Empire E-bytes - Fall 2011 Edition

Web image: New York Association of Conservation Districts recognize Astor Boozer with a Special Service Award. Click image for full screen view

During the 2011 New York Association of Conservation Districts meeting, Astor Boozer was recognized with a Special Service Award for his outstanding support of Conservation Districts. During Astor’s time in New York, from 2009-2011, NRCS New York entered into 57 contribution agreements with Soil and Water Conservation Districts for a total funding amount of $756,000. NYACD President, Tom Nichols, presented the award and offered many thanks to NRCS and Astor for the partnership accomplishments between the districts and NRCS.

Full screen view: Pictured From left to right: New York State Agriculture Commissioner; Darrel Aubertine; NYACD President, Tom Nichols; New York State Conservationist, Astor Boozer; NYACD First Vice President, George Proios; and NYACD Second Vice President, Dan Farrand.
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NRCS New York Accomplishments of 2011

Inspired by a shared passion for conservation, NRCS collaborates with landowners, farmers, partners and communities to apply voluntary conservation of natural resources on private land. Working side-by-side with our customers, we identify air, soil, plant, animal, and energy concerns to develop unique conservation plans for the land.

Funds to implement these plans are made available in Farm Bill programs that share the cost of conservation for the benefit of the farm, the watershed, and the community. Below is a short summary but you can view the entire New York 2011 Conservation Activities Report online. The file is an Adobe PDF file (1.7 MB) and it requires Adobe Reader to open.

*The numbers reflect approximate Financial Assistance (FA) provided directly to landowners during fiscal year 2011. Technical Assistance (TA) funding was also received by the Agency for professional planning expertise to carry out the conservation activities. Numbers in this document were taken on September. 29, 2011.

Web graphic: Top Five Funded EQIP Conservation Practices in New York

2011's Top Five Funded Conservation Practices in New York through EQIP

View the Conservation Practices web page to see detailed explanations of fundable actions, such as the ones talked about above, which you can apply to receive funding for. There are 65 conservation practices available through EQIP in New York. During the 2011 fiscal year, NRCS worked with 722 individual farmers and landowners to install various conservation practices on private lands in New York.

Flooding from Hurricane Irene Devastates Farmland

Written by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack after a visit to New York farmers devastated by flooding
Photos provided by USDA employees in Schoharie County

Earlier this month, I traveled to Middleburgh and to the village of Schoharie to view the damage from Hurricane Irene. I met with local officials about the response effort, visited with growers who had seen their crops flooded and their farms strewn with debris, and took an aerial tour to survey crop damage in Schoharie and Greene Counties.

New York farms sustained some of the worst damage I've seen anywhere in the country. My heart goes out to all of those who have been touched by these disasters. But I want folks to know that at USDA, and across the federal government, we are doing our best to minimize damage to homes, crop land, businesses, and property. And we have worked to protect the American people and put them on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.

Following Hurricane Irene, USDA worked with producers to get their operations back on track. We took special action to help dairy producers who had to dump their milk. And we are looking for additional flexibility in our programs to offer credit and support to help families and farm operations rebuild.

To help individuals recover and communities rebuild thriving economies, we are helping rural families and businesses with the financing they need to repair or replace damaged property. In the aftermath of floods, we are helping states with debris removal and other efforts to restore the land.

The terrible natural disasters this year remind us of the critical importance of maintaining a strong safety net for all farmers, ranchers, and growers regardless of what they produce or where. For example, many of the New York fruit and vegetable producers hit hard by this storm don't have crop insurance. Some chose not to purchase it, but others were unable to do so. So while insurance is an effective tool for many producers across the nation, I support efforts improve the safety net for all farmers.

Despite these challenges, American agriculture is as resilient as ever. In fact, according to USDA's new estimates, farm income is at an all time high, and even adjusting for inflation this will be the best year since the mid-1970s. Of course, not all regions or types of farms are experiencing the same incomes. USDA is focused on creating markets at home and abroad so growers of all sizes can be profitable and run their operations as they see fit. I know how hard these times can be. I have seen firsthand the damage to too many farms across New York and the whole East Coast. But I have also watched an impressive response.

