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Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Programs expand at Jericho Road

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BUFFALO, N.Y. — Cornell Cooperative Extension’s SNAP-Education team has teamed up with Community Health Workers at Jericho Road Community Health Center to expand the Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program (FVRx). The FVRx program will now reach two of the center’s clinical sites and is being offered in Bengali and English.

The Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program, commonly referred to as FVRx, aims to reach patients who are medically at risk or have diet-related chronic diseases (i.e., high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, obesity, etc.) and those who struggle to purchase healthy foods for their families. For many, tight budgets lead to a dual crisis of illness and hunger. This program seeks to increase access and affordability of healthy foods.

The FVRx program started at Jericho Road’s Broadway location and will now also service patients at their Barton Street location. Through a partnership with Massachusetts Avenue Project, the classes will take place in their farmhouse nearby the Barton Street facility.

“The program has reached over 70 individuals. We are so thrilled to have distributed over $2600 in produce vouchers to the community. These vouchers help folks access quality foods. This program has seen over $1900 invested back into our local food partners. Our goal is to be responsive to community needs and continue to improve and expand.” – Melissa Kimbrell, CCE Erie/SNAP-Education’s regional coordinator for the FVRx program.

Through a collaboration between Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County and Jericho Road’s Community Health Worker team, the program is now offered in Bengali – a language spoken by a significant percentage of their patient population. The collaboration translated materials into Bengali to help bring this information to a population that doesn’t see enough resources in their native language. It has been a welcome opportunity for the community- and the program is now offering an encore cohort to reach those that were not able to attend the first sessions. The program hopes to further expand the partnership and adapt content to be linguistically and culturally relevant for Swahili-speaking populations in Buffalo.

This program partners with mobile markets such as the Massachusetts Avenue Project, Feedmore WNY’s new farm markets, and Al Aqsa market – a popular supermarket on Buffalo’s East Side. These partnerships are vital to moving the needle and helping Buffalo’s diverse community thrive.

If you are interested in learning more about the FVRx program, contact Melissa Kimbrell, mjk397@cornell.edu

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County (CCE Erie) uses local experience and research-supported solutions to build stronger communities. CCE Erie provides educational programs to county residents in Agriculture and Food Systems; 4-H Youth Development; Nutrition and Community Health; Environment, and Natural Resources, Sustainable Energy, and Climate Change; and Consumer and Economic Vitality.

–Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County

The oldest and youngest members of the AEM Hall of Fame: Can you guess who they are?

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MILWAUKEE — As the nomination process for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Hall of Fame accepts new nominations for 2022, we look at the three oldest and youngest members among the 66 inductees who have contributed to the industry and our community’s way of life. The age range is vast, with 158 years separating the birthdates of the oldest and youngest Hall of Fame members. Can you guess who they are?

THE YOUNGEST

3. Ronald M. DeFeo – Chairman & CEO, Terex Corp. – Born July 1952 – Inducted 2008

Ten years after Terex Corporation was purchased from original owner General Motors in 1986, DeFeo was appointed chairman and CEO, expanding the company portfolio significantly during his tenure which lasted until 2003.

Terex under DeFeo added Powerscreen, CMI Roadbuilding, Genie Industries, and Tatra under its umbrella, and grew an average of 27 percent per year.

2. Ray O’Connor – President & CEO, Topcon Positioning Group – Born March 1962 – Inducted 2013

While O’Connor is, and remains, the youngest member of the AEM Hall of Fame at the time of induction, at just 52 years old, one other member is younger overall, if only slightly so.

O’Connor joined Topcon in 1993 with a goal of automating the construction industry. By being a leader in merging imaging, GNSS, scanning and software technologies, hardly a construction site on the globe exists without some degree of positioning automation. For O’Connor, it’s all about conserving the world’s most unrenewable resource: time.

1. Bryn Fosburgh – Senior Vice President, Trimble, Inc. – Born September 1962 – Inducted 2021

The AEM Hall of Fame’s youngest member at the time of induction, at 51 years old, is also its most recent.

Born in 1962 in northern Wisconsin, Fosburgh would go on to co-develop real-time kinematic (RTK) technology, which is what allows the GPS device in your phone (or car, or tractor, or excavator) to know exactly where you are, within centimeters, in real time.

