Herdsmen Training Sessions Offered

(Oneida County, NY – Feb. 1, 2012) Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County is offering a series of five training classes for dairy farmers and farm employees with cow and/or calf responsibilities.

Classes begin Tuesday Feb. 28 from 1am until 3pm; cost $5 per class and will take place at the CCE Oneida Co. office in Oriskany.

Please review the agenda below and reserve your seat for one or all of the training sessions.

Breaking away from the typical classroom setting, the March 27 gathering will be a hands-on learning opportunity hosted by SUNY Morrisville’s dairy facility. All class times will run from 10am until 3pm unless otherwise noted and will be held at the CCE Oneida office in Oriskany.  The cost of each session is $5 and includes lunch.

Additionally, participants will receive practical take home tools that will assist them with herd health evaluations. The take home “tool box” will include items such as thermometers, stethoscopes, IV sets, and much more.

FSA Borrower Credits are available. Please feel free to contact Marylynn Collins for further details and to register, she can be reached at 736-3394 ext. 132 or by email at mrm7@cornell.edu.

Please register by Feb. 14. Funding for this training is graciously provided by Farm Credit East, Cargill Animal Nutrition and the Work Force Development Institute.

2012 Herdsperson Training Sessions

Tuesday Feb. 28: Transition Cow Management

Tom Overton, Ph.D. Cornell University/Pro-Dairy

Wednesday March 7:  Fresh Cow Care and Monitoring & Cow Handling

Dr. Nick Chuff, German Flatts Vet Clinic.

Tuesday March 13: Milk Quality & Mastitis Issues

Dr. Mike Zurakoski, QMPS

Tuesday March 20: Newborn Calf Care & Dystocia Management

Dr. Mark Thomas, Countryside Vet Clinic, Lowville

Reproduction Management

Katie Ballard, Miner Institute, Chazy, NY

Tuesday March 27: Hands On Learning Portion

Hosted by SUNY Morrisville’s dairy facilities.

 

State Senate Homeland Security Committee Members Tour Oneida County Facilities

~4148759

 

 Pictured from left are Senators Ball, Griffo (in gray suit) and NYS HSES Executive Director, Jim Sherry during briefing Training Center facilities.

 Senators Ball, Griffo and NYS HSES Training Technician, Robert Stallman as they discuss police training exercises.

(Oriskany, NY – Jan. 20, 2012) State Senators Joseph A. Griffo (R-C-IP, Rome)

hosted a visit Jan. 19 from Senator Greg Ball (R-C, Patterson), who was on hand to visit facilities in Oneida County and meet to discuss New York State homeland security.

Senators Griffo and Ball are members of the Senate Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee, of which, Senator Ball serves as the Committee’s Chairman.

“We have assets here in our region which are essential to the mission of both national and statewide security,” Griffo said. “Senator Ball is a former active duty Air Force officer who came away informed and impressed after his visit.”

As we begin work on other challenging State Budget deliberations, my colleagues need to keep in mind how important these facilities are. The Eastern Air Defense Sector facility in Rome is staffed by NY Air National Guard operations personnel and is vital to the air security of the United State and Canada,” Griffo continued.

“The NYS Homeland Security & Emergency Services Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany has trained thousands of emergency responders throughout New York and other states,”  Griffo added. “Their training has earned them high praise in the law enforcement community and has created an ongoing demand for their services. They are poised for growth there and we need to make sure that we can help them meet that demand.”

 

Date set for Annual Herb & Flower Festival

 

(Oriskany, NY – Jan. 2012) Save the date!  Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County Master Gardeners present the 16th Annual Herb & Flower Festival set for Saturday June 23.

The theme of the event is ‘Sustainable Landscaping’- a free class taught on this subject will be offered; plus 7 other free classes relating to ‘potpourri’ of gardening topics.

The event will host 45 plus horticulture and garden related vendors who gather in the Parker F. Scripture Botanical Gardens.  The vendors sell plants and other items of interest for novice to advanced gardeners.

The event is located at the Farm & Home Center in Oriskany, off of Judd Road.  Master Gardener volunteers’ program focus is to use the demonstration gardens to teach the public about all types of gardening and composting.  A Master Gardener booth will be featured at the event.  Folks can come with specific gardening questions that need answers.

This festival is a continuing part of the educational outreach to the public by Cornell Cooperative Extension throughout the year.

For more information, please contact the Extension office at (315) 736-3394.

 

Herdsperson Training Sessions Offered

 

(Oneida County, NY – Jan. 2012) Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County is offering a learning opportunity for dairy farm employees with herd related responsibilities.  If you are currently a herdsperson, farm owner  or farm employee looking to advance, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to improve your job skills.

