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NY Farms! in an effort to increase networking among members in the farm and food industry is pleased to provide the following Agricultural Calendar for you. If you have specific information that you would like to share please send it to nyfarms@nyfarms.info. Calendars will be compiled on a weekly basis. If you are hosting an Agricultural Event or a Farm and/or Food Conference, please let us know. We would love to promote more events which involve the general public.

Please send us your concise information in the following calendar format: Date, Name of Event, Time, Location, BRIEF description, Contact person, Phone (specify area code), Email, Web Address, Cost. Please do not send PDFs or long press releases for us to format.

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Please click on any of the following links to drop to that month.

[ September ]  [ October ]  [ Save the Date] 

For the schedule of NYS Dept. of Ag & Markets Crop Insurance Education Program meetings please click here.

For a calendar of events listing from the new Sample New York website click here.

September

September 9, 16, 23, 2009 Ag in Uncertain Times Webinar Series: Operating in the face of uncertain markets is an interactive Extension webinar series designed to assist ag professionals, including producers, to better understand the changing conditions in today’s economy. The series is targeted towards providing information that helps producers make informed decisions and improves ag professional’s ability to work with their farm and ranch customers/clients. Each session is scheduled for 60 to 90 minutes with plenty of opportunity for the participants to interact with the presenters. All webinar start times are at 9AM Pacific. (10AM Mountain, 11 AM Central, and 12 noon Eastern). For more information: email westrme@wsu.edu, call John Nelson, 509-477-2176 or visit : http://www.farmmanagement.org/aginuncertaintimes/

September 11-12, 2009 GRAZE-A-PALOOZA II From 9 am to 4 pm both days A two day hands-on mobile "classroom in the field" event inspiring a new generation of grass farmers, conservation professionals, consumers and locally produced food. Hosted on the farms of The Nathan Weaver Family, 4225 East Mile Strip Rd. Canastota, N.Y. The Richard Bargabos Family, Old County Rd. Peterboro, N.Y. Pre-registration admission is $30 per family for the two day program and $40 for walk-ins. For information and to register for this “green” event: Please call The Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District at 315-824-9849 and talk with the Grass Whisperer, Troy Bishop.

September 12, 2009 8th Annual Mohawk Valley Garlic and Herb Festival 10am to 5pm in Canal Place, Little Falls. All garlic growers, artisans, herb growers, food vendors, garlic/herb product producers and non-profit groups are invited to apply as vendors at the festival. The festival is a perfect opportunity to showcase locally grown or handmade products. Thousands attend the aromatic festivities in the park-like setting of Canal Place, located on the Erie Canal. For more information, or to download an online application, check out: www.littlefallsny.com Questions? Call The Mustard Seed at 315-210-6317

September 19-20, 2009 Apple Fest 2009 at Bidwell Orchards 10am to 4pm each day. A two day craft and flea market hosted by Bidwell Orchards; 251 Heiser Rd; Fort Plain, NY 13339. Many different vendors with food, crafts, collectibles, antiques, fruits, vegetables, flea market items, and fun for the whole family. Visit our Country Store, open daily September through December 10am - 6pm, for free samples of our delectable, homemade products, including the best tasting pies in the Valley. For booth information contact Jackie at 518-993-3688 or email jrbidwell@frontiernet.net. Free admission.

September 26, 2009 Making Quality Maple Confections and Value Added Workshop II A one-day Maple Confections Workshop from 9 am to 4 pm will be presented at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County Amboy 4-H Environmental Center located on Route 183 in Williamstown, NY. Each participant will need to bring one quart of syrup (any color or grade) to be used in the program. Pre-registration is required by Monday, September 21st, 2009. To obtain a registration form, contact Karen Meyers at (315) 963-7286, ext. 201 or email kmm14@cornell.edu. For additional information, contact JJ Schell at jjs69@cornell.edu (315) 963-7286, ext. 200.

September 27-29, 2009 NYS Maple Tour in Lake Placid Some of the most unique and progressive maple sugaring operations in the state will be visited during the New York State Maple Tour in September in Lake Placid. Visit http://www.nysmaple.com/ for details and to register.

October

October 7, 2009 "Get Involved with Maple" Workshop. The workshops will help landowners identify whether or not their property is presently suited to maple production or leasing with the costs and benefits of various options for utilizing their maples for sugaring. Previous research has revealed that most landowners are primarily interested in how getting involved with the maple industry might reduce their property taxes. By leasing forestland to a qualifying maple producer, a landowner may be able to qualify for an ag assessment. Uihlein Forest, 157 Bear Cub Lane, Lake Placid. Contact: Michael Farrell, mlf36@cornell.edu, 518-523-9337.

