June Newsletter 2015 - Cornell Cooperative Extension

June 2015
Extension News
Serving Agriculture, Youth and Families since 1913
Smiths and 23 Others Complete Academy
for Dairy Executives
The Academy for Dairy Executives, organized by PRO-DAIRY and Cornell Cooperative Extension, recently
graduated 25 members of the region’s agricultural community. Participants represented a diverse group of dairy
farmers from New York, Vermont and New Hampshire.
The Academy for Dairy Executives is held every year in a different region of New York State. This year the program
included events in three locations across Northern New York (Lake Placid, Watertown and Ogdensburg) in
December, January and March. The program is designed to provide dairy executives and Agri-service personnel the
opportunity to increase their knowledge of the leadership and management skills necessary to run a successful dairy
in these volatile times. The Academy provides a forum for producers to learn and interact with each other and the
presenters during three, one-night sessions over 4 months.
Pete & Jessica Smith from LT Smith and Sons, LLC in Canton, NY attended this past winter’s program. Pete, his
brother and his father operate a 700 cow dairy, while Jessica serves as the Director of the Quality Milk Production
Services (QMPS) laboratory in Canton. Pete and Jessica chose to attend the Academy for Dairy Executives because
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Extension News
Cornell Cooperative Extension of
St. Lawrence County
2043B State Highway 68, Canton, NY 13617
Phone: (315)379-9192
Fax: (315) 379-0926
Web: www.cceslc.com
Email: [email protected]
Extension News is a monthly publication with
Information for Agriculture, Youth Development and
Healthy Families.
Patrick Ames, Executive Director
Rebecca Blackmer, Finance & Personnel Manager
Kim Morrill, Dairy Specialist
Kitty O’Neil, Crop and Soil Specialist
Betsy Hodge, Livestock Educator
Paul Hetzler, Natural Resource Educator
Kristin Colarusso, Youth and Family Team Leader
Amy Sands, 4-H Educator
Nicki Hamilton-Honey, 4-H Afterschool Educator
Ryan Siver, 4-H Afterschool Educator
Casey Caswell, 4-H Club Management Educator
Fiona Laramay, STEM Educator
Andrew Carpino, Citizenship/Leadership Educator
Casey Sukeforth, 4-H Camp Program Director
Misty Cisneros, Nutrition Educator
Charlie Hitchman, Extension Farm Manager
John Sands, Maintenance Supervisor
Barb Heller, High Tunnel Manager
Bobbi-Jo Recco, Administrative Assistant
Board of Directors
Luke Putney, President
Cathy Shrady, Vice President
Art Hurlbut, Treasurer
Megan Bowdish, Secretary
Kevin Acres, County Legislative Representative
Leigh Rodriguez
Ruby Sprowls
Michele James
Brenda Woodward
Jerry Manor
Anne Marie Snell
Bob Hance
Kelsey O’Shea
Feature Article
Academy for Dairy Executives ..………….....1
Calendar of Events……….……..…..….…3
Farmer to Farmer
Classified Ads…………………….………..…...4
Field Crops and Dairy
Drought Monitor..………..…….……………...6
Worms Gone Crazy ….…………,………..…..8
Integrated Field Crop Management…..……….13
Livestock
Sheep and Goat News….…………..….……...10
Horticulture and Natural Resources
Conservation Corner………………………...15
June Garden Tips …………………………...19
Youth and Family
Shooting Sports ….……..………....….….….…12
NYS Envirothon ….…….….……..………...….13
4-H Fashion Review ...………………………...16
Club News……………………….…...…….….20
NYS Ban on Fowl Shows ...…..…………….….22
4-H Calendar of Events …….……………..….23
The information in this publication is provided for educational purposes only. Any and all advertisements and references to businesses, producers,
products, services or trade names is made with the understanding that no endorsement or discrimination is implied or expressed by Cornell Cooperative
Extension of St. Lawrence County. All opinions expressed in signed articles are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Cornell
Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County.
Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans,
and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities
2
Calendar of Events
Discussion on Pastured Broilers and
Pastured Piglets. Tuesday, June 16th from 6
to 8 pm at the Extension Learning Farm (ELF)
Classroom in Canton. We will discuss the hoop
house system for raising 250 broilers on pasture
as well as an A-frame system for farrowing sows
on pasture. We will use the ELF facilities as
hands-on, working examples of each system.
Contact Betsy Hodge at 315-379-9192 ext 227
for additional information.
Steve Elliott
Energy Solutions Rep.
Propane
Heating Oil
Diesel Fuel
Gasoline
Cell:
315-514-4240
Office:
315-265-3560
Fax:
315-265-5138
[email protected]
Call for a Quote
Dependable Fuel Delivery
Today!
Pasture Walks and Demonstrations. June
18 and July 16 - Save the dates - More details to
come. Contact Betsy Hodge, Livestock Educator or Kitty O’Neil, Crop and Soil Specialist at 315-379-9192 or
[email protected] or [email protected]. Possible weed wiper demo, farm tour, pasture systems, etc.
Lecture and Discussion with Mike Baker. Week of June 22 – Exact time to be announced – Cornell
University Beef Extension to talk about pooling calves for marketing in November or December. Evening at the
Extension Office. Contact Betsy at 315-379-9192 or [email protected] for more info.
Ticks and Lyme Disease, and How to Avoid Both. Thursday June 18, 5:30 to 7:00 PM at Coakley’s Ace
Hardware, 2535 State Highway 68, Canton. Paul Hetzler, Horticulture and Natural Resources Educator, will talk
about the tick-borne disease challenges facing the north country, and how to deal with them. For more information
call Coakley’s at (315) 386-8161.