We are excited and prepared to share with you a great line up of guest speakers that will cover a variety of important topics.  Please review the agenda below and reserve your seat for one or all of the training sessions.

Breaking away from the typical classroom setting, the March 27 gathering will be a hands on learning opportunity hosted by SUNY Morrisville’s dairy facility. All class times will run from 10 am until 3 pm unless otherwise noted and will be held at the CCE Oneida office in Oriskany.

The cost of each session is $5 and includes lunch.   Please feel free to contact Marylynn Collins for further details and to register, she can be reached at 736-3394 ext. 132 or by email at mrm7@cornell.edu. Please register by Feb. 14.

Funding for this training is graciously provided by First Pioneer Farm Credit and Cargill Animal Nutrition.

2012 Herdsperson Training Sessions

Tuesday February 28th> Transition Cow Management

Tom Overton, Ph.D. Cornell University/Pro-Dairy

Wednesday March 7th > Fresh Cow Care and Monitoring & Cow Handling

Dr. Nick Chuff, German Flatts Vet Clinic.

Tuesday March 13th > Milk Quality & Mastitis Issues

Dr. Mike Zurakoski, QMPS

Tuesday March 20th > Newborn Calf Care & Dystocia Management

Dr. Mark Thomas, Countryside Vet Clinic, Lowville

Reproduction Management

Katie Ballard, Miner Institute, Chazy, NY

Tuesday March 27th > Hands On Learning Portion

Hosted by SUNY Morrisville’s dairy facilities.

MORIC Hosts T.H.E. Symposium VII

(Utica, NY – Jan. 2012The Mohawk Regional Information Center will host the T.H.E. Symposium VII on January 12 at SUNY Institute of Technology, 100 Seymour Road, Utica. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Kunsela Hall.

The Technology Heightens Education Symposium is an opportunity for area teachers and administrators to celebrate and share the ways they use technology as a tool to enhance student learning. Representatives from 52 school districts and four BOCES will attend the event.

At the Symposium, teachers and their students from 15 school districts in six counties (see next page) will set up demonstration booths and showcase exemplary uses of technology. Presentations will include: daily blogs by first graders; fifth-grade podcast tutorials; a remix of “West Side Story” music using Garage Band; student-built and programmed Lego robots; student-designed video games; and iPods in health education.

MORIC will also present its annual Recognizing Our Own awards to honor one outstanding teacher and student from each BOCES region for their integration of technology into the classroom or curriculum.

In addition, the Technology Playground will allow elementary students a chance to share their expertise and explore emerging technologies.

This year’s keynote speaker is Travis Allen, the founder of the iSchool Initiative, a student-led nonprofit that seeks to educate students on how to become lifelong digital learners and raise awareness about technology in the classroom. Allen will speak about “How I survive college with only an iPhone” and share his perspectives as a 21st Century Learner. He will provide attendees with information about using SmartPhones and Tablets to engage in more effective learning. His talk begins at 9:30 a.m.

To register, visit www.moric.org.

Districts presenting at T.H.E. Symposium VII

January 12, 2012

SUNY IT

Madison County

Hamilton

Morrisville-Eaton

Oneida

Canastota

Oneida County

Rome (2)

Vernon-Verona-Sherrill (3)

Oriskany

Remsen

Holland Patent

Sauquoit Valley

Herkimer County

Herkimer

Poland

Jefferson County

South Jefferson

Lewis County

South Lewis

Otsego County

Richfield Springs

 

 

 

Griffo Hosts DEC Commissioner to Oneida County to Hear Concerns

2011 12-5-11 DEC Commissioner Martens Visit 002

(Utica, NY – Dec. 6, 2011) State Senator Joseph A. Griffo and Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner, Joseph Martens met Dec. 5 with local officials from Oneida County including Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney and officials from the Mohawk Valley Water Authority.

“I’ve been speaking with DEC for several months on a host of pressing items throughout the district,” said Griffo. “I appreciate that Commissioner Martens agreed to our invitation to visit and meet directly to discuss some of the flooding issues that concern Oneida County with the Sauquoit and Oriskany Creeks. I was impressed with the Commissioner’s grasp of our needs. He and his staff have promised to continue a working relationship that will be responsive to Oneida County.”

Local Morrisville State College students sleep out in hand-crafted shelters

Sleep out for OCC

 Jordan Zalepeski, of Camden, sets up her shelter at Morrisville State College. She was among Morrisville State College students who slept outdoors in a handmade shelter to help raise awareness about homelessness.

