 Cornell Pest Management Guidelines for Berry Crops.

Written by Cornell University specialists, this publication is designed to offer producers, horticultural and chemical dealers, and crop consultants practical information on growing and managing berry crops in New York State. In addition to providing updated pesticide options for 2024, topics include general culture, nutrient management, harvesting and handling guidelines, spray application technology information, and ways to manage common berry crop pest concerns. A preview of the Berry Crops Guidelines can be seen online here.

Cornell Crop and Pest Management Guidelines are available as a print copy, online-only access, or a package combining print and online access. The print edition of the 2024 Berry Crop Guideline costs $35 plus shipping. Online-only access is $35. A combination of print and online access costs $49.00 plus shipping costs for the printed book.

Cornell Guidelines can be obtained through your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office or from the Cornell Store at Cornell University. To order from the Cornell Store, call (844) 688-7620 or order online here.

2024 Eastern New York Fruit & Vegetable Conference

This year's conference will have sessions devoted to tree fruit, vegetables, grapes, small fruit, agritourism, and cut flowers. Topics Topics include winter protection for strawberries, soil-borne disease management, SWD and other pests, fungicides, and updates on spraying.  There will also be a trade show both days, so you can see the newest products from your favorite vendors.

Wednesday, February 21

Small fruit session 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Tree fruit session 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Grape session, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Agritourism session, 1:20 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

 

Thursday, February 22

Tree fruit sessions, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Vegetable sessions, 9:15 a.m.-3:40 p.m.

Cut flower session, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Agritourism session, 1:15 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Register for the conference here.

More details:

DEC pesticide recertification credits will be available for multiple sessions. Attendance throughout the entire session is required for DEC credits.

Trade show vendors will be set up in the Fort Orange Courtyard and the King Street Courtyard. Over 20 exhibitors will be present to visit with growers from 8:00am until 5:30pm on February 21 and 8:00am until 2:00pm on February 22.

Lunch. A hot buffet lunch will be available in the Fort Orange Ballroom. Lunch is included with your conference registration.

Lodging. Individual guests may call the hotel directly to book rooms at the discounted rate using the local number provided below. Reservations must be received no later than Monday February 12, 2024, to get the discounted rate. When requesting a room, guests may refer to the Group Code: FRU. Call 518-869- 8100 directly to make your reservation.

Additional hotels in the area include:

• The Hilton Garden Inn, 800 Albany Shaker Rd. | 518-464-6666

• Red Roof Inn, 188 Wolf Rd. | 518-459-1971

• Best Western Albany Airport Inn, 200 Wolf Rd. | 518-458-1000

Get Your 2023 Updated Version of the Berry Crop SWD Insecticide Quick Guide

By Laura McDermott, CCE ENYCHP

By now, most growers are familiar with the Quick Guide to insecticides that are effective in preventing SWD infestation. There are a few very minor changes in this year’s version of the Quick Guide, most notably that Cyclaniliprole is labeled in blueberries and caneberries for SWD, but not in strawberries. Over the years, more materials have been made available for use on all berry crops, but notably, strawberries have fewer options.  Please always check the label for specific guidelines and restrictions. 

Get your free, downloadable copy of the current Insecticide Quick Guide here.

How to Write a Successful Grant for Your Farm Business

Looking for grants for your ag business?  CCE Eastern New York has a new recording of a webinar that discussed tips and tricks for writing a successful grant application.

The presenter, Elizabeth Higgins, is an Extension Associate from Cornell Cooperative Extension and a successful grant writer and frequent USDA grant reviewer. The video covered identifying a good project for grant funding, determining if a specific grant actually makes sense for your business, steps you should take to be ready to apply for grants, what makes a project a likely winner and how to write a grant application like a pro.

The program was hosted in September 2023 by the Mid-Hudson Small Business Development Center and the Cornell Cooperative Extension Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program. This program is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Watch the video for free on YouTube.

New York to Launch First-Of-Its-Kind Agricultural Workforce Development Program

By NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has announced it has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather input from stakeholders that will help the Department shape a first-of-its-kind agricultural workforce development program in the State. The Department is also looking to identify potential qualified applicants.  Funding for the program was allocated in this year’s New York State Budget and builds on Governor Kathy Hochul’s goals of strengthening New York’s food supply chain through the attraction and retention of a skilled agricultural workforce.