3
For Sale:
International 884 2WD tractor, new clutch, new rear tires. Asking $6,000. Call 322-8960. (4/15)
For Sale:
500 square bales, 1st cut hay. $2.50 per bale. Call 386-3826. (4/15)
For Sale:
Howard Rotovator 6 ft $3,500, Ag bag 8ft (like new) $20,000, Badger unload $4,500, Rex unload
$3,500, Badger 12 ton tandem running gear with wooden round bale bed $1,500, Horst 12 ton
tandem run gear $3,500, Knight Reel Auggie mixwagon 2300 $4,500, Meyers box manure spreader
M160 $4,600, NH 511 square baler $5,000. Call 244-6007. (4/15)
For Sale:
Badger 570 Gutter Cleaner Drive Unit, excellent condition. Asking $1,250. Call 769-5085. (4/15)
For Sale:
Square hay bales $3/bale Morley–Potsdam Rd Canton; Call 212-8537 or 322-3106 (4/15)
For Sale:
Hay 3x3 large square bales, processed 3x4 large square bales. Custom bailing offered. Seeking hay
ground. Call 315-276-6753. (6/15)
For Sale:
Updated 1900’s farm house on 87 acres. Good sized sugar bush/woodlot. Large historic barn in good
condition with new roof. Outbuildings include new chicken coop, wood shed, good sized building
with new wood siding that would make a great shop, studio space etc. The property has a pond, is
fenced for goats, sheep and cows. The house is 1700 square feet with wood floors throughout and
many updates. 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, dining room and living room. Wood heat and
forced air. Hermon/Dekalb school district. 20 minutes from Canton. $165,000. For more information
email: [email protected]. (6/15)
For Sale:
Case- David Brown 990 Tractor. 3 point. 540- 1000 PTO. Good paint. Almost new tires. Older
loader. Perkins Diesel. Runs great. $6000. Case IH 8430 Round Baler for parts. Rebuilt hydraulic
cylinders. Almost new belts. $1500. 315- 328- 5715. (6/15)
Contact your Cornell Cooperative Extension Office
if you wish to have your advertisement listed above for 90 days at no cost.
4
Feature Continued
(Continued from page 1)
it provided an opportunity to develop skills and
obtain leadership training with an emphasis on
the unique aspects of the dairy industry. “As
business grows and our options increase, taking part
in a training program such as this will help us be
better prepared for any challenges ahead,” Pete &
Jessica Smith.
When asked what was most valuable during the
program Pete & Jessica commented: “We really
enjoyed the discussions on succession planning/
estate planning, risk management and personality
profiling. The most beneficial part was establishing
connections with other dairy farmers in the
region! These people are our neighbors and we
learned so much from the unique perspectives of
each farm.”
During the three sessions, industry leaders, PRO
-DAIRY staff and local CCE educators presented
information on internal & external factors affecting your dairy, management functions, personality traits,
economic decision making, partial budgeting, whole farm budgeting, risk management, employee management,
family business, estate planning and proposing change to the senior generation.
Josh Ooms, who runs two dairy operations with his father in Constable, NY commented: “The whole program is
worthwhile; I probably got the most out of the employee management and personality trait sessions”. Josh and his father
expanded from one tie stall facility, to adding on a 130 cow free stall operation. Josh is responsible for
overseeing and running the free-stall operation, with his own crew of guys, while his dad handles the tie stall
operation. This allows each operation to separately manage each herd. On the crops side of the operation, Josh
and his dad work together to maximize production on 1300 acres of cropland.
The Academy for Dairy Executives Program is an educational opportunity for progressive dairy executives. The
program is designed to enhance understanding of the fast-changing dairy industry. By coming to this program, the
next generation of dairy farmers is able to continue to develop the necessary leadership and business
management skills to lead their dairy business into the future. As an educator, one of the greatest aspects of a
program is seeing the follow-up, what changes have participants made to their business. While this program was
completed less than 3 months ago both Ooms and Smiths’ have been able to implement the knowledge gained,
primarily on improving employee management.
“The personality’s trait session was really helpful – I better understand why people do things the way they do and how to
identify personality types to improve employee relations”, said Ooms.
“We have used the knowledge of different personalities to help with management techniques and organizing labor to be
more effective. We have discussed the need to meet with someone about estate planning, but have not accomplished that
yet.”, said Smith.
This program would not be possible without the support from our many industry sponsors including: Cargill,
Poulin Grain, Shur-Gain, Farm Credit East, Zoetis, Dairy Health Management Services, DFA, The Voss Group,
Elanco, Agri-Mark, CRI Genex, Holtz-Nelson, Merck, NBT Bank and Yankee Farm Credit.
5
By Kitty O’Neil, PhD, Regional
Crop Specialist
Unusually dry weather prevails across the
North Country. Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton and Essex Counties
are now classified as ‘D0- Abnormally Dry’
and ‘D1 – Moderate Drought’ by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA), and the National Drought Mitigation
Center (NDMC) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
For the past few weeks, air temperatures
have ranged from the high 80s to a frost on
the morning of May 14 that caused some
damage to sensitive plants. Grass and legume
hayfields and pastures responded well to the
warmer weather in early May, but have since
slowed growth due to inadequate soil moisture. First cutting hay crops will be light.
Corn and row crop planting has progressed
briskly and without interruption from wet
weather. Though parts of NYS have received
adequate and even excessive rainfall, the Northern counties are well behind normal precipitation totals.
- - Accumulations from April 1 to May 17, 2015 - Precipitation, inches
Total
Watertown Int'l Airport
Fort Drum
Massena
Malone
Plattsburgh Int'l Airport
Tupper Lake
6
DFN1
GDD Base 50 °F
Days2
Total
GDD Base 40 °F
DFN1
Total
2.34
-1.97
17
207
+117
503
2.71
-2.14
19
245
+136
545
2.99
-1.48
17
216
+107
525
3.49
-0.78
22
155
+95
2.08
-2.50
19
189
+96
414
498
2.68
-2.47
13
123
+80
335
The stations listed below averaged less than 60% of normal springtime precipitation through mid-May. Growing degree-day accumulations are ahead of schedule.
Winterkill of hayfields and pastures was very minor this year, except for a strip of land on the western shore of Lake Champlain
where it was quite severe. It appears that snow was deep enough
across most of the North Country to protect forage plants from
the record cold temperatures of the 2014-15 winter except for this
narrow zone along the lake where it may have been blown away
enough that the alfalfa and other forage plants suffered extensive
losses.
