Current Ag Department Project Highlights at Seneca CCE

Traditional TAg
This is a program started by the NYS Integrated Pest Management program during the early nineties. The Tactical Agriculture (TAg) program is used to reach a neighborhood of farmers of similar operation. In this case the Seneca CCE agriculture staff is working with several small dairy farms in the county on IPM education related to field crop and animal pest management. Field meetings are held on participating farms throughout the growing season in conjunction with arising or foreseen pest management issues. Farmers learn the IPM decision making process to manage the different pests that can occur during the growing season on their farm.

Soybean TAg
Like Tradition TAg this program teaches participating farmers IPM techniques used on soybean to manage occurring or potential pest problems. Over the last several years soybean pest issues have developed and this program is used to educate participants on those pest issues that occur within a given year on a soybean crop. The IPM approach uses decision making tools based on the economic and environmental impacts of the practices. Timely field meetings are held during the growing season as pest issues arise or are foreseen as a venue to educate project participants on soybean IPM.

Soybean Fungicide Efficacy
This project titled “Measuring the Economic and Agronomic Benefit of Timed, Preventative Fungicide Applications to Soybean” seeks to gain data that validates or invalidates the practice of applying foliar fungicide to a soybean crop in the absence of foliar disease. The primary disease in question is Asian Soybean Rust. Claims have been made that there is a “plant health” response when applications of fungicide are made to soybean during early reproductive stages (in the absence of foliar disease). This project will measure economic and agronomic impact related to the fungicide application. The efficacy project is a replicated field scale research trial taking place on three Seneca County farms.

Soybean Sentinel Plots
Asian Soybean Rust is a new disease that has landed in the United States. At this time it is not in New York State. This disease can cause severe and total crop loss when undetected. In an effort to track this disease if it in fact lands in NY sentinel plots are in place across NY that will be scouted weekly for the disease organism. This project is part of a nation wide alert network between state universities and the farmer. The network will alert farmers to status of the disease, if it does occur, and management techniques the farmer needs to take. Visit these websites to get current updates on Asian Soybean Rust: http://www.plantpath.cornell.edu/soybeanrustny/

Bunker Silo Density Study
In cooperation with PRO Dairy Seneca County CCE will be working with three dairy farms in the county on an intense silage density study. This project will generate data from farms across NY State that will assist farmers statewide in bunker silo management. Insufficient management at bunker fill time leads to lost profits during feed out time in a number of ways. Locally generated data will be used to validate or improve the silo management techniques currently used on area farms.

Ammonia Emissions Project
This is a 2-year project funded by the New York State Farm Viability institute that is looking at ammonia losses from different manure application systems.  Ammonia is a portion of the nitrogen content in animal manure that can supply this necessary nutrient to crops.  This project has three goals:

• Show farms that conserving as much ammonia from their animal manures as possible will save them $$ in fertilizer as fertilizer prices increase.
• Many farms are partially incorporating manure as a means of odor and runnoff management.  We need to find out how much ammonia we are really saving for proper nutrient management planning.
• Ammonia emissions may be regulated in the future; by being proactive and collecting data now, we will have some base information for the future.

Pesticide Certification/Recertification

Pesticide application licenses are a critical part of a farmer’s tool chest for dealing with weeds, insects, and plant diseases.  This license allows them to purchase and apply restricted use pesticides to their own land and animals to control many harmful weeds, insects, and diseases. 

Seneca County Cornell Cooperative Extension plays an active part in keeping farmers certified and providing an opportunity to become certified.  Seneca County CCE offers on average 14 recertification credits per year, and an annual course to certify new applicators. 

Below are some links to critical pesticide application information:

• Certification categories: http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/certification/cert_categories.html
• Requirements for Commercial Pesticide Applicator Certification, Commercial Pesticide Technician Certification and Business Agency Registration: http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/certification/Comm-app-factsheet1.html
• Requirements for Private Applicator Certification: http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/certification/Private-app-factsheet.html
• Requirements for Certified Technician: http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/certification/Tech_Requirements.html

Below are some links regarding pesticide regulations:

• NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Bureau of Pesticides Management: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dshm/pesticid/pesticid.htm

PMEP (Pesticide Management Education Program)

PMEP is a department of Cornell Cooperative Extension that promotes the safe use of pesticides for the applicator, the consumer, and the environment and also serves as a pesticide information/education center for those interested in pesticide chemicals.

PMEP contains information on chemical information, certification information, pesticide issues, fact sheets and slide sets, pesticide information use for NYS, IR-4 Minor Use Program, Cornell pesticide policies, and other useful external links.  http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/