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Governor Hochul is committed to building a strong agricultural pipeline and to make sure that we are connecting our young people in agriculture to New York companies.  I encourage eligible organizations focused on workforce development to respond to this request; the input gained will be invaluable as we work to develop a program with clear pathways for those interested in a career in agriculture and connect them to high-quality employment across the industry.”

New York’s agricultural and food industries need to continue to attract and retain future generations of skilled workers who are prepared for a career in an industry that is rapidly developing alongside emerging technologies and ever-changing consumer demand. The Department is interested in working closely with those in the agricultural and food sectors to create a program that will identify clear pathways for jobseekers and connect them to high-quality employment opportunities in agriculture, ultimately helping to strengthen and grow the State’s food supply system.

Information gathered from the RFI will inform a potential Request for Proposal (RFP) for an agriculture workforce development program. The program will identify internships and apprenticeships across the industry and, working with our educational institutions like the SUNY system, ensure that the necessary skills and standards required by the industry are being taught to students. The program will also focus on working with workforce development entities to match and place the new workforce, including migrant individuals and asylum seekers, directly with industry opportunities.

The RFI and additional information can be found on the Department’s website at https://agriculture.ny.gov/request-information-new-york-state-department-agriculture-and-markets-agriculture-workforce. Responders to the RFI may answer in one, or more, of the following areas: 1. Experience; 2. Qualifications; 3. Proposed project scope and services; 4. Other Considerations.

Statements of interest will be accepted via email to Antonia Giuliano, Senior Policy Advisor for Food and Dairy, at antonia.giuliano@agriculture.ny.gov.

Responses are due by November 1, 2023, and questions about the RFI must be submitted by email by October 4, 2023.

Raspberry & Blackberry Pest and Disease Alerts

Our friends at Cornell Cooperative Extension share these tips for managing pests and diseases in raspberry and blackberry during this unusually wet summer.

Tarnished plant (lygus) bug levels are high in caneberries. We’re also seeing some damage to cut flowers following feeding on buds.  Insect feeding through buds, in open blooms, or on developing fruits stunts berries. Cornell Guidelines suggest a threshold of 10-20% infested canes. In caneberries Assail, Befenture 10DF, carbaryl/Sevin, Danitol, are labeled; Brigade DF can be used in caneberries but isn’t labeled for TPB but will provide incidental control used for other labeled pests (Brigade also has a supplemental label in NY for spotted-wing drosophila). In organic production Mycotrol, Grandevo, PFR-97 and PyGanic are labeled, but emphasize good weed management. (This information is from Dan Gilrein, CCE Suffolk.)

Spur blight (Didymella applanata) has unsurprisingly reappeared in many cane berry plantings. This fungal disease loves the wet humid weather we are having. Dense plantings usually have problems even in dry years, but this year even well-pruned plantings may see this disease. Chocolate brown to purple blotches appear at the buds of canes. This results in weak or no growth from those buds and an overall lack of vigor. 

Prune and destroy diseased canes before next spring. There are plenty of fungicides labeled for this disease but take care when applying at this time of year, especially in hot weather. You can get foliar burn from some of the pesticides. The best time for control is delayed dormant in the spring. 

Cane blight (Leptosphaeria coniothyrium) are similar in appearance to spur blight, but the lesions can be found all along the cane. Often the two diseases appear together. Cane blight is more common in black and purple raspberries, but can also infect red raspberries. Prune and destroy infected canes asap. Best control comes from delayed dormant sprays of lime sulfur. 

What You Need to Do for a Successful Blueberry Harvest This Summer

Our friends at Cornell Cooperative Extension have shared these important tips for ensuring the success of this season’s blueberry crop.

Blueberry harvest is underway and looks surprisingly good in most places – despite the May freeze, early drought, and occasional hail events around the region. Fruit is sizing very well and plant growth is great – these plants LOVE all this rain! But unexpected weather is when you will discover how effective your disease management program was.

Anthracnose fruit rot (Colletotrichum acutatum) is widely apparent in plantings. This disease should be prophylactically sprayed before and during bloom. You can spray now in hopes that you can thwart the spread of the disease, but look carefully at the REI and days to harvest all chemicals.   

This disease will present as a sunken spot on the fruit. In this humid weather, you will undoubtedly see the pink-orange fruiting spores that will grow on the sunken areas. Make a note to focus on next season to control this disease.