Additional resources:
Weekly Crop Progress & Condition Report. 2015. New
York USDA-NASS. http://www.nass.usda.gov/
Statistics_by_State/New_York/Publications/
Crop_Progress_&_Condition/index.asp
US Drought Monitor – Northeast. 2015. The National Drought
Mitigation Center, Lincoln, NE. http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/
Home/RegionalDroughtMonitor.aspx?northeast
For more information about field crop and soil management, contact your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office or Kitty
O’Neil, Regional Field Crops and Soils Specialist, Cornell University
Cooperative Extension, 315-379- 9192 x253;
[email protected].
The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Northern New York website is www.ccenny.com. Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.
7
Worms Gone Crazy
Paul Hetzler, Natural Resource and Horticulture Educator
Raise your hand if you’re tired of hearing about new invasive species. I’m right there with you. Aside from the fact
that there’s too much bad news around as it is, we’re still working on a cure for those good old-fashioned pests
that rival the common cold in terms of eluding conquest. Japanese beetles, European chafers, buckthorn, wild
parsnip, Japanese knotweed—enough already. We don’t need a new invasive species every year, but try convincing
them, right? I half-expect to get a bulletin one of these days on some tropical soil-shark that stowed away in a
shipload of potting mix. Probably it’ll feed on moles, voles and woodchucks, but will also burst up out of lawns to
swallow small pets, and gardeners might lose a finger while weeding. That would kind of put lily-leaf beetles in
perspective, wouldn’t it?
So I’d be a lot more hesitant to tell you about a new and significant threat to forests, landscapes and gardens if it
wasn’t for the fact that you can make a real difference in preventing its spread. The new pest is Amynthas agrestis, a
super-size (eight-inch long) earthworm known as the Asian jumping worm, Alabama (or Georgia) jumper, snake
worm or crazy worm. It’s sold as bait, and unfortunately is also hawked as a substitute for the harmless red wiggler
used in worm compost bins. Its name comes from the fact that it moves rapidly on top of the soil, resembling a
snake more than a worm. Lively and strong, it can flip out of your hand. Assuming you want to touch it. Other than
its impressive squirm factor (in every sense), what’s the problem with Amynthas agrestis—worms are good for the
soil, aren’t they? Not so, my friend; crazy worms are an exception. These are not your grandparents’ worms. OK,
that didn’t come out quite right. Let me rephrase it.
Here in the Northeast where glaciers scrubbed our bedrock bare a few years back we have no native earthworms.
There’s debate, especially in the forestry world, over just how much of a mixed blessing our common earthworm
species are, but I won’t get into that. Let’s just assume earthworms are good. A native of Japan and Korea, Amynthas
agrestis is a very different animal. Their reproduction, for example. Other earthworms are hermaphroditic, that is,
they possess both male and female organs, but they still need to go out on a date with another of the same kind.
Crazy worms, however, are parthenogenic, meaning they’re all females who spew out cocoons teeming with baby
female worms by the hundreds without needing to mate. Ever. All it takes is one to make an infestation. They also
mature twice as fast as European earthworms, completing two generations per season instead of just one. And their
population density gets higher than other worms. And remember they’re big. That adds up to an unprecedented
worm biomass that will essentially consume all organic matter. This includes your lawn and the roots of annuals,
perennials and shrubs. In the woods, crazy worms destroy native wildflowers, wiping out trillium, bloodroot, Jack-in
-the-pulpit, ladyslipper and other understory plants. Ground-nesting songbirds like the oven bird disappear.
(Continued on page 9)
8
(Continued from page 8)
When an Amynthas agrestis infestation removes organics from soil, it becomes clumpy and granular and prone to
compaction and erosion. Forest soils actually subside, exposing tree roots. Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources invasive species specialist Bernie Williams stated “Their introduction into our state poses a huge threat
to the future of our forests.” Amynthas agrestis can be distinguished from other worms by their darker color (in
general), and by the band near their middle called a clitellum. In most worms it’s puffy, and similar in color. In crazy
worms it’s even with the body, and milky white to gray. Mature size and behavior also set them apart. Crazy worms
are transplants, and that’s how they often spread. Whether in a potted plant from a garden center or a gift from a
South Carolina relative, these monsters hitchhike long distances with transplants. They also move from infested
areas, mostly in southern states, in shipments of mulch.
There are two ways of telling if your potted plant harbors dangerous fugitives. One is to turn it upside-down and
gently remove the root ball. If crazy worms are present, the roots, as well as some potting soil, may be missing. The
thing is, there may only be young crazy worms present, or very few, so damage might not be evident. A better
solution is a mustard solution. Mix a gallon of water with one-third cup of ground yellow mustard seed, and pour
this slowly into the soil. It won’t hurt the plant, but worms (even “good” ones) will come to the surface and you can
check for miscreants. Because of their acrobatics, crazy worms are valued as fishing bait. This is illegal in most
places, but it does happen. To be safe, anglers should securely cover bait containers, and destroy all unused bait by
placing it on bare concrete and stepping on it. If you have a household worm bin, only use European red wigglers,
Eisenia fetida, which won’t survive outdoors over the winter.
With a presence in Wisconsin and Minnesota, Amynthas agrestis is hardy to USDA Zone 4 and possibly colder. Right
now there are at least five known crazy worm infestations in Warren County, NY and it’s likely there are plenty
more throughout northern NY State. If you suspect you may have found crazy worms, please call your local Cornell
Cooperative Extension office or NYS Department of Environmental Conservation office. If you think it’s an invasive
soil shark, though, I don’t want to know about it.
9
Sheep and Goat
News
Betsy Hodge,
Livestock Educator
Lambing has come and gone and things have settled
down to grazing at the Extension Farm. The lambs
have gotten the hang of staying with their ewemoms and getting through the gate and back and
forth to the pasture. We ended up with 121 lambs
total out of 68 ewes, 3 sets of triplets, 47 sets of
twins and 18 singles. Most of the singles were first
time lambers. We lost 11 lambs which is below the
10% that is expected. The lambs look good in general and some of them are really chunky. We are anxious to see
how these lambs grow since they are the AI lambs and carry New Zealand Dorset genetics.
