Download here - NOFA-NY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2016
MEDIA CONTACT: Amy Blum
[email protected], (585) 880-1698
NOFA-NY’S AUGUST ON-FARM FIELD DAYS
Eight Field Days in August Bring Farmers Varied Experiences
Farmington, NY—The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY)
and host farms in Ontario, Cortland, Ulster, Tompkins, Seneca, and Madison counties present
eight on-farm field days in August. Farmers can take advantage of a range of educational
opportunities to learn new ideas through discussion and demonstration directly from their peers.
The event schedule is as follows:
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Tuesday, August 2, 4:30-7:30 pm. “High Tunnel Pest and Disease Management.”
This free Field Day with Andy Fellenz from Fellenz Family Farm (Ontario County) will
start with identification of common high tunnel pests and diseases and review effective
organic control strategies, including spraying. Fellenz has developed and will
demonstrate a boom-style high tunnel sprayer, and discuss the proper use of backpack
and other relatively low pressure, low flow single-tip sprayers. Variety selection, rotation,
cultural practices and spraying all have a place in the overall farm strategy. To register,
please contact Angela Parr at [email protected]. Sponsored by NE-SARE through a
Farmer Grant, NE-SARE FNE14-798, and cosponsored by NOFA-NY.
Saturday and Sunday, August 6, (9am-4pm) August 7 (10am-3pm). “Horse-Powered
Haymaking Demonstration.” At Northland Sheep Dairy (Cortland County), this twoday event will focus on haymaking with horses. Day one is a hands-on mowing
workshop. Limited to six people, participants will learn how to run horse-drawn mowers.
Basic teamster skills are required. Day two is a haymaking demonstration, examining
tools used in the production of high quality hay made with draft animal power, and
focusing on second cutting hay made from grazing land. Saturday fee: $65, Sunday
activities free/open to the public, donations accepted. To register, visit: www.draft
animalpower.org/events. This event is co-sponsored by NOFA-NY and DAPNET.
Thursday, August 11, 11am-4pm. “Soil Health and Fertility for Perennial Tree
Crops.” Westwind Orchard (Ulster County) hosts this workshop to show how managing
orchard fertility is about more than just fertilizer. Orchard soil is a giant digestive engine,
chewing up carbon, nitrogen, and minerals to feed not only the trees but also the soil food
web. This workshop will cover the basics of understanding the soil and actions to
improve soil health, biology, and overall vitality to grow better fruit. Registration fees:
$15/person or $25 for two or more people/farm. Sponsored by NOFA-NY through
funding by the New World Foundation.
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Wednesday, August 17, 4-7pm. “Reduced Tillage in Vegetables.” The Cornell
Reduced Tillage Team presents this in-depth field study at Freeville Organic Research
Farm (Tompkins County) of strategies to improve soil health in organic vegetables. The
tour will highlight current research on integrating cover crops and reducing tillage for
farms at multiple scales. There will be a demonstration of strip tillage for small-scale
farmers and a review of impacts of new mulching and cover cropping techniques on
weeds and crops. This is a free event; to register, email: [email protected].
Tuesday, August 23, 1-4pm. “See Carbon Farming in Action.” For 20 years, the
NOFA-NY Certified Four Winds Farm (Ulster County) has been practicing techniques
to keep carbon in the soil by eliminating tillage. Tour Four Winds with farmers Jay and
Polly Armour who will share their success and exchange ideas on how organic practices
can mitigate climate change. Registration fees: $15/person or $25 for two or more
people/farm. Sponsored by NOFA-NY through grant funding by Farm Aid and Clif Bar.
Wednesday, August 24, 1-3pm. “The 22nd Annual Buckwheat Field Day.” David
Jones from Jones’ Farm (Seneca County) has many decades of experience raising
buckwheat. He has one of the most advanced buckwheat operations, typically raising 100
acres each year. David has developed consistently good yields and high seed quality. This
field day will include ideas on fertility management, pollinators, and harvesting
technique. The field day is free and open to the public. NOFA-NY is co-sponsoring this
event with Cornell University, Birkett Mills and Seedway Inc.
Wednesday, August 24, 3-6pm. “Marketing a Diverse Farm from Pricing to
Production.” Participants will take a walk with Dennis Lepel of Lakestone Family Farm
(Ontario County) to see how he markets his diverse farm from production to pricing.
Dennis grows a wide variety of vegetables, produces pasture-raised eggs and chickens
marketed through local farm markets and his CSA. His pasture-raised broilers are
processed on-site and sold as whole birds and prepackaged cuts to maximize profitability.
Joining him will be John Wilhelm from the BCS shop in Hector, NY, to demonstrate
BCS attachments that may be useful to increase efficiencies. Registration fee: $15/person
or $25 for two or more people/farm. Sponsored by NOFA-NY through funding from
USDA-AMS FMPP Marketing grant.
Wednesday, August 31, 10am-2:30pm. “Grass-Based Milk Production!” NOFA-NY
and Organic Valley invite participants to learn how to make milk with a no-grain feed
ration. Host Mark Yoder from Yoder Farm (Madison County) will provide a tour of his
pasture setup and share his insights on maintaining milk production and animal health in
a grass-fed dairy production system. Organic Valley Ruminant Nutritionist Silvia AbelCaines will share her research and practical experience on how to balance high-forage
diets for optimal animal health, milk production and milk nutritional profile. Registration
is $15/person or $25/farm, and lunch is provided. Sponsored by Organic Valley. OV
members receive complimentary registration; use OVmember code when registering.
Pre-registration is available online at www.nofany.org/events/field-days or by calling Jill at
the NOFA-NY office (585) 271-1979 x512. Complete event descriptions are at:
http://www.nofany.org/events-news/events/nofa-ny-events
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