Mummyberry (Monilinia vacinii-corymbosi) is less widely apparent, but definitely out there. Mummyberry spores can be moved by pollinators, so even if you’ve never dealt with this disease before, there is always a chance. That is why we encourage growers to manage for it, despite the history in your own patch. This disease is controlled at the vegetative green tip – so pretty early in the spring. 

Blueberry tip borer moth (Hendecaneura shawiana) is a pest that we are seeing much more frequently than in the past. The pest doesn’t damage the fruit from this season. But the overall impact is more significant. The moth lays eggs in the tip of the newest canes, causing the cane to abort vertical growth and branch much lower than it normally would. This means that there is less opportunity for overall growth, the fruiting wood is too low, and over time the plant becomes less productive due to the architectural change. 

The small brown moth lays eggs in June, which hatch in July. The larvae drill down several inches, causing distortion and then death of the shoot tip. This flagging can look something like canker, but it’s more localized to the top 6” of the shoot. There are no labeled conventional insecticides. Use azadirachtin and pyrethrin products at petal fall for control.  

Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) have started feeding on blueberry foliage. I’ve yet to get a report of fruit feeding, but that is when they become a problem worthy of spraying. Despite the foliar damage, they usually don’t do lasting damage to the plant. There are many pesticides that can be used on this insect, but don’t pull the trigger unless you really need to and make sure to read the label for Days to harvest. 

Canker diseases (Fusicoccum putrefaciens and Phomopsis vacinii) are exhibiting the tell-tale cane flagging. New shoots will wilt rapidly and die back from the tip towards the crown. Healthy vigorous canes will wilt and collapse. When you see this happen in an otherwise perfectly healthy plant, the likelihood is high that it’s canker. Fusicoccum canker forms bulls-eye type lesions on the stem, which is another diagnostic help. Prune the dead out as it appears and make a note to use a delayed dormant spray next spring.  

Spotted Wing Drosophila First Trap Catch in Some ENY Counties This Week

Photo by Katja Schulz, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

By Mike Basedow, CCE-ENYCHP, Eastern New York

Spotted wing drosophila first trap catch is showing up in a handful of ENY counties this week. Counties reporting first catch in our region include Columbia County, Rensselaer county, Saratoga County, Washington County, and Essex County. Cherries and peaches will be at risk once they’ve begun to blush or soften. Spotted wing can be managed using a combination of cultural and chemical practices. You will need to be diligent.

Excellent sanitation will reduce SWD populations. Fruit should be harvested frequently and completely to prevent the buildup of ripe and over-ripe fruit. Unmarketable fruit should be removed from the field and either frozen, “baked” in clear plastic bags placed in the sun, or disposed of in bags off-site. This will kill larvae, remove them from your crop, and prevent them from emerging as adults.

Cool fruit immediately. Chilling immediately after harvest to 32° – 34° F will slow or stop the development of larvae and eggs in the fruit. U-Pick customers should be encouraged to refrigerate fruit immediately to maintain fruit quality at home.

An open canopy will make the environment less favorable. Prune to maintain an open canopy, increase sunlight and reduce humidity. This will make plantings less attractive to SWD and will improve spray coverage. Repair leaking drip lines and avoid overhead irrigation when possible. Allow the ground to dry before irrigating.

Insecticide sprays will kill SWD adults and thereby reduce egg laying. Insecticide treatments should begin at first SWD trap catch when highly susceptible fruit crops begin ripening. Insecticides should be re-applied at least every seven days and more often in the event of rain. Choose the most effective insecticides with pre-harvest intervals that work for your picking schedule. Rotate insecticides according to their modes of action. The spray guide quick sheets for SWD can be found here.

You can also learn more about regional monitoring efforts for spotted wing, as well as tips for management of this pest, on the NYS IPM SWD webpage.

Help Farm Employees “Sleep for Success!”

By Jay Canzonier, Housing Management Specialist, Cornell Ag Workforce Development

June 21 marks the first day of summer and longest day of the year. A glorious day and evening for barbeques and corn hole tournaments…unless you are working the night shift. Our co-workers who brave the dark during their workday have a much different outlook on the sunlight looking in while they try to sleep.

In the darkness of evening and as you enter sleep, your body produces melatonin, a naturally occurring hormone which regulates your body’s circadian rhythms, your natural sleep-wake cycle. By morning light your body begins to suppress melatonin by elevating levels of cortisol, a steroid hormone which plays a significant role in waking up. Exposure to light helps your body figure out when it’s time to sleep, and time to wake up. Light, whether it be natural sunlight or artificial, disrupts the creation of melatonin. This disruption cues your internal body clock to be awake and active, making it difficult to enter a restful sleep.