October 7, 14, 21, 2009 Ag in Uncertain Times Webinar Series: Families facing uncertainty in agriculture is an interactive Extension webinar series designed to assist ag professionals, including producers, to better understand the changing conditions in today’s economy. The series is targeted towards providing information that helps producers make informed decisions and improves ag professional’s ability to work with their farm and ranch customers/clients. Each session is scheduled for 60 to 90 minutes with plenty of opportunity for the participants to interact with the presenters. All webinar start times are at 9AM Pacific. (10AM Mountain, 11 AM Central, and 12 noon Eastern). For more information: email westrme@wsu.edu, call John Nelson, 509-477-2176 or visit : http://www.farmmanagement.org/aginuncertaintimes/

October 8, 2009 "Get Involved with Maple" Workshop. The workshops will help landowners identify whether or not their property is presently suited to maple production or leasing with the costs and benefits of various options for utilizing their maples for sugaring. Previous research has revealed that most landowners are primarily interested in how getting involved with the maple industry might reduce their property taxes. By leasing forestland to a qualifying maple producer, a landowner may be able to qualify for an ag assessment. Miner Institute, 1034 Miner Farm Road, Chazy. Contact: Laura Nicholson, lan25@cornell.edu, 518-561-7450.

October 8-11, 2009 NYC Wine & Food Festival At the Food Network's New York City Wine and Food Festival coming up in October, Basis will be featuring our pop-up good food market, "Back to Basis - A Good Food Farmers Market in the heart of the Meatpacking District" on Saturday, October 10th. You can catch us again on Sunday, the 11th at our sweet-treat ice cream event, "From Farm to Cone - Ice Cream Making with Seth McEachron of Battenkill Valley Creamery!" Learn how to make ice cream with farm-fresh ingredients and compete to formulate the winning flavor. Sign up to participate in our events now, as tickets sell out early! Visit http://www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com/2009/

October 13, 2009 "Get Involved with Maple" Workshop. The workshops will help landowners identify whether or not their property is presently suited to maple production or leasing with the costs and benefits of various options for utilizing their maples for sugaring. Previous research has revealed that most landowners are primarily interested in how getting involved with the maple industry might reduce their property taxes. By leasing forestland to a qualifying maple producer, a landowner may be able to qualify for an ag assessment.Cornell Cooperative Extension, 3 Sisco St, Westport Contact: Emily Selleck, els52@cornell.edu, 518-962-4810.

October 14, 2009 "Get Involved with Maple" Workshop. The workshops will help landowners identify whether or not their property is presently suited to maple production or leasing with the costs and benefits of various options for utilizing their maples for sugaring. Previous research has revealed that most landowners are primarily interested in how getting involved with the maple industry might reduce their property taxes. By leasing forestland to a qualifying maple producer, a landowner may be able to qualify for an ag assessment. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, 203 N. Hamilton Street, Watertown. Contact: Mike Hunter, 315-788-8450 meh27@cornell.edu

October 15, 2009 "Get Involved with Maple" Workshop. The workshops will help landowners identify whether or not their property is presently suited to maple production or leasing with the costs and benefits of various options for utilizing their maples for sugaring. Previous research has revealed that most landowners are primarily interested in how getting involved with the maple industry might reduce their property taxes. By leasing forestland to a qualifying maple producer, a landowner may be able to qualify for an ag assessment. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County, 5274 Outer Stowe Street, Lowville. Contact: Michele Ledoux, 315-376-5270 mel14@cornell.edu

October 15, 2009 Farm Animal Welfare Legal Conference: What Every Livestock Owner Needs to Know at The Clarion Hotel in Albany. Keynote Speaker David Martokso. Get the facts about your legal rights and your possible vulnerabilities, as well as the rapidly changing legal landscape in the animal care arena in the United States and New York. Whether you have two horses or 1,000 head of dairy cows, this program will have something to offer you. Seminar updates will follow or for more information contact Lisa Ovitt, Legal Affairs at 800-342-4143. Visit http://www.nyfb.org/Legal/oct.09%20animal%20seminar.htm

October 17, 2009 Hudson Valley Farm Beginnings®:"Clarifying Values, Setting Personal and Strategic Business Goals" (Held from 10AM to 4PM.) This class will include a general introduction to the program and to the first session by clarifying concepts surrounding personal values, professional goals and strategic and business planning as they relate to each person's dream of developing his/her own farm. This will be followed by farmer panelists who will discuss these ideas in relation to their own farm enterprises. During the lunch break there will be a tour of Hawthorne Valley Farm with Farm Manager, Steffen Schneider. Afterwards, a featured experienced farmer will present his/her farm in detail. The day will then finish with activities to help articulate participants' farming goals. Call 518-672-7500 x 105 for more info.

October 19, 2009 "Get Involved with Maple" Workshop. The workshops will help landowners identify whether or not their property is presently suited to maple production or leasing with the costs and benefits of various options for utilizing their maples for sugaring. Previous research has revealed that most landowners are primarily interested in how getting involved with the maple industry might reduce their property taxes. By leasing forestland to a qualifying maple producer, a landowner may be able to qualify for an ag assessment. Franklin County 911 Emergency Response Building, 55 Bare Hill Road, Malone. Contact: Richard Gast, 518-483-7403 rlg24@cornell.edu

October 20, 2009 "Get Involved with Maple" Workshop. The workshops will help landowners identify whether or not their property is presently suited to maple production or leasing with the costs and benefits of various options for utilizing their maples for sugaring. Previous research has revealed that most landowners are primarily interested in how getting involved with the maple industry might reduce their property taxes. By leasing forestland to a qualifying maple producer, a landowner may be able to qualify for an ag assessment. Cornell Cooperative Extension Learning Farm Classroom, 1894 State Highway 68, Canton. Contact: Anita Morrill, 315-379-9192. amr28@cornell.edu,

October 24, 2009 2009 Cornell Sheep & Goat Symposium Program Morrison Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Save the date!

