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

Agricultural links:

DEC http://www.dec.state.ny.us
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:

Albany County planning farm map
Albany County Bounty map

Agriculture Workforce Certification Program (AWCP)

The Agriculture Workforce Certification Program (AWCP) was developed in 1992 in response to a shortage of qualified workers in all areas of agriculture. Workforce training programs are held throughout the state to attract new workers into the field of agriculture. New workers have been added to dairy farms, greenhouses, orchards, landscaping crews and golf courses as well as many other segments in agriculture.

Individuals and agriculture related businesses are eligible to apply for a grant to conduct job training. Many of the training programs are offered through local Cooperative Extension offices.

AWCP is a multi-agency initiative administered through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County.

AWCP Application Form
AWCP Checklist
AWCP Final Report Form
www.agmkt.state.ny.us

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:

Plant Health Care
Professional Gardener Short Course
Greenhouse Worker Training
IPM Diagnostic Workshops
Turfgrass Worker Training
CNLP Training
30-Hour Pesticide Class
Landscape Design Series

(Not all programs offered every year)

Newsletters:
Capital District Growing Trends email newsletter
Click to add name to email list
CCE Publication Subscription Form

Plant Health Care – (coming January 2009) Held at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County, Voorheesville. Four days filled with a wide variety of issues on all aspects of keeping landscape plants and turfgrass healthy. Topics will include alternative pest management, emerging pests, wildlife issues, Tree and Turf care, maximizing fertilizer use, and much more. NYS DEC Pesticide Recertification Credits will be offered. Contact Chuck Schmitt at 518-765-3500.

Bedding Plant Conference – (coming January 2009) Held at The Century House, Latham. Learn about innovations in greenhouse production, insect management using IPM, new varieties and other growing trends. Contact Chris Logue at 518-372-1622 x 265.

Nursery/Landscape Education Day – (coming February 2009) Held at the Saratoga City Center, Saratoga Springs. Classes on current issues and concerns, including pest management, regulations, perennials, ponds, soils, turf and more. Co-sponsored by the Northeastern New York Nursery/Landscape Association. Contact Chuck Schmitt at 518-765-3500.

30-Hour Pesticide Class for Category 3a (Turf and Ornamentals) 7a (Structural & Rodent) – (coming February 2009) Held at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County, Voorheesville. Six days of pesticide training offered in preparation for taking the NYSDEC Certified Pesticide Applicator Exams. Contact David Chinery at 518-272-4210.

Certified Nursery Landscape Professional (CNLP) Review Session – (coming March 2009) Held at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County, Voorheesville. A 4-day review session with topics including botany, soils, landscape installation and establishment, turfgrass, insect and disease pests and plant identification. This review session is held in preparation for the CNLP exam. For more information about the CNLP manual and to receive an application contact Chuck Schmitt at 518-765-3500.

Pesticide Recertification Day – (coming March 2009) Held at The Italian American Community Center, Albany. Learn the latest on pesticide use, safety, and pest management for the upcoming season. This program features sessions for several categories of pesticide applicators with NYS DEC recertification credits available. Contact Chuck Schmitt at 518-765-3500.

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:
www.pmep.cce.cornell.edu

Current Pesticide Safety Training Classes:

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.

You must register with Cornell Cooperative Extension to attend the Pesticide Training and/or Exam sessions listed below. Call the appropriate county for information.

COUNTY TRAINING EXAMS To register call

Albany January 2009 February 2009 518-765-3500

Rensselaer April 2009 April 2009 518-272-4210

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

Thomas Gallagher Issue Leader tjg3@cornell.edu
Charles Schmitt Resource Educator cds34@cornell.edu
Susan Pezzolla Community Educator sep37@cornell.edu
Lisa Cox Senior Administrative Asst. lkc29@cornell.edu
Peter Panych Temp. Admin. pp245@cornell.edu