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Promoting Productive and Sustainable Agricultural Systems
CCE has a commitment to agriculture, horticulture, and natural resource enterprises and to assisting them in making the best choices when selecting production principles and practices to enhance economic and environmental sustainability.
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Sullivan County producers have a variety of informational and practical needs when it comes to achievement and promoting productive and sustainable agricultural systems on their farms. Production related inquiries have been in the followings areas: •High Tunnels/Greenhouses: Sourcing infrastructure, site selection, soil testing, variety selection, and growing/ harvesting techniques •Pest Management: Integrated Pest Management (IPM), scouting for pests and diseases, control methods, and pesticide recertification credits •Poultry & Meat Processing: Rules and regulations, marketing and direct sales, and certifications •Animal Husbandry Practices: Reproduction, feed and nutrition, health, management, behavior, diseases, and housing requirements •Hay and Soil Management: Soil and forage test interpretation and pasture improvement plans •Manure Management: Best practices including rate of application, timing, and soil testing d
SPOTLIGHT ON: Quarton Farm
Kellie Quarton owns and manages Quarton Farm, a diversified vegetable farm in Hurleyville, NY. Founded in September 2017, Kelly leased land she found on the Farmlink website and started growing in the spring of 2018. She currently cultivates 10 acres in production. Quarton Farms sells its produce through NYC Green Markets, at the Union Square Farmers Market on Mondays and Saturdays. They also sell wholesale to restaurants, but during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kellie pivoted to add a market in Brooklyn. Quarton Farm has worked with CCE Sullivan for assistance in scouting pests and disease, farm food safety, and marketing and grant opportunities. New for 2021, Quarton Farm is supplying produce for our Sullivan Fresh program.
FARM FOOD SAFETY
CCE Sullivan received a grant from the USDA to assist farms with technical assistance and trainings on FSMA topics, covering the expenses for producers to attend these necessary trainings, developing outreach materials targeted towards producers, training CCE educators and partners on the latest Farm Food Safety resources, assisting with the development of Farm Food Safety Plans and providing assistance and funding for consulting opportunities for producers seeking a third-party GAP audit. We have assisted 6 farms and issued 16 certificates through training programs and are in the process of assisting 7 farms to develop farm food safety plans, including assistance with GAP audits.
LIVESTOCK PROGRAM WORK TEAM (PWT)
Michelle Proscia is a member of the Livestock PWT with a mission of building a network of experts and resources to foster success of livestock farms across NYS. The PWT was formed in part as an outcome of the Small Farms Livestock Report. It was approved January 2020 and has 39 members. Areas covered are Meat Processing, Animal Fiber, Beef, Poultry, Swine, Equine, Small Ruminants, and Media.
CORN PLOT FIELD DAY
Corn Plot Field day is an opportunity for area farmers to learn how to effectively manage crop fields, including corn plots, with lessons on pesticide use. Pesticide continuing education credits are offered on topics like corn rootworm IPM and new insects, pests, and diseases of field corn. The field day features a demo plot with variety descriptions and field observations of corn to examine for performance.
Production Related Workshops, Events, and Initiatives
•Thunder 102 Ag Report •Livestock Program Work Team •Corn Plot Field Day •Brooding and Rearing Basics for Poultry •FSMA Farm Worker Health & Hygiene Training •Writing a Farm Food Safety Plan •Poultry Enterprise Budget & Business Plan
• n Thun Thun •Flock Talks: Roundtable Discussion •Farm Food Safety Training •Post Harvest Handling Workshop •Cow/Calf Workshop •Pasture Management •Beef Quality Assurance • PoultryEnterpriseBudget&BusinessPlan Poultry Enterprise Budget & Business Plan •Making Quality Baleage • MakingQualityBaleage Making Quality Baleage •Sheep and Goat Roundtable • Sheep and Goat Roundtable
