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Page 1: Onondaga County Soil & Water Conservation District … · The Onondaga County Soil & Water Conservation District prohibits discrimination in ... Onondaga County Soil & Water Conservation

The Onondaga County Soil & Water Conservation District prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political be‐liefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status.

Onondaga County Soi l & Water Conservation Distr ict

Spring 2014

Summer 2014

TRE-G FARMS WINS NEW YORK STATE AWARD Tre-G Farms in Manlius Shows that Good Stewardship through AEM Can Lower Costs While Enhancing Farm Operations State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball presented Tre-G Farms, LLC the 2014 New York State Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) Award at a special lunch-eon, August 6th, during the Empire Farm Days. Jim and Sue Smith, and their son Ryker were there to receive the award. “Sound soil and water conservation prac-tices are important facets of any farm opera-tion, including my own,” said Commissioner Ball. “My sincere congratulations go to the Smith Family and the Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District for being hon-ored in 2014. Every year, more and more farmers are tapping into the knowledge and expertise of their local district, with winning results from both an economic and environ-mental standpoint.” The Onondaga County Soil & Water Con-servation District utilizes the state’s AEM framework to help farmers meet environ-mental challenges head on. Administered through the District, AEM helps farms make common sense, cost-effective and science-based decisions to help meet business objectives while protecting and conserving the State’s natural resources. Currently, more than 13,000 farms participate in AEM throughout New York State. Tre-G Farms is a fourth generation family farm with the fifth generation showing interest in taking over. The original homestead was purchased by Jim Smith’s great grandfather in 1919. This 160 cow dairy farm produces milk, hay, and corn on more than 650 acres of land. The farm has diversified to also grow asparagus as well as pick-your-own

(l-r) Gary Mahany, President of Empire State Potato Growers Association and co-sponsor of the AEM award; Jim, Ryker, and Sue Smith, Tre-G Farms, LLC; and Richard A. Ball, State Agriculture Commissioner.

District Board of Directors members, and staff join in to con-gratulate the Smith family on winning the State award.

Continued inside page

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strawberries, raspberries and peas utilizing a direct market-

ing approach that invites the public to the farm. Jim and Susan Smith hosted the local Soil and Water District’s 1st Day on the Farm in 2011and again this year on August 2nd. The Smiths have a long term commitment to conservation and the pro-tection of water quality. They developed and follow an AEM comprehensive nutrient management plan which helps the farm make wise use of livestock ma-nure as a main nutrient source for growing forages and crops, and along with conservation tillage that lessens soil disturbance and promotes soil health, they have been working to reduce and prevent soil erosion and runoff since the 1970s. These practices also require less fuel and capture organic carbon in the soil. After developing the AEM plan, the farm in-stalled a milkhouse wastewater treatment system, a barnyard runoff management system and a rotational grazing system that fully excludes livestock from wa-tercourses, and in the process, it helps protect valu-able water resources. The farm installed a water and sediment control basin and cover crops are planted to prevent soil erosion and protect the West Branch of Limestone Creek, a tributary for Oneida Lake. The farm is also planning to install solar panels to reduce electricity needs by 30%. In nominating Tre-G Farms for the award, Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation Dis-trict Executive Director Mark Burger said, “When we started the AEM plan for this farm, we could not have predicted the level of involvement that Jim and Sue would have with implementing all the conservation Best Management Practices or the support they have given back to the District. Jim has made himself available to promote the District and AEM, which is a testament to the value he sees in the District’s ser-vices, and in the appreciation and investment he shows for the District’s recommendations. We are proud to call this family farm a friend of the District.”

160 milking herd showed well at Day on the Farm.

View of Tre-G Farms, LLC from above.

Tre-G Farms, LLC

Thank you to our partners this year, Onondaga County Cornell Cooperative Extension and Farm Bu-reau, who added much to the day. Sincere thanks to the following sponsors who contributed in making Day on the Farm a big success: Byrne Dairy, Cabot Creamery, Cayuga Tree Service, Inc.; Cazenovia Equipment, Dairy Marketing Ser-vices, Dairy One Cooperative; Empire Tractor, Hudson Egg Farm, Lancaster Poured Walls; Michael Grimm Services, Inc., Onondaga County Ag Council, Onondaga County Dairy Cooperative; Onondaga County Sherriff’s Dept., Pompey Hill Volunteer Fire Dept, Carole Marsh, Supervisor Town of Pompey; Queensboro Farm Products, Riccelli Enterprises, Inc., Terrell’s Potato Chips; T.H. Kinsella, Inc. And a special thank you to our gracious hosts, Jim and Sue Smith, their family and staff.