In addition to his innovative global positioning work, Fosburgh has also used his abilities to both train future engineers at universities in Western Africa and help with severe earthquake recovery efforts in Japan and China.

THE OLDEST

3. Simon Ingersoll – Founder, Ingersoll-Rand Company – Born March 1818 – Inducted 1993

Just because someone is already more than 200 years old doesn’t mean they’re the oldest.

Inducted in 1993 in the very first class of the AEM Hall of Fame, Simon Ingersoll was already 53 years old when he patented his first steam-powered rock drill in 1871, decades before gasoline or diesel engines would be available to power work on jobsites.

Despite his contributions to the mining and construction industries (the basis of his percussion drill is still used today), and the sale of his patents, Ingersoll would die penniless in 1894 at the age of 76.

2. William Smith Otis – Inventor, Steam Shovel – Born 1813 – Inducted 1996

William Smith Otis is a tragic example of those who burn brightest burn fastest.

Born in 1813 in Massachusetts, as cousin of elevator inventor Elisha Graves Otis, William Otis had created his first steam-powered mechanical excavator at the age of just 22. Otis focused his work on building railroads, and his patent filing showed a steam-powered excavator mounted on a rail car that could dig and remove earth, turn, and deposit it somewhere else, like another railcar.

Otis was granted Patent No. 1,089 on February 24, 1839, and would die less than nine months later, on November 13, 1839, of typhoid fever, at the age of just 26.

1. John Deere – Founder, Deere & Co. – Born 1804 – Inducted 2012

In February of this year, John Deere, inventor of the self-scouring plow and founder of the company to bear his (full) name, would have turned 218 years old, making him the oldest member of the AEM Hall of Fame. And at 208 years old, Deere is also the oldest member at the time of his induction in 2012.

Having grown up working in his father’s tailor shop in Central Vermont, Deere’s father taught him that, by polishing the sewing needles in sand, they would pass through the cloth more easily. After moving to Northern Illinois and finding work as a blacksmith, he heard the horror stories of the ‘worthless’ midwestern soil that could only grow grass and was too sticky to be plowed.

In 1827, at just 23 years old, Deere would create his first cast iron plow with a polished, cast steel share. Eleven years later, he would sell his first all-steel plow to a local farmer, and from that farmer’s recommendation to his local peers, John Deere started taking its first orders, and hasn’t stopped since.

How to Nominate an Industry Pioneer for the AEM Hall of Fame

If you know of someone who should be in the AEM Hall of Fame but isn’t yet, nominations are open until June 17, 2022, and can be submitted online at this link. Tips for how to submit a nomination with a better chance of success are available here. AEM seeks nominations for both current-day innovators as well as those who are no longer with us who made a difference in the industry.

About the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)

AEM is the North America-based international trade group representing off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers with more than 1,000 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture and construction-related industry sectors worldwide. The equipment manufacturing industry in the United States supports 2.8 million jobs and contributes roughly $288 billion to the economy every year.

–Association of Equipment Manufacturers

Orange Co. Farm Bureau gift elevates UC programs that inspire youth in ag

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ORANGE CO., Calif. — During a “GROW Field Day” when 100 high school students enjoyed harvesting and tasting avocados, the Orange County Farm Bureau announced a $690,000 gift to expand University of California-affiliated programs that introduce young people to agricultural careers.

The students from four schools across Southern California participated in the GROW program on May 13 at the UC South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine, a UC Agriculture and Natural Resources facility that organizes and hosts these educational programs.

A highlight for GROW Day participants is harvesting produce from the farm, as evinced by this student in 2018. (Photo courtesy of UC South Coast REC)

“Part of the mission of Orange County Farm Bureau is to support the development of the next generation of agriculturalists,” said Casey Anderson, executive director of OCFB, in announcing the five-year commitment that will begin in 2023. “Through our partnership with South Coast Research Extension Center and support of Orange County 4-H, we are thrilled to provide opportunities to young people to directly connect with food production and myriad research and career opportunities in agriculture.”

Hundreds of local youth are served every year by Orange County 4-H, a part of a nationwide youth development and education program, administered in California by UC ANR.