Most adults require seven to nine hours of sleep daily. A lack of sleep can lead to decreased energy, delayed reaction times, increased anxiety, inability to process information quickly, and many more side effects that decrease productivity at work and overall quality of life. Long term sleep deprivation can contribute to more severe chronic health risks including anxiety, coronary heart disease, depression, obesity, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes just to name a few. Inadequate sleep can be a key contributor in work related accidents.

Working the night shift causes your body to get out of its natural sleeping rhythms by requiring you to be alert when the light cycle programs it to be sleeping. Conversely, when you go home after a night shift, your internal body clock and exposure to daylight tells your body to be awake and active. There are sleep hygiene tactics that can be used to help your body minimize the effects of an opposite sleep schedule resulting from night duty. Tools to make your sleep time more pleasant and productive include:

• Wear dark sunglasses to suppress light when leaving the workplace in the morning. Even if it is a short exposure, minimizing the effect of sunlight on your body can have an impact on how quickly you enter a restful sleep, and how long you sleep.

• Use blackout curtains in sleeping rooms to eliminate sunlight during the sleep time. Blackout curtains are fabric drapes or shades that cover the window completely, eliminating all light from entering the sleeping area. Note that these will be labeled differently from other drapes and shades which may be only “light filtering.” Blackout curtains help create a dark environment that mimics nighttime, your body will produce melatonin and lead to a longer and more refreshing quality of sleep.

• Eliminate sources of “blue light” from electronic devises within the sleeping area. Blue light decreases the production of melatonin, making sleep incredibly difficult particularly when working the night shift.

• When possible, align work shifts with sleeping shifts in employee housing. Doing so can minimize daytime disturbances in the sleeping area and accommodate the sleeping needs and preferences of the night shift workers.

These strategies are affordable and simple ways to improve sleep quality, overall health, safety, and productivity. Maintaining your body’s natural circadian rhythm is an essential building block in overall health and quality of life. By sharing this information with our night shift workers and providing them with the necessary tools, we can help those who work while we sleep…sleep while we work.

This link is to an informative website and short video on the importance of sleep and how it affects performance. Dr. James B. Maas was a professor at Cornell University for more than 48 years and is famous for coining the term “power nap.”

More Than 100,000 Acres of Farmland Protected Across NYS

In celebration of Earth Week, NYS goverment has announced a milestone in land conservation.

The Farmland Protection Implementation Grant (FPIG) program has helped preserve more than 107,000 acres of New York farmland through completed conservation easement projects totaling more than $250 million on nearly 370 farms. The program is in line with national efforts to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. land and water by 2030. 

"Supporting New York's farmers starts with protecting the farmland they use to feed communities across the state," Governor Hochul said. "Through the New York Farmland Protection Program, we are conserving land that will provide food security to New Yorkers today and bolster future generations of farmers tomorrow. My administration is committed to continuing to address the needs of New York farmers and ensuring the long-term sustainability of our agricultural industry."  

The announcement was made at Mulligan Farm, a fourth-generation dairy farm in Avon, Livingston County, and the first farm to use the Farmland Protection program in Livingston County. The Department of Agriculture and Markets awarded Mulligan Farm $1.3 million in 2008 and $1.5 million in 2021 through the FPIG program, which resulted in seven conservation easements, protecting a total of 1,800 acres of land in Avon, Livingston County and Rush, Monroe County from future development. The conservation easements were completed with the assistance of Genesee Valley Conservancy. The Mulligan Farm was the first conservation easement Genesee Valley Conservancy completed and is also one of its most recent.   

In Livingston, Monroe, and Wyoming Counties alone, 18,750 acres across 19 farms have been protected through the FPIG program and Genesee Valley Conservancy's partnership. An additional 11,000 acres of protected land is pending. So far, a total of $55 million in grants from the program have been invested or committed to in the area.   

Approximately 20 percent of the state's land area, or nearly 7 million acres, is farmland. The Department's Farmland Protection Program provides financial assistance to counties, municipalities, soil and water conservation districts, and land trusts to enable them to implement farmland protection activities consistent with local agricultural and farmland protection plans. The most frequently funded activity is the purchase of development rights on individual farms. However, the program also awards funding to land trusts and land conservancies to enable other implementation activities, such as amendments to local laws affecting agriculture, option agreements, and covering the transaction costs of donated agricultural conservation easements.  