I was curious about how long the actual gestation was and when the ewes lamb in relation to when the rams were
put in. We had one weekend when we had a spike in lambing and I think that was because we started with one ram
and then added another one a week later. I used the same strategy at home and had a similar spike. I graphed the
lambs born per day just for fun. The first lambs appeared 149 days later and lambing was done in 21 days (even
though the rams were in there for 33 days). At home the pattern was the same only I had 75 lambs out of 41 ewes,
also in 21 days. The Extension lambs are the solid bars and my own lambs are the checkered bars. The numbers
on the bottom are the day of lambing (1 = the first day of lambing, 2= the second day, etc).
So what can we learn from this? Lambing in our case will take about 3 intense weeks. Lambs born per day can vary
from one to 15. Lambing peaks from day 7 to 14. Perhaps that would be different if you had more rams in from
the beginning…..we will have to try that next year or go back a couple years and look at the data. Most of you will
be harvesting or purchasing your forages for feeding next winter over the next few months. Baleage deserves a
look as a possible forage. Baleage is hay that is baled when it is still moist and wrapped in “air tight” plastic and
ensiles inside. So basically it is haylage in bale form. Farmers make baleage so that they can make better quality first
cutting even when the weather doesn’t cooperate. Baleage is very palatable and generally higher in nutrients than
dry first cut hay.
(Continued on page 11)
10
(Continued from page 10)
However, baleage can be a challenge to feed. It needs to be good quality and it needs to be fed carefully. It will
spoil in warm weather and it can sometimes be very hard (literally frozen) for sheep or goats to eat in the winter.
Listeriosis is a bacterial disease that small ruminants are susceptible to. It is a serious sickness and can kill your
sheep or goats. Listeriosis can be found in baleage in some cases. We fed baleage very successfully and had one
case in lambs and one adult ewe. The lamb survived and the ewe died despite treatment. The cases we have had
happened in the spring when there could have been some spoilage left somewhere that the sheep found. It all
tastes good so their judgement about whether to eat the spoiled stuff is impaired. The sheep and goats do very
well on the baleage but you have to weigh your risks. The symptoms are high fever, not eating well, and then
neurological symptoms like paralysis, head pressing, circling, blindness. If caught early the treatment is sometimes
successful. Symptoms could be confused with pregnancy toxemia at the beginning or you could have both things
happening. Listeriosis is everywhere so it isn’t just in the baleage but it is worth thinking about if you decide to
feed baleage or haylage. Baleage is not a bad feed. It is actually a very good quality feed in most cases. It needs to
be fed with good management practices and careful observation or your animals.
The other problem with baleage is that it is easy to get your sheep and goats over-conditioned. If they get close to
lambing and kidding and are overly fat, they can have all kinds of problems. Pregnancy ketosis ironically hits fat
ewes hard since they have a hard time getting enough forage into their rumen because the fat takes up space in
their body cavity. Also dystocia (lambing difficulties) tend to happen more frequently with over conditioned ewes.
Last but not least, we are approaching that time of year when internal parasites make us pull our hair out. One
easy and excellent way of keeping an eye on your animals is to remember the 5 point system. Watch your animals
for diarrhea, bottle jaw, lagging behind the others, body condition/hair coat, and pale mucus membranes. The
FAMACHA technique includes looking at the color of the inside of the lower eyelid mucus membranes. They
should be dark pink. White or very light color indicates anemia and that is most likely caused by the Barberpole
worm. This is serious and can actually cause death in sheep and goats if left untreated. If you haven’t had the
integrated parasite class which includes FAMACHA, try to take it next time we offer it.
Diarrhea could be from all the green grass, coccidia
or internal stomach worms. A fecal sample taken to
your vet or looked at using techniques learned in the
class can tell you the cause. Body condition should
be good and the hair coat should be shiny and
smooth (except during shedding and when in their
winter coats). Bottle Jaw is fluid collected under the
jaw of a sheep or goat. It is an indication that they
need to be treated quickly for parasites. Animals
with pale mucus membranes and bottle jaw should be
kept quiet and not stressed. Sometimes you will
notice an animal lagging behind their herd mates
coming into the barn or going out to pasture. Keep
an eye on those as that lack of energy could be
anemia (as well as sore feet) and caused by parasites.
Enjoy watching your animals outside. It is therapeutic to see lambs and kids running around and doing their races
in the evenings in the pasture. The sheep and goats obviously love eating grass and if they can do some lawn
mowing or clean out some overgrown areas while they are at it, all the better. I will post a link to a grazing chart
that you can print and use to track your paddocks while you graze (www.cceslc.com).
11
4-H Shooting Sports Wrap-Up Season “On Target”
4-H’ers enrolled in the 2015 4-H Shooting Sports Program wrapped up the eight-week course on May 30th at the
Norfolk Rod and Gun Club. The class completed over 6 hours of instruction and 15 hours of hands on range
work in archery, rifle marksmanship and wing shooting. The program’s success can be credited to the great young
people enrolled in the course and the supportive adult volunteers who taught each week. Special thanks go out to
the 4-H Shooting Sports Volunteers who gave so generously of their time: Sue Smith, Rachel Bates, Dustin Smith,
Brooke Rastley, and Allyn Tubbs. A great time was had by all!
12
Canton Central Represents St. Lawrence County at
New York State Envirothon
Canton, N.Y. - On May 14, 2015 the North Adirondack Regional Envirothon (NARE) was held at Paul Smith’s
College, with a team from Canton Central School taking first place against other St. Lawrence County teams
from Clifton-Fine, Colton – Pierrepont, Madrid-Waddington, Norwood-Norfolk, Parishville-Hopkinton, and
Potsdam Schools. The NARE program brings schools from Clinton, Essex, Franklin and St. Lawrence Counties
together to compete for the opportunity to represent their County at the New York State Envirothon.
The Envirothon involves teams of 5 students from each school and aids them in understanding environmental
stewardship and protection. Environmental knowledge is gained through a competition based on the subjects of
Forestry, Soils, Aquatics, Wildlife and Current Issues. The current issue for 2015 is Urban Forestry, which was
chosen for the North American Envirothon which will be held in Missouri in July. The students are required to
answer questions and demonstrate hands on application of these topics.
