Spring Training Already?

Are you ready to get your municipal legislative or land use board in top shape? One of our best regional opportunities for training and networking is fast approaching. The Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board Annual Leadership Conference is now open for registration. On April 9, 2009 you can join other appointed and elected officials and leaders form across the region at Corning Community College for a day of fast-paced learning on a variety of topics. Visit http://stcplanning.org/ for registration information and class descriptions. Don't delay in registering: form are due March 24, 2009, and past conferences have sold out!

Registration information and preliminary course descriptions for the STC Regional Leadership Conference have been mailed and are available on our website: http://www.stcplanning.org/

Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy = Jobs, National Security and a Healthier Environment

Rocky Kambo M.PL., Community Development Educator

Renewable energy has garnered considerable attention in recent years. At the national level, renewable energy is the focus of President Obama’s “New Energy for America Plan”. At the state level, Governor Paterson is pushing for renewable energy in New York State. Why is there such a push for renewable energy?
To begin with, renewable energy can result in job creation. A press release from Governor Paterson states that “the development of these technologies...[will create] vital economic development opportunities for new high-tech companies to locate in many regions of the state, and [create] new green collar jobs”. Similarly, President Obama’s Plan hopes to create 5 million new jobs through investment in efforts to “build a clean energy future” over the next ten years.
Furthermore, renewable energy is tied to our national security and our environment. President Obama identifies two major energy challenges stemming from our reliance on oil: our dependence on foreign oil and global climate change. Part of the solution to these two challenges is renewable energy.
What does this mean for Schuyler County? We are well positioned to take advantage of new developments in several renewable technologies, including wind energy. Just recently, with a grant from NYSERDA, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Schuyler County and Southern Tier Central Regional Planning conducted a viewshed analysis. A viewshed analysis looks at sites/areas that have adequate wind resources for current turbine technologies, and then considers how these potential placements would impact important views. Clearly a viewshed analysis is only one part of the full review needed before turbines are sited. However, it is only the first step and can help inform community conversations about wind energy production. For Schuyler County, renewable energy could be an excellent way to decrease our environmental impact and at the same time, increase our employment and domestic energy production potential.

HORTICULTURE HOW-TO'S

Horticulture How-To’s
High Tunnels for Season Extension
April 3, Friday, 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Tioga
56 Main St, Owego
Learn how to earn more income by lengthening the growing
season inside ‘tunnels,’ greenhouse-like structures used for
growing fruits and vegetables. Judson Reid, extension educator
with the Cornell Vegetable Team, will talk about the pros
and cons of different tunnel designs. Chris Wein, Cornell professor
of Horticulture, will show different ways to manage both the high and low temperatures in a tunnel.
Molly Shaw, South Central NY Ag Team, will discuss low tunnels and caterpillar tunnels, low cost alternatives
to high tunnels. Laura McDermott, Eastern NY Berry Specialist, will help you calculate how
much income a tunnel will actually earn you.
In the afternoon, visit different tunnel structures at Our Green Acres and see the spinach ready to harvest in
the tunnel at Purdy’s Produce.
This workshop is free to farmer participants and includes a light lunch thanks to funds from the NY Farm
Viability Institute. Please pre-register at 607-687-4020.



Deer Fencing
April 22, Wednesday, 4-7 p.m.
Plenty of Posies
395 Shaffer Rd, Newfield
See three different styles of deer fence. Compare construction techniques,
prices, and efficacy for different fence styles. Learn the components of an
electric fencing and see an economical alternative to high tensile fencing.
No fee, but please pre-register at 607-687-4020.






Irrigation Options
May 20, Wednesday, 4-7 p.m.
Cornell’s Freeville Farm
133 Fall Creek Rd
Learn from Steve McKay, Cornell Farm manager, what it takes to set up various
types of irrigation systems. Solid set irrigation with electric and PTOoperated
pumps, trickle irrigation, and small and medium irrigation reels will
be demonstrated.
No fee, but please pre-register at 607-687-4020.

DEC Camp Scholarship

The Schuyler County Environmental Management Council is once again offering a scholarship to one youth between the ages 12-17 to attend a week at the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Camp in the Adirondacks.

DEC Education Camps consist of a variety of workshops and activities which are designed to help campers become more aware of the environment around them and, perhaps, stimulate their desire to participate in the sound management of our natural resources. The activities and workshops are a blend of learning and recreation. They are conducted outdoors providing the camper with direct hands-on experience with their environment.

Scholarship covers the camp fee ($325) for one week of participation in the camp, including meals. Campers must be able to find their own transportation to and from the camp in the Adirondacks.

