MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. — Most people may not have onions on their mind, but it is time for the farmers in the famous Black Dirt region of Orange County to begin honing their plans for the 2017 growing season.
On Tuesday, February 28th, 2017, experts from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell University, and Penn State University will present onion farmers with the latest research on weed management, new insect pests in the region, fungicides for downy mildew and stemphylium leaf blight management, and more.
February 28, 2017
8:45am-4:30pm
Cornell Cooperative Extension
18 Seward Ave, 3rd Floor
Middletown, NY 10940
Growers will also receive an update from a representative from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on changes to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Worker Protection Standard program that will go into effect this year.
Elizabeth Higgins, an agricultural business specialist with the Cornell Cooperative Extension Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program, will be on hand to answer questions about updates to federal crop insurance programs, including a discussion of the new Whole-Farm Revenue Protection option.
Changes to federal food safety laws will also be a hot topic for farmers in Orange County in 2017. Erik Schellenberg, the Food Safety and Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension, Orange County, will talk to farmers about what they need to do to be prepared for the Food Safety Modernization Act and become a GAPs-certified operation.
Representatives from several industry sponsors, including Bejo Seeds, Stokes Seeds, Helena Chemical, DuPont USA, and Bayer Crop Science will also be present at the educational event to offer insight on new onion varieties and agricultural amendments available to farmers.
The registration fee for the event per person is $80, or $50 for enrolled members of ENYCHP/CCEOC. An addition $15 fee for registrations received after February 10, 2017. The fee includes a catered lunch from the Quaker Creek Store in Goshen, NY. More information and online registration is available at http://enych.cce.cornell.edu/event.php?id=661. Contact Ethan Grundberg, Vegetable Crop Specialist at Cornell Cooperative Extension, Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program, at 845-344-1234 or eg572@cornell.edu with any questions.
—Cornell Cooperative Extension
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