New York Certified Organic, a group of grain and dairy farmers meeting together since 1994 to increase their practical knowledge and expertise with the organic production of crops and milk, has announced its winter 2016 programs, all beginning at 10 a.m. on various dates in Jordan Hall at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, 630 W. North St., Geneva.
The 2016 NYCO winter meetings are as follows: Three sessions on “Organic Crop Management Through Good Years and Bad” will cover “What to Do When the Cultivating Window Does Not Open Very Wide,” “The Effects of Long-Term Management on Weed Competition in Organic Soybean” and “Using Crimped Cover Crops for Soybean or Squash Production” on Jan. 12; four sessions on “Managing Soil Health with Crop Rotations and Forage Production” will cover “Putting Soil Health Knowledge and Crop Rotations into Practice,” “Alternative Forage Rotations to Protect Soil on Marginal Land” and “Reducing Pasture Compaction with Daikon Radish” and a farmer panel will discuss “How to Decide Whether to Sell Forages to Dairy Farmers or Plow Them in for Green Manure” on Feb. 9; and four sessions on “Changing Markets for Organic Grain and Dairy Sessions” will cover “Developing New Markets for Organic Grain,” “What is Transpiring in the World Market of Organic Grain,” “What Do You Want to Make Per Acre on Your Farm” and “Flax Grain Production and Uses” on March 8.
The New York Crop Insurance Education Team and Cornell Cooperative Extension provide support for these meetings. There will be a brief description of how crop insurance can benefit organic farmers at each of the 2016 meetings. Participants are asked to bring a dish to pass at the potluck lunch.
For more information, contact Fay Benson at 607-745-3807 or afb3@cornell.edu.
See this article in Morning Ag Clips!
