Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County and the Watershed Agricultural Council will be hosting the eleventh annual Catskill Regional Agriculture Conference on Thursday, January 16, 2014 from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM at Farrell Hall, on the SUNY-Delhi campus. A lineup of nationally and regionally renowned speakers will talk on relevant topics in the areas of dairy, livestock, and vegetable production as well as grazing management.
Conference registration opens at 9:30 a.m. At 10 a.m., participants can attend one of two early-bird sessions; OSHA Inspections and Farm Safety by Jim Carraba of the NY Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health, or Plants Toxic to Ruminant Livestock by Dr. tatiana Stanton of Cornell University. At 11:00 the Dairy, Livestock, and Grazing and Vegetable tracks begin.
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The dairy track sessions will feature presentations by Dr. Jerry Bertolodo DVM, dairy specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension in Western NY, presenting new research on more effective long day lighting using LED lights. He will also present on heifer growth and health from weaning to freshening. Dr. Limin Kung, University of Delaware and internationally renowned silage fermentation expert will present on factors affecting silage quality and performance.
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The livestock track sessions will focus on hay saving feeders and bale grazing by Dan Vredenburgh Watershed Agricultural Council whole farm planner, innovative parasite control methods for small ruminants by Dr. tatiana Stanton and cattle handling facilities for small beef herds by Pete Hagar of Cornell Cooperative Extension Clinton County
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The grazing track will feature Troy Bishopp farmer and Madison County SWCD grazing expert discussing converting fallow land to pasture; Grass Finishing of beef cattle by Walt Wright and Barry Downing of Fourth Right Farm in Johnson City; and forages for pastured poultry by Jim McLaughlin of Cornerstone Farm Ventures in Norwich
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The vegetable track will include basic hop production by Steve Miller, Cornell Cooperative Extension Hop specialist; reduced tillage strategies for vegetable crops by Ryan Maher of Cornell University; and legal labeling for value added food products in NYS by Herb Cooley of Cornell University.
The lunchtime keynote speaker is Dr. George Conneman, renowned professor emeritus of farm management at Cornell University who will present “General, Miscellaneous, and All Other” a light hearted and poignant tour of life lessons learned from his nearly 60 years of working with farm families in New York.
Pre-registration by January 10 is requested. Conference details and online registration are available at https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/Catskill_Ag_Conference_2014_212 or by calling Kim Holden at 607-865-7090, ext. 241. Pre-registration fee is $25 per person and includes lunch and materials. Late registrations will be accepted at the door for $35; lunch availability may be limited. Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by calling Kim Holden (607) 865-7090
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County provides equal program and employment opportunities. The Watershed Agriculture Council is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer and is funded by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Forest Service, U.S.D.A and other sources.