The program is put together by the local Soil and Water Conservation Districts from Clinton, Essex, Franklin
and St. Lawrence Counties. The regional program is sponsored by the Paul Smith’s College along with the support of other local organizations such as ESF Ranger School, Black River - St. Lawrence RC&D, International Paper, Catamount Lodge & Forest, LLC., Stewarts, Northwoods Forest Consultants, LLC., Malone Federation of
Teachers, and Essex & Franklin County Water Quality Coordinating Committees.
Canton Central will be joining the other 3 County winners from NARE to travel to Hobart William Smith College in Geneva for the New York State Envirothon. The NYS Envirothon will be held on May 27th and 28th with
over 50 other teams from all over New York joining our North Country representatives to compete to represent New York at the national event.
For more information on the Envirothon, contact St. Lawrence County Soil and Water Conservation District
Manager Dawn Howard at 315-386-3582.
13
June is Dairy Month! Celebrate and
Thank A Dairy Farmer!
Megan Parkman, SLC Dairy Princess
This year’s Dairy Princess Court members are: Dairy Princess
Megan Parkman, First Alternate Dairy Princess Paige Moulton
along with our Dairy Ambassadors: Camryn Chester, Hannah
Grant, Chloe Renaud, Isabell Smith and Hailey Villnave. We are
excited to be promoting the benefits of dairy products to the public
as well as recognizing the valuable and dedicated work of our
Dairy Farmers.
June is National Dairy Month and we recognize the Dairy Farmers’
commitment to providing high-quality milk products. We know that
dairy farmers are dedicated to their jobs of taking care of their
cows and protecting our natural resources and we will carry this
message to the public throughout the year.
Remember not only is dairy a healthy product, but it is also produced locally in New York State 365 days a
year. Enjoy this dairy season and try this recipe:
Strawberry & Yogurt Parfait
Ingredients:
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1 teaspoon sugar
½ cup of plain greek-style yogurt (or your favorite flavor)
¼ cup granola or graham crackers
Directions
1.
In a small bowl or parfait glass, spoon alternating layers of strawberry slices, greek-style yogurt, and granola/
graham crackers.
2.
Flavored yogurt has lots of kid-appeal, so it's a super way to get more dairy into your child's day. It's even
more fun to eat if you let him or her do the building!
Serving size: One
Total Time: 10 minutes
Thank you and enjoy! We hope to see you at the Dairy Princess Parade on June 6 and the Gouverneur/St. Lawrence County Fair August 4 - 9, 2015!
14
Conservation Corner
Dawn Howard St Lawrence County SWCD
WETLANDS
This time of year when there seems to be lots of water everywhere, we get questions about doing drainage. The
St. Lawrence County Soil and Water Conservation District is not a regulatory agency, but we try to provide the
best information possible to keep people out of trouble. Along with technical information on drainage, we talk
about regulated waterbodies, including streams and wetlands. There are many types of wetlands. Not all have
cattails.
There are two entities that regulate wetlands. One is the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC). State wetlands are at least 12.4 acres in size. A 100 foot buffer must be maintained outside
of the wetland boundary. Wetlands cannot be filled or drained or disturbed without a permit. Timber may be cut
in these areas, but a certain volume of wood must be left. The DEC has staff who can help locate these wetland
boundaries and discuss the restrictions.
The other entity that regulates wetlands is the Army Corp of Engineers. Federal regulated wetlands can be much
smaller in size than NYS wetlands. Maps are available that show some of the larger wetlands, but there may also be
regulated areas that don’t show on the maps. If an area has hydric soil and also has hydrophytic vegetation, it is
probably also regulated. Hydric soils are soils that have the water table either at the surface or very close at some
point during the growing season, which here in St. Lawrence County is between May and September. Hydrophytic
vegetation is water tolerant and is typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. A soil may be hydric and
may not support this vegetation, and so it would not be a wetland. Timber may be clear cut in these areas, but
stumps may not be removed. The Army Corp will answer questions, but does not typically do field delineations,
so a trained wetland delineator may be needed.
Another consideration when draining is eligibility for participation in USDA programs. The Food Security Act of
1985, as amended, requires producers participating in most programs administered by the Farm Service Agency
(FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to abide by certain conditions on any land owned or
farmed that is highly erodible or that is considered a wetland. (Highly erodible land is cropland, hayland, or pasture
that can erode at excessive rates because of the soil type.) Producers must certify that they will not plant an
agricultural commodity on a converted wetland or convert a wetland to make possible the production of an
agricultural commodity. This is an important point even if you do not participate in USDA programs. A
conversion also makes any future property owners not only ineligible for benefits on this property, but on all
properties they are using. Current producers in violation may be required to refund all payments received and
may be assessed liquidated damages. NRCS makes the wetland determinations, which may differ from the state
and federal wetlands.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call the St.
Lawrence County Soil and Water Conservation District
at 315-386-3582. For $5.00 we can provide landowners
with an aerial photo that outlines their real property tax
map boundary, overlaid with mapped regulated
wetlands, soils including the hydric soils, streams, and
topographic elevations. Our services are confidential.
We can also provide you with contact info for the
proper authorities for any questions we can’t answer.
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Fashion Show & Mannequin
Modeling at the County Fair
Cassondra Caswell,
Club Management Educator
The 4-H Fashion Show is returning to the Fair! The Fashion
Show will be paired with the Mannequin Modeling Clinic on
Tuesday evening on August 4th creating the Fashion Revue category in the fair book Section B, Class number 2, A. Fashion
Show; B. Mannequin Modeling. This is an opportunity for
members to display their textiles and clothing projects. Members are encouraged to display projects they have exhibited for
the fair under Section DC and DD; however, other garments
can be worn if it represents the County Fair theme and is family
appropriate. 4-H members who are interested in going to the State Fair to represent St. Lawrence County as a
Fashion Revue Teen Leader are required to participate at the county level. St. Lawrence County rotation at the
state fair is August 30th –September 3rd.
The classes that will be new in the fair book include:
Section B, Class No. 2 A. Fashion Show: Participants must
write a commentary that is brisk, to the point, and informative that
tells a story about the garment so that the audience gains a sense of
youth’s project involvement and purpose. It should explain the outfit
by describing the style, fiber content, fabric, color, accessories, and
intended purposes. Commentary card for purchased garments
should include cost, why it was purchased, how it fits into wardrobe, and about the accessories that were selected. Commentaries
should include members name in the first or second sentence, and
should be written in the third person perspective as another individual will read the card.