In the most recent round of the State's Farmland Protection program, Round 18, critical adjustments were made to the program's eligibility and focus. For the first time ever, projects were awarded that support the State's top priorities, including food security, climate resiliency, and source water protection. In addition, eligibility criteria for the program was expanded to include the agroforestry, equine, and wine sectors, reflecting New York's diverse agricultural industry. Previously, the State launched the Dairy Transitions Farmland Protection Initiative to provide dairy farms the opportunity to diversify their operations or transition their farm to the next generation at a more affordable cost while ensuring the land forever remains used for agricultural purposes. In addition, the State also subsequently launched the Farm Operations in Transition Farmland Protection Initiative to similarly provide other types of farm operations - those challenged by trade policies or the effects of climate change - the same opportunity to diversify or transition ownership to the next generation.  

The Governor's Executive Budget proposes to continue to fund the Farmland Protection program at $21 million, through the Environmental Protection Fund.   

New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher said, "Protection of farmland is critical in ensuring the continued success of farming and food security in New York State. Our state's farmland protection program is unparalleled in its mission and protecting 100,000 acres of farmland is truly an environmental milestone.  I look forward to seeing another 100,000 acres protected in the future."  

Entomology Update with Monique Rivera

This is a summary of the new Scaffolds Podcast, as featured on the CE Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program blog. Click here to listen to the podcast.

Well, folks, it looks like we're off to a weird start to the season with a week of summer weather and now in western New York, cooler and wetter conditions. Maybe a weird start is more like a stumbling start because it will warm up again for a day or two in western New York, and then go right back to cool and wet. But either way, we are collectively heading towards Pink, and there are, as always, some insects to consider and think about treatments for. 

If San Jose scale is a concern, it's not too late to include a treatment for this. There are still options until foliar development progresses to the point where coverage will decline. So the real aim of this treatment is to make contact with the woody parts of the tree and hopefully make contact with any eggs or immatures that are there. So if you're focused on getting an oil applied for this, there's still time for a 1% oil spray through tight cluster again to cover those woody surfaces. If you think you will need more control, there are other insecticidal options to add. In particular, I would consider Centaur or Esteem, both of which are insect growth regulators. 

So last week I spoke about the idea of bulletproofing IPM programs, and I think a good thought experiment about that would be to think about what your management program would look like if Organophosphates and Pyrethroids, for example, were eliminated. The idea of this is kind of ridiculous because organic management can use Pyrethrins, which are the direct plant extract, but in all honesty, at higher levels this is being considered.

And it's something that along our journey here on Scaffolds, I probably will continue to mention, because if we don't think about it now, I really think that it will sneak up on the industry as things start to be considered for elimination. And so it would be good to start to think about again what your program would look like if you could not use whole classes or mode of actions of insecticides. It would be really helpful to your future programs to start considering that. Not that I know that this is coming down the pike in New York State, but I do know that in California, before I left, I was asked to review the use of pyrethroids, which is the beginning of that consideration. 

Gov. Hochul announces $3.8M+ awarded to improve seniors' access to local foods

By NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced the Department of Agriculture and Markets has been awarded over $3.8 million from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to help New York seniors better access locally grown food. The funding comes from the American Rescue Plan Act and is part of $50 million the FNS is awarding in grants to 47 states and tribes to modernize and expand the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs. It is one of many programs Governor Hochul is facilitating to source more locally grown and produced foods.

“One of our biggest strengths as a state is the wide scope of what we have to offer, and our farms’ bounty is at the top of that list,” Governor Hochul said. “With a fifth of our land used for farming for our 33,000 family farms, we’re bringing more of New York’s fresh produce and products not only to our seniors, but also to schools and State agencies — supporting our farms and promoting healthier lifestyles.”

In addition to the expansion of the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, Governor Hochul will be issuing an Executive Order later this year to direct New York State agencies to source 30 percent of their food from New York producers while also inviting local governments and school districts to strive to meet this goal. The Governor’s proposed FY24 Executive Budget allocates $50 million to a grant program that will support scratch cooking facilities for schools using New York Farm products. The Budget also sets aside $10 million in funding for grants providing for expanded food access to farm markets, food co-ops, and other retail food stores in underserved communities, as well as over $2.2 million to expand urban agriculture infrastructure and community gardens across the state.

