Forages
High yields of high-quality forage are vital to the dairy and livestock industries. Feed-costs are often half of a farm's business expenses each year. This page contains resources and information to help farmers better manage silage, hay, and pastures. 2023 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring - wk of May 30
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 1, 2023
2023 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring - wk of May 22
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 23, 2023
2023 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring - wk of May 15
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 18, 2023
2023 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring - wk of May 8
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 10, 2023
2023 North Country 1st Cutting Alfalfa-Grass Progress Report
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 4, 2023
Hay and Pasture School 2023
Last Modified: March 31, 2023
USDA AG Census
Last Modified: March 20, 2023
Fall Burndown Weed Control Options
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: September 1, 2022
Harvesting and Pricing Variable Maturity Corn Silage in 2022
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: September 1, 2022
NC Weather Summary April - July 2022
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: September 1, 2022
Ear to Ground - July 2022
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: July 18, 2022
A New NYS Farm Directory Launches June 2022
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: July 1, 2022
Late postemergence herbicide applications in field corn: How tall is too tall?
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: July 1, 2022
2022 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Progress Report - June 1 2022
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 1, 2022
2022 North Country 1st Cutting Alfalfa-Grass Report - May 25 2022
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 25, 2022
Burndown herbicide options in no till soybeans
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 24, 2022
New York State's Ambitious Plans to Address Climate Change - The Climate Leaders
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 24, 2022
2022 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Progress Report - May 18 2022
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 18, 2022
2022 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Progress Report - May 11 2022
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 11, 2022
2022 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Progress Report - May 4 2022 Report
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 4, 2022
Last Minute Prep for 2022 Spring Crops
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: April 1, 2022
Spring planting season is fast approaching, but there's time for some last-minute preparations. While we always prioritize efficient use of fertilizers, seed and other inputs, 2022 pricing and availability puts and extra importance on this strategy. How many items can you cross off this to-do list?
Planting Enlist E3 soybeans in 2022?
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: April 1, 2022
Are you planting Enlist E3 soybeans in 2022? If so, one of the tools in the weed control toolbox will be the option to use one of the two registered 2,4-D choline herbicides for use on Enlist E3 soybeans. In January 2022, the EPA approved a seven-year registration of Enlist One and Enlist Duo herbicides. Enlist One and Enlist Duo are the only 2,4-D choline herbicides registered for over-the-top use in 2,4-D tolerant soybeans. Enlist E3 soybeans are also tolerant to the over-the-top application of both glyphosate (Roundup) and glufosinate (Liberty) herbicides.
Spring 2022 Weather Outlook
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: April 1, 2022
We begin the 2022 growing season in NNY with no drought classifications, for a welcome change. Our snow has mostly melted and soil frost is on the decline. The North Country is a tiny bit behind normal soil moisture as of this date in late March, but the deficit is small. March temperatures have been just a bit warmer than average so far.
Nitrogen Credit for a Winter Rye Cover Crop - Every Little Bit Helps
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: March 1, 2022
With fertilizer prices continuing to rise to unprecedented highs, we've spent a lot of time and pencil lead working out strategies to stretch that budget line as much as possible this spring.
When does it make sense for a livestock farm to grow annual forages?
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: February 8, 2022
CCE PMEP's Outreach Arm Launches a New Name and Website
Last Modified: November 8, 2021
Fertilizer Prices Trend Upward in Late 2021 …and Into 2022?
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: November 8, 2021
Seed Corn Maggot, Stand Losses and the Need for Insecticide Seed Treatments
Last Modified: November 8, 2021
2021 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring June 1, 2021
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 2, 2021
2021 North Country 1st Cutting Alfalfa & Grass Quality Monitor May 24, 2021
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 25, 2021
2021 North Country 1st Cutting Alfalfa‐Grass Quality Monitor-May 17, 2021
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 18, 2021
2021 North Country 1st Cutting Alfalfa-Grass Quality Monitor May 10, 2021
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 11, 2021
Improve Pastures and Hay Fields by Overseeding Perennial Forage Grasses and Legu
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 10, 2021
Short on Hay This Spring?
