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Empire E-bytes - Winter 2012 EditionSeason's Greetings and Happy Holidays
The year of 2011 has passed quickly with many changes along the way. I have officially reported as the West Regional Conservationist and I now supervise the activities of the 13 most western states while working from the National NRCS office in Washington D.C. I would like to thank the New York partners and conservation folks for all the assistance and cooperation you provided to me during my time as the State Conservationist. I will miss you all but know that New York has an advocate in Washington. Please contact me if I can ever be of assistance. At this time, Albert Jones is the Acting State Conservationist for New York and he is proud to share that over 700 conservation projects were awarded funding in 2011. More than 28 million dollars will go to these farmers, landowners, and entities to conserve and protect natural resources on private lands in New York. NRCS attributes theses huge accomplishments to a strong community of agriculture, conservation, and environmental partnerships. We believe joint and continued efforts will ensure just as much conservation is put on the ground in the upcoming New Year! In our line of work, success means changing the course of history – determining the fate of our environment, our livelihoods, and the future health of our landscape for those who follow in our footsteps. Warmest wishes from all of us to all of you,
Northeast Organic Farmers Association of New York (NOFA-NY) Winter Conference
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Agricultural producers in New York State will have several opportunities in 2012 to participate in four major conservation initiatives being offered by NRCS. Each initiative will help to protect and improve the quality of our food, soil, water, and air, while reducing the amount of energy used to produce the agricultural goods we all depend on. The initiatives include: On-Farm Energy, Organic, Seasonal High Tunnels and Air Quality.
Applications for financial assistance will be accepted on a continuous basis throughout the year. There will be multiple ranking periods for each initiative. At the end of a ranking period, NRCS ranks all submitted proposals for funding consideration. For more information about these initiatives, eligibility, and ranking periods, see the news release. ^ Back to top
Nominate Your Favorite Farm for the 2012 Environmental Stewardship Award Applications for the 2012 Environmental Stewardship Award are due on March 2, 2012. Any individual, group or organization is eligible to nominate one individual or business who raises or feeds cattle. Individuals and families may not nominate themselves. However, we expect nominees will be involved in the preparation of the application. For application information, visit the Environmental Stewardship Web site. ^ Back to top
Grazette NewslettersThe New York State Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (NYS-GLCI) is a grass-roots coalition of producers, agricultural industry, and conservation groups with an interest in the sound conservation of private grazing lands. Members of the NY-GLCI Steering Committee identify the best use of technical resources from NRCS for farmers to plan sound grazing management strategies, learn effective and profitable strategies, and improve the quality of their natural resources on their farms. The goal of this newsletter is to increase awareness of grazing events around New York and in neighboring states, as well as to provide information that is useful on the farm. ^ Back to top
USDA revised its national nutrient management standard designed to help producers better manage the application of nutrients on agricultural land. The standard provides a roadmap for NRCS’s staff and others to help producers apply available nutrients sources in the right amount, from the right source, in the right place, at the right time for maximum agricultural and environmental benefits. Read full story ^ Back to top
In November 4, 2011, 85 people gathered at the USDA NRCS
Big Flats Plant Materials Center, in Corning, New York, for the
3rd annual Cover Crop Workshop. The day’s events started off with a field tour of the cover crop ‘cocktail mixes’ seeded at different times and a roller crimper demonstration. David Brandt, a farmer from Ohio, spoke about his operation and success with no till and cover crops for over 30 years. Then Paul Salon, Plant Materials Specialist, took the group to the time of seeding cover crops plots, where attendees could see the differences in the establishment and growth of the cover crops, in relation to seeding date. Over 30 species were observed most with multiple planting dates.
Ray Archuleta, Conservation Agronomist from USDA NRCS East National Technology Center in North Carolina, gave a powerful demonstration on the impacts of tillage and its effects on overall soil health After lunch, the remaining speakers took the stage and included; Tom Kilcer, former Extension Agent and Consultant, on the economics of using short rotations and cover crops for harvest; Quirine Ketterings-Cornell University talked about fall and spring accumulation of Nitrogen (N) and Carbon (C) cycling with cover crops planted in mid-august and mid-September; David Brandt a farmer from Ohio spoke about no-till and cover crops on his 900 acre grain farm; Ray Styer, a farmer from North Carolina, told us about his 30 years of experiences with no-till and cover crops where he grows corn silage for his beef operation; and Tom Bjorkman, from Cornell University, presented on brassica cover crops.
Ohio farmer David Brandt has been no-tilling since 1971 and cover cropping
since 1978 on 900 acres. In this video, David described the benefits of his pea
and tillage radish cover crops. Cover crops can increase yield and profits
because of improved soil health and they can reduce or eliminate the need for
commercial fertilizers on crop fields.
Watch the video.