At Jim Barber's farm, acres of fruits and vegetables nearly ready for harvest had been destroyed. But the community was pitching in. When I visited, friends, neighbors and family members were all working together to get his farm cleaned up. USDA and our state and local partners have worked with farmers and ranchers across the nation to make it through these difficult times. These natural disasters have challenged us. But despite the setbacks, American agriculture is thriving. The men and women who own and operate America's farms and ranches are some of the most resilient in the world. I know that with their continued dedication and hard work, we will maintain the strength and profitability of American agriculture, and its work to provide food to the nation.
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These conservation stories talk about the actions farmers and landowners take to improve the environment and their operations. In this Edition of Empire E-bytes the stories come to us from the northeastern potion of the state, which is a defined NRCS management area known as the “Albany Area.” The Albany Area is one of four Areas within the state and within it are 15 counties. You can click on the map for a close up view of all the Areas.
	Saratoga Farm Extends Growing Season With Help From NRCS Keeping up with the demand for local food has been a priority for John and Lisa Schultz, owners and operators of Schultz Farm, a 138 acre farm that grows hay, corn, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, and herbs. The farm supplies hay and bed straw to the Saratoga race track as well as field corn to area farmers. A few years ago they wanted to diversify and started raising vegetables to sell at local farmers markets. The Schultz received funding for a seasonal high tunnel through the Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA) which is a Farm Bill program managed though USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Agricultural producers interested in using high tunnels on currently cultivated cropland may qualify for financial assistance under Farm Bill programs. Read full story
	New York Dairy Completes Large Scale Conservation Project One of New York's dairies has recently completed a large scale project to create a new, state-of-the-art manure management and bunk silo waste system for their 1,400 head dairy and livestock herd. Funding and technical assistance for the project was provided through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Farm Bill program and TeamAg, an agricultural consultant. “The project eliminated barnyard and bunk silo storm water runoff at the farm protecting a nearby creek while creating a manure storage system,” said Scott Fitscher, District Conservationist for the USDA NRCS. “The dairy has also implemented a sand separator to clean and recycle sand that is used for bedding in the dairy barn.” Read full story
	Saving Soil in Rensselaer County When done correctly, many farm conservation practices can improve soil and sequester carbon. NRCS works with farmers to develop these practices, including proper pasture management. Dustin and Kassie Gibson own a beef cow operation in Johnsonville, New York, and recently worked with NRCS to convert cropland to pasture and install a rotational grazing system on their farm. “Converting cropland to pasture improves soil,” said Eric Swanson, NRCS District Conservationist for Rensselaer and Albany Counties. “Thick, lush grass increases organic matter in the ground sequestering carbon. It holds soil in place so it doesn’t erode into streams and wetlands. The energy savings in having the cows harvest their own feed instead of the farmer is big.” Read full story
	Landowners in Lake Champlain Watershed Protect Special Bird Habitat Eighteen landowners in Clinton and Essex counties signed up though NRCS's wildlife program to take advantage of incentive payments to create and protect habitat for grass and shrub loving bird species such as the Golden-winged Warbler, American Woodcock, Blue-winged Warbler and many others. Lake Champlain was chosen as a national signature project for America’s Great Outdoors Initiative because of its comprehensive pollution, control and restoration plan for protecting the water quality, wetlands, wildlife, recreational and cultural resources in the watershed. Read full story
	New Covered Barnyard Helps Dairy Herd and Nearby Streams A top priority for most dairy farmers is the health and welfare of their cows. Often what is good for animals is also good for the environment. This was the case with a 500 head dairy farm located in upstate New York that was having problems with their barnyard. The NRCS worked with the farm to create a covered barnyard with funding assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). “The new covered barnyard allows the farmer to have better success with raising their young stock,” said Kent Frary, NRCS District Conservationist. “The area is easily cleaned and manure is transferred into a waste storage facility. Animals are efficiently cared for in the new feeding pad, making better use of both time and money. As a result, there have been significant improvements in the water quality of the two nearby brooks.” Read full story

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Northeast Region Certified Crop Advisor 2011 Annual Training and Meeting

The Northeast Region Certified Crop Advisor is a program of the American Society of Agronomy. They will hold the 2011 Annual Training and Meeting on November 29 through December 1 in Syracuse New York. Three days of advanced and basic training will be presented by over 30 speakers. If you're seeking Certified Crop Advisor certification this is an excellent training opportunity. For more information visit their web site.

American Indian Heritage Month Poster of 2011

Every year, NRCS offers a free poster for American Indian Heritage Month, which is recognized in November. This year’s poster was created by Carrie Silverhorn of Miami, Oklahoma. You can order a free copy of the poster by following the on screen instructions in the link.

The title of the poster is, “Conservation: Preserving Our Land for Future Generation." On the front of the poster you can read this powerful statement: “A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children.”

Federal Funds to Enable Major Farmland Preservation Effort

On September 26, 2011, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Scenic Hudson, Dutchess Land Conservancy (DLC), state officials, Town of Red Hook officials, other local leaders, and farmers announced Federal Farm Bill funding that will enable Scenic Hudson and its partners to complete the purchase of conservation easements on ten farms in Dutchess and Columbia counties.

The total cost of all ten projects is more than $3.6 million, including $1.8 million in funding from the Farm Bill, Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, $1.2 million from Scenic Hudson and $615,000 from the Town of Red Hook, with Dutchess Land Conservancy contributing toward stewardship and project expenses. The transactions will provide a direct infusion of capital to the farmers involved, who can then invest the funds in the productive capacity of their farms.

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Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Recognizes Mary Kerstetter for Service in Iraq

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recognized the efforts of 70 USDA employees during a ceremony September 12, including Mary Kerstetter, a member of the NRCS New York team. Mary volunteered to serve as an agricultural advisor in Iraq. “I’m honored to recognize these brave and devoted men and women for their tremendous service to the people of Afghanistan and Iraq,” said Vilsack. “These USDA employees have played a vital role in furthering political and social stability throughout the world by building a foundation on which the economies of these countries will prosper.”

In 2003, USDA experts began serving in Afghanistan and Iraq to assist in the rebuilding of Afghanistan's and Iraq's agricultural sectors by planning and implementing reconstruction and agricultural development projects. They can range from improving food and animal production, marketing, veterinary infrastructure, soil and water conservation, and reclamation programs.

Mary has served as an agricultural advisor for more than two years in the Anbar and Baghdad provinces. Mary's dairy expertise helped to rebuild the dairy value chain in Iraq by teaching modern dairy management techniques to the Iraqis and by providing technical assistance to dairy processing facilities. Mary’s greatest accomplishment was the establishment of a nationwide 4-H program and a National 4-H Organization in Iraq. In less than eighteen months, the Iraqis established forty two 4-H clubs with over 1,100 members. Mary has returned to work again with NRCS as the Area Resource Conservationist in the Albany Area Office.
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Interactive Data Viewer Looks at Natural Resources Status and Trends, Conservation Efforts, and the Agricultural Sector

The Soil and Water Resources Conservation Act (RCA) authorizes USDA to report on the condition of natural resources, and to analyze conservation programs and opportunities. An Interactive Data Viewer is now available offering data from a variety of sources, including data on the status and natural resources, conservation efforts, and the agricultural sector.
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NRCS New York's Conservation Innovation Grants Awardees

Web graphic: An illustration showing a water level control structure used for drainage water managemment

Four recipients have been awarded Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) in New York State, totaling $273,544. The ultimate goal of this grant program is to help NRCS and New York farmers develop and demonstrate new tools and techniques to protect natural resources. These grants are in addition to the two national CIG awards that have ties in New York. Cornell University and SureHarvest were awarded almost $1 million in the national grant program.

NRCS New York is pleased to announce the grant awards - which range from $49,278 up to $74,997 ($75,000 is the maximum allowed for state CIG awards). All grantees provide at least a 50 percent match from non-Federal sources.