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 10, 2021
2021 North Country 1st Cutting Alfalfa‐Grass Quality Monitor
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 7, 2021
Managing Corn Rootworm in NY to delay Bt resistance (& save seed costs)
Last Modified: February 2, 2021
Don't Ignore Marestail this Fall
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: October 1, 2020
Weed Control in Grass Hayfields
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: October 1, 2020
Hay or Ney
Casey Havekes, Dairy Management
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: September 14, 2020
Emergency Forage Options for NNY 2020
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: July 23, 2020
NNY Receives Official "Abnormally Dry" Classification, May 19, 2020
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 29, 2020
Dicamba tolerant soybeans without dicamba
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 5, 2020
2020 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring - 2 June Report
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 3, 2020
2020 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring - 26 May Report
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 28, 2020
2020 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring - 18 May Report
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 20, 2020
2020 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring - 11 May Report
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 13, 2020
Burndown herbicide options in no till soybeans and corn
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 8, 2020
Interim Guidance for Horticulture
Last Modified: May 8, 2020
NNYADP: New Way to Apply Biocontrol Nematodes
Last Modified: May 8, 2020
Potential Pitfalls of Growing Soybean after Soybean
Last Modified: May 8, 2020
Young Farm Entrepreneur Applying NNYADP Biocontrol Research Results
Last Modified: May 8, 2020
2020North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring - 4 May Report
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 6, 2020
Guidance for the Horticulture Industry
Kelsey O'Shea, Agriculture Business Development
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: April 28, 2020
Report Seedcorn Maggot and Wireworm Damage: WE NEED YOUR INPUT
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: April 28, 2020
How to Manange COVID-19 Risks on Dairy Farms
Last Modified: March 19, 2020
Hemp Update 2020
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: March 5, 2020
Dairy Farming Abroad!
Kelsey O'Shea, Agriculture Business Development
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: March 4, 2020
Soybean Cyst Nematode Now Confirmed in Six Additional Counties in New York
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: February 5, 2020
Growing Hemp in NYS
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: February 4, 2020
Marketing and Processing Hemp in NYS
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: February 4, 2020
Ear to Ground November 20,2019
Last Modified: December 9, 2019
Winter Grain Crop Insurance Deadline
Kelsey O'Shea, Agriculture Business Development
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: December 9, 2019
Beginning Producer Benefits for Crop Insurance
Last Modified: October 2, 2019
Marestail in the fall
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: October 2, 2019
PRODAIRY e-Alert Bunker and Silo Safety
Lindsay Ferlito, Dairy Management
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: October 2, 2019
Silage Rule Change
Kelsey O'Shea, Agriculture Business Development
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: July 9, 2019
Apps in Ag
Last Modified: June 24, 2019
Late Summer Seedings
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 24, 2019
Wet Spring Can Impact Forage Quality for Entire Year
Last Modified: June 24, 2019
Chemical Free Weed Control in Pasture and Hay
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 19, 2019
Pasture Improvements
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 19, 2019
Sneaky PAsture Weeds
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 19, 2019
2019 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring - 3 June 2019 Report
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 5, 2019
2019 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring - 28 May 2019 Report
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 30, 2019
2019 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring - 21 May 2019 Report
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 22, 2019
2019 North Country 1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring - 14 May 2019 Report
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 16, 2019
Assess Alfalfa, Winter Cereal and Grass Stands for Spring Reseeding Decisions
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 10, 2019
North Country 1st Cutting Alfalfa‐Grass Quality Monitor
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 10, 2019
Biological Control of Alfalfa Snout Beetle: An Update after a Decade of Nematode
Last Modified: April 16, 2019
Paraquat Certified Applicator Training to Prevent Poisonings Now Available
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: April 16, 2019
Rye Cover Crop Termination 2019
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: April 16, 2019
Exploring Industrial Hemp Production in New York
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: April 9, 2019
What are Mycorrhizae and Should They Factor into Your Crop Management Plans?
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: February 5, 2019
You can Never be too prepared for an Emergency
Lindsay Ferlito, Dairy Management
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: February 5, 2019
Get to Know Herbicide Sites of Action
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: December 4, 2018
New Online Crop Maturity Planning Tool
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: December 4, 2018
2018 Feed Dealer Seminars
Tatum Langworthy, Sr. Administrative Assistant
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: October 17, 2018
Northern Corn Leaf Blight in Northern New York
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: September 6, 2018
2018: Bunker Silo Safety Reminder from OSHA
Kim Morrill, Dairy Management
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: August 24, 2018
Alfalfa Weevils: The Early Alfalfa Pest
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 11, 2018
1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring, June 4, 2018
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 7, 2018
1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring, May 29, 2018
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 31, 2018
1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring, May 21, 2018
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 22, 2018
1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring, May 14, 2018
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 17, 2018
1st Cut Alfalfa Height Monitoring, May 7, 2018
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 9, 2018
Alfalfa Seeding Rates Revisted
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: April 2, 2018
Key Oportunities to Optimize 2018 Crop Production Efficiency
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: April 2, 2018
Residential Agricultural Discount Application
Lindsay Ferlito, Dairy Management
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: April 2, 2018
When Planting Goes Wrong....