Our Web site provides the handouts made available to participants. Information on soil health, roller crimpers, results from cover crop studies, and a comprehensive guide to the cover crops species commonly used in the Northeast is also available. Please feel free to call us at the Big Flats Plant Materials Center at 607-562-8404 with any questions or any other information you may be interested in. Download handouts provided during the event. ^ Back to top
By Jerry Lewis, NRCS New York, Civil Engineer
The second annual ‘Black Farmers and Urban Gardeners Conference’ was held in New York on October 15th, at the Hostos Community College, in the Bronx. The event was designed to allow participants to connect to fellow growers, eaters and regular everyday folk from across the country working to nurture and restore the health and well being of Black America, the farmers, the community and the environment as a whole. The participants engaged in panel discussions, workshops, films and conversations to explore how race, class, and health impact the movements for food justice and food sovereignty in our backyards and cities.
There were two keynote speakers. The first was Rashid Nuri founder of Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture. Rashid possesses over forty years of experience in both industrial and organic agriculture where he has managed public, private and community-based food and agricultural businesses in over 30 countries. In addition to managing farms in excess of 13,000 acres, he worked for more than 12 years with agricultural giant Cargill. He currently serves on the boards of Georgia Organics and the Atlanta Local Food Initiative.
The second keynote speaker was Audrey Rowe, administrator for USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service in Washington, D.C. The Food and Nutrition Service provides children and needy families with better access to food and nutrition through assistance programs. Mrs. Rowe brings over 20 years of working experience with a particular focus in vulnerable populations, low income women, children and youth. Most recently, Rowe led the effort to pass the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, a legislative centerpiece of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative. This initiative is a focused effort to end childhood obesity in a generation.
In private industry, Rowe spearheaded industry leadership in the realms of child support payment processing and the electronic dissemination of public assistance benefits; this includes implementing the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) programs in over 20 states.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service sent employees to attend this year’s conference and teach a workshop on farm bill conservations programs that work for urban farmers; such has the high tunnel initiative. NRCS employees also staffed an exhibit where they offered advice and direction on the sign-up process for conservation financial assistance.
This gathering and others like it bring together communities for food security and agriculture. It brings together innovators, thinkers, doers and folks from all walks of life to work on the important issues facing our great Nation. The door at USDA is always open and we invite you to visit your local USDA-NRCS office when improving, growing, or beginning your farm. ^ Back to top
Conservation Innovation Grants Funds Used to Answer Producers Questions on Cover CropsCover crops are being used on farms in the Upper Susquehanna region to minimize erosion, maximize nutrient uptake in the fall, improve soil heath, and increase organic matter. As fertilizer prices continue to increase and producers aim to reduce nitrogen (N) loss to the environment, they are asking about the N benefits of cover crops for corn silage systems.
To begin addressing these questions and with the aim of stimulating cover crop implementation on corn silage acres in New York, the Upper Susquehanna Coalition (USC) of 16 Conservation Districts is piloting a Cover Crop Initiative through an interactive outreach approach sponsored by a Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.
The project approach is to engage farmers, conservation district technicians and extension agents to develop and deliver information on the economic and environmental benefits of cover cropping systems. The project will compare end of season nitrate capture and N release in spring and summer as impacted by cover crop species, biomass, timing and method of cover termination, and to test various tools for N management in cover-crop based corn systems. If optimum corn yield can be obtained at lower N application rates for corn following a cover crop, many New York dairy producers will reduce purchased fertilizer N. This will reduce costs to producers by $20 to $30/acre, reduce losses of N to the environment, and reduce reliance on fossil fuel needed to produce, distribute and apply N fertilizer.
In addition, this project will work in conjunction with a state grant that is using a local conservation district to test a variety of custom cover crop application methods on fields. The trial will analyze the economic feasibility of one application method over another and evaluate whether or not it is a viable option for both conservation districts and producers in the future. Outreach will include field day demonstrations and an annual workshop in November to highlight benefits and share ideas on how producers in our region are overcoming the challenges of cover crop implementation on their farms.
To find out more about the USC Cover Crop Initiative please visit the Upper Susquehanna Coalition Web site, or contact, Aaron Ristow, Ag Coordinator for the USC. ^ Back to top
 Farm Uses Conservation for Better Air and Energy SavingsCreek Acres Farm is a dairy operation with 400 cows and its located only five
miles south of the City of Amsterdam in New York’s Mohawk Valley. The farm is
using a new and innovative system to improve air quality and conserve energy by
installing covers over their existing waste storage facilities.
Read full story
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 Conservation to Help Farmers Keep Drinking Water Clean in New York CityFarmers in Delaware, Sullivan, Schoharie and Greene counties receive funding
to develop Nutrient Management Plans covering nearly 5,000 acres in the New York
City Watershed. The plans will help them manage and remove contaminants from
their farms, to protect and improve water quality for millions of city
residents.