“OCFB contributions to our Forever 4-H Endowment will soon provide sustaining funds every year, indefinitely,” said Rita Jakel, Orange County 4-H program coordinator. “And their commitment to our Program Support Fund will help ensure that 4-H will continue to have the capacity to impact the youth of Orange County.”

GROW program introduces youth to agriculture careers

The GROW program, originally conceived by OCFB as a way to make agricultural experiences more accessible to more young people across the region, has engaged over 1,000 students from nine schools – many of them in urban areas where knowledge of agriculture is limited. The program builds on a strong history of collaboration between OCFB and South Coast REC, dating back to the early 2000s.

“UC ANR and South Coast Research and Extension Center are grateful for the trust the Orange County Farm Bureau continues to place in us to not only deliver agricultural education to the people of Orange County, but also to open the eyes of young people to fulfilling careers in agriculture,” said Darren Haver, director of UC South Coast REC.

With the support of Orange County Farm Bureau, the GROW program aims to bring hands-on agricultural experiences to more young people from urban communities through field days like this one in 2018. (Photo courtesy of UC South Coast REC)

Beyond the common conception of farming as a profession, the GROW Days and 4-H youth programs highlight other agriculture-related pursuits, including culinary careers, horticulture, commodity marketing and academia. South Coast REC, where UC-affiliated scientists conduct a variety of studies, offers an up-close look at the latest crop research.

“To me, it’s like a great big outdoor classroom,” said Tammy Majcherek, a South Coast REC community educator specialist who coordinates the GROW program, along with colleague Jason Suppes. “There are so many possibilities of what we can connect to.”

Programs spotlight diversity of agriculture-related fields

Gina Cunningham, a teacher at Westminster High School (part of the Huntington Beach Unified School District), was excited to bring the 20 freshmen in her agricultural biology class to the GROW Day, where they get a glimpse of potential pathways in agriculture that “are not directly farming-related.”

“This gives kids an opportunity to see some things that are available to them that maybe they never have thought of – and there are a lot of things out there that I might not have thought of, either,” said Cunningham, who has degrees in animal science and agricultural education.

In addition to the traditional livestock shows, the 4-H program in Orange County emphasizes science and technology through activities such as this drone demonstration. (Photo by Rita Jakel)

She noted that the May 13 GROW Day was the first-ever field trip for some of her students – and that most of them had very little firsthand exposure to agricultural practices.

Thanks to OCFB’s long-term commitment to the program, GROW coordinators Majcherek and Suppes said that in the coming years they would like to bring more students with career aspirations outside of traditional agricultural roles. In particular, they hope to reach out to young people with interests in culinary arts and food service, as well as in technology and engineering, which intersect with food production in the form of drones, robotics and artificial intelligence.

Regardless of their background, however, almost all of the students love harvesting crops from the South Coast REC farm, whether pumpkins, potatoes, or – during the most recent GROW Day – avocados. Majcherek said it’s especially rewarding to hear the students talk enthusiastically about older siblings who went to a GROW program and came back with enduring memories – as well as some fresh produce.

“You know it’s cool when they’re taking selfies with their bounty,” she said.

Community members interested in joining the Orange County Farm Bureau in support of South Coast REC and 4-H programs are encouraged to make a donation on UC ANR’s annual Giving Day, which runs from noon to noon on May 19-20.

UC Agriculture and Natural Resources brings the power of UC to all 58 California counties. Through research and Cooperative Extension in agriculture, natural resources, nutrition, economic and youth development, our mission is to improve the lives of all Californians. Learn more at ucanr.edu and support our work at donate.ucanr.edu.

–UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

Gov. Kate Brown declares drought emergency for Baker, Douglas, Wallowa, and Wheeler Counties

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SALEM, Ore. — Governor Kate Brown today [May 13, 2022] declared a drought in Baker, Douglas, Wallowa, and Wheeler Counties through Executive Order 22-08, and directed state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the region.

“Baker, Douglas, Wallowa, and Wheeler Counties are facing historic challenges from drought conditions that are creating hardships for the people, farms, ranches, communities, and ecosystems of the region. I am committed to doing everything possible to make state resources available to provide immediate relief and assistance to water users throughout Baker, Douglas, Wallowa, and Wheeler Counties,” said Governor Brown.

