SENECA FALLS, N.Y. — The August 6-8, 2019 Empire Farm Days is set to deliver new demonstrations, seminars, speakers, activities and information for production farmers and rural living enthusiasts at Rodman Lott and Son Farms, 2973 State Route 414, Seneca Falls.
New field demonstrations include an aerial crop spraying system that can fly up to five units with one controller. On the ground, visitors will see a German-made, full-size precision weed control tined harrow demonstrated as well as a Tiny Treffler just 80 cm wide. The daily field equipment demonstrations have added dry manure spreaders to the lineup with manure injection units, all stages of haying machinery, tillage equipment, and GPS-guided tractors.
The show’s test driving opportunities in 2019 have added compact tractors in addition to the opportunity to try RAM Trucks, the Official Truck of Empire Farm Days; large applicators; CATS; and JCB equipment. Visitors can sign up at Info Booths for a chance to win a new Kubota RTV 500. Caterpillar will debut its In the Trenches Tour at this show with a 4D theater experience and hands-on introductions to two of its new mini-excavators.
A Hemp Center is a new focus area for the 2019 Empire Farm Days. Programming includes Cornell Hemp Research Team updates with Dr. Larry Smart; an Albany Update by New York State Assembly Agriculture Chair Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo speaking on state efforts to grow the hemp industry; internationally-recognized hemp plant nutritionist Jeff Kostuik, a member of the Canadian Hemp Trade Alliance research committee; Main Street Farms owner-manager Allan Gandelman on growing hemp for CBD; researcher Dr. Chris Becker on growing hemp for grain and fiber; and crop demonstration tours. Check show listings at www.empirefarmdays for program days and times; some presentations take place only one or two days of the show.
New products located across the 300-acre showgrounds in 2019 include a new cold press oil machine, cover crop seeder for rolling harrow, diesel-powered emergency stand-by generators, new tread design tires, a self-propelled dairy barn alley vac, and more.
The NY Beef Producers have partnered with the New York State Department of Transportation to offer a new daily demonstration of what to expect with a truck and livestock trailer inspection.
The Dairy Profit Center at Empire Farm Days is offering more and shorter educational sessions starting at 10:00 am on Tuesday and Wednesday. Cornell PRO-DAIRY Director Tom Overton will make a keynote presentation on Adapting to an Evolving Northeast Dairy Industry on Tuesday at 2:15 pm. On Thursday, the Center will host the 20th anniversary celebration of the NY Junior DAIRY LEADER program with 31 students graduating.
The Soil Health Center, organized by the New York State Interagency Soil Health Working Group and New York Soil Health Initiative offers a different keynote presentation and farmer panel each day, plus a cover crop demonstration tour with representatives of King’s AgriSeeds and Seedway.
All certified applicators will be able to earn DEC recertification credit at the daily, 1:00 pm, free, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation one-hour Pesticide Training. Those not yet certified will learn how to qualify to make applications. Daily at 11:30 am, the Finger Lakes Institute and Finger Lakes PRISM will present a short overview of invasive species of concern to farmers and forest owners.
The Empire Farm Days Runnings Round-Up twice-a-day equine programs have added teenage trick rider Courtney Jean Schum, who has thrilled crowds at the International Plowing Match and Royal Agricultural Fair in Canada and is an Ontario RAM Rodeo Tour Finals Champion. She will be at the show on Wednesday. On Tuesday, learn how Jack and Emma Minteer of Rose Hill Ranch train wild American Mustangs; on Thursday, Begin Again Horse Rescue is back by popular demand.
At the farm pond, show visitors can try a standup paddleboard, pedal-drive kayak or a water toy called a Corcl with supervision by Morgan Marine of Penn Yan, following safety lessons by New York Sea Grant, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and New York State Marine Services Bureau.
The Empire Farm Days show program for 2019, online and available at the show, has added Resource Tips and a feature on stress management that make it a valuable take-home souvenir. For social media coverage on the show, see the Empire Farm Days Facebook and Instagram pages and follow all the happenings with postings by NY Farm Girls on Instagram. Their exhibit is in Dairy Tent A.
The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health will offer free skin cancer, vision, and hearing screenings on Tuesday and Wednesday, and blood pressure checks daily. The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be on site accepting whole blood and Power Red donations on Wednesday, August 7 in their air-conditioned conversion bus.
Admission to Empire Farm Days is free; parking is $10 per vehicle. Daily schedules and more information is online at www.empirefarmdays.com. For questions, contact the sthow at 877-697-7837.
–Empire Farm Days
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