For more information on the DEC camp program please visit http://www.dec.ny.gov/education/1872.html.

Applications due no later than March 1, 2009.

Application materials can be found at the Cornell Cooperative Extension office at 323 Owego Street, Montour Falls, or by calling Jenna Hicks at 607-535-7161.

Schuyler County Land Use Boards Meeting

Schuyler County Land Use Boards Meeting

February 9th 7:00pm-9:00pm

An opportunity for town and village planning boards to
meet, learn and discuss common issues

Tim Hicks will discuss the
“County watershed protection law”

Training credits for 1+/- hours will be given

Please call 607-535-7161 or email (do you want my email here? for details.

Cornell Cooperative Extension in Schuyler County provides equal program and employment opportunities.
Please contact us if you have any special needs.

Tractor rollover protection systems...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Barbara Bayes 800-343-7527


January 20, 2009


Campaign to Save Farmers’ Lives Enters Third Year
Rebate effort surpasses 500 tractors







Cooperstown, N.Y. – The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) announces that it has fitted the 565th tractor with a rollover protection system (ROPS) through its rebate program, now entering its third year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1,412 workers on farms died from tractor overturns between 1992 and 2005. NYCAMH’s efforts have saved hundreds of New York farmers from potential injury and death.

“Our campaign has increased by ten-fold the number of farmers making their tractors safe by retrofitting them with rollover protection systems,” said Dr. John May, director of NYCAMH. “This is important because a farmer’s risk of dying on the job is 800 percent higher than that of the average American worker.”

Tractor overturns are the primary cause of these fatal and permanently crippling injuries. In the event of a rollover, the use of ROPS and a seatbelt reduces the risk of injury by 99 percent. Tractors built after 1985 have built-in rollover protection, but most tractors in use today are older than that.

This month, NYCAMH began its ROPS print advertising campaign featuring New York farmer Don Tetreault of Hidden View Farm in Champlain, New York. “When my tractor flipped over, I broke all the ribs on one side,” Tetreault said in one ad. “I had tractor tracks on my back when they pulled me out. I couldn’t work for months and almost lost the family farm, and I was one of the lucky ones.” Since that time, Tetreault has retrofitted all of his tractors with ROPS.

The ads will appear in Country Folks, Grassroots, Focus on Farming and other New York newspapers. The ROPS program will also be promoted during the annual New York State Farm Show in Syracuse Feb. 26-28.

“We are grateful to the New York State Legislature for their support of this program, in particular lead proponents State Senators James L. Seward and Catharine M. Young, both members of the Senate Agriculture Committee,” Dr. May said. “It is especially important in this economic climate to continue to make this financial assistance available.” In fact, the average out-of-pocket cost to farmers is just $380 compared in many cases to nearly $1,000 before the ROPS program.

Farmers should call toll free 1-877-ROPS-R4U (or 1-877-767-7748) for more information. By calling the “ROPS-R4U” hotline, farmers can both receive information on the program and allow hotline staff to do the legwork for them. In addition to saving farmers money, the ROPS program is specifically designed to reduce the hassle of retrofitting a farm tractor with an approved rollbar and seatbelt. The rebate amounts to 70 percent of the cost of purchasing and installing rollover protection on a tractor, a savings of up to $765.



A program of Bassett Healthcare, NYCAMH has worked since 1983 to enhance agricultural and
rural health by preventing and treating occupational injury and illness.
For information, call 1-800-343-7527

GAS LEASING COALITIONS

Landowner Natural Gas Leasing Coalition Forms in Schuyler County

Many landowners in the southern tier of New York saw the natural gas industry take an increased interest in the natural gas beneath the surface of their properties in 2008. To help landowners and communities better understand the issues surrounding natural gas development, numerous grass-roots leasing coalitions have emerged throughout the region in recent months.

A coalition has recently been formed in Schuyler County. There is no fee or obligation to sign a lease if you join the Schuyler Land Owner Coalition. To learn more about natural gas development and how the coalition can help you, please attend one of the following meetings, or visit http://schuylerloc.org. Bring your parcel tax identification number to the meeting if interested in joining.

January 27, 2009—7:00 p.m.
Watkins Glen High School

February 4, 2009—7:00 p.m.
Odessa/Montour High School

February 11, 2009—7:00 p.m.
Tyrone Fire Hall

February 25, 2009– 7:00 p.m.
Mecklenburg Fire Hall

March 11, 2009—7:00 p.m.
Monterey Fire Hall