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| Crop Update - 2/22/2007 | |||
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UPCOMING EVENTS REMINDER:
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Sustainable Viticulture Workbook Project - Update
We have completed 17 workbooks so far with growers in the Lake Erie Region - we have met with growers from Chautauqua, Niagara, Cattaraugus Counties in New York and several growers from PA.! This project is a cooperative effort of growers, processors, the Finger Lakes Regional Grape Program, Long Island Grape Program and the Lake Erie Regional Grape Program.
Going over the questions in the workbook typically takes about 90 minutes. Depending on your operation and the type of grapes you are growing doesn't make any difference either - we are interested in everyone's input. Once you have completed the first phase of going through the workbook and answering the questions scaled from 1 (best practice) to 4 (should look at this practice to see if it can be improved), a follow-up visit is scheduled with a member of the SWCD from your county (they have the money to help with cost sharing) to discuss how you might be able to move the practices that received a rating of 4 to a rating closer to 1 - this is the Action Plan meeting. In Chautauqua County these follow-up visits will be scheduled with us (Edith Byrne and TimWeigle) and Dave Wilson from CCSWCD. We have our first Action Plan meetings scheduled for March!
The workbook questions are painless, self-reflective and the time spent is not unenjoyable! Comments made by growers' are very positive - including how going over the questions makes them think about their total operation, or how they might be able to do or think about something differently, etc.
We are still asking for more volunteers to go through the workbook, answering the questions that pertain to them (and let us know what questions do not pertain to their operation). We have appointments set up with more growers through the month... If you are interested in working with us on this project please send Edith an email at emb35@cornell.edu or give her a call at 716.672.6830 so she can schedule an appointment with you.
| 2006 NY & PA Pest Management Guidelines are available on-line at: http://ipmguidelines.org/grapes/ | |
| If you prefer a hard copy version you can contact your local Lake Erie Regional Grape Program Extension office or local county extension office for partner counties (Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, NY, Erie, PA and Niagara). | |
| Download Adobe Reader - free software that lets you view, print, search, and share Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files. |  |
| Farm Business Management | Barry Shaffer |
Want to Know Your Cost of Production? Join the LEGFCS!
Knowing your cost of production allows producers to understand their business a lot better. I strongly encourage EVERY grape grower to know their cost per acre and cost per ton. One of the easiest ways is to join the Lake Erie Grape Farm Cost Study (LEGFCS) and have me calculate it for you! LEGFCS participants also receive a free farm analysis as one of the perks. I'm starting data collection for 2006 now and I'm looking for any area grape grower that wants to join this free confidential study. Farms in the Harborcreek area or farms east of Fredonia are esp. encouraged to contact me. My e-mail is bes9@cornell.edu and my phone number is 716-679-3185.
| Grape Cultural Practices | Hans Walter-Peterson |
NY Ag Statistics Releases Grape Crop Reports
The New York Agricultural Statistics Service has released its report on the size of the 2006 New York grape crop and its survey of grape processors in New York State.
The crop report estimates that 155,000 tons of grapes were harvested in the state this past year, down from a crop of 178,000 tons in 2005, or a 13% reduction. However, the overall value of the crop went up from 2005, with an overall 2006 crop value of $37.0 million, compared to $34.3 million the year before. It needs to be noted that this estimate is based on the "best guess" for the grape price paid by cooperatives such as National Grape and Growers' Coop, and that are more accurate value for the 2006 crop will be calculated in 2008. The reason for this is that production of higher priced varieties, such as hybrids and vinifera, increased in 2006 as vineyards, primarily in the Finger Lakes, are recovering from the winter injury they experienced a few years ago. For example, the report estimates that production of vinifera varieties in New York increased from 3,500 tons in 2005 to 5,200 tons in 2006. Concord production in the state dropped by almost 21% to approximately 108,600 tons in 2006, while Niagara production was essentially the same.
The survey of processors who took that fruit in was also released and it breaks down the different types of grapes received from various locations around the state…well, at the Chautauqua-Erie (NY) region, Niagara County, and the Finger Lakes. Total production in the Chautauqua-Erie region for 2006 was down about 20% from 2005 (including all varieties of grapes that are reported), and down about 4% in Niagara County. The Finger Lakes saw a 3% increase in total production, with a few categories, (e.g., Aurora, Cayuga White, all vinifera varieties) more than doubling their production in 2005, further reinforcing the explanation of the higher crop value for a lower tonnage crop in 2006.
You can see the full reports here:
| Weather Facts | Tim Weigle and Edith Byrne |
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| The weather proverb from the Farmer's Almanac this week is: |
| If Groundhog Day (2/2) be fair and bright, Winter will have another flight . . . |
Building Inspections by Towns Started January 1, 2007
The New York Department of State recently issued new regulations governing the inspection of all non-residential buildings by town officials. Under these new regulations, which went into effect on January 1, 2007, all non-residential buildings, including farm buildings, will need to be inspected every three years for compliance with the property maintenance code and certain aspects of the fire safety code.
While historically farm buildings have been exempt from the building code, they have had to adhere to the property maintenance code and fire safety code provisions dealing with general safety methodologies and practices. Unfortunately, the recently revised versions of these codes were intended for non-residential buildings such as office buildings and do not recognize the unique nature of farm buildings. They therefore have a series of requirements that could prove to be quite costly to farmers. Beyond that there has been no clear guidance given to farmers about which aspects of the fire code they need to follow.
New York Farm Bureau has been actively engaged with the Department of State over the past few months to address this situation. While the Department has committed to addressing this issue, a formal solution will not be possible until after the regulations are in place. With that in mind, the Department is advising towns to NOT inspect farm buildings until after a formal solution has been reached.
If you are visited by a building inspector: Recognizing that not all towns may receive this position from the Department, we are advising farms to politely request that any building inspector intent on inspecting the farm first contact:
Cheryl Fischer, P.E. Assistant Director of Code Interpretations
New York State Department of State Code Enforcement and Administration
41 State Street, Suite 1130, Albany, NY 12231
Tel: 518-474-4073
FAX: 518-486-4487
Additionally, in order to protect your livestock, building inspectors should be adhering to appropriate biosecurity protocols when entering the farm. A list of Best Management Practices for farm visitors can be found on our website: www.nyfb.org. Inspectors who have questions should again contact Cheryl Fischer.
Please be assured that New York Farm Bureau is committed to finding a solution to this issue and will keep you updated on the progress. If there are building inspectors that are not understanding of the unique position of agriculture, please let us know and the Department of State will discuss the issue with them.
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UPCOMING EVENTS: |
| Andy Muza | Extension Agent, Erie County, PA Cooperative Extension | (814) 825-0900 |
| Barry Shaffer | Area Extension Farm Business Management Educator | (716) 679-3185 |
| Hans Walter-Peterson | Area Extension Grape Cultural Practices Educator | (716) 672-2191 |
| Tim Weigle | Sr. Area Extension Educator, Grape IPM | (716) 672-6830 |
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any questions or comments on the format of this update please contact Tim Weigle at: timweigl@netsync.net |
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The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program Website is maintained by the NYS Grape IPM Program |
| 412 E. Main Street, Fredonia, N.Y. 14063 | Telephone: 716-672-5296 | E-mail: Webmaster |