Kelsey O'Shea, Agriculture Business Development
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: April 2, 2018
NNY Western Bean Cutworm Count 2017
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: February 6, 2018
NNY Western Bean Cutworm Moth Trap Summary
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: February 6, 2018
2017 NYS & VT Corn Silage Trial Data Tables
Last Modified: November 27, 2017
We received the rest of the data back from Cumberland Valley Analytical Services today and I am attaching a preliminary report containing the data tables and basic information on the trials. We will be working on analyzing the data from predicted milk yields with the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) model in the coming weeks and will provide a full report with that information once complete.
Alfalfa Snout Beetle - Hunting Season is Now Open
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: October 24, 2017
Don't Ignore Marestail!
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: October 24, 2017
2017 NY Farmer Heavy Rainfall Survey
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: September 6, 2017
Potato Leafhopper
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: July 17, 2017
Planting BMR Brachytic Dwarf Sorghum in NNY
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 9, 2017
Final Alfalfa Height Monitoring Report - June 6, 2017
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 7, 2017
NYS Regist. Insecticides for Armyworm/Cereal Leaf Beetle on Multiple Field Crops
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 7, 2017
Alfalfa Height Monitoring Report - May 30, 2017
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 31, 2017
2016 North Country Drought in the Rearview?
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 30, 2017
Alfalfa Height Monitoring Report - May 23, 2017
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 24, 2017
The May 23 Alfalfa Height Report shows that some alfalfa-grass fields are ready for mowing now. About half of the fields with 50% grass or more were at or beyond ideal NDF according to the graph above (above the line). They should be mowed ASAP for best quality. Again, once fields are past their prime send them to the bottom of the mowing order and prioritize fields where quality is still high. Go back to the declining fields later, as time permits.
The forecast for the next week most of the North Country is not good for attempting to make dry hay. It may well be too wet for haylage and balage too, in many areas.
Alfalfa Height Monitoring Report - May 16, 2017
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 17, 2017
Weather is beginning to warm but alfalfa and grass continued to grow slowly this past week, due to cool temps and cloudy skies. On average, alfalfa heights are still ahead of this week in 2016 (15.4" vs 14.3" in 2016). Some orchardgrass fields at lower elevations in Lewis and Jefferson were headed this week, while others to the north had heads still down near the soil surface. Once fields are past their prime (grasses first) send them to the bottom of the mowing order. Prioritize fields where quality is still high, then go back to the rest.
With this wet weather delay, consider skipping new hay seedings this spring to move directly on to corn planting. Hay fields can still be seeded in late summer, but corn has to be planted ASAP.
Monitor grass fields and winter cereals closely as we are at or near optimal cutting time - they could be ready now or may head quickly with the warmer, drier weather. Be sure to mow at a height of no less than 4" above soil surface and below grass heads.
Alfalfa Height Monitoring Report - May 9, 2017
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 10, 2017
The May 9th Alfalfa Height Report is attached. Alfalfa and grass have both grown slowly this week, due to cool temps and cloudy skies. Alfalfa heights are still ahead of where they were this week in 2016, however. Many fields again had standing water this week from heavy rains from May 2 to 9. Once fields are past their prime (grasses first) send them to the bottom of the mowing order. Prioritize fields where quality is still high, then go back to the rest. Consider storing lower quality 1st cut separately, to optimize its use with non-lactating animals.
With this wet weather delay, consider skipping new hay seedings this spring to move directly on to corn planting. Hay fields can still be seeded in late summer, but corn has to be planted ASAP.
Monitor winter cereals closely - they may head quickly when we get some warmer, drier weather, making optimal harvest even more difficult.
Alfalfa Height Monitoring Report - May 2, 2017
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 5, 2017
We are seeing differences among monitored fields. Check your fields! It is important to get out and measure alfalfa heights in your own fields to help judge rate of growth and maturity for best timing of 1st cutting.
Alfalfa and grass have both grown quickly over the past couple of weeks, but growth is likely to slow down during the coming week due to low forecasted temperatures.
2017 Cornell Guide for Integrated Field Crop Management Now Available
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: December 28, 2016
The 2017 edition of the Cornell Guide for Integrated Field Crop Management is now available. This annual publication provides up-to-date field crop production information for New York State. It is designed as a practical guide for field crop producers, crop consultants, ag chemical dealers, and others who advise field crop producers.