“Moving forward, we must look for long-term solutions to the underlying issue causing drought in Oregon counties: there is too little water to go around, and as the climate changes we are experiencing hotter, drier summers. As we brace for another record-breaking drought year, collaborating with our federal partners will also be critical as we work towards locally supported, long-term solutions.”

As of May 9, the snow-water equivalent in Baker, Douglas, Wallowa, and Wheeler Counties was significantly lower than during a normal water year, and forecasted water conditions are not expected to improve. Drought, severe weather conditions, and the upcoming fire season pose significant threats to the local economy, agriculture and livestock, natural resources, and recreation in Baker, Douglas, Wallowa, and Wheeler Counties.

Governor Brown’s drought declaration unlocks a number of drought-related emergency tools for water users, including assistance to local water users. Drought declarations also allow the Water Resources Department to expedite review processes and reduce fee schedules. Declarations are intended to be short-term emergency authorizations to address water supply challenges. More information is available at Oregon Drought Watch.

As state and local officials coordinate with federal partners, conditions will be closely monitored by the state’s natural resource and public safety agencies, including the Oregon Water Resources Department and the Oregon Office of Emergency Management.

Drought declarations typically go through a three-part process before securing a state drought declaration from the Governor. The Baker, Douglas, Wallowa, and Wheeler County Commissions first declared a drought emergency due to low snowpack, low precipitation, low streamflows and warmer than normal temperature, and a state drought declaration was requested. State officials subsequently met, and the Oregon Drought Readiness Council ultimately recommended that the Governor issue a drought declaration to provide critical resources to confront current water conditions and future climatic forecasts.

To view the Executive Order, click here.

— Oregon Office of the Governor

Pa. named national leader in direct-to-consumer sales

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HARRISBURG, Pa. — Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding was joined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and Penn State Extension at Strites’ Orchard in Dauphin County today to highlight new data recognizing Pennsylvania as a national leader in direct-to-consumer sales.

According to new survey data recently released from USDA-NASS in late April, 6,200 Pennsylvania farms are reported to produce and sell food locally through direct marketing. Direct-to-consumer marketing and sales strengthens local food systems and generated $600 million in revenue in 2020. Pennsylvania ranks second in the nation, only behind California, in direct-to-consumer sales.

“Pennsylvania is proud of the dedicated farmers across the commonwealth who have grown their operations to serve the needs of their communities,” said Redding. “Agriculture is urban and rural. We have seen the growth of direct-to-consumer sales in every corner of the commonwealth through on-farm markets, farm stands, and farmers markets. It is a localized approach that is strengthening food systems, growing food security, and bolstering the economy.

“People have also become intimately more aware of where their food comes from,” said Redding. “Direct-to-consumer sales foster a connection both to food and the farmers who grow it, creating meaningful relationships and experiences that will advance Pennsylvania agriculture for generations to come.”

Many on-farm markets and farmers market vendors are members of the PA Preferred® program or carry PA Preferred products. PA Preferred is the statewide branding program for agricultural products grown, produced, and processed in Pennsylvania. When purchasing items with the PA Preferred checkmark, consumers are supporting locally grown and processed Pennsylvania agricultural products and directly supporting Pennsylvania farmers. Strites’ Orchard recently joined the PA Preferred program and is one of 745 PA Preferred members across of the commonwealth.

To find an on-farm market or farmers market near you, visit Penn State Extension’s Farmers Market Finder at extension.psu.edu/farm-market-finder.

For more information about PA Preferred, including how to become a member, visit agriculture.pa.gov.

–Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture

Auction features very special goats at the 2022 Glenn County Fair

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CHICO, Calif. — Golden State Farm Credit’s (GSFC) lending office in Willows, CA has a lot to “honk” about when discussing the goats raised by Willows High School FFA students and a group of students with special needs that will be shown at the Glenn County Fair Junior Livestock Auction.

