Soil Health Researchers Launch Farmer Survey in New York State
Study Will Analyze Economic and Environmental Benefits of Cover Crops and Other Farm Practices
[Ithaca, NY] A state-wide survey of New York farmers is underway, with the aim of highlighting economic costs and benefits associated with maintaining and improving agricultural soil health. The survey, which will examine the agricultural practices of using cover crops and reduced tillage, is being conducted by the New York State Soil Health Workgroup and funded by NYS department of Ag and Markets.
The New York State Soil Health Workgroup is a network of researchers, practitioners, and policy makers working to keep the state's agricultural soils healthy and productive in the future. As part of these efforts, the group has recently launched a survey to explore farm practices that impact soil health, productivity, and farm profits. The survey is currently underway and will run until March 10th, 2018. The survey questionnaire can be completed by New York State farmers through an online link at https://cornell.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aYqu9RGbN0Asf5j. A paper form of the questionnaire is also available below and at the Soil Health Group's website (https://blogs.cornell.edu/soilhealthinitiative/) which can be printed and returned to the researchers by mail.
"Soil health offers a lot of win-win solutions" said David Wolfe, a professor who studies soil and water management at Cornell University. Our efforts to improve soil health are "directly affecting farmers and healthy food for all of us, but also all kinds of environmental issues: erosion, water quality, food security and climate change challenges. They're all part of this". New York State contains over 7 million acres of active farmland that are used to produce a wide variety of agricultural crops including apples, grapes, vegetables, corn, and soybeans. While agricultural soils are crucial to the state's farms, they also provide other benefits to society such as protection of water resources and reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas). However, these soils suffer from compaction and loss of organic matter, and generally the health of these soils has degraded over time as a result of intensive use.
The New York State Soil Health Workgroup is looking for ways to improve and promote on-farm practices such as cover crops that bolster soil health. One of the group's principal investigators is Matt Ryan, who conducts research on sustainable cropping systems. "Cover crops can do a number of different things, provide a number of benefits. They can protect soil from erosion, they can suppress pests, but they're also one of the best tools that we have for building and increasing soil health", Ryan stated. The practice of using cover crops to protect bare soil and build organic matter could be greatly expanded in New York state, and the survey is one way that the researchers are working to get a better handle on how cover crops are being used, what impact they have on farm profitability, and why some farmers have yet to adopt the practice. "We're looking at different ways to overcome this barrier to adoption" Ryan added.
The researchers urge farmers to participate in the study by completing the 10-minute questionnaire via the online link at https://tinyurl.com/NYsoilsurvey before March 10th, 2018. A paper form of the questionnaire can be downloaded and printed, and more information about soil health and the Workgroup is available at their website; https://blogs.cornell.edu/soilhealthinitiative/. Questions about the New York State Soil Health Workgroup's research can be directed to Cedric Mason at (607) 255-8641 or cwm77@cornell.edu.
Soil Health Questionnaire (pdf; 40KB)
Upcoming Events
Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Training & Food Safety Plan-Writing Workshop
February 2 - February 3, 2023
Newark, NY
Goals of this workshop:
- Understand how GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices) impact produce safety, and how you can improve practices on your farm to reduce the risk of microbial contamination
- Learn the difference between a FSMA Inspection and a GAPs audit, and learn what is needed to have a USDA GAP/GHP audit and the 2 types (Basic & Harmonized)
- Begin writing a farm food safety plan that complies with a USDA GAP/GHP Audit
This workshop is targeted at Mott's growers who need to have a successful GAP audit for the 2023 harvest. However, all farms and organizations are invited to attend.
We will have several breaks, including a lunch break, scattered throughout the day, but feel free to step away whenever you need to. Lunch and snacks provided. Note: All times are approximate. Time spent on each topic varies depending on audience and questions/discussion. There will be time for questions at the end of each section and a final opportunity for questions when we close for the day.
Instructors Confirmed: Craig Kahlke (CCE-LOF), Robert Hadad (CCE-CVP), Caroline Boutard-Hunt (CCE-Yates), Judy Wright (CCE-Seneca), and Representatives from NYS Dept. of Ag & Mkts.
How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? 1-day, hands-on skills class
February 7, 2023
Highland, NY
The Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team and the Lake Ontario Fruit Team are offering a 1-day, hands-on course at 5 locations in NYS in January and February for tree fruit farms on using farm financial information and other resources to make decisions about long-term investments or changes to their business. We will apply the techniques covered in the 8-part webinar series in December to scenarios using sample financial data from fruit farms in NYS.
Apple Leafcurling Midge IPM - Webinar

February 16, 2023
In recent years, the apple leafcurling midge (ALCM) has become an increasingly problematic pest in many orchards across the northeast.