Catskill Regional Agriculture Conference Jan 11

WALTON — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County, in partnership with the Watershed Agricultural Council, will be hosting the 21st annual Catskill Regional Agriculture Conference on Thursday, January 11, 2024, from 10:00 AM in Farrell Hall at the SUNY Delhi campus. Come and join farmers from around the region for this premier agricultural event.  Our top-notch speakers will be presenting timely information about dairy, livestock, and horticulture production as well as grazing management.

Conference registration begins at 9:30 AM followed by two early bird sessions at 10:00 AM which include; Introduction to USDA Programs, and Economic Viability Farmer Grants. 

Attendees may choose to follow a single track or mix and match sessions that are of interest. Core sessions of the conference take place at 11:00 AM, 1:40 PM, 2:40 PM and include the following topics:

DAIRY: John Lehr, Farm Credit East starts the morning off speaking about Transitioning a Farm Business to the Next Generation. After lunch, Dr. Tom Tylutki, Agricultural Modeling and Training Systems, presents Mineral Nutrition for Dairy. Bill Prokop, DVM Attica Veterinary Associates P.C, concludes the dairy track discussing The Hidden Costs of NOT Growing Your Heifers Right.  

GRAZING: Russ Wilson, Wilson Land & Cattle Co. Tionesta PA who manages his 220 acres of pastures for over 300 days of grazing each year, starts the morning off presenting Grazing Wet Areas of Your Farm. After lunch, Russ Wilson and John Benscoter, Retired NRCS Engineering Technician, team up to discuss Watering Systems Design, Troubleshooting, & Maintenance. Ronald Kuck, Cornell Cooperative Extension Cayuga County, concludes the track with Multi Species Grazing-What We've Learned.

HORTICULTURE: Garet Livermore, Cornell Cooperative Extension Herkimer County, starts the morning off with To Bee or Not to Bee: Encouraging Pollinators on Flower and Vegetable Farms. After lunch, Nicole Pitt, pioneering flower farmer and Owner of Flower Hill Farm, shares Growing at Flower Hill Farm, A Social Journey to Success. Integrated Pest Management Strategies for Vegetable and Cut Flower Producers, presented by Betsy Lamb, NYS IPM Program, Cornell University will finish the day.

LIVESTOCK: Dr. Tom Tylutki, Agricultural Modeling and Training Systems, will share Mineral Nutrition for Livestock. The afternoon begins with Dr. Mary Smith, DVM, Professor Cornell University, discussing Emerging and Evolving Livestock Diseases, and concludes with a Farmer Panel with three local farms, JJF Farm, East Jewett, Albano Farms, Stamford, Evans & Evans Farm, Andes discussing Successfully Selling Meat.

An all-day tradeshow of local agri-service providers offers networking opportunities between sessions. The local foods luncheon session featuring Jeffrey Potent, Columbia University, will offer insight into Managing the Changing Weather.  

For more information about the sessions, speakers, or the conference itself, please visit ccedelaware.org or call Kim Holden at 607-865-7090, ext. 241. Pre-registration, including the local foods luncheon, is $35 per person. 

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. The Watershed Agricultural Council is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer and is funded by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Forest Service, U.S.D.A., and other sources.