GSFC played a part in making this program possible with a donation of $5,000 to the Mighty Honkers Goat Program with the help of CoBank’s Sharing Success Program. The goal of the program is to mentor and teach developmentally disabled students how to properly feed, exercise, clean, care for and groom goats for show and auction. Golden State Farm Credit’s contribution includes $1,500 for each special needs student. With this money, the school can purchase whites and FFA jackets. The money also helps pay for feed, food bins, medicine and all show supplies for the animal and the student themselves.

The students selected to participate are developmentally disabled students at Willows High School. They attend class with mainstream FFA students who serve as mentors all semester. The students collaborate while working with the goats in the barn, cleaning pens, writing buyer’s letters, and accompanying the team to drop off buyer’s letters at local businesses who support the program. Currently, there are four students enrolled in the Mighty Honker Goat program including Zachary Gonzalez, 9th grade; Franny Ruiz, 10th grade; and Adam Dyck and Jose Fletes, both 11th graders. The students will show their goats at the Glenn County Fair and then sell them at the Junior Livestock Auction on Sat. May 21st at 221 E Yolo St. in Orland. Each student will receive up to 40 percent of the proceeds from the sale of their goat at the Junior Livestock Auction sale.

“Contributing to programs like this that have a personal impact on students is the heart of what we are trying to do with our community outreach,” said Kris Costa, Community Outreach Manager for GSFC. “Our support goes deeper than just purchasing fair animals, which we will continue to do; it creates a memory that will stay with the students for many years.”

GSFC is committed to helping county fairs to maintain their legacy, vibrance and importance to agriculture in the rural counties it serves. GSFC plans to invest more than $60,000 in fairs this year and in turn support 4H, FFA and local youth clubs and individuals showing replacement heifers, steers, swine, and lambs.

Staci Alves, a 2010 graduate from Willows High and former FFA student, now teaches Agriculture at Willows High School. For Alves, the heart of the Mighty Honker Goat Program is the connection between her students, the goats, and their special needs partners. “You’ll usually see me bawling my eyes out at the fair,” said Alves, who is quick to note the program’s motto, ‘Always stay humble and kind.’

“These students have worked tremendously hard with their mentors to learn how to raise, feed, show and fit a market goat while also understanding the importance of hard work, dedication, and what it means to have perseverance,” said Marissa Hunter, the 2021-2022 Mighty Honker Goat Program Senior Student Advisor.

“Since 2017, we have had the incredible opportunity to have had 26 students in our program and this would not be possible without our amazing community support and donations the past six years. The money from GSFC’s generous donation covers everything the student may need to come to the Glenn County Fair.”

The theme of the 2022 Glenn County Fair is Barn in the U.S.A. which seems fitting to Alves, who’s been working with the students and the goats at the Willows High School barn near the Willows airport. “Once the students are paired up and this gets going, they’re all giving hugs in the hallway, which is super cool to see,” she says proudly, the emotional connection is also felt by teachers.

The Mighty Honker Goat Program is one of only 3 programs of its kind in the state of California. According to Alves, “There aren’t more programs like this because it’s hard! It’s a lot of work, but the reward is how much it pays off for our students.”

About GSFC:

Golden State Farm Credit (GSFC) is a lending institution of the Farm Credit System with offices in Northern and Central California that service the counties of Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Shasta, Trinity, Fresno, Kings and Tulare. The GSFC administrative office is located at 3013 Ceres Avenue, Chico, CA 95973. The Farm Credit System (System) is a nationwide network of borrower-owned lending institutions that provides loans, leases, and related services to farmers, ranchers, rural homeowners, agribusiness, agricultural and rural utility cooperatives, and Young, Beginning and Small Farmers nationwide.  Congress established the System in 1916 to provide a reliable source of credit for the nation’s farmers and ranchers.

For more information about Golden State Farm Credit, call (530) 895-8698 or visit us online at www.goldenstatefarmcredit.com.

–Golden State Farm Credit

Workshops in June cover natural landscaping and yoga for gardeners

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SOUTH PARIS, Maine — The University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District will offer two in-person workshops in June on natural landscaping and yoga for gardeners.

Join Rebecca Long, Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture Professional with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and Chantelle Hay, Education and Outreach Coordinator for Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District on June 3, 2 – 4 pm for “Naturescaping: An Ecological Approach to Landscaping” to learn how to work with nature to make your landscape more resilient, pollinator and wildlife friendly, and easy to care for.