Section B, Class No. 2 B. Mannequin Modeling: This is a modeling art form were members are challenged to hold a pose for 5-15
minutes with the effect of displaying a garment. It demonstrates
poise, balance, and persistence. Members are encouraged to model
their own garments that they have exhibited for the fair under
Section DC and DD; however, other garments can be worn if it
represents the County Fair theme and is family appropriate
(premiums will be awarded for participating 3 separate times).
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Farm
Day
Camp
ADK
Guide
Series
Summer Programs at the Extension Learning Farm
For those living in the shadow of the Adirondacks, the clock starts ticking as soon as the last frost settles and
snows from the higher elevations start to melt and fill the waterways veining their way toward the lakes and sea.
It is a countdown to the inevitable time when we once again tilt slightly away from the Sun’s direct gaze, and are
thrown back into the dark and wild cold of Winter. Though there is a splendor that sets in during those frozen
months, when Summer finally arrives it is a welcomed, but swift, respite that locals know should not be
squandered. Cornell Cooperative Extension and 4-H of St. Lawrence County is offering a variety of programs to
help youth and families make the most of those precious, warm months.
Farm Day Camp
With a motto of “make today ridiculously amazing”, this year’s Farm Day Camp promises to be full of fun and
adventure. Days are packed with activities such as: woodworking, astronomy, fishing, primitive skills,
archeological digs, hands-on science projects, and a week dedicated to live-action Minecraft. Campers will also be
working with the farm’s animals and maintaining a garden in the high tunnel on daily basis. For the pre-teens in
your family, Camp is also offering two weeks of Wilderness and Woodland adventure programming. These
sessions are an introduction to backcountry camping and a chance for them learn about the rich tradition of the
Adirondacks. Activities include: an overnight at the Farm’s new campsite, a trip to Tupper Lake and the Wild
Center, fishing and archery.
Adirondack Guide Series
These sessions are billed as “Wilderness Adventures for Teens in the North Country”, and offer four different
session for teens to choose from. There are three High Peaks Explorer trips and one Adirondack Steward week.
High Peaks Explorer weeks are designed to introduce teens to backcountry survival and leadership skills, and
welcome them to the adventure of becoming a 46er. Lead by experienced trip leaders, each week culminates in a
two-night/three-day backpacking excursion to summit a number of the Adirondack’s High Peaks.
The Adirondack Stewards week gives teens the opportunity to experience first-hand the history and tradition of
the region. Activities include: an overnight stay in Tupper with a trip to the Wild Center and John Brown’s Farm,
fishing and shooting trips, workshops in classic outdoor skills, and campout at the Farm’s wilderness site. Check
out the program’s website for more info: www.adirondackguideseries.com. The Farm Day Camp costs $145/
session and the Adirondack Guide Series is $275/session. Deadline to register for both is June 19th. Contact
Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County at 315-379-9192 for more information or to register.
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June Garden Tips
by Amy Ivy
Whenever you can, take time to get up close to your plants.
Turn leaves over to look for eggs or newly hatching insects.
Here are some insect pests that show up every June.
Colorado potato beetles love potatoes, of course, but their
favorite is eggplant, a relative of potatoes. Eggs are bright
orange, about the size of a fat sesame seed, and laid in clusters
of 8-12 on the undersides of the leaves. Crush any egg clusters
you see. By doing so you prevent that whole generation from
developing.
Aphids love lupines. They feed on many flowers and vegetables but if you have a mixed flower garden, the first
place you’ll find aphids is on lupines. I find they’re most interested in the flower stalk, which they will completely
cover as it begins to bloom. You can knock them off with a hard stream of water or direct a spray of insecticidal
soap since they move very slowly. Just don’t use that spray on hot, muggy days or it may harm your plants.
When the lupines fade I cut the entire plant to the ground. It quickly produces new growth that is rarely
bothered by aphids and lasts the rest of the summer. Give this a method a try if you grow lupines.
Flea beetles love crucifers, which includes broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and Chinese cabbage.
I don’t have an easy way to deal with these small, round, black beetles. They hop like a flea, so hand-picking is
impossible. They make round ‘bullet holes’ through the leaf and can wipe out young seedlings. There are some
dusts you can use that leave a residue that can help. If you have a problem every year you can plant these crops
under row cover to keep flea beetles off until plants are big enough to tolerate some damage.
Cucumber beetles, as their name implies, feed on cucumbers and other members of the Cucurbit family like
squash and melons. They’re particularly damaging at the seedling stage when they consume vulnerable young
plants. They’re attracted to the color yellow, so sticky cards may help. Handpicking is impossible since they’re
quick and numerous. Later in the summer, cucumber beetles can also transmit bacterial wilt, a real problem for
cucumbers.
Here are some organic control options for the above pests: For beetles: azadirachtin (Azaguard ®), spinosad
(Entrust ®), beauveria bassiana (Mycotrol ®). For aphids: insecticidal soap (don’t use in humid conditions over 85
degrees). For more control options, including conventional pesticides, contact the CCE office. There are many
types of pests out there, and many beneficials, too. When in doubt, bring a sample to our office for a free
identification and we can suggest control options tailored to that pest.
PESTICIDE DISCLAIMER: Every effort has been made to provide correct, complete and up-to-date pesticide
recommendations. Nevertheless, changes in pesticide regulations occur constantly, human errors are still
possible. These recommendations are not a substitute for pesticide labeling. Please read the label before applying
any pesticide and follow the directions exactly.
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4-H Club News
Cassondra Caswell, Club Management Educator
St. Lawrence County 4-H is gearing up for the 2015 County
Fair. The county Fair is a great opportunity for 4-H members
to display the projects they have been working on throughout
the year and to participate in fun activities, events, and competitions. 4-H clubs are encouraged to set up a booth in the
youth building to celebrate their club work and represent their
4-H experiences for the public. Planning an organizing a booth
for the fair is an opportunity for members to build skills such
as teamwork, craftsmanship, and creative thinking to design a
booth that represents 4-H and their club through the lens of
this year’s theme: “4-H Right in Your Backyard!” Club booth
displays should incorporate one or all of the following objectives: Community Service, Public Presentations, and Leadership.
