An Update from SWNYDLFC
Katelyn Walley, Business Management Specialist and Team Leader
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
An Update from Cornell Cooperative Extension's Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program
Since July 1st, 2019, our new program has been busy with on-boarding, needs assessment, educational programming, and getting the chance to meet some of our region's amazing farmers. We've hired four specialists that are on-board and ready to hit the ground running in the specialty areas of Farm Business Management, Field Crops, Dairy Management, and Livestock. We're working with each of our five county associations' Executive Directors, Board of Directors, Program Committees, and Agriculture Program Staff to get to know the region and its programming needs while introducing this collaborative model of dairy, livestock, and field crops outreach.
The best way to support SWNYDLFC is to sign up/subscribe/enroll in our program through your local county association. This shows local stakeholders your interest in the team approach and our services, and helps to off-set some of the financial inputs that make our program happen. If you would like more information on your county's process, this page will link you to your county's association. Connect with them to enroll and show your support! Additionally, if you would be willing to host our team for a brief visit to learn more about your operation and your educational/technical needs, please connect with any of our team members. We're hoping to visit 100 farms in our first year, and are halfway there! These visits help to inform our "needs-assessment" that will drive our initial program offerings. Most importantly, the Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops team would like to wish you and your family a safe and happy new year!
Sincerely,
Katelyn Walley-Stoll
Field Crops
Dairy
Business
Livestock
Grains
Upcoming Events
Driving Efficiency in Dairy & Exploring the Irish Experience
September 29, 2025
Rock Stream, NY
This workshop series will feature in-depth presentation and discussion led by Dr. Padraig French who is the Head of Livestock Systems and the Dairy Enterprise Leader at Teagasc (the Irish version of USDA). Dr. French will focus on the critical success factors for Irish dairy, which include pasture utilization, labor efficiency and managing for seasonal calving. The discussion will focus on ways that U.S. dairy farmers can use some of the Irish dairy techniques to become more profitable with grass farming.
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.
Announcements
No announcements at this time.