DELHI, N.Y. — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County, in partnership with the Watershed Agricultural Council, will be hosting the sixteenth annual Catskill Regional Agriculture Conference on Thursday, January 10, 2019, from 10:00 AM in Farrell Hall at the SUNY Delhi campus. Come and join farmers from around the region for this premier agricultural event. Our top-notch speakers will be presenting timely information about dairy, livestock, and vegetable production as well as grazing management.
This year’s featured speaker is Dr. Hubert Karreman, VMD. Dr. Karreman is an internationally recognized expert in the non-antibiotic treatment of infectious disease and non-hormonal treatment of infertility. Reducing agricultural use of antibiotics can help to protect the effectiveness life-saving antibiotics and combat increasing antibiotic resistance. Dr. Karreman currently operates a multi-species grazing based farm, and has many years of experience in veterinary practice in SE Pennsylvania.
Conference registration begins at 9:30 AM followed by three early bird sessions at 10:00 AM which include; Transitioning Farms: A Panel of Innovative Farms, Grow Your Business, and Intro to Beef Farming in the Catskills.
Attendees may choose to follow a single track or mix and match sessions that are of interest. Core sessions of the conference take place at 11:00 AM, 1:40 PM, 2:40 PM and include the following topics:
- DAIRY: Dr. Hubert Karreman, VMD starts the morning off speaking about Managing Dairy Health: Relying Less on Antibiotics. After lunch, Mariane Kiraly & Paul Cerosaletti, Cornell Cooperative Extension Delaware County, present Dairy Benchmarking for Success. Dr. Mike Baker, from Cornell University, concludes the dairy track discussing Dairy x Beef Cross-bred Calves: An Opportunity for Dairy Farms.
- GRAZING: Troy Bishopp, Grass Farmer & Grazing Specialist for the Upper Susquehanna Coalition, starts the morning off presenting Grazing Hacks: Practical Tips and Tools for Creating Grazing Management Efficiencies. After lunch, Grassfed Dairy Producer Nathan Weaver and Benjamin Hepler, Grass Finished Beef Producer and Educator for CCE Delaware County team up to discuss “Grass, A Tale of Two Farmers” Approaches to High Performance from Pasture. Dr. Hubert Karreman, VMD, concludes the track with Multi-Species Grazing.
- VEGETABLE: Crystal Stewart, Vegetable Specialist ENY Horticulture Team and Jean-Paul Courtens, Roxbury Farm, start the morning off with Soil Health for Vegetable Production. After lunch, Ethan Grundberg, Vegetable Specialist ENY Horticulture Team, shares information on High Tunnel Soil Fertility and Disease Management. Hemp Q&A will finish the day.
- LIVESTOCK: Rich Taber, Cornell Cooperative Extension Chenango County, will share Storing and Feeding Hay Crops to Livestock Efficiently. The afternoon consists of Dr. Hubert Karreman, VMD, discussing Holistic Approaches to Ruminant Animal Health and MacKenzie Waro, Strauss Brands, presenting Grassfed Livestock Production.
An all-day tradeshow of local agri-service providers offers networking opportunities between sessions. The local foods luncheon session featuring Matt LeRoux, Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County, will offer insight into Consumer Focused Marketing.
For more information about the sessions, speakers, or the conference itself, please visit ccedelaware.org or call Kim Holden at 607-865-7090, ext. 241. Pre-registration, including the luncheon, is $25 per person.
Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and 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.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension Delaware County
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