“Yoga and Mindfulness for Gardeners”, June 16 from 10 – 11 am, led by Sara King, 4-H Professional with UMaine Cooperative Extension and certified yoga instructor, will guide participants through a yoga flow inspired by the sun and the natural world in an outdoor setting. This session will include yoga postures, breathwork, and a mindful visualization, and is open to all ability and experience levels. Both workshops will be held at the Oxford Cooperative Extension office in South Paris.

Registration is required and a sliding scale program fee of $15 per family for each workshop is optional. Registration and payment information available on the event webpage. For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Chantelle Hay at the Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District: 207.744.3111; oxfordcountyswcd@gmail.com (email preferred). Pre-registration is requested.

Courtesy Photo.

Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District:

The mission of the Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District is to provide leadership, learning and technical knowledge in the management and conservation of agriculture and natural resources by integrating and disseminating local, state and federal resources.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension:

As a trusted resource for over 100 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has supported UMaine’s land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension helps support, sustain and grow the food-based economy. It is the only entity in our state that touches every aspect of the Maine Food System, where policy, research, production, processing, commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and interrelated. UMaine Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H.

About the University of Maine:

The University of Maine, founded in Orono in 1865, is the state’s land grant, sea grant and space grant university. It is located on Marsh Island in the homeland of the Penobscot Nation. As Maine’s flagship public university, UMaine has a statewide mission of teaching, research and economic development, and community service. UMaine is the state’s only public research university and among the most comprehensive higher education institutions in the Northeast. It attracts students from all 50 states and more than 70 countries. UMaine currently enrolls 11,561 undergraduate and graduate students who have opportunities to participate in groundbreaking research with world-class scholars. UMaine offers more than 100 degree programs through which students can earn master’s, doctoral or professional science master’s degrees, as well as graduate certificates. The university promotes environmental stewardship, with substantial efforts campuswide to conserve energy, recycle and adhere to green building standards in new construction. For more information about UMaine, visit umaine.edu.

–University of Maine Cooperative Extension

LeadNY announces newest leadership program graduates

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ITHACA, N.Y. — LeadNY is pleased to announce that members of its 19th class have successfully completed the “Leadership Fundamentals” portion of the training program. Class members were recognized at a graduation ceremony on April 9 in Binghamton following the first year of intensive training.

LeadNY, a leadership development program at Cornell University for adult professionals in the food, agriculture and natural resource sectors, also formally recognized members of the 18th class, as the 2020 graduation ceremony was postponed due to the pandemic.

“LeadNY is all about building teams of aspiring leaders who support each other on their development journey, and we are incredibly proud to recognize these graduates for their remarkable achievements,” said Larry Van De Valk, executive director of LeadNY. “This year’s graduates overcame a multitude of challenges during the pandemic, and really developed and showcased the type of leadership skills that will make a huge impact for New York and the Northeast throughout their careers.”

The first year of the program focuses on leadership skill development, heightened self-awareness, improved understanding of the food, agriculture, and natural resource sectors in New York State. In the second year of the program, participants will turn their attention outward, spending less time on skill development and more time on issues awareness, critical thinking, and developing a global perspective.

