From sustainable farming practices to local food production to invasive species, the Cornell University College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at Empire Farm Days is a one-stop shop for exploring research and technologies that keep Northeast agricultural producers successful. The 2016 event takes place August 9-11 at Rodman Lott and Son Farms in Seneca Falls, NY.
On Wednesday, August 10, the Cornell Small Farms Program will hold a free series of short seminars in the theater area of the Cornell Center in the Empire Building:
. 9:30 am: Cornell Small Farms Program (SFP) Overview of Resources with Violet Stone, Communications Coordinator, Cornell SFP
. 10:00 am: Starting a Farm? The Northeast Beginning Farmer Program Can Help! With Violet Stone, Communications Coordinator, Cornell SFP
. 10:30 am: Building Soil Health: Approaches that Work on Small Farms with Ryan Maher, Soil Health Specialist, Cornell SFP
. 11:00 am: Agroforestry Overview: New Crops and Products with Steve Gabriel, Agroforestry Specialist, Cornell SFP
. 11:30 am: Mushroom Production Basics with Steve Gabriel, Agroforestry Specialist, Cornell SFP
. 12:00 pm: The NY Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Program, with Fay Benson, Small Dairy Specialist, Cornell University SCNY Regional Team.
Starting at 9:00 am each day of the show, farmers, gardeners, and landowners can explore the diverse agricultural resources available from the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences while enjoying local foods selections at the Cornell Marketplace. Feed your mind, while you feed yourself!
The Cornell Center exhibits include:
Cornell Marketplace: New York cheeses, apples, wine, fresh-roasted corn, and food products, all developed with Cornell expertise and available to sample;
Plant and Insect Sleuth: Is it bugging you that you cannot place that insect? Is the name of that plant firmly rooted in your memory? Bring your specimens to the Cornell entomology experts for identification;
Cornell Alumni and Friends Reception: Wednesday, August 10, 2:30-4:00pm. Cornell University alumni and friends are invited to a social event with administrators and faculty;
Ask the Ag Educators: Cornell Cooperative Extension experts in vegetables and small fruit, grapes, conventional and organic dairy, livestock and field crops are available to answer your questions; and
4-H Energy Interactive Display. Youth and adult volunteers with the Seneca County Seneca GR&EEN: Generating Recycling & Energy Education Now 4-H Club staff share information on solar and biofuel systems for renewable energy while reducing carbon input to the atmosphere. Enjoy the hands-on opportunity to make healthy dairy and fruit smoothies by generating electric power via an energy bike. See the new 4-H Nano Grid power system.
Empire Farm Days is the largest outdoor agricultural trade show in the Northeastern US. Learn more atempirefarmdays.com.