2016 Cornell Corn Silage Variety Trial Results
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: December 16, 2016
In 2016, Cornell's Corn Silage Hybrid Testing Program returned to New York State after a 2-year hiatus. Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Pro-Dairy Program and Cornell's Plant Breeding and Genetics Department collaborated to organize and implement the 2016 trials. The objective of these variety comparisons is to provide independent, unbiased evaluation of commercial corn silage hybrids available in New York State. The variety trial provides farmers, seed corn companies and university personnel with information on the relative performance of corn hybrids grown under NY climate and soil types.
Emergency Forage Options for NNY
Last Modified: July 31, 2016
NNY Ear to the Ground
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: June 28, 2016
Pricing Standing Hay
Last Modified: June 7, 2016
Alfalfa Height Monitoring
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 20, 2016
Ear to the Ground
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 20, 2016
Be on the Lookout for Horseweed...A.K.A Marestail
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: March 25, 2016
How will El Nino Impact our Crops in 2016?
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: March 19, 2016
Can value be added to Holstein bull calves?
Last Modified: December 9, 2015
With favorable market conditions, it can be profitable raising dairy beef.
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Announcements
NNYADP Biocontrol Research: Protocols Now Easier for Farmers and Applicators
Press Release: May 2, 2023Link: https://nnyagdev.org/index.php/2023/05/02/nnyadp-biocontrol-research-protocols-now-easier-for-farmers-applicator/
Photo, contacts: see below
NNYADP Biocontrol Research: Protocols Now Easier for Farmers and Applicators
Plattsburgh, New York. The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) has announced the development of new protocols that make the use of New York-native persistent biocontrol nematodes for crop pest management easier for farms and custom applicators. The research developed a protocol for the mass-rearing and delivery of the persistent biocontrol nematodes and extended their shelf-life in a holding solution prior to field application.
"This research has expanded the use of persistent biocontrol nematodes as a nature-based method that helps reduce populations of alfalfa snout beetle, corn rootworm, and berry weevils that have the potential for costly economic damage, and reached significant milestones in making the application of persistent biocontrol nematodes more convenient for farmers and applicators," said NNYADP Co-Chair and dairy farmer Joseph Giroux, Plattsburgh, New York.
The new protocols developed by entomologist Elson Shields and research support specialist Tony Testa include a new liquid-based formulation that requires less water and less sawdust and achieves optimal ventilation and oxygenation with heat and humidity control for the mass-rearing of the persistent biocontrol nematodes.
The rearing technique developed earlier by Shields and Testa allows the northern New York-native persistent biocontrol nematode strains to retain their genetic ability to persist in soil for multiple years.
The researchers successfully used the new formulation to rear persistent biocontrol nematodes for application to 3,350 acres in field trials on farms in Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties in the spring and fall of 2022.
Seven farms participated in the on-farm application trials. Two commercial applicators evaluated the new field delivery and application methods.
"As a result of this Northern New York Agricultural Development Program research over time, I started my own persistent biocontrol nematode rearing lab in 2016. As a result of the field trials in 2022, I have adopted the new rearing and delivery protocols, which are more convenient, less costly, and less labor-intensive," said Mary DeBeer of DeBeer Agri-Service, Moira, New York.
Ron DeBeer of DeBeer Seed and Spraying assisted the field applications for the NNYADP project in 2022.
"As part of the persistent biocontrol nematodes field research in 2022, we applied to some fields that had had period infestation by alfalfa snout beetle and are now in a corn rotation. The much-improved delivery method and extended holding capacity allowed us much more flexibility in applying around the local weather constraints," said Dean Wheeler of D&D Spray Service, Mannsville, New York.
Over time, northern New York farm fields treated with the persistent biocontrol nematodes for management of alfalfa snout beetle began to show their impact on corn rootworm populations.
Subsequent research supported by the NNYADP, other funders, and farmers themselves has extended the use or trials of the persistent biocontrol nematodes to multiple crops in states nationwide.
The "Developing a Farmer/Applicator-Friendly Persistent Biocontrol Nematodes Formulation for Field Application" is posted at www.nnyagdev.org.
Funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by the New York State Legislature through the New York State Assembly and administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
Photo attached or available: Dean Wheeler, right, and A.J. Goblewski of D&D Spray Service, Mannsville, NY, assisted NNYADP-funded research in 2022, evaluating the ease of new protocols for the delivery and application of persistent biocontrol nematodes. Photo: NNYADP
MEDIA CONTACTS:
. NNYADP Co-Chairs Jon Greenwood: 315-386-3231; Joe Giroux, 518-563-7523;
Jon Rulfs, 518-572-1960
. NNYADP Coordinator Michele Ledoux: 315-376-5270, mel14@cornell.edu . NNYADP Publicist Kara Lynn Dunn: 315-465-7578, karalynn@gisco.net