Read full story ^
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 New England-New York Forestry Initiative Creates Bird HabitatNew York has implemented the forestry initiative through the Wildlife Habitat
Incentive Program (WHIP) and while focused on creating and enhancing habitat for
declining shrubland birds, such as the Golden-Winged Warbler, Ruffed Grouse, and
Eastern Towhee, the conservation efforts also improve habitat for pollinators,
and other grassland wildlife species.
Read full story ^
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I would like to share information on an opportunity to make a difference in global hunger. If you are embarking on retirement or already retired, please consider this opportunity; if you know of a former colleague who you think would be interested, please pass this message along. Almost 1 billion people around the world are hungry, and to reduce that number, human capacity with advanced technical skills and agriculture expertise is desperately needed.
Specifically, the Clinton Development Initiative (CDI) is looking for volunteers with agricultural and technical expertise for 3–6 months this summer to support agricultural development projects in Malawi and Tanzania. These CDI projects are greatly in need of soil scientists, agronomists, geospatial information services specialists, food technologists, plant pathologists, agribusiness specialists, agricultural extension specialists, water management specialists, agricultural marketing specialists, seed breeders, and more.
The CDI would cover expenses; volunteers would give time, and in turn, help transform a community. To receive more information about this volunteer opportunity, please contact Lona Stoll, Senior Manager for Global Food Security, Office of the Secretary, USDA, at Lona.Stoll@osec.usda.gov or 202-720-1122 by January 30, 2012 or for more information, visit the Clinton Development Initiative (CDI) website. ~
Secretary Tom Vilsack ^ Back to top
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Nicole Kerstetter gave back to her community, |
For five months Nicole Kerstetter worked as a volunteer at the NRCS Jamestown office. To be precise, Nicole gave 556 hours of her own time to help NRCS accomplish its mission and to receive on the job experience. NRCS volunteers sign up through the Earth Team program to work at offices across the country.
Nichole filled a vital role at NRCS and her work day varied widely. The different activities she engaged in ranged from assisting with conservation plans to preparing contracts for payment, and working with engineering staff on the design of a composting facility. Nicole not only volunteered though the Earth Team program but she also volunteered through a student internship in her senior and final year at Alfred State College.
Think about it. Earth Team volunteers choose us. They believe in us, our mission and the benefits we offer the environment. They choose to work along our side on conservation projects. They do this for the experience, the self-satisfaction, to help the environment and for a hundred other reasons. Last year Earth Team volunteers collectively donated $9 million worth of assistance to NRCS with 22,000 volunteers investing more than 400,000 hours of their time at NRCS. That’s a huge help and we need more of it! Fifty-two percent of our offices nationwide hosted Earth Team volunteers last year. To our volunteers NRCS Chief Dave White says, “Thank you! Thank you for working with us. Your help is highly valued and deeply appreciated.” ^ Back to top
“When one door closes, another one
opens but we often look so long and regretfully at the closed door that we fail
to see the one that has opened for us.” ~ Alexander Graham Bell
The folks below dedicated their careers to NRCS, agriculture and conservation. During 2011, the following 17 folks moved on to embrace a new stage of life - retirement. These employees leave NRCS taking hundreds of years of experience and knowledge with them. We will miss their skills and expertise in the agency, but we wish them well in their new journey of discovery, dreams and exploration.
Our best wishes to this year's retirees: Alan Connell, Bub Barra, Cliff Hand, David Kitchie, Dick Winnett, Dominic LaGioia, Doug Gillette, Greg Tessman, Jim Calhoun, Larry Larson, Mike Clifford, Mike Townsend, Paul Ray, Phil Metzger, Steve Indrick, Rich Redman, and Ted Trevail.
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CIG-winning poultry litter incinerator in
Pennsylvania |
January 31, 2012, is the last day to submit project pre-proposals for the
National Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). Pre-proposals support large-scale
demonstration projects that test and prove original approaches to conserving
America’s private lands.
“These conservation grants continue to generate exciting new ideas that help
farmers and ranchers run sustainable and profitable operations and address
high-priority natural resource concerns,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom
Vilsack. “We are proud to encourage the advancement of innovative conservation
methods that will benefit producers, the public and the economy for years to
come.”
This year’s CIG projects focus on nutrient management, energy conservation, soil
health, wildlife and CIG projects assessment. NRCS is especially interested in
projects that demonstrate:
Results of successful projects will be included in NRCS policy, technical manuals, guides and references. View sign-up information on the National NRCS Web site.
Empire E-bytes Editor: Ivy Allen, Public Affairs Specialist, Phone: 315-477-6524
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With more and more floods, increasing fuel costs, and an unstable national economy, farming isn't getting any easier. To decrease input costs, secure crops against extreme weather events, and increase farm profitability in this rapidly changing climate, new perspectives and practical techniques are needed.
Conservation Stewardship Program – January 13, 2012 Deadline
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