by Ellen Wren Speak with any of the 71 vegetable farmers in Ulster County and you’re likely to hear the same thing — loss of crops and topsoil, destruction of infrastructure, increased labor and lean years ahead. On Aug. 29, with the arrival of Tropical Storm Irene, these farms sustained the worst flooding they’ve seen since 1955. Days later, Mother Nature struck again, with more heavy rains from Tropical Storm Lee. Parts of the county received an historic 12 to 15 inches of rainfall in a matter of days. Data gathered by New York State after Irene illustrates the enormity of the destruction. Of 3,381 acres of vegetable crops in Ulster, 1,602
Ray Bradley described his farm as having piles of rotting squash and pumpkins. were entirely wiped out. ter for three hours or This totals an estimated more to be disposed of. 5 million dollars in lost This data was collected revenue. Roughly 1.5 before Tropical Storm million dollars of damage Lee, which caused furto farm infrastructure ther damage. was sustained. The USThe effects of the floods DA requires any produce reach much further than that was covered in wa- this one growing season.
Pasture Walk at SS Milkyway Dairy in Lewis County A group of grazing enthusiasts and dairy farmers interested in grazing attended a pasture walk at the SS Milkyway Dairy operated by Scott Sawyer and Mark Savage. This pasture walk was co-sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County, Frans Vokey and the New York State Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (NYS-GLCI), on Wednesday, Sept. 7. The group met initially in the storage building and Scott and Mark talked about why and how they made the move to rotational grazing for their 190-cow freestall/parlor dairy. During the discussion Scott and Mark answered many questions about grazing in general and also what they have learned from grazing the past three years. Some of the reasons they gave for going to rotational grazing were; looking for a challenge, wanted to get cows outside and off concrete, reduce amount of protein fed in diet, and reduce the amount of haylage fed as part of TMR. Some other advantages they have found is that they reduced the amount of haylage fed in the diet, which in turn reduced the amount of haylage needed so chopping time has been reduced, saving time and fuel as well as wear and tear on the related equipment. Also they have noticed a large reduction in the amount of manure in the pit that
needs to be spread because cows are outside spreading it themselves. After lunch the group braved the conditions of pouring down rain and we walked through some of the laneways that have been built by Scott and Mark, fencing and a water system to make sure each paddock has water for the cows. Scott and Mark both mentioned that they have seen improvements in the amount of feed produced in the paddocks in just three years of grazing. Pasture walks have become a way for farmers to become more profitable and better use the resources they have on their farms. Most pasture walks involve the farmer telling some of the history of the farm and how and why they became involved in grazing. The group then walks the pasture and we look over some of the individual paddocks, looking for what species of grasses and legumes and what weeds are present. Some people in each group look over the height of the paddocks try to decide if the paddocks are being used efficiently or does the farmer need to increase grazing pressure or do they need to give the paddocks more or less rest. For more information or any questions about this article please contact Bill Paddock at 315-736-3334 or by e-mail at william-paddock@oneidaswcd.org
Pasture walks have become a way for farmers to become more profitable and better use the resources they have on their farms. Photo by Troy Bishopp
Many farms lost much of their topsoil, rendering their land significantly less fertile. One farmer asserted that it will take 10 to 15 years for the land to recover. Moving topsoil from other areas is not an option until the infrastructures are repaired so as to insure that it will not wash away again. Two weeks after the storms, farmers gathered in the middle of the day, a time when they would normally be hard at work in the fields. They shared their stories and discussed their options. The Ferrante family saw the worst flooding in their 50 years as stewards of the New Paltz, NY, Wallkill Valley Farm. They lost all of their pumpkins, which could be seen floating down the Wallkill River for days. At least half of their corn and much of their other vegetable crops were destroyed. Their farm stand did not sustain any structural damage but much of their inventory was destroyed. Because their farm lies in a flood plain, the Ferrante family is used to dealing with the overflowing river. They have a flood preparation plan in which they move everything 33 inches off the floor. Their farm stand took on 42 inches of water, a record high. Just as they were getting a handle on the clean up from Irene, Lee brought even worse flooding and they were forced to repeat their efforts. This time, though, they moved everything that was left five feet off the floor and managed to keep it safe. Despite it all, they reopened for business, if only with resale items, as of Sept.15. Sylvester “Pete” Taliaferro’s New Paltz farm is a popular CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program. He lost about 80 percent of the fall production on his 58 acres of certified organic fruits and vegetables. Though he’s been struck hard by flooding, he credits the members of his CSA for seeing him through, sighting offers of help, meals and money. Members have pledged to forgo any further farm shares for the year so he can sell what little harvest remains. Clearly grateful to his members, Pete says, “Without the CSA we would be in really big trouble, more than likely darn near out of business.”
Chris Kelder stands by a sign which indicates the height of water at its peak. Photos by Ellen Wren Ray Bradley has a 27 to this disruption. Sweet acre farm in New Paltz, corn is a critical crop and very close to the Wallkill the time lost will impact River. He sells his goods the rest of his operation. at the green markets in “Corn season,” he says, Manhattan and Brook- “was cut in half.” lyn, but says he doesn’t Gill Corn Farms in have much left to sell. He Hurley, NY lost close to lost all but some pole 65 percent of the harvest beans and chestnuts. on his 1,415 acre farm. The water rose above his John Gill’s workers are 5 foot tomato stakes. A hand picking corn that walk around his farm re- was knocked down, veals piles of rotting tripling his labor costs. squash and swarms of The flood waters broke a mosquitoes who’ve tak- retaining wall and he lost en up residence in the a great deal of topsoil. standing water. Bradley There are fields that are a Farm holds a pig roast total loss and will need to each year so New York be bulldozed. SeventyCity customers can see five percent of his land where their food is com- was impacted in some ing from. Ray is hopeful way. Smaller floods in that this may bring in April and May of this year some income. He’s also also hit his farm, damagseeking a low-interest ing 400 acres. Unimloan. He summed up his pressed with low interest recovery plan, “Just do loans from FEMA, John whatever you can to says, “We can borrow hang on and see what money for less than what happens.” they offer.” BrainstormKelder’s Farm in Ker- ing for solutions that will honkson, NY, experi- help the farms get back enced tremendous on their feet, he wonstream bank erosion and dered if somehow land harvesting difficulties. and school taxes could Their greenhouse filled be forgiven for this year. with 8 feet of water, re- A Farm Bureau represulting in a total loss sentative asked him to within. Like many of put those thoughts in their neighboring farms, writing. they lost all their pumpCommon sentiment is kins to the river. Their that crop insurance is farm is a popular desti- too expensive and the nation for pre-Halloween payments are not school trips and pump- enough to cover losses, kins play an important so many Ulster county role in this facet of their famers do not carry inbusiness. surance. They depend on Bruce Davenport, of themselves, each other Davenport Farm in Stone and the community in Ridge, NY, said he wasn’t times like these. The hit as badly as the others. Rondout Valley Grower’s About 30-40 percent of Association has several his sweet corn was fundraising plans beginknocked over. To salvage ning to take shape, from what is left, he is hand- an auction of pumpkin picking his corn. This at related fine art, to paper least doubles his labor pumpkins their custime and cost. Other tomers can buy and hang crops are left to rot be- on their door as a show of cause there is no time to their support. Farmers harvest them. Davenport ask that the community fears the loss of his support the farm stands wholesale customers, and markets and stress such as Whole Foods and that they are indeed open Hannaford Brothers, due for business.
Page 5 - Section A • Let Them Know You Read COUNTRY FOLKS • September 26, 2011
Ulster County flooding