Thank You Day on the Farm - almost 500 visitors boarded a wagon to view the many conservation practices that the farm and District installed at Tre-G.

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Thank you and goodbye to Tom Baker and Nick Bobbett, our seasonal aides who spent the summer with us. Tom was hired to inspect municipal separate storm sewer system discharges throughout the County. The program is designed to pro-tect our local waterbodies by identifying and eliminating any existing sources of illicit discharges conveyed through MS4’s within Onondaga County. Nick spent the summer assisting the District with its hy-droseeding program. Projects included mu-nicipal roadsides and ditches, and at farms, establishing a quick vegetative growth on denuded acres.

Marking flags or fer-tilizer tabs

Pack of 10 Pack of 50 Pack of 100

$ 1.75 $ 7.00 $11.35

Bluebird house Each $14.00

Bat house Each $15.00

Animal guards 8” size $ 8.00

Soil Test bags Send to Dairy One Lab

Make payment to Dairy One

Soil Group Work-sheet

For Agricultural assessment for tax reduction

$25.00 per parcel

Soil Survey Book for Onondaga County

FREE

Item Description Price

Goodbye From All of Us!

Products & Services

Here’s a short list of products and services the District offers:

ONONDAGA COUNTY SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Board of Directors: F. Spencer Givens III, Chair, At-Large Rep. Craig Dennis, Vice-Chair, Practical Farm Rep. Annette Raus - Farm Bureau Representative Wayne Norris, Treasurer, Grange Rep. Brendan Whelan, At-Large Representative David Knapp, County Legislative Rep. Derek Shepard, Jr., County Legislative Rep. Staff:

Mark Burger, Executive Director Maggie Connelly, Secretary Gwyn Olenych, Account Clerk II Doug Fisher, Program Manager Alan Masters, Resource Conservation Specialist Jeremiah Eaton, Resource Conservation Specialist Aaron Buchta, Resource Conservation Specialist Eric Renfer, Resource Conservation Specialist Eva Sztechmiler, District Conservation Technician Tom Baker, District Seasonal Aide Nick Bobbett, Summer Aide Roland Ivers, Volunteer Phone: 315-457-0325 Fax: 315-457-0410 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ocswcd.org

SKANEATELES LAKE WATERSHED

AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM Watershed Agricultural Program Review Committee (WAPRC) Mike McMahon, Chair, Cortland Co. Steve Nemec, Vice Chair, Cayuga Co. Jim Greenfield, Onondaga Co. Ed Tidd, Onondaga Co. Eric Brayman, Onondaga Co. David Perry, Cortland Co. Dale Kehoe, Cayuga Co. Rich Abbott, City of Syracuse

Staff:

Mark Burger, Program Manager Ryan Cunningham, Design & Implementation Eric Jensen, Farm & Nutrient Mgmt Planner Phone: 315-457-0325 Fax: 315-457-0410 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ocswcd.org

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An enhanced, alternative water supply was implemented this spring at the Birdsall Beef Farm

in the Town of Spafford. Dennis and Heather Bird-sall raise 272 cows on an intensive ro-tational grazing system, and have previously relied on l a b o r - i n t e n s i v e wagons to supply water to the vari-ous herds. While this system has worked well for the last decade, repeti-t i v e h a u l i n g through rough roads and pastures has caused signifi-cant wear on the equipment. The new water

system relies on 2,700 feet of buried pipeline that supplies fresh water to key locations in pastures. The water wagons can be filled on a rotating basis in the pasture, then supply the cattle herds while not requiring extensive travel to the farmstead and back. This system enhances an existing water sup-ply that will provide longevity to a well run pasture management system. The Birdsalls have also enrolled several acres of pasture into the USDA Grassland Reserve Pro-gram, which encourages the implementation of grass buffer areas in riparian zones and excludes cattle from waterways. This commitment to water quality exemplifies the environmental stewardship found on many Skaneateles Lake watershed farm-ers.

By Eric Jensen, Resource Conservation Specialist

BIRDSALL BEEF FARM

By Ryan Cunningham, Resource Conservation Specialist

Water wagon at Birdsall Farm.

New waterline under construction.

PROMOTING Crop & Soil Health

Our vision - The Skaneateles Lake watershed will be an environmentally sound region, where a viable agricultural industry and others benefiting from the lake work together harmoni-ously to improve and maintain a high standard of water quality.

