Come and learn about the ins and outs of growing table grapes in New York. This session will cover subjects such as table grape biology, trellis construction, vineyard management, as well as marketing and planning for your new enterprise. Topics will be presented by specialists from CCE ENYCHP, New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, Northeastern Vine Supply, and Hudson Valley growers.

If you have questions, please contact Laura McDermott at lgm4@cornell.edu - 518-791-5038 or Abby Henderson aef225@cornell.edu - 518-746-2553                      

By participating in this conference, you will be able to:
 -Implement new insect and disease pest management strategies
 -Understand the role of soil health in plant health
 -Consider the long-term with crop rotations
 -Apply business management tools and expand your market

To register online: https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/cutflowerconf_201

The Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program is offering a 2-hour program to help farmers learn about current grant and financial incentive programs for their farm business and how to assess whether a program is a good fit.

1. No free lunches!  What makes a good grant project - how to assess if a grant program is a good fit for your farm business?
2. Understanding common grant program terminology and requirements - knowing what will be required before you apply!
3. What programs are available now, and where do you look for programs in the future?  Some of the programs to be covered include:
        -NYS Beginning Farmer Grant (due January)
        -USDA Value Added Producer Grant
        -NYS Consolidated Funding Application
        -NRCS EQIP Cost Share Program
        -USDA REAP Energy Efficiency
        -NYS and USDA loans for farmworker housing
        -USDA SBIR
4. Where can you get help?

Elizabeth Higgins is the Ag Business Management Extension Specialist for the Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program.  She has over 15 years' experience grant writing and project management and has assisted growers in successfully applying for USDA and NYS grants and has served on many USDA grant review panels.

How well do your employees understand their jobs? 

Everyone wants farm employees who know what to do without being told. Unfortunately, most people you hire or manage can't read minds. This workshop will help you develop effective tools for training and evaluating new employees or employees moving into new positions.

Topics to be covered include, Introduction to Produce Safety, Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training, Soil Amendments, Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use, Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water), Postharvest Handling and Sanitation &How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan

In addition to learning about produce safety best practices, key parts of the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements are outlined within each module.  There will be time for questions and discussion, so participants should come prepared to share their experiences and produce safety questions.

Please join us for this three part webinar series* for a thorough introduction to table grape production. Learn from Cornell and University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension specialists and from growers who have experience in the table grape industry.

To participate in the webinar, you must have high speed internet access. If you have  questions  about this requirement, call Laura at 518-791-5038.

• Gain ideas on where to get financing to start a farm
• What to look for when looking for land, buildings, etc. to start a farm business
• Gain ideas on how to market and sell the products I would like to grow
• A better understanding of what regulations you need to be aware of
  
  

To Register for this event, please send your name and contact information to Crystal Stewart at:  cls263@cornell.edu

Join us for a one day winter school specific to Organic production!  Hear from panels of experienced growers and industry experts about the following topics:

> Precision cultivation
> Cover crops and tarps for weed suppression
> Biocontrols: how do they actually work?
> Scaling up and paring down: should you grow fewer crops, better?
> What do I need to know about worker protection standards?

Tuesday, February 14:  Registration cost:  $50/person if pre-registered or $70/person at the door (includes admission into the educational session, lunch and Trade Show admittance).

• Tree Fruit Session 1: Educational Session 8:00 am - 4:00 pm followed by the Trade Show 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm