Important! Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program

USDA Farm Service Agency has just made $2 billion available to help specialty crop producers (fruit, vegetable, tree nuts, nursery crops, Christmas trees, floriculture, culinary and medicinal herbs and spices, honey, hops, maple sap, turfgrass and grass seed) expand markets and manage higher costs. Applications are only accepted from December 10, 2024, to January 8, 2025. Many NYS farms would seem to be eligible for these funds. This is not a grant; payments are based entirely on your sales history.

Champlain Valley Harvest Maturity Program Report: Week 12

Champlain Valley Harvest Maturity Program Report: Week 12   Mike Basedow and Jenn Stanton, CCE-ENYCHP, Northern NY This week we are reporting on MAIA-1 (EvercrispTM) and R10-45 (WildTwistTM as packed fruit). Both blocks are likely ready for picking this week where color and size are acceptable.   This week’s samples were collected on Monday October 28th and processed the Read More…

State Agriculture Department Announces $4.25 Million Available to Support Beginning and Disadvantaged Farmers 

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today announced that applications will open this fall for two competitive State grant programs: the Beginning Farmer Grant Program and the Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Farmer Grant Program. The programs, which offer support to New York farmers who are new to the field or who face disproportionate social and economic barriers to success, will provide funding for a wide range of start-up and operational costs and offer support for marketing, training, and more.

Upcoming Events to Claim COVID-19 Relief Payments for Farmworkers

Upcoming Events to Claim COVID-19 Relief Payments for Farmworkers   Beginning March 1, 2023, frontline farm workers who incurred expenses preparing for, preventing exposure to, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic can apply for a one-time $600 relief payment through this website, which is administered by Pasa Sustainable Agriculture.  This program is likely to end this Read More…

Fall Orchard Herbicide Reminders

Fall Orchard Herbicide Reminders Mike Basedow and Janet van Zoeren As harvest season is winding down, we want to recommend that you consider a fall herbicide application (if the weather remains favorable postharvest). Fall Pre-Emergent Herbicide Recommendations From our multi-year ARDP-funded pre-emergent herbicide timing trials, we found fall applications of either Chateau + Prowl or Read More…

Champlain Valley Harvest Maturity Program Report: Week 6

Champlain Valley Harvest Maturity Program Report: Week 6 Mike Basedow and Jenn Stanton, CCE-ENYCHP, Northern NY This week we are reporting on Gala, Rogers Mac, Honeycrisp, Cortland, and NY-1. The Gala, Macs, and Honeycrisp have all been picked through at least once at this point, and follow-up picks can be conducted once sufficient color justifies another picking.  The Read More…