The Spotted Lanternfly is in NYS, and tends to destroy vineyards, hopyards, orchards, and forests. If you see this insect or it's egg masses in winter (which look like smears of concrete), please contact NYS Ag and Markets or your local extension agent.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing up to $20 million to reimburse agricultural producers and handlers who are certified organic and crop and livestock producers who are transitioning to organic for eligible expenses incurred during fiscal years 2020, 2021, and/or 2022.

The growing season across much of the Northeast started with average to slightly above average heat unit accumulation and below average precipitation. This provided relatively good conditions for corn planting, with trial locations planted between May 7 and May 19. Conditions remained dry, with most locations receiving designations of abnormally dry or moderate drought from the U.S. drought monitor in May and June. The exception was Aurora, which received more timely rainfall throughout May and June. At NY locations, this changed in July with rainfall well above average through July and August; however, the Alburgh, VT location remained in Moderate Drought (U.S. Drought Monitor) through harvest. This season provided another example of how seasonal rainfall totals can be misleading in a year such as this but the timing and amount of rainfall at certain stages of plant development can be very impactful. Furthermore, certain areas within the region experienced rainfall extremes far exceeding what is represented in these trials. In these areas, greater shifts in management strategies may be needed to make adjustments in feeding programs.

New York is experiencing a boom in solar development, and many of those developments intersect with farmers and their land. In this article, Caroline Hunt of Yates County shares the takeaways of the recent workshop, "Navigating Solar Lease Agreements and the Solar Development Process: A Program for NY Farmers and Rural Landowners". In it are important points to consider when leasing your farmland for solar.

SAM & DUNS registrations are free and needed to apply for federal grant opportunities. While it takes minutes to apply, it may take weeks to receive your number. Registering your farm or business now means that you'll be prepared for grant opportunities that may come your way.

At our Corn Silage Pre-Harvest Meetings in Springville and Arkport this week, speaker Joe Lawrence talked about the importance of monitoring your corn crop's dry matter for optimal harvest and storage. One way to measure dry matter of growing/harvested crops, and even at feed out or a whole TMR, is with the latest trendy kitchen appliance - an air fryer.

Some cover crops are going in the ground in WNY, but others are waiting on the removal of crops that are still in the fields. Will your crop removals correspond with the establishment success of your cover crop? This article explores how plating date, species, and method of planting impact the crop's success.

Cornell Cooperative Extension's Farmer Tax School: An educational series from Cornell Cooperative Extension Farm Business Management Specialists offering courses designed to inform and empower farm managers to better understand their tax obligations, management strategies, and improve farm profitability. This consists of four courses offered October 2021 - January 2022. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/ccetaxschool. 

The New York State DEC has adopted changes to the state pesticide registration regulations prohibiting chlorpyrifos in New York State effective July 31, 2021. The NYS DEC has issued an enforcement discretion to allow for the possession, transport, storage, or handling through February 1, 2022. Additional supporting documents for the regulation change can be found at the DEC's website.

SYRACUSE, New York, July 16, 2021 — Recent extreme weather conditions have impacted farmers and ranchers in New York. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the Farm Service Agency (FSA), has disaster assistance programs available to help agricultural producers recover after natural disasters, including floods. 

From Mike Stanyard on the Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Team: Gypsy moth larvae are serious pests of deciduous trees and even conifers.

Managing forage inventories can be a difficult task, especially in years when weather challenges cut into harvest yields. Learn more about some management options when forages are short in the spring.