ITHACA, N.Y. — Mark your calendars for ten field days across the state that will focus on principles and practices related to building soil health and climate resiliency on farms.
“Soil health field days bring together farmers, agricultural professionals, and researchers for valuable co-learning around innovative research and on-farm practices,” said Joseph Amsili, extension associate with the Cornell Soil Health Program.
The series kicks off on May 18 at New Roots Community Farm, a half-acre urban farm in the Bronx, NY. This hands-on field day will focus on urban soil health and water management.
Presentations, farmer panels, and demonstrations will be tailored for different types of agricultural systems, depending on the event’s focus. Certain field days will focus on urban agriculture, field crop, dairy, vegetable, orchard, vineyard, and organic systems.
“In collaboration with local farmers and partners, we are delivering region-specific information on current challenges and advancements in soil health practices,” said Deborah Aller, extension associate with the Cornell Soil Health Program.
Events will showcase some favorite sustainable soil management practices: cover crops, reduced tillage, orchard groundcover management, strip-till pumpkins, precision viticulture, organic no-till, planting green, and biostrip till. The field day sites will be statewide: from Long Island to Western NY, Northern NY, and Central and Eastern NY.
Online registration is required for all events. A few events will have a small registration fee to support costs associated with the event.
2022 Field Day Collaborators and Partners include CCE Harvest NY, Cayuga SWCD, Tompkins SWCD, Cornell Climate Smart Farming Program, Kings AgriSeeds, Clinton CCE, Cornell Small Farms Program, Eastern NY CCE, USDA-NRCS, Cornell Lake Erie Regional Grape Program, Hudson Valley Farm Hub, Orleans CCE, American Farmland Trust, Western NY Crop Management Association, Suffolk CCE and SWCD, NOFA-NY, and NYS Dept of Agriculture and Markets.
For more information about each of the events, visit:Â fielddays.newyorksoilhealth.org
Schedule of the 2022 Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Field Day Series:Â
MAY 18| 12:00 PM – 3:00 PMÂ
New York City – Bronx | New Roots Community Farm
Topic: urban soil health, water management
JUNE 29 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PMÂ Â
Central NY – Seneca Falls | Rodman Lott & Son Farms
Topic: cover crops, reduced tillage
REGISTRATION coming soon!
JULY 20 | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PMÂ Â Â Â
Northern NY – Peru | Sullivan Orchards (333 Rte 22B)
Topic: orchard weed management and soil health
REGISTRATION coming soon!
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JULY 25 | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PMÂ Â
Central NY – Freeville | Thompson Research Farm
Topic: weed management, cover crops, reduced tillage
REGISTRATION coming soon!
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JULY 28 | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PMÂ Â
Eastern NY – Johnstown | B & B Crop Farm
Topic: reduced tillage, cover crops
REGISTRATION coming soon!
AUGUST 2 | TBDÂ Â
Western NY – Portland | Cornell Lake Erie Rsrch & Ext. Lab
Topic: precision viticulture, soil health, cover crops
REGISTRATION coming soon!
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AUGUST 4 | 2:00 PM – 6:00 PMÂ Â
Hudson Valley – Hurley |Hudson Valley Farm Hub
Topic: organic no-till
 REGISTRATION coming soon!
AUGUST 9 | TBDÂ Â
Western NY – Orleans County
Topic: orchard groundcover mgmt, soil health demos
 REGISTRATION coming soon!
AUGUST 25 | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PMÂ Â
Western NY – Pavilion |Swede Farm
Topic: planting green, cover crops, biostrips
REGISTRATION coming soon!
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AUGUST 31 | 3:30 PM – 6:30 PMÂ Â
Long Island – Calverton | Lewin Farms
Topic: cover crops
 REGISTRATION coming soon!
–Kitty Gifford
New York Soil Health