By Franci Valenzano

(Morrisville, NY – Nov. 21) The number nine glowing through the side of Justin Larmon’s project drew towering attention to the neatly four-tiered, red and white shelter he built to the likeness of a wedding cake.

The digit was a daunting reminder of the massive devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans that left thousands of people homeless, and a reference to actor and film producer Brad Pitt’s “Make it Right Foundation” to help rebuild the hard-hit Lower 9th Ward.

Larmon, 26, of Earlville, was among eight Morrisville State College students who built homeless shelters then set them up in front of Hamilton Hall to help raise awareness about homelessness. Students spent weeks planning and designing the shelters, an annual project that is part of Professor Anne Englot’s Architectural Design I class.

This year, students were also assigned a particular issue that related to homelessness or could make someone homeless, such as unemployment, lack of affordable housing, deinstitutionalization, hurricanes, tsunamis, domestic violence, veterans, alcoholism, and drug abuse, and had to incorporate them into their shelters.

Clever ideas and use of materials defined students’ structures, which varied in shape and size. Some were light and easily toted on students’ backs, while others were designed with wheels or wood so they were portable and could also be dragged through elements like snow.

Larmon, a landscape architectural studies major was among a handful of students who along with Professor Englot, spent the night in their shelters. He shared his temporary home with his pit bull, Bentley.

Larmon’s first brush with homelessness was an eye opener.

“You think it doesn’t exist here locally,” he said, “but it does and a lot of people are affected by it.”

Inside his shelter, built to resemble a tiered wedding cake and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Larmon also devised a water-collection system out of PVC pipes. Constructed mainly of cardboard boxes and plastic purchased from Lowes, his shelter came well within the $25 budget allotted to students.

Students relied on donated materials, castoffs found in dumpsters and on roadsides, and items they had at home or in their rooms to stay within their budget.

Olivia Kasprzyk, 20, of Oriskany, an entrepreneurial and small business management student, limited her purchases to Velcro, piping, tape and glue.

Prior to designing their individual shelters, students first researched rural homelessness. Given a list of rules to follow (shelters had to be habitable, portable, resistant to moisture and cold, provide light and ventilation to the interior, and be aesthetically pleasing), the rest was up to them.

Dan Cuebas, 20, of Long Island, an entrepreneurial and small business management student, based his shelter on homeless veterans. Resembling an Army truck, his 50-pound structure was draped in blue tarp and designed with wooden runners along the bottom that could easily slide in snow. He utilized skills honed from a wood technology degree he already has from Morrisville State College.

Students’ experiences were documented in an hourly journal they were required to keep.

“I live for experiences like this,” said Jordan Zalepeski, 18, of Camden, an architectural studies and design major, about sleeping overnight in her shelter. “This is a way for me to help raise awareness about homelessness.”

Students’ efforts were just part of what faculty, staff and students on the Morrisville State College campus did to raise education, action and awareness about hunger and homelessness during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week Nov. 14-20.

The campus was among churches, schools, and service agencies who partnered to address the issue in Madison County, collaborating with the Community Action Partnership (CAP) of Madison County.

Englot and her students also volunteered at CazCares fresh fruit and vegetable distribution event. CazCares is a food pantry and clothing closet that serves low income residents of the Cazenovia School District and surrounding areas of Madison County.

Free Sheep, Goat Hoof Trimming Clinic Offered for Livestock Enthusiasts

 

(New Hartford, NY – Dec. 2011) Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County will be offering a hoof trimming clinic for individuals with sheep and goat interests. 4-H members from Oneida and surrounding counties are welcomed and encouraged to attend this free clinic.

Hoof trimming is an essential skill to perform routinely and offers not only animal health benefits, but can also give you a competitive edge in the show ring.

The clinic will be held Saturday, December 3 at Mark Owens’s sheep farm located at 3743 Oxford Road, New Hartford  from 1:30pm – 3:30pm.

There is no charge to attend but reservations are appreciated.  Please call 736-3394 ext. 132 to let us know you plan to attend or for more information.

 

Youth Recognized at 4-H Achievement Banquet

(Rome, NY – Nov. 2011) The Annual 4-H Achievement Banquet was held this past Saturday at the Stanwix Heights Fire Department.  4-H Members, Leaders and Volunteers from the past and present were in attendance to recognize the accomplishments of our youth.

To be eligible for an award youth must meet strict criteria of record keeping, project participation, public speaking, leadership and citizenship.

