Cornell Cooperative Extension

Agriculture

The Agriculture Program of Albany County addresses the educational and research needs of local farm businesses by offering technical service, workshops, tours, newsletters and one on one consultation. Major emphasis is placed on farm profitability, environmental management, marketing and agricultural development.

Because the agriculture industry is so diverse in Albany County, staffing to meet the needs of this audience is served by several different regional program teams: The Capital District Regional Dairy, Field Crops, Farm Management Team, The Capital District Regional Vegetable Program and The Northeast NY Regional Commercial Fruit Program.

Rural use issues are very important to the farms and residents of Albany County. Information on issues such as Agricultural Districts, Agriculture Assessments, Right to Farm Laws and Agriculture and Farmland Protection are available by contacting Thomas Gallagher, Agriculture Issue Team Leader.

Our monthly and bi-monthly publications include:

o The Part Time Farmer
o The Agriculture News
o Beef Cattle Comments

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Agricultural links:

DEC http://www.dec.ny.g ov/
NOFA NY http://nofany.org
Ag in the Classroom http://cerp.cornell.edu/aitc/
NY Farmnet http://www.nyfarmnet.org/
NY Ag & Markets http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/
PRO-Dairy http://www.ansci.cornell.edu/prodairy/
New England SARE www.uvm.edu/~nesare/
NY Farm Viability Institute http://nyfarmviability.org
Cornell Small Farms Program www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/
Sheep & Goat Marketing www.sheepgoatmarketing.info/
New York Farms http://www.nyfarms.info/
NYS Agricultural Statistics Service www.nass.usda.gov/ny/
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service marketnews.usda.gov

Tools:

Ag District maps
New York State Farmer's Markets

Capital District Regional Horticulture

In an effort to provide cutting edge education and assistance, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany, Rensselaer, and Schenectady Counties have forged a partnership to enhance the delivery of targeted, technical education programs to horticultural businesses large and small throughout the Capital District region. Three horticulture educators work as a team to deliver specialized programming in Turfgrass Management, Nursery and Landscape Management, and Greenhouse Production.

For more information, contact our Agriculture Department.

Commercial Horticulture Programming

Cornell Cooperative Extension also offers many programs to the commercial horticulture industry to help growers enhance and protect the environment such as:

Newsletters:
Capital District Growing Trends newsletter
Click to add name to email list

January 18, 2012
Workshop for Landscape Architects
Soils, Structural Soil and Compaction;
The “Landscape Below Ground”;
Tough Plants for Tough Sites
Time: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County, 24 Martin Road, Voorheesville, NY 12186

Cornell Cooperative Extension staff members and Jack Magai of Magai Arboriculture will present three 1 hour lectures. The morning will consist of a lecture on soil basics, using structural soil and dealing with soil compaction followed by a lecture on the landscape below ground, a positive approach showing the benefits of large trees and how they can be preserved and concluding with selecting tough plants for difficult sites. 3 LA Continuing Education
Credits will be offered. Registration required. Workshop cost $100.

For more information or to register for the course, contact Chuck Schmitt at cds34@cornell.edu and 518-765-3513.

January 24, 2012
Be Green Organic Yards NY
Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer County, 61 State Street, Troy, NY 12180

Successful completion of the 7-hour training program and exam will allow attendees to apply to the NYSDEC to enter a license agreement to use the service mark. . Registration required. Workshop cost $100.

For more information contact Chuck Schmitt at cds34@cornell.edu and 518-765-3513 or David Chinery at
dhc3@cornell.edu and 518-272-4210.

January 31, 2012
Bedding Plant Conference
The Century House, 997 New Loudon Road (Route 9), Latham, NY 12110

Learn about innovations in greenhouse production, pest management, new varieties and other trends.
DEC pesticide credits applied for.

For more information contact Chuck Schmitt at cds34@cornell.edu and 518-765-3513.

February 7 - 9 & 14 - 16, 2012
30-Hour Pesticide Class for Category 3a & 25
Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer County, 61 State Street, Troy, NY 12180

Cornell Cooperative Extension horticulture staff of the Capital District will present a six day class to become licensed pesticide applicators. Successful completion of the thirty-hour training course and exams will allow participants to be licensed by the NYSDEC as Certified Pesticide Applicators. Registration required.