New York State Office for the Aging Acting Director Greg Olsen said, “Access to nutritious food is vital for preventing disease, helping to manage a range of chronic conditions, and increasing energy to stay active. As the administrator of the largest senior nutrition program in the country, NYSOFA uses every tool available to increase access to healthy foods from New York, improving overall nutrition and health for older adults. The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program allows thousands of older New Yorkers to access fresh products in their communities. NYSOFA thanks Governor Hochul and Commissioner Ball for their longstanding support and their leadership in expanding this popular and successful program.”

The grant funding allocates $3,378,945 to help New York serve more fresh foods to eligible seniors. It also allocates $500,000 to implement other program improvements, such as online applications and training for farmers interested in participating, web-based farmers’ market and farm stand directories, and outreach to more eligible seniors through partnerships with community organizations.

USDA’s Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program provides eligible seniors with access to fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and honey in 48 states, Puerto Rico and eight tribal areas. These foods help support nutrition security, ensuring older Americans have consistent and equitable access to healthy, safe, affordable foods essential to good health. Learn more about this program in New York State at https://agriculture.ny.gov/consumer-benefits-farmers-markets.

Farmers’ markets fill an essential gap in New York’s local food supply chains by improving access to and encouraging consumption of locally grown foods and supporting direct farmer-to-consumer transactions. Farmers’ markets, farm stands, and mobile markets are crucial components to a healthy food system. Today, New York has more than 400 farmers’ markets, 250 farm stands, and 10 mobile markets. They provide outlets for agricultural producers to meet the rising consumer demand for a variety of fresh, affordable, and convenient products grown directly from the farm. New York State—through the Department of Agriculture and Markets, Department of Health, Office for the Aging, and Office of Temporary Disability Assistance—administers several programs that help low-income families, seniors, and Veterans access fresh, healthy food at participating markets. To learn more about the Department’s farmers’ market programs or to find a market near you, visit https://agriculture.ny.gov/farmersmarkets.

Registration Open for Employee Development and Training Course

Submitted by Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development has opened registration for a new online course in the Supervisory Leadership Certificate Program. Offered for the first time, “Employee Development and Training” course materials release and registration closes on March 3, 2023. Live weekly Zoom sessions will be held 3 to 4 PM EDT each Thursday from March 9 through April 13. Continuing education credits are offered. Course cost is $275 and spaces are limited.

Find information and registration for the Agricultural Supervisory Leadership certificate courses here.

“I hope participants will gain practical tools that they can put in their supervisory skills toolbox. They can pull these tools out and use them to build a great workplace and solve problems. Ultimately, we want farm managers to be just as confident about their ability to lead people as they are about their ability to manage farm production,” said Dr. Richard Stup, Agricultural Workforce Development Specialist.

Employee Development and Training is the course you’ve been waiting for! Identify training needs. Understand learning styles. Design and plan learning experiences that accommodate learner needs. Develop effective training skills and techniques. Evaluate learning results and training effectiveness.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve labor management and leadership skills and we encourage our employees to take courses too,” said Bob DiCarlo, FaBa Farms, who took the Managing Performance course, and his employee took Organizing Work for High Quality Results. “We’re focused on continuous improvement. One of the big pluses has been getting to have time to learn from people not in the same agriculture industry and to talk through real-life situations. The breakout Zoom sessions were worthwhile. It was helpful for me to talk through situations and for our employee too. It's easy to say I’m busy but pick the course that would be of most interest. When you push your comfort zone, it returns the most. We’re continuing to see the importance of stepping away from daily tasks on the farm to see the bigger picture.”

The Agricultural Supervisory Leadership Program includes a series of courses that help farm supervisors and managers learn and apply human resource management practices and leadership skills that foster rewarding workplaces and drive business results. Confident managers who thoughtfully apply leadership and management skills improve employee performance, develop teams, reduce employee turnover, and increase employee engagement. The six courses within the certificate series offer extensive practice and engagement activities to build confidence and skill sets.

Who should attend?

This course, and the whole certificate program, is appropriate for both new and experienced farm supervisors and managers, and those preparing to become supervisors. All participants learn leadership concepts and practice skills that improve their ability to build a positive workplace and get results through leading others.

How to attend?

The course is taught online, but you can still actively engage with other learners. Watch prerecorded presentations on your own schedule, and engage with classmates and instructors during weekly, live discussion sessions. Participation in the live sessions is highly encouraged and provides a valued opportunity for peer-to-peer learning and networking. Continuing education credits are offered.