Leadership Fundamentals Graduates

  • John Auwaerter (Bayport Flower Houses)
  • Trevor Bathel (CoBank)
  • Whitney Beaman (NOFA-NY and NYWGF)
  • David Bittner (Bittner-Singer Orchards)
  • Karl Bitz (CNY Feeds)
  • Mark Bordeau (Rural Health Network of SCNY)
  • David Chan (Farm Together)
  • Renee Ciardi (NYFB)
  • Shannon Crow (Violet Genetics)
  • Christina Day (NYCAMH)
  • Jessica Decker (Bonduelle)
  • Lars Demander (Clover Nook Farm)
  • Kate Downes (NYFarmNet)
  • Kim Feeny London (SUNY Adirondack)
  • Victoria Giarratano (Cornell Cooperative Extension)
  • Leslie Hamilton (Triple H Farms)
  • Jay Harris (Wagner Hardwoods)
  • Jessica Henesy (NYSDAM)
  • Lucas Irwin (CaroVail)
  • John Kelder (Kelder’s Farm)
  • Richard Kimmich (Dairy Farmers of America)
  • Jerome Kingston (Seneca Foods)
  • Colleen Klein (NY Corn & Soybean Growers Assoc.)
  • Samantha Levy (American Farmland Trust)
  • Heather Meehan (Quail Hill Farm)
  • Kathleen Noble-Wolfley (Ever.Ag)
  • Dave Patterson (Food Bank of the Southern Tier)
  • Matt Pinckney (Syngenta)
  • Julie Raway (Broome-Tioga BOCES)
  • Nolan Reeves (Reeves Farms)
  • Olu Roberts (Bright Farms)
  • Emily Robertson (Farm Credit East)
  • Steve Schiano (S.E. Schiano Logging)
  • Adam Seybolt (Stewarts Shops)
  • Madeline Skellie (Farm Journal Foundation)
  • Marty Slade (AHDC, CVM Cornell)
  • Callan Space (Millbrook Farms)
  • Shirley Spencer (Farm Credit East)
  • Jolie Spiers (CCE Livingston County)
  • Renee St. Jacques (NYFB)
  • Emma Swarthout (ADA Northeast)
  • Matt Toussaint (Toussaint Farms)
  • Kim Trombly (NYFB)
  • Chad Wall (NYSDAM)
  • Matt Wells (NY Apple Sales)
  • James Williams (Intergrow Greenhouses)
  • Hannah Worden (ABS Global)
  • Bruno Xavier (Cornell Food Venture Center)

LeadNY consists of seminars, workshops, and field travel experiences both in and out of New York State, including a study trip. The program focuses on leadership skill development, enhanced self-awareness, civic engagement, a greater understanding of issues facing our food system and rural communities and cultivating leadership networks. There are more than 500 LeadNY alumni serving in leadership positions in private business, local, state, and federal government positions, not-for-profit organizations, and educational institutions.

For more information, contact Larry Van De Valk at 607-255-7907 or at ljv4@cornell.edu. Additional information is also available on the LeadNY website at www.leadny.org.

–LeadNY

Gov leaders visit food and ag businesses

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TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — On May 11, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Gary McDowell and Office of Rural Development (ORD) Deputy Director Sarah Lucas visited several local food and agricultural businesses in Traverse City, including, Right Brain Brewery, Leelanau Cheese Co. and 9 Bean Rows. McDowell continues to travel across the state to meet with food and agricultural businesses as they advance during Michigan’s economic recovery.

“Michigan’s food and agriculturally based businesses are a powerhouse for the state’s economy, and we want to continue to provide support for these businesses,” said McDowell. “Talking with local business owners and hearing how MDARD can help their local business thrive is the best part of these tours. We want local businesses across our state to know that MDARD is here to help them grow.”

local food
Visiting Right Brain’s Pub

In 2007, Russell Springsteen opened a brewery and pub in Traverse City’s Warehouse District — making the creative type of beer he always wanted. In 2022, the pub and production facility moved to 16th Street in Traverse City’s SoFo District. Right Brain’s Pub always has 30+ beers on tap. With over 150,000 visitors a year, the pub is family-friendly with a connection to the local community.

Right Brain also produces and sells beer on draft and in packages (bottles and cans) distributed to hundreds of retail accounts across the entire state of Michigan.

Leelanau Cheese is a staple business within the local food community in northwest Michigan. In 1995, John and Anne Hoyt established Leelanau Cheese and, over the course of 25 years, developed a local and international reputation for their cave-aged, award-winning, European style cheeses. Today, under the guidance of cheesemakers Gary Smith and Josh Hall, Leelanau Cheese Co. continue the tradition of bringing the flavors of the region to life.

local food
9 Bean Rows grows healthy and delicious food for the Northern Michigan community.

9 Bean Rows grows healthy and delicious food for the Northern Michigan community cultivating food, not commodities. With that in mind, their vegetables’ nutritional content and flavor are at the top of their priority list.