The following youth received Certificates & Project Recognition Medals:

Whitney Semans, Whitesboro-Personal Growth Certificate, Arts & Crafts, Citizenship, Leadership, Public Speaking

Michaela Whitman, Rome-Citizenship, Leadership, Public Speaking, Dairy, Horse

Stephanie Finn, Holland Patent- Dairy, Goat, Swine, Citizenship, Leadership, Personal Growth Certificate

Nicholas Finn, Holland Patent-Personal Growth Certificate, Dairy, Goat, Citizenship, Leadership

Andrew Smith, Westernville-Personal Growth Certificate, Dairy, Swine, Citizenship

Katie Wilson, Canastota-Arts & Crafts, Citizenship

Rachel Carrock, Remsen-Personal Growth Certificate

Katie Lastowski, Boonville-Personal Growth Certificate, Horse, Citizenship, Leadership

Paige Snell, Oneida-Arts & Crafts, Photography, Citizenship, Leadership, Personal Growth Certificate

Gavin Doell, Holland Patent-Dairy, Personal Growth Certificate

Makayla Cornelius, Deansboro-Personal Growth Certificate

Caitlin Petrie, Canastota-Horse, Personal Growth Certificate

Patty Galway, Cleveland-Horse, Personal Growth Certificate

Maddie Jurenko, Central Square-Horse, Personal Growth Certificate

Brittany Spear, Westernville- Rabbit, Personal Growth Certificate

David Ballard, Westernville-Horse, Personal Growth Certificate

Abagail Pilbeam, Stittville-Personal Growth Certificate, Rabbit

Sarah Papa, Oneida-Dog, Horse

Brittany Papa, Oneida-Dog, Horse

Clara Runfola, Camden-Personal Growth Certificate

Ross Runfola, Camden-Personal Growth Certificate

Victoria Spear, Westernville-Personal Growth Certificate

Theodore Scheiderich, Lee Center-Dog

Additional awards were given to:

Stephanie Finn, for receiving the Outstanding Animal Science Award, Stephanie will be attending Career Explorations at Cornell next June.

Michaela Whitman, for receiving the Outstanding Personal Growth Award will be representing Oneida County at Capital Days in Albany in March.

Leader Recognition

The family of Alberta Schallenberg was in attendance to receive recognition for the 75 years of volunteer service that Alberta gave to the Oneida County 4-H Program.  Alberta’s dedication, determination and smile were shared with countless numbers of youth throughout her life.  In remembrance of her dedication, the Alberta Schallenburg “MY FAVORITE LEADER” plaque will be displayed at Cornell Cooperative Extension Building in Oriskany.  Future leaders nominated by youth will have their names added to this award.

Citizenship is a large part of 4-H.  We were pleased to have Mark Smith from the FEED OUR VETS FOOD PANTRY in attendance to speak to us and receive the food that was gathered for our Vets.

Thank-you to the following local businesses for support of the 4-H Program:

Chobani Greek Yogurt

Tops of Rome

HP Hood

Cargill Animal Nutrition

Farm Credit East, ACA

And Thank-you to Abagail Pilbeam for being our Hostess

For more information about Oneida County 4-H Visit our website at www.cceoneida.com  View ON THE MOVE our 4-H Newsletter for information about past and present activities or call 736-3394.

 

Field Crop Dealer Meeting Planned

(Oriskany, NY – Nov. 2011) A live video-conference of the Field Crop Dealer meeting will be hosted at the Farm and Home Center at 121 Second Street in Oriskany on November 21 from 9:30am to 3:15pm.

The topics include:

10:00 Corn Silage and Soybean Variety Trials W.J. Cox

10:30 Grass Management for Dairy Cattle J.H. Cherney

11:00 Fertility Management of Corn and Alfalfa Rotations Q.M. Ketterings

11:30 Questions and Discussion

12:00 p.m. LUNCH

12:45 p.m. Weed research update R.R. Hahn

1:15 New Insights on the Epidemiology and Management of Wheat Scab G.C. Bergstrom

1:45 New Alfalfa and Small Grains Varieties for New York M.E. Smith

2:15 Using the Adapt-N Tool for Precise Nitrogen Management on Corn

H. M. van Es & B.N. Moebius-Clune

2:45 Questions and Discussion

3:15 ADJOURN

Cost of attendance is $22 payable on the day of the meeting which includes lunch. The Cornell Guide for Integrated Field Crop Management will also be available for purchase at all sites.

To preregister call Mary McKellar at 607-255-2177 or mem40@cornell.edu.

There is 1.5 NYSDEC  recertification credits and CCA credits.