Course instructors include:

• Richard Stup, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development Specialist

• Elizabeth Higgins, Ag Business Management/Production Economics Extension Specialist with the Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture team

• Libby Eiholzer, Bilingual Dairy Specialist, Cargill

• Bob Milligan, Cornell University Professor Emeritus

• Kaitlyn Lutz, Bilingual Dairy Management Specialist

• Jay Canzonier, Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development Extension Support Specialist

Direct questions to Rachel McCarthy, Agricultural Supervisory Leadership Coordinator, at rachel.mccarthy@cornell.edu.

Courses in the Supervisory Leadership certificate program can be taken in any order and include:

• Transitioning to Supervisor: Develop essential communication skills and manage conflict. Lead a multi-cultural team. Build an effective workplace culture.

• Organizing Work for High Quality Results: Create an efficient and high-performing workplace. Develop clear expectations and standard operating procedures. Delegate effectively. Diagnose and correct performance problems.

• Managing Performance: Understand motivation. Harness the power of performance feedback and coaching. Build clear and effective workplace communications. Set safety expectations. Conduct effective performance improvements.

• Ethics and Employment Regulations for Supervisors: Implement responsible and ethical labor practices and understand why this matters for agriculture. Recognize and prevent sexual harassment. Understand and follow minimum wage and overtime laws. Implement Equal Employment Opportunity laws to prevent discrimination and harassment. Use an employee handbook. Handle employee discipline and termination.

• Employee Development and Training: Identify training needs. Understand learning styles. Design and plan learning experiences that accommodate learner needs. Develop effective training skills and techniques. Evaluate learning results and training effectiveness.

• Staffing and Organizing Your Team: Develop job descriptions. Learn how to find potential employees, interview and select the right people. Implement new hire documentation, employment authorization, and onboarding: bringing new employees into the business successfully and productively.

USDA Develops Simplified Direct Loan Application

Submitted by the USDA Farm Service Agency

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has developed a simplified direct loan application to provide improved customer experience for producers applying for loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The simplified direct loan application enables producers to complete a more streamlined application, reduced from 29 to 13 pages. Producers will also have the option to complete an electronic fillable form or prepare a traditional, paper application for submission to their local FSA farm loan office. The paper and electronic versions of the form will be available starting March 1, 2023.  

“USDA is committed to improving our farm loan processes to better serve all of our borrowers,” said FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux. “We’re consistently looking for ways to make the application process easier to navigate, so more producers are able to complete it. Our new direct loan application is a critical step forward in our efforts to improve customer service and build equity into not just our programs but also our services.” 

Approximately 26,000 producers submit a direct loan application to the FSA annually, but there is a high rate of incomplete or withdrawn applications, due in part to a challenging and lengthy paper-based application process. Coupled with the Loan Assistance Tool released in October 2022, the simplified application will provide all loan applicants access to information regarding the application process and assist them with gathering the correct documents before they begin the process. This new application will help farmers and ranchers submit complete loan applications and reduce the number of incomplete, rejected, or withdrawn applications.   

In October 2022, USDA launched the Loan Assistance Tool, an online step-by-step guide that provides materials to help an applicant prepare their farm loan application in one tool. Farmers can access the Loan Assistance Tool by visiting farmers.gov/farm-loan-assistance-tool and clicking the ‘Get Started’ button. The tool is built to run on any modern browser like Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or the Safari browser. A version compatible with mobile devices is expected to be available by the summer. It does not work in Internet Explorer.    

The simplified direct loan application and Loan Assistance Tool are the first of multiple farm loan process improvements that will be available to USDA customers on farmers.gov in the future. Other improvements that are anticipated to launch in 2023 include:   

• An interactive online direct loan application that gives customers a paperless and electronic signature option, along with the ability to attach supporting documents such as tax returns.    

• An online direct loan repayment feature that relieves borrowers from the necessity of calling, mailing, or visiting a local Service Center to pay a loan installment.   

USDA provides access to credit to approximately 115,000 producers who cannot obtain sufficient commercial credit through direct and guaranteed farm loans. With the funds and direction Congress provided in Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act, USDA took action in October 2022 to provide relief to qualifying distressed borrowers while working on making transformational changes to loan servicing so that borrowers are provided the flexibility and opportunities needed to address the inherent risks and unpredictability associated with agricultural operations.   

