Ag in Cattaraugus County

News

2014 Conservation Farm of the Year: Tim Ploetz

Tim Ploetz - Conservation Farm of the Year

Tim Ploetz and family own and operate a cow-calf beef operation on Jackman Hill Road in the Town of Ellicottville. They have been participating in the Agricultural Environmental Management planning program, and recently completed several best management practices to address agricultural runoff from the farmstead and to improve water quality. These practices include a covered concrete barnyard and drystack manure storage, roof runoff management, and a composting facility for livestock mortality. The farm has worked very closely and cooperatively with both the Cattaraugus County Soil &

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Conservation Farm of the Year Award

Canticle Farm now accepting Applications

Various Employment Positions will be available for those working to work as a field hand at Canticle Farm.

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farmhand

jobs

Allegany County 4-H District Dairy Bowl Results

Allegany County 4-H at the District Dairy Bowl

Allegany County 4-H has attended District Dairy Bowl for the past several years. This year the our team consisted of the following 4-H members: Megan Jozwiak (14, Hinsdale), Elana Emerson (14, Cuba), Molly Emerson (17, Cuba), Lily McGovern (17, Belmont), Josh Deichmann (18, Belmont), Michael Deichmann (17, Belmont) , Alyssa Santangelo (17, Cuba), Elizabeth Burrows (18, Cuba), Logan Torrey (11, Angelica), Noah Santangelo (13, Cuba), Kyla Jozwiak (10, Hinsdale), Alexis Deichmann (11, Belmont), Zach Deichmann (14, Belmont), Josie (13, Rushford) and Kimmi Litchner (14, Rushford).

Invasive Water Species Alert!

A new aquatic invader has been identified in the neighboring County of Chautauqua. The Water Chestnuts have moved in and practically taken over the Jamestown Audubon's Big Pond, in just six years after first identification. With efforts from volunteers, continually over the summer, the Audubon is working to reverse and prevent more occurances. More recently, these plants have been pulled from Chautauqua Lake, and then 14 more plants were found in Akeley Swamp in 2013. This swamp is adjacent to the Conewango Creek which is a tributary to the Allegheny River. So far it has yet to make it

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Invasive Species

22nd Annual Rural Landowner Workshop

Learn something about land, nature, growing and more at Cornell University Cooperative Extension's 22nd Annual Rural Landowner Workshop. There will be an open session on the Ecology of Alaska followed by three concurrent sessions with four classes per session and you must choose one class per session.

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Learn

Land

Plants

Notice of Annual 30-Day Period to Request Inclusion of Agricultural Land within an existing Agricultural District

Agriculture and Markets Law Section 303-b was enacted in 2003 to provide for the designation of an annual 30-day period during which landowners may submit requests for the inclusion of predominately viable agricultural land into an existing certified agricultural district. Cattaraugus County has designated January 2 through January 31, 2014 as this 30-day period.

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Land

Earthworms: Interesting and Unusual Facts about a Gardener’s Best Friend

Worm from http://openclipart.org/detail/82867/worm-by-neo1012

By: Carol Sitarski, Master Gardener, Cornell University Cooperative Extension (CCE)

“The worms crawl in the worms crawl out, the worms play pinochle in your mouth”. Remember that song from childhood? Well, those are not the worms we gardeners so love. This fall while I was putting in some last minute bulbs on a cold fall day I was surprised to find our little friends still close to the surface and it started me thinking about what earthworms do in the winter. During my research I discovered some facts about earthworms that were very interesting. We all know earthworms dramatically alter soil structure, water movement, nutrient dynamics and plant growth. Right?!

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Soil

Worms

Dig up the dirt on your soil with Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners

Did you know, the best time to test your soil and adjust its pH level is NOW, in the fall, NOT in the spring! Any amendments you add to your soil can take up to 6 months to work their magic (i.e., lime or sulphur).

Cornell University Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners are hosting fall pH clinics starting Sept. 15^th.

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Soil

Campus to Farm Guide Released by Cornell

Cover of A Small Farmers "Campus to Farm" Guide by the Cornell Small Farms Program

Cornell Small Farms Program just released a new guide for small farmers that lists research projects from the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

USDA Announces Conservation Reserve Program Sign-Up

Landowners and Producers Can Now Enroll in Continuous CRP with General Sign-Up to Follow

May 14, 2013 - Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack today reminded farmers and ranchers that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct a four-week Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up beginning May 20 and ending on June 14. Vilsack also announced the restart of sign-up for continuous CRP, including the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement Initiative, the Highly Erodible Land Initiative, the Grassland Restoration Initiative, the Pollinator Habitat Initiative and other related initiatives. Sign-up for continuous CRP began on May 13 and will continue through Sept. 30, 2013.

The Women, Food and Agriculture Network is offering a FREE webinar to discuss the upcoming Conservation Reserve Program's eligibility requirements, ways to increase acceptance into the program, annual payment rates and CRP practices and management options.

See the video about the Farm Service Agency's Conservation Reserve Programs.

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Farm

Conservation

Erosion