Soil health is becoming a more popular subject judging from attendance at the recently held Soil Health Workshop at Donn Branton’s farm in LeRoy, NY. Over 200 farmers and other ag-professionals were at the workshop which included a pulled pork dinner. Frank Gibbs, Certified Soil Scientist from Ohio and no-till farmer for 34 years, kicked of the program. Cropland soil health requires a systems approach focusing on 1) controlling equipment traffic to reduce soil compaction, 2) Conservation tillage to reduce soil aggregate destruction, 3)Pattern drainage to manage water, 4) Cover crops to cover the soil and provide living plants year round to feed the soil mi-crobes. A panel of 5 farmers presented after the evening meal. All the no-till farmers seemed to agree that

pattern tile drainage is the first key required to be successful with no-till farming. Drainage provides good water management, without it, the rest of the system doesn’t work well. It increases rainfall infil-tration, which reduces soil

Continued next page

Registration at the Soil Health workshop in LeRoy, NY

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The Skaneateles Lake Watershed Agricultural Program is a cooperative effort between the Soil & Water Conservation Dis-tricts and Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations of Onondaga, Cortland and Cayuga Counties, the USDA Natural Re-sources Conservation Service, the City of Syracuse, and Skaneateles Lake watershed farmers. Principal funding provided by the City of Syracuse.

NOT ANOTHER PEST?!

Summer storms have ripped through the region this season - back to back, it seems. The picture above was taken by a resident in the Borodino neighborhood on the east side of Skaneateles Lake. This is the result of 3+ inches of rain falling in one hour over a particular location in the watershed, equivalent to a 100-year storm.

By Mark Burger, Program Manager

Paper is recyclable

Our mission - To carry out a cost-effective, innovative program for the farming community that upholds the high drinking water quality standards of Skaneateles Lake.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) has been in NYS since 1985. Its origin in the eastern US is Japan. HWA attacks eastern hemlock in NYS. HWA uses long mouth parts to extract sap and nutrients from hemlock twigs, near the base of the needles. This prevents continued growth causing needles to discolor (from deep green to grayish green), then to drop prema-turely. The loss of new shoots and needles causes decline and death of af-fected trees within 4 to 10 years. HWA is unusual in that all individuals are female, re-producing asexu-ally. With two generations per year the repro-ductive capacity is enormous, with possibly 10,000 or more progeny pro-duced from one female at the start of the season. HWA enters a period of dor-mancy during hot summer months, growth starting in fall through spring the following year. The biggest concern for the Skaneateles Lake Watershed is that hemlock provides pro-tection of streambeds/banks from erosion. Hem-locks are also highly valued for lumber and or-namentals such as Christmas trees. They cool the water of streams allowing trout to breed and they provide food and shelter for wildlife, espe-cially deer. The good news is that HWA is still “A Pest We CAN Manage!” To learn more, please go to the insect section and find Hemlock Woolly Adelgid at www.nyis.info.

SUMMER OF ‘14

Picture courtesy of Don Armstrong

Crops - erosion and degradation. The recent intense summer storms were good examples that showed how no-till fields al-lowed maximum water infiltration with minimal storm water running off the fields compared to conventional tilled fields ‘ponding’ or having storm runoff erosion problems. Transition from conventional tillage to no-till does take time. A crop field can be expected to have 5-15% reduced crop yields the first 5 years before soil health levels (especially soil aggregation) are restored. Earthworms are another key which ‘plow the soil’ vertically to a depth of 5 feet. These vertical channels allow crop roots to reach deep into the soil profile to absorb moisture and minerals from the subsoil. Rainfall and air also move easily through these flow paths as needed by the growing crops. No-till farming is a huge change from conventional farming practices. It takes time to transition the soil to a more healthy condition. Well drained cropland is required to be successful with this method. Reduced storm water runoff pollution is one of the many soil health benefits that make no-till farming an alternative to consider.

What looks like little cotton balls on this hemlock tree is really a cluster of Hemlock woolly Adelgid.

Photo courtesy of Mark Whitmore, Extension Associate, Cornell Uni-versity, College of Agriculture and life Sciences, Dept.

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ONONDAGA COUNTY SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DIS-

TRICT 6680 Onondaga Lake Parkway Liverpool, NY 13088 Phone: 315-457-0325 Fax: 315-457-0410 Email: [email protected]

Your advertisement cost $200 per year= 4 issues

Reaches 1650 residents Call us at 315-457-0325


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