Each club should create a visual story, scene, educational display
that uses each members’ and groups’ projects including but not limited to posters, social events, camp activities,
etc. Youth must be involved in the set up and dismantling of the booth. Booths can be entered under Section B,
class No. 1 and will be judged on Tuesday August 4th.Pre-registration is required by calling Cassondra Caswell at
315-379-9192 x235 to reserve a booth by July 10, 2015.
Equine Updates
Cooperative Extension would like to congratulate the following St. Lawrence County 4-H’ers for qualifying for
State Horse Communications in Ithaca, NY: Riley Green, Mariah Murphy and Greta Joos of the Raindrop Roundup 4-H club and Maureen Pierce of the Jolly Ranchers 4-H Club. Thank you to all who participated at the County
and Regional levels. Your hard work and enthusiasm is very much appreciated. We would also like to thank our
judges Michelle Young, Bethany Burnham and Vicky Derouchia for their time and quality evaluations. Last but not
least, thank you to Casey Caswell and Cailey Underhill for providing assistance throughout the event.
Maureen and Meaghan Pierce of Jolly Ranchers 4-H club along with Emily Brunner, Owen Dorr, Emily Atherton
and Alison Grenga created a mixed-county team at the 2015 NYS Horse Bowl in Ithaca, winning second place.
Additionally, individually Maureen and Meaghan placed eighth and second, respectively. Congratulations!
Junior Dairy Leadership Program
The New York State Junior Dairy Leader Program is a yearlong program for youth 16 to 19 year who have an
interest in the dairy/agricultural field and leadership development. In addition to the career awareness and leadership development, participants are engaged in personal and professional development and career planning. The
program starts in late September with a trip to Madison, Wisconsin for the National 4-H Dairy Conference and
the World Dairy Expo and is followed by 2-day programs about once a month throughout the year (usually on
weekends) and ends with a graduation ceremony and presentation to program sponsors at the Empire Farm Days
in August. The cost of the program per year per participants is $2,300 but through grants and the dairy industry’s support of the program, the cost selected participants pay is $250. Applications for this Program are available from our Office or on the NY State Junior Dairy Leadership web site. Application deadline date is June 30,
2015.
County Fair Clean-up Day. The County Fair is fast approaching and we are looking for 4-H members to
volunteer on July 23rd to help get the fairgrounds ready. This is a great opportunity for youth as a community
service project. Please contact Cassondra Caswell x 235 to sign up.
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State Fair Fashion Revue. Members who are interested in participating in the State Fair Fashion Revue as a
Teen Leader should contact Cassondra Caswell x 235 for more details. St. Lawrence County rotation at the State
Fair for Fashion Revue is Aug. 30th-Sept. 3rd. Paperwork will be due by July 10th.
Teen Council has begun planning summer activities for teens! Members are organizing a hike on an Adirondack
Mountain trail, and a summer cook out. Come join Teen Council and participate in fun activities with other 4-H
teens! For more information contact Andrew Carpino at 315-379-9192 x 234.
District Public Presentations was held at Hermon-DeKalb School on May 2nd. Members traveled from
Clinton, Lewis, Jefferson, and St. Lawrence counties to present. Congratulations to all participants. Jessica Hall,
Greta Joos, Maureen Pierce, and Olivia Brown advanced on to the State Public Presentation Competition.
Participants from Lewis and Clinton County also moved on to the state competition. Check with Amy for names
Shoots and Roots participated in a community service project on May 14. They planted and did yard clean-up at
Helping Hands in Hannawa Falls. They are also busy planning and working on creating their banner for the County
Fair booth in the youth building. A job well done to Robbie Joe and Jasmine who each delivered a presentation at
the club level during the Shoots and Roots May meeting! Information provided by Diane Romlein, 4-H Club
Leader.
Raindrop Roundup was excited to send four members to the State Competition for Public Speaking at Cornell
University on May 16th. With the nicer weather they club is finally getting the horses shed out and riding regularly. They are all looking forward to the fair. Raindrop Roundup 4-H. Information provided by Judy Boyer, 4-H Club
Leader.
The Jolly Ranchers had a busy month. They volunteered at Tractor Supply's Clover Days, joined forces with the
Pine Hill Pioneers to clean up Woodworth Cemetery in Macomb, held a woodworking meeting, and welcomed
another future member, baby Julia Severson. Information and photo provided by Meaghan Pierce, Club Secretary.
Tractor Supply Company Fundraising Event was hosted at local Tractor Supply stores. The Pine Hill Pioneers 4-H club set up at the Gouverneur Tractor Supply Company on April 25th. They did Bagel Bird Feeders as
a community service project while some members stood near the registers to ask for Clover donations.
Independent Members Denver and Reilly Kenney set up at the Support 4-H Fundraising Event at the Tractor
Supply Company store in Massena. Thank you to all 4-H members and volunteers who participated and set up at
local store locations during the Tractor Supply Company Paper Clover “Support 4-H” Fundraiser April 22-May 3.
Thank you to everyone who donated!! Your support and dedication is greatly appreciated!
St. Lawrence 4-H’er Going To Nationals
Mia Brown, member of the Home School Hillybillies and the C.O.W.S. 4-H
Clubs, placed in the top four at the State 4-H Dairy Bowl Contest held
April 25th, at Cornell. Mia will be one of the members of the Team to
represent New York State at the National Competition in November, to
be held in Louisville, Kentucky. Congratulations to Mia for working so hard
to get there.
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NEW YORK STATE PROACTIVELY BANS ALL FOWL
COMPETITIONS AT THE GREAT NEW YORK STATE FAIR AND ALL
COUNTY FAIRS TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST AVIAN FLU
Current Influenza Strains are No Threat to Humans.
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has issued an order banning all live fowl competitions at the
Great New York State Fair and at all county fairs in New York, Commissioner of Agriculture Richard A. Ball announced
today. The order is the direct result of the continuing spread of strains of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Midwest.
“Avian influenza has not yet been detected in New York State, but it is a very serious threat to poultry and all breeds of fowl
and is continuing to spread. Despite the efforts of the best poultry health experts in North America, we do not fully
understand the cause of the rapid spread of this virus. This common sense step will help limit the spread of the influenza to
other farms and chickens,” said Commissioner Ball.