In 2013, 9 Bean Rows received a grant for a a commercial washing station for salad bars at Leelanau County Public Schools.  After years of providing the mixed salad greens year-round to the Leland Public School, they were able to ramp up production and provide farm-fresh, chemical-free produce to students in Frankfort, Leland, Glen Lake, Suttons Bay, the Leelanau School, and Northport, as well as several schools within the Traverse City Area Public School System.

Throughout 2022, Director McDowell is meeting with Michigan’s food and agricultural businesses having conversations focused on how they can continue to thrive in Michigan’s new economy and how best MDARD can assist their continuous development.

— Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

President Biden visits Illinois soybean farm

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BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — On May 11, President Joe Biden spent time on a family farm in Kankakee, Ill., belonging to Illinois soybean farmer and Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) Board Director Jeff O’Connor. There, he announced his administration’s three-pronged plan of action to support American farmers, reduce food prices, and feed the world.

“The pandemic combined with the Ukraine-Russia conflict has resulted in supply chain disruptions and increasing food, fuel, and fertilizer prices which are negatively impacting farm families and leading to shortages of food in countries across the globe,” says ISA Board Chairman, Steve Pitstick. “The Illinois Soybean Association is grateful for the opportunity today to discuss farmer concerns, the sustainable solutions our industry brings to the table, and to learn more about what we can be doing to relieve pain points that are echoing throughout communities around the world.”

During the farm visit, the President announced new actions to give farmers the tools and resources they need to boost production, and play a critical role in mitigating global price hikes. As the world’s second largest exporter of wheat and soybeans, these actions will help grow new markets for American-grown food, supporting jobs in rural communities across the country. These administrative flexibilities implemented by USDA could include:

• Increasing the number of counties eligible for double cropping insurance. Double cropping allows farmers to plant a second crop on the same land in the same year, helping boost production without relying on farmers to substitute crops or cultivate new land. But it is not free from risk and some farmers who practice double cropping cannot obtain crop insurance. The Biden-Harris Administration is seeking to expand insurance for double cropping to as many as 681 additional counties, bringing the total number of counties where this practice qualifies for crop insurance to as many as 1,935, so more American farmers have the financial security they need to start or expand double cropping.

• Cutting costs for farmers by increasing technical assistance for technology-driven “precision agriculture” and other nutrient management tools. Precision agriculture is a farm management system that allows farmers to use technology to target application of inputs to soil and plant needs, resulting in less fertilizer usage without reducing yields, saving farmers money over time and extending the usefulness of critical products in short supply worldwide. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has planning and cost sharing assistance programs available to help American farmers with nutrient management. The Administration is working to boost outreach to farmers, streamline the application process, and prioritize application approvals to expand access to these critical programs.

• Doubling funding for domestic fertilizer production. Fertilizer prices have more than doubled since last year, due in part to supply chain disruptions created and exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including rising energy costs. Today, President Biden announced that he is doubling his initial $250 million investment in domestic fertilizer production to $500 million to lower costs and boost availability for farmers, so they can obtain the inputs they need at prices they can afford to maximize yields.

“And to all our farmers, I want you to know: we have your back,” said Biden.

Leadership from the Illinois Soybean Association spoke with Biden on the wheat double crop system, and the need for support for U.S. wheat breeding programs. Beginning in 2020 double crop wheat followed by soybeans became insurable under federal crop insurance programs for each crop instead of as previously being insured jointly. This allows greater flexibility for farmers and promoted crop rotation.

“ISA applauds the efforts being made by this Administration, specifically by Secretary Vilsack and USDA staff for reaching out to farmers across the country to hear what tools they need to increase double crop soybeans and wheat,” said Pitstick. “ISA encourages USDA to continue their aggressive outreach and collaboration to find double crop solutions that make an impact at the farm level and globally.”

The Illinois Soybean Association (ISA) checkoff and membership programs represent more than 43,000 soybean farmers in Illinois. The checkoff funds market development and utilization efforts while the membership program supports the government relations interests of Illinois soybean farmers at the local, state, and national level, through the Illinois Soybean Growers (ISG). ISA upholds the interests of Illinois soybean producers through promotion, advocacy, and education with the vision of becoming a market leader in sustainable soybean production and profitability. For more information, visit the websites www.ilsoy.org and www.ilsoygrowers.com.

— Illinois Soybean Association