For more information contact Chuck Schmitt at cds34@cornell.edu and 518-765-3513 or David Chinery at
dhc3@cornell.edu and 518-272-4210.

February 28, 2012
Organic Turf & Landscape (a “Be Green” credit course)
Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer County, 61 State Street, Troy, NY 12180

Cornell Cooperative Extension horticulture staff will present the latest on managing turfgrass and landscapes using organic methods. Participants will receive credits applicable to maintaining a current Be Green license agreement with the NYSDEC. Registration required.

For more information contact Chuck Schmitt at cds34@cornell.edu and 518-765-3513 or David Chinery at dhc3@cornell.edu and 518-272-4210.

March 7, 8 & 23, 2012
CNLP Review Session
Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County, 24 Martin Road, Voorheesville, NY 12186

A 3-day review session and exam. Topics include botany, soils, and plant identification. This review session will prepare students for the CNLP exam. Registration required.

For more information about the training and the CNLP program, contact Chuck Schmitt at cds34@cornell.edu and 518-765-3513.

March 15, 2012
Pesticide Recertification Day
The Century House, 997 New Loudon Road (Route 9), Latham, NY 12110

Learn the latest on pesticide use, safety, and pest management for the upcoming season. This program features up to 6 DEC recertification credits. Morning sessions offer core credits and afternoon sessions offer category specific credits for 3a, 1a, 7a and private categories as well. Registration required.

For more information contact Chuck Schmitt at cds34@cornell.edu or 518-765-3513.

March 27, 2012
Garden Center Training
Cornell Cooperative Extension Albany County, 24 Martin Road, Voorheesville, NY 12186

Learn the latest in NYSDEC regulation changes, how to control the most common garden center pests problems and how Cornell Cooperative Extension can help your business grow. Registration required.

For more information contact Chuck Schmitt at cds34@cornell.edu and 518-765-3513 or David Chinery at dhc3@cornell.edu and 518-272-4210.

Integrated Pest Management

Integrated pest management (IPM) is socially acceptable, environmentally responsible and economically practical crop protection.

Traditionally, a pest is defined as any organism that interferes with production of the crop. We generally think of pests as insects, diseases and weeds, but there are many other types including nematodes, and arthropods. We now also deal with pests in many non-crop situations, such as human health and comfort.

For more information, to check current classes, chemical information, pesticide applicator certification information, fact sheets, pesticide regulations, registrations, reporting and much more visit:
pmep.cce.cornell.edu

Current Pesticide Safety Training Classes:

January 24, 2012
Be Green Organic Yards NY
Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer County, 61 State Street, Troy, NY 12180

Successful completion of the 7-hour training program and exam will allow attendees to apply to the NYSDEC to enter a license agreement to use the service mark. Registration required. Workshop cost $100.

For more information contact Chuck Schmitt at cds34@cornell.edu and 518-765-3513 or David Chinery at
dhc3@cornell.edu and 518-272-4210.

March 15, 2012
Pesticide Recertification Day
The Century House, 997 New Loudon Road (Route 9), Latham, NY 12110

Learn the latest on pesticide use, safety, and pest management for the upcoming season. This program features up to 6 DEC recertification credits. Morning sessions offer core credits and afternoon sessions offer category specific credits for 3a, 1a, 7a and private categories as well. Registration required.

For more information contact Chuck Schmitt at cds34@cornell.edu or 518-765-3513.

People applying pesticides to property owned by others can become a "Certified Commercial Applicator," a "Certified Pesticide Technician," or a "Pesticide Apprentice." For complete information, call the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation's Pesticide Bureau at 518-357-2234, your local Extension office, or visit the website pmep.cce.cornell.edu/certification.

For additional important information, contact our Capital District regional Horticulture Specialists.

Thomas Gallagher, Senior Resource Educator tjg3@cornell.edu
Charles Schmitt, Senior Resource Educator cds34@cornell.edu
Susan Pezzolla, Community Educator sep37@cornell.edu
Lisa Cox Senior, Administrative Asst. lkc29@cornell.edu