October 31, 2009 Hudson Valley Farm Beginnings®:" Analyzing the Situation: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats." (Held from 10AM to 4PM.) This session will begin with a sharing of quality of life goals that were developed as part of the program homework and will then proceed to a farmer panel covering the topic of how to assess one's farming and business capabilities and how to expand one's skill base. A slide presentation from a working CSA will proceed lunch, followed by the completion of the Purdue Skills Assessment and BD Skills Assessment Lists. The day will then end with an activity covering farm missions and goals. Call 518-672-7500 x 105 for more info.

Save the Date

November 2-3, 2009 2009 Cornell Strategic Marketing Conference: Story Telling: Marketing the Unique Story of Your Business for Success! The conference is open to all members of the agricultural and food industry and will be held at the Henry A Wallace Visitor and Education Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Museum in Hyde Park, NY. Current agenda and registration materials will be posted soon to the PWT website at http://marketingpwt.aem.cornell.edu. So please check back often for updates!

November 4, 11, 18, 2009 Ag in Uncertain Times Webinar Series: Operating in risky environments is an interactive Extension webinar series designed to assist ag professionals, including producers, to better understand the changing conditions in today’s economy. The series is targeted towards providing information that helps producers make informed decisions and improves ag professional’s ability to work with their farm and ranch customers/clients. Each session is scheduled for 60 to 90 minutes with plenty of opportunity for the participants to interact with the presenters. All webinar start times are at 9AM Pacific. (10AM Mountain, 11 AM Central, and 12 noon Eastern). For more information: email westrme@wsu.edu, call John Nelson, 509-477-2176 or visit : http://www.farmmanagement.org/aginuncertaintimes/

November 13-14, 2009 NESAWG's Annual Conference: It Takes a Region: A Working Conference to Build our Northeast Food System. This year, NESAWG's annual conference takes on some hard issues. As a region, we need to grow our thinking and our work to develop a truly sustainable and resilient food system. We will get beyond the jargon, myths and fuzzy concepts to come away with a shared vision, coherent strategy and concrete plans. For more information, contact Kathy Ruhf, NESAWG coordinator at 413-323-9878. Visit http://www.nesawg.org for more information.

November 13-15, 2009 Pride of New York Harvest Fest NYS Fairgrounds, Syracuse, NY. Enjoy a full weekend of sampling and purchasing fine quality food, wine and beer from New York growers and producers. You will attend cooking demonstrations presented by exceptional restaurateurs from across the state and educational seminars presented by the New York Wine and Grape Foundation. You will taste the "Pride" in everything from savory sauces, sophisticated wines and hearty beers, to quality meats, distinctive specialty foods and fresh-from-the-farm produce. Visit http://harvestfestny.com/ for more information.

November 14, 2009 Hudson Valley Farm Beginnings®: "Managing Your Resource Base." This class will be held at Roxbury Farm. (Held from 1 to 5PM.) The day will begin with a discussion including the directors of the Farmscape Ecology Program and the farmers at Roxbury Farm concerning understanding and managing the ecological and production aspects of a farm as a natural resource. A tour of Roxbury Farm will follow and then the day will end with a review of each student's Production Goal homework. Call 518-672-7500 x 105 for more info.

December 2, 9, 16, 2009 Ag in Uncertain Times Webinar Series: /Pulling it all together: Managing Ag Enterprises in Uncertain times is an interactive Extension webinar series designed to assist ag professionals, including producers, to better understand the changing conditions in today’s economy. The series is targeted towards providing information that helps producers make informed decisions and improves ag professional’s ability to work with their farm and ranch customers/clients. Each session is scheduled for 60 to 90 minutes with plenty of opportunity for the participants to interact with the presenters. All webinar start times are at 9AM Pacific. (10AM Mountain, 11 AM Central, and 12 noon Eastern). For more information: email westrme@wsu.edu, call John Nelson, 509-477-2176 or visit : http://www.farmmanagement.org/aginuncertaintimes/

December 5, 2009 Hudson Valley Farm Beginnings®: "Creating a Business Plan." (Held from 1 to 5PM.) What makes a good or bad business plan will be discussed. A farmer panel will follow the day's introduction, followed by a talk with a business planning professional and a review of each student's Holistic Goals. The first homework in creating each participant's own business plan will be given at this time. Call 518-672-7500 x 105 for more info.

December 19, 2009 Hudson Valley Farm Beginnings®: "Marketing, Part I"(Tentative date) (Held from 1 to 5PM.) The definition of marketing and differing ways to market products will be discussed. A farmer panel will discuss their marketing needs and how they have changed over time. Students will break into smaller groups for a Case Clinic, to look at different ways to approach their own marketing needs. The day will end with a sharing of Mission and Vision Statements by the students. Call 518-672-7500 x 105 for more info.