Monday, December 23

Agriculture

Chautauqua County Landowners: Request Agricultural District Inclusion
Agriculture

Chautauqua County Landowners: Request Agricultural District Inclusion

(WNY News Now) The deadline for Chautauqua County landowners to propose the inclusion of viable agricultural land in the county's designated agricultural district is January 31, 2025. Landowners can secure the district's protections and advantages during this yearly chance. New York's Jamestown.The Chautauqua County Legislature has set January 2–31, 2025, as the annual 30-day window for landowners to request the inclusion of primarily viable agricultural land in an existing certified agricultural district, in accordance with New York State Agriculture and Markets Law 303-b. Landowners may make formal requests to be included in the Agricultural District during this time. The Agriculture and Markets Law 301, section 7 criterion of productive agricultural property must be met by parcels se...
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s ‘Grow Chautauqua’ Initiative Feeds Communities and Supports Local Agriculture
Agriculture

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s ‘Grow Chautauqua’ Initiative Feeds Communities and Supports Local Agriculture

(WNY News Now) By effectively delivering more than 200,000 pounds of locally grown, fresh produce to underprivileged regions, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County's Grow Chautauqua initiative has empowered local farmers and families.New York's Jamestown As a component of the New York Food for New York Families program, which is supported by the USDA and the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County is pleased to report a successful pilot season for its Grow Chautauqua initiative.The program's objectives are to increase food access for underprivileged, rural, and isolated populations, build stronger relationships within the food distribution industry, and assist local and historically underprivileged farmers and producers.F...
Grape Growers Learn Key Pruning Techniques for Higher Yields at Cornell’s AgriTech Campus
Agriculture

Grape Growers Learn Key Pruning Techniques for Higher Yields at Cornell’s AgriTech Campus

(WNY News Now) By combining science and useful methods to increase vineyard productivity, the Pruning School at the Cornell Lake Erie Research and Extension Laboratory provided grape producers with invaluable practical training.NEW YORK, PORTLAND (November 21, 2024) On Tuesday, November 19, 2024, the Cornell Lake Erie Research and Extension Laboratory's Lake Erie Regional Grape Program held pruning school on our AgriTech Campus in Portland, NY. In direct response to a few grower requests, this program was established. Dr. Terry Bates gave a quick overview and registrants had a little lunch to start the day. He discussed the decades-long pruning study conducted in our area, which has shaped our research-based pruning techniques. The importance of soil health, nutrient availability, and ...
Agriculture

Governor Hochul Launches Blue-Ribbon Panel to Strengthen New York’s Agricultural Education and Youth Leadership

(WNY News Now) In a move to foster the next generation of agricultural leaders, Governor Kathy Hochul announces new initiatives and funding to advance agricultural education in New York following the state s first-ever Youth Agriculture Conference.Governor Kathy Hochul announced the launch of the new Blue-Ribbon Panel to Advance Agriculture Education and additional investments to grow agricultural education and support youth leadership following the state s first-ever Youth Agriculture Conference. The conference, which took place Wednesday and Thursday at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, brought together nearly 300 high school students from FFA, 4-H and the National Society for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences. The students came from across the state to ...
Jamestown Public Market Receives $250K USDA Grant to Expand Access to Fresh Local Food Year-Round
Agriculture

Jamestown Public Market Receives $250K USDA Grant to Expand Access to Fresh Local Food Year-Round

(WNY News Now) – The Jamestown Public Market is set to expand its offerings with a $250,000 grant from the USDA’s Farmers Market Promotion Program, aiming to make fresh, locally grown produce available to more residents, year-round.The Jamestown Public Market is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) to enhance the availability and accessibility of locally grown food for underserved communities. This grant will support the expansion of the markets to year-round programming, designed to bolster local food systems, support small-scale farmers, and promote healthier eating choices across the region. The FMPP grant, awarded for $250,000 over three years, will fund initiatives aimed at expandi...
DiNapoli Report: New York Farms Thrive Amid Challenges, Demand State Action
Agriculture

DiNapoli Report: New York Farms Thrive Amid Challenges, Demand State Action

(WNY News Now) – New York’s farms fuel the economy and food supply but face growing threats that demand urgent policy attention, according to a new report by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.The critical role farms play in New York cannot be overstated, both as an economic engine for their communities and an essential part of our food supply system. They employ thousands of people and contributed $2.7 billion to the state’s gross domestic product in 2022. Access to fresh, healthy food also adds to the quality of life in the state, but this local food supply was put to the test during the pandemic, and there are ongoing threats to this industry as outlined in a new report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.“New York’s diverse farms are an essential part of t...