Farmer Training
At the Watershed Agricultural Council, we believe education is vital to the success of new and established farm operations. We collaborate with Cornell Cooperative Extensions and other agencies to deliver learning opportunities for farmers of all ages, experience levels and farming expertise.
Our workshops and trainings run the gamut of topics, such as
- Farming for the first time, business planning and market analysis;
- Learning to raise healthy heifers through NYS Calf Health Assessment Program;
- Taking a pasture walk to better understand a rotational grazing strategy;
- Discovering the importance of proper record keeping in receiving Nutrient Management Credit payments;
- Transitioning from dairy to beef;
- Operations and maintenance of your Whole Farm Plan BMPs; or
- Supplementing a farm’s bottom line with a value-added dairy product like cheese, learning how to make it and then marketing the final product.
Speakers are often experts in their fields like veterinarian, precision feed managers, no-till operators and Extension agents. Or you might hear and learn something from your neighbor farmer.
Producer Groups
We also coordinate Producer Groups focused on dairy, beef and sheep/goat issues. These farmer-to-farmer gatherings meet periodically to discuss livestock topics of interest or to find solutions to on-farm hurdles. If you are interested in joining a Producer Group, contact:
Beef: Rich Toebe, CCE Dairy-Livestock Coordinator (607) 865-7090, ext. 208
Grazing: Dale Dewing, CCE-WAP Team Leader (607) 865-7090, ext. 246
Calf health: Rich Toebe, CCE Dairy-Livestock Coordinator (607) 865-7090, ext. 208
Sheep, goat, small ruminant livestock: Rich Toebe, CCE Dairy-Livestock Coordinator (607) 865-7090, ext. 208
Below are upcoming events for farmers:
Past Events › Agriculture
March 2024
Sheep and goat production is increasing in New York State. Join us for a discussion of controlling costs associated with lambing & kidding. Low Input Lambing & Kidding (You’ll receive a free 72-page booklet) Nutritional Management Leading up to lambing & kidding Ways/Strategies to reduce costs associated with lambing & kidding Facilities or pasture preparations Review of basics and skills used at birth & bonding tips 2022 Ag Census and 2024 Northeast USDA Sheep Report Summary Please register March 19…
Find out more »April 2024
This is a course offering instruction of a variety of crop production, nutrient management, weed control and cover crop management topics. Topics include: All Things Sorghum Species: What’s out there how to grow them; Delaware County farmer experiences with Sudangrass and Sorghum-sudangrass in 2023; Is soil microbial health connected to yield and nitrogen needs? Understanding biological amendments and the Results of on-farm trials assessing the true fertilizer value of manure; Nozzle selection and adjuvants and for effective herbicide applications; Terminating…
Find out more »Whether you are selling your animals as meat cuts directly, or to an alternative customer or auction, understanding what your customer wants and when they want it can make your business more profitable. Come join us and meet the new Cornell Small Ruminant Specialist Jess Waltemyer. Matching your Breed or Genetics to your Market Characteristics of the live animal that results in a more valuable carcass What is the ideal degree of finish for your market? Religious Holidays – What…
Find out more »A cow with dystocia is a serious situation needing immediate attention. Rob Lynch of Cornell Pro-Dairy will be discussing both prevention and how to handle those difficult positions using a life size model. Each attendee will have the opportunity to use the model to deliver a mal-presented calf. Causes of dystocia and prevention Normal labor sequence and presentation Proper and safe use of calving assistance tools Please register by April 15, 2024 by calling Kim Holden at 607-865-7090 or email…
Find out more »Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County and SUNY Delhi are collaborating to provide a certification on using the FAMACHA technique to estimate Barberpole Worm burdens in small ruminant animals. We will start with a comprehensive discussion on parasite biology and current parasite control strategies. Participants will learn how to prepare and fecal sample for analysis using the microscope. Bring your own sheep or goat fecal sample. Register by April 24, 2024 by Calling or Emailing Kim Holden 607-865-7090, [email protected]
Find out more »September 2024
Harvesting corn at the correct moisture content is important for preserving this high value crop. The Watershed Ag Program Team, with help from Dairy One Forage Lab, will be testing corn to help farms predict optimum harvest dates. Farms should bring 5 stalks of corn from each field for testing. Dairy One will use NiR rapid testing to determine the dry matter content and the results will be available on site the same day. September 5th: Franklin Town Barn, Corner…
Find out more »Harvesting corn at the correct moisture content is important for preserving this high value crop. The Watershed Ag Program Team, with help from Dairy One Forage Lab, will be testing corn to help farms predict optimum harvest dates. Farms should bring 5 stalks of corn from each field for testing. Dairy One will use NiR rapid testing to determine the dry matter content and the results will be available on site the same day. September 5th: Franklin Town Barn, Corner…
Find out more »
Tenfold Farm raises lamb, chickens, and pastured pigs on their 156-acre farm. Relatively new to farming, Sal is a member of a Beginning Shepherds Group and is participating in a season long study on pasture management and sheep health including parasite management. This walk will feature: Walking the pasture looking at paddock development, fencing, and grazing management for the sheep Summary of the pasture study to date (7 farms are participating) Looking at the poultry and pig enterprises Review of…
Find out more »October 2024
Customer-Focused Marketing Workshop A few simple marketing tweaks can make a huge difference for selling meat direct-to-consumer. This event is being put on by ChopLocal and the Cornell Agriculture Marketing Program. Plan on attending this free workshop to learn how to simplify the meat buying process for your customers and boost your profits. Practical Marketing Strategies & Simple Technology Solutions – Katie Olthoff, Co-founder of ChopLocal Research results on customer spending at farmers markets – Matt LeRoux, Cornell Agricultural Marketing Research…
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West Wind Icelandics is a horse farm which offers Icelandic horse riding, lessons, and boarding services. This walk will feature how the farm successfully uses pasture for the primary feed source from April to December and how it uses pastured poultry to improve the pastures. 22 paddocks used in rotation for both pasture and exercise Use of pastured poultry system to improve soil fertility and health Short Tour of the horse barn and arena Please register by October 2 by…
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