Soon, all direct loan borrowers will receive a letter from USDA describing the circumstances under which additional payments will be made to distressed borrowers and how they can work with their FSA local office to discuss these options. Producers can explore all available options on all FSA loan options at fsa.usda.gov or by contacting their local USDA Service Center.  

Take Part in the 2023 CCE ENYCHP Fruit & Vegetable Conference

After three years of virtual programming, the CCE ENYCHP Fruit & Vegetable Conference is back in person in Albany, February 22 and 23. Get ready for two full days of informative sessions, many of which will offer DEC credits, and a trade show.  After Wednesday sessions, enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and networking with vendors, conference attendees, and your peers at the attend the Trade Show Social. 

Register by February 12 to save money and ensure your room booking at a reduced rate. Click here for more information and to register.

Here’s this year’s agenda:

2023 CCE ENYCHP Fruit & Vegetable Conference

February 22-23, 2023

The Desmond Hotel & Conference Center
660 Albany Shaker Rd., Albany

Tuesday, February 21, 2023: Pre-Conference Produce Safety Grower Training Course, 8:15am-5:00pm 

Wednesday, February 22, 2023: 

• Tree Fruit Sessions, 9:00am–4:00pm

• Small Fruit Sessions, 9:00 am-3:30pm

• Vegetable Sessions, 9:00 am–4:00pm

• Join us after the sessions for our Trade Show Social, held in the Fort Orange Courtyard

Thursday, February 23, 2023

• Tree Fruit Session, 8:30am-12:00pm

• Vegetable Sessions, 9:00am-3:00pm

• Grape Session, 9:00am–12:00pm

Conference costs: Pre-conference Food Safety training is $65/person.  Regular conference registration starts at $80/person/day for ENYCHP contributors. Discounts for multiday and multiple attendees from same farm are available. Walk-in registration is $130 per person per day. Register by February 15 for the best rates! 

Lodging:  Group rate of $149 per night per room at The Desmond. The deadline for this reduced room rate is February 12th. 

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Sets Its Federal Policy Focus for 2023

NASDA members, the state commissioners, secretaries and directors of agriculture, hand-selected seven issues to serve as the organization’s primary policy focus for 2023. They include the 2023 Farm Bill, animal health, environmental regulations, food production and the supply chain, food safety, international trade and workforce development.

NASDA CEO Ted McKinney says, “These issues were chosen for the organization’s 2023 focus as NASDA members see specific opportunities for progress regarding each of these areas to best serve farmers, ranchers and all communities across the nation. Further, we believe these are the areas where state departments of agriculture are uniquely positioned to lead impact and direct policymaking solutions this year.”

NASDA has published one-pagers offering background and insight for each policy priority.

2023 Farm Bill
The next farm bill must remain unified, securing a commitment to American agriculture and the critical food and nutritional assistance programs for those who need it most.

Environmental regulation
NASDA supports the science-based and comprehensive regulatory framework the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act provides to ensure environmental and public health protection. NASDA stands ready to assist the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in implementing FIFRA, ensuring our environment, including endangered species, is protected and U.S. farmers and public health officials have access to the technologies they need.

Regarding the recently published “waters of the U.S.” rule, NASDA will continue to impress the role of states in regulating non-navigable waters.

Food production and the supply chain
NASDA is committed to ensuring long-term stability and resilience in our nation’s food supply chain through supporting projects to increase U.S. meat processing, food and nutrition security and reducing food waste.

Food Safety
NASDA will continue to advocate for funding state Food Safety Modernization Act programs because state departments of agriculture are the front line of protection for consumers when it comes to food safety. State agencies, including state departments of agriculture, play a vital role in implementing and enforcing our nation’s food safety and inspection laws.
 
Animal Health
NASDA is committed to working with intergovernmental agencies and industry stakeholders to foster a collaborative approach to animal health initiatives, especially in protecting U.S. livestock from foreign and emerging animal diseases.

International trade
To increase export opportunities for U.S. food, agriculture and forestry producers NASDA is asking Congress and the Biden Administration to leverage existing trading relationships, secure new trade agreements, fully fund trade promotion programs and engage with global trade institutions. NASDA continues to advocate for the promotion of science-and-evidence based trade standards globally.

Workforce development
NASDA is committed to working with the federal government, private industry and academia to identify and address agricultural workforce challenges.

Read more about each of the 2023 policy priories and all NASDA’s policy work at NASDA.org/policy.