“Fowl at fairs come from many different farms. An infection in one farm’s fowl could spread easily and quickly to birds from
other farms at fairs. If exposure to avian influenza virus happens at a fair, birds returning to their home farms will quickly
spread the virus to many new locations. It’s critical to prevent this rapid dispersal of this disease, and this is an unfortunate
but necessary action,” said Dr. Smith. The ban covers all breeds of fowl, including chickens, pigeons, turkeys, pheasants, guinea
fowl, bantam poultry, geese, and ducks. Exhibitors who have already registered fowl for the 2015 New York State Fair will be
contacted and will receive a refund of their entry fees.
“This is a disappointment to us as well as to fairgoers and our exhibitors, who look forward to this competition every year.
But we believe people understand that we are stewards of the animals in our care and I know they understand that we’re
doing what’s best for everyone, and especially for the birds,” said Troy Waffner, Acting Fair Director. The Fair has already
made plans to fill the space in the Poultry Barn normally used for displaying chickens with rabbits and cavies, and the daily
rooster crowing contest will be replaced by a rabbit hopping demonstration on seven days. There will be a special
demonstration on Tuesday, Sept. 1 of combing and cutting fur from angora rabbits and spinning the fur into yarn to make hats
and mittens.
While the current strains of avian influenza circulating in the Midwest are extraordinarily deadly to birds, experts stress that
the H5N2 and H5N8 strains are not a threat to humans. Officials stress that chicken and eggs are safe to eat. Food safety
experts all recommend that chicken must be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees and that raw poultry must be
properly handled to protect against all types of food-borne illness. Inspectors from the New York State Department of
Health are on-site throughout the Fair, performing daily inspections of food stands. The ban extends to all chartered county
fairs and youth fairs in New York State. There are 45 county fairs and 6 chartered youth shows for the fair season that runs
from June through October. “We believe the public will be very receptive to this. They know that we want to do the right
thing. We want to do what we can to prevent the spread of this disease to our local farms,” said Doug Hanno, President of
the New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs and an official of the Lewis County Fair.
Several states have banned poultry competitions and exhibitions at fairs, including West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Dakota,
and Minnesota. Ohio has banned poultry entries from states affected by the virus outbreak and may consider a complete ban
on competitions and displays. Avian influenza outbreaks are not uncommon, but the current outbreak is particularly deadly to
birds. The outbreak is concentrated in two strains of influenza – H5N2 and H5N8. Influenza has been found on more than
170 farms in 20 states in the West, Midwest, and South and 2 Canadian provinces. More than 35 million birds have died or
been euthanized as a result of what officials call the largest avian influenza outbreak in U.S. history. New York has taken a
strongly proactive stand with suppliers, distributors, and live bird markets in attempting to prevent the spread of avian
influenza and prevent birds with influenza from crossing into the state. Bird flocks intended for the live bird sales market
must test negative for avian influenza before they can move into the marketing system. Once birds are in the marketing
system, state officials verify test records and monitor sanitation levels at the live bird markets.
Employees of the Department’s Division of Animal Industry routinely test poultry in live bird markets for avian influenza. In
2014, approximately 35,000 birds in the New York live bird marketing system were tested for the disease. Any bird that tests
positive is traced back to its original flock to address possible infections. Any market that tests positive for influenza is
depopulated of birds, and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. It cannot open until passing an inspection and test for avian
influenza.
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4-H Calendar of Events
Fair Cattle Leasing Deadline: June 1st deadline for owning or leasing cattle to show at the County Fair.
Contact Amy Sands at 315-379-9192 with questions.
Junior Master Gardeners: June 4, 11, 18, 25, July2, 9, 16, 23, 30. 4-6pm, ELF. Contact Andrew Carpino at 315379-9192.
4-H Leader and Parent Meeting: June 4th @ 6pm. Extension Classroom. Ice Cream Social
Adirondack Guide Series: Deadline to register is June 19th. For more information contact Andrew Carpino.
4-H Dressage Clinic and 4-H Rider Evaluations: June 30th, 9:00 @ Extension Farm. Anyone who is riding a
new horse or is a new 4-H horse member must have an evaluation in order to show at the Fair. All horse and
rider evaluations must be completed by July 13th. To register and more information call Fiona Laramay at 315379-9192 x 252.
District Dairy Judging: June 30th – Will be hosted in St. Lawrence County. More information coming soon.
Fair Booth Sign-Up: July 15th is the deadline for signing up for a booth at the County Fair.
State Fair Fashion Revue Deadline: July 10th. Members interested in participating at State Fair Fashion Revue
should hand in paperwork by July 10th. Contact Cassondra Caswell at 315-379-9192 x 235 for more information.
Fair Animal Entries: Due to the Extension Office by July 15th
Fair Clean-up Day: July 23rd, 10am, Gouverneur Fair Grounds Youth Building. Bring a bagged lunch. Call
Cassondra Caswell to sign up, 315-379-9192 x 235.
ATTENTION: Seeking volunteers to help perform a variety of tasks at the arena during St. Lawrence County
Fair 4-H horse shows. For more information, or if interested in volunteering, please contact Fiona Laramay at
(315) 379-9192 ext. 252, or [email protected].
WANTED: Presenters and volunteers to help out with a variety of tasks
during Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Farm Day Camp. Tasks may include
presenting educational materials on various topics, chaperone youth,
organize and lead games and activities, helping with morning and afternoon
chores, etc. For more information, or if interested in volunteering, please
contact Ryan Siver at (315) 379-9192 ext. 261, or [email protected].
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2043B SH 68, Canton, NY 13617
Tel: 315-379-9192
Fax: 315-379-0926
Non-Profit
Postage Paid
Canton, NY
Permit 42
13617
Cornell Cooperative Extension actively supports equal educational and employment opportunities. No person shall be denied admission to any educational program
or activity or be denied employment on the basis of any legally prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, color, religion, political
beliefs, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status, veteran status, or disability. Cornell Cooperative Extension is committed to
the maintenance of affirmative action programs that will assure the continuation of such equality of opportunity. “Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and
educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities”
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