Forage exchange program offered
PLATTSBURGH — Cornell Cooperative Extension, in cooperation with the New York Farm Bureau and the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, has established the CCE Forage Exchange to assist farmers affected by the recent flooding.
It can be reached via the front page of the Main Cornell Cooperative Extension web page at http://cce.cornell.edu.
The Forage Exchange provides an electronic venue for farmers who have available feed and forage to post it and for farmers who need it to locate it. All transactions, including making arrangements for transportation, will take place between the farmers themselves.
Cooperative Extension educators and Farm Bureau staff across the state will be available to assist farmers in using the exchange.
Agencies to host storm-damage meeting
WESTPORT — On Wednesday at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Building in Westport from 12:30 to 3 p.m., there will be a meeting bringing together agencies that can be of assistance to farmers and homeowners in need of relief and recovery efforts from the effects of Hurricane Irene.
Agricultural operations that have suffered damage to crops, livestock, facilities, equipment, homes or land should attend.
This meeting has been designed to offer Agricultural Operations the opportunity to access several agencies in one place and to allow them to discuss the disaster-relief efforts being carried out now.
Representatives from the State Emergency Management Operation, Bill Emanatian; Farm Services Agency, Jennifer Bosley; Farm Bureau, Bill Hamilton; Soil and Water Conservation District, Dave Reckahn; Essex County Emergency Services, Don Jaquish; and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County, Anita Deming will be on hand to help answer questions and direct participants to programs within the disaster relief efforts that best fit their needs. Forms will be available to sign if the program will be of help.
Reporting and documentation need to be completed in a timely manner, so participants are asked to help get the word out to folks who can benefit by attending.
RSVP to 962-4810, Ext 0, or essex@cornell.edu if you plan to attend.
Crop-insurance sessions to be held
ALBANY — The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Pro Dairy and county Cooperative Extension Offices have teamed up around the state to provide opportunities for farmers to learn about the federal Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy, or LGM-Dairy, crop-insurance program.
It is expected that farmers will have the opportunity to sign up for the program once again in late October.
The program is based on milk income over feed costs, which the program calls a "gross margin." The insurance program covers the difference between the expected gross margin (insurance guarantee) and the actual gross margin for the months the producer selects for coverage, based on the amount of milk the producer chooses to insure.
Dr. Brian Gould, a professor at the University of Wisconsin and a national expert on the program, will be giving each of the identical live on-line webinar presentations. Webinar dates are Monday, Oct. 3; Wednesday, Oct. 5; Friday, Oct. 7; Wednesday, Oct. 12; and Friday, Oct. 14. Meetings start promptly at 11 am.
LGM-Dairy was suspended in April 2011 due to lack of funding. Sales are expected to resume with the beginning of the 2012 federal fiscal year in October. Experts predict that all funding for underwriting costs will be exhausted in the first enrollment opportunity, which starts on Friday, Oct. 28, at 5 p.m., and ends on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 9 p.m.
Producers can go to their county Cornell Cooperative Extension office for a scheduled viewing session with CCE staff.
To participate from a home computer, pre-register for the webinars by going to the NYSDAM website at http://www.agmkt.state.ny.us/AP/CropInsuranceEvents.html. Scroll down to the date you wish to participate and click on the registration link. You will receive an e-mail confirming your registration with instructions to join the session. For more information, call 800-554-4501.
After Oct. 3, producers can also listen to a recording of the live webinar by going to the department's website and clicking on the presentation.
