Chautauqua County Soil Health Field Day
Event Details
Date
August 25, 2021
Time
9:15am - 12:30pm
Location
Lesch Farms, LLC
4893 W. Main Road
Fredonia, NY
Host
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops ProgramLisa Kempisty
716.664.9502 ext. 203
email Lisa Kempisty

Chautauqua County Soil Health Field Day
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
9:15 am - 12:30 pm
Lesch Farms, LLC
4893 West Main Road (Tent in Field)
Fredonia, New York
Hosted by: Dave, Irene, John, and Heather Lesch & Family
FREE to attend, no pre-registration required
NYS DEC Pesticide Recertification Credits Available
Field Day Agenda:
9:15 am: Registration, Donuts, Coffee & Beverages provided
9:30 am: Welcome & Introductions
-Discussion on programs available from USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
and Chautauqua County Soil and Water Conservation District to assist with implementing soil health practices.
-Overview of Lesch Farms tillage and cover crop practices. View cover crop interseeder, planters,
and strip till equipment - Lesch Farms, LLC Field Day Hosts
10:00 am: NY Soil Health Trailer Demonstrations - Healthy soil can reduce nutrient loss from intense rainfall events which keeps crops productive and our water cleaner - Fay Benson, Extension Educator, Cornell University SCNY Regional Dairy Team, Cortland, NY
11:00 am: Weed, Insect and Disease Challenges with Tillage Practice Changes - Farmers make changes to their rotations and tillage practices and utilize more cover crops to create a healthier environment for soil microbes and crops. However, those changes often create an environment that is more desirable to unwanted pests as well. Dan will discuss some of those pests and management considerations to control them - Dan Steward, Field Crop Consultant, WNY Crop Management Association, Randolph, NY
11:45 am: View and Discuss Soil Pits Highlighting Soil Health Indicators and How Soil Properties Influence Soil Function - Matt Havens, Soil Scientist, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Belmont, NY
12:30 pm: Opportunity to ask additional questions and receive Pesticide and CCA credits
Please note: Moderate walking required at the field day to view demonstrations. Seating will NOT be provided - please bring your own lawn chair if needed.
NYS DEC Pesticide Recertification Credits are available: Category 1A- Ag Plant, 0.75 points and Category 21- Field and Forage, 0.75 points. Bring your NYS DEC Pesticide Applicator License to receive credits.
This informational program is being organized by: Chautauqua County Soil & Water Conservation District; USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service; and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County in cooperation with Lesch Farms, LLC; Western NY Crop Management Association; Pioneer Seeds; Preferred Seed and Lamb & Webster.
Plan to join us to learn more about Soil Health for your farm on Wednesday, August 25th from 9:15 am until 12:30 pm at Lesch Farms, LLC in Fredonia, NY.
Upcoming Events
Open Forum to Discuss Newly Approved DOL Trade, "Butcher"
October 2, 2025 : Open Forum to Discuss Newly Approved DOL Trade, "Butcher"
Partners from New York State Dept. of Labor, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Southern Tier West, and Workforce Development will be in the space to provide an overview of the new program, discuss the roles of hosts and apprentices, review the benefits of hosting an apprentice, and setting the vision for building a corps of highly skilled, modern trained Butchers and validating this career as a skilled trade with respectful earning potential.
Silvopasture on a Shoestring
October 7, 2025
Franklinville, NY
Join Joshua Greene, Director of Education at Trees For Graziers, Jonathan Bates, Statewide Agroforestry Educator, and Lynn Bliven, owner of Wild Geese Farm for a full day training event that will include classroom and hands-on sessions. The focus will be on DIY silvopasture projects on small grazing farms. We will address the practical considerations of tree establishment, protection, and maintenance while learning how silvopasture can help address your farm's resource concerns and enhance livestock grazing.
Optimizing the Economic Return of Pasture-Raised Slow-Growth and Conventional Broilers - Webinar
October 15, 2025 : Optimizing the Economic Return of Pasture-Raised Slow-Growth and Conventional Broilers - Webinar
Over the past three years, Cornell Cooperative Extension has worked with nearly 40 small farmers across NYS to gather information on the true costs of raising broilers (meat chickens) on pasture. This presentation is a summary of the findings of this research project.
Announcements
No announcements at this time.