Northeast Silvopasture Conference Presentations

All the PowerPoint presentations from the Northeast Silvopasture Conference on November 7 -8, 2011 have been posted online at the following website: http://www2.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/info/pubs/index.htm
Scroll down to “Agroforestry – Silvopasturing” and choose which one you would like to view (you do not need a special viewer – they have been converted into PDF format for your convenience). Presentations available on-line at the site:
• Silvopasture Ecosystem Services
• Expanding Silvopature in the Northeast
• Graziers Woodland Management Basics
• Meat Goats and Sugarbush Woodlot Management
• Silvopasture Benefits
• Silvopasture Case Study
• Silvopasture Benefits to Integrating Farm and Forest
• Silvopasture Economics
• Silvopastures: a Pantry and Pharmacy for Man and Beast
• Suitability of Lands for Silvopasture
• USDA Resources Assistance for Silvopastoralists
• Woodland Managers Grazing Basics

DEC: BAN ON DISPOSING RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES IN NYS GOES INTO EFFECT TODAY

A provision in the New York State Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act prohibiting disposal of most rechargeable batteries as a solid waste in the state starts today, announced the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The new provision of the law gives consumers the opportunity to drop off rechargeable batteries at local retail stores. The law already requires battery manufacturers to provide for collection and recycling of rechargeable batteries in a statewide program at no cost to consumers.

"Since many rechargeable batteries contain toxic metals that can be released into the environment when managed improperly, this program is a good example of product stewardship among consumers, retailers and battery manufacturers," DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said. "Valuable metals from rechargeable batteries can be recovered for reuse instead of ending up in the trash."

Most retailers that sell rechargeable batteries are required to accept used ones from individuals during normal business hours. The law requires battery collection by both local retailers and direct sellers of rechargeable batteries (i.e., catalog, telephone, or internet sales). Retailers must also post signs alerting consumers about the disposal ban and the opportunities to return rechargeable batteries at their location.

Rechargeable batteries covered by this law include; nickel cadmium, sealed lead, lithium ion, nickel metal hydride and any other dry cell rechargeable batteries weighing less than 25 pounds. This law does not cover vehicle batteries or non-rechargeable batteries such as common alkaline batteries. Rechargeable batteries from cordless power tools, laptops, telephones, cameras and other electronic devices are among a growing list of products New Yorkers can return to retailers for recycling at the end of its useful life.

The NYS Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act was signed into law on December 10, 2010. DEC is anticipating cooperation among consumers, retailers and manufacturers for a successful implementation of the law. However, any retailer who violates the law would be liable for a civil penalty of $200 for the first violation, $400 for a second violation within 12 months and $500 for a third or subsequent violation within 12 months. Any battery manufacturer who violates the law would be liable for a civil penalty of $2,000 for the first violation, $4,000 for a second violation within a 12 month period, and $5,000 for a third or subsequent violation within 12 months.

For more information on the New York State Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act, visit DEC's Web site at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/72065.html.

Passionate about Silvopasture

Here’s an article that will appear soon in Country Folks and Lancaster Farming.

Passionate about Silvopasture
By Troy Bishopp
Watkins Glen, N.Y--- When I think of visiting Seneca Lake on a beautiful, warm fall day; my mind fancies sipping on a good semi-dry Riesling, taking a stroll through the waterfalls of the Watkins Glen State Park and sneaking a peek at the famous race track where my boyhood dreams always took the checkered flag. I can now add another attraction to that list-----The Northeast Silvopasture Conference. From the wide variety of license plates, I would surmise that the over 100 agroforestry enthusiasts attending their inaugural event of “Bringing the woods into the pasture or bringing the pasture into the woods” have found a new destination also. This pastoral brainchild of an idea for adding value to farms and woodlot owners have been on the minds of the Cornell University Cooperative Extension’s organizing trio of Brett Chedzoy, Jim Ochterski and Nancy Glazier for some time.

Ontario County’s Cornell Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Issues Leader, Jim Ochterski summed up the mission that brought together farmers, foresters, students, conservation professionals, educators and community development advocates: “We are seeking to catalyze the development of Silvopasture in the northeast by looking at the science, considerations in planning, research and practical implementation on the land. When it comes to putting livestock in the woods were learning to go from destructive to productive.”

Schuyler County’s own grass-farmer/forester and CCE educator, Brett Chedzoy, inspired the group to consider “combining woodland and pasture management together utilizing animals and timber to add value to an existing land base”. This long term agroforestry practice was aptly covered throughout the two day event by a cadre of Silvopasture experts ranging from scientists, researchers, foresters, grazing specialists, economists and farmers.

The agenda started with a look at the opportunities; emergence of woody biomass markets to feasibly harvest low-grade timber, creation of diversified income sources, cost-effective vegetation control and increased demand for local food and timber production and niche livestock products. To harvest any financial or environmental reward, it was emphasized to have a comprehensive forest and farm plan rooted in a long term thought process.

John Hopkins from Forks Farm in Bloomsburg, PA and Dr. tatiana Stanton from Cornell’s “Goats in the woods” study showed the group how animals have enhanced their woodlands and scrub pastures using a variety of timed disturbances like rotating pigs and goats with electric fencing through the understory to control invasive plants like multi-flora rose and buckthorn. These controlled eco-brush trimmers open up the canopy for further enhancements like planting different grass and tree species. Creating this savannah-like landscape has its benefits. According to John “the Silvoculturist” Hopkins, their woodlot pork tastes better than factory farmed pork because the pigs root and eat a nutrient-rich diet from the forest floor in addition to eating local grains. Because of this, their local customers want more and he figured the "pigerators" were adding 4000 dollars/acre after expenses while helping him reclaim underutilized land.

Michael Jacobson from Penn State Cooperative Extension explained the opportunities and challenges to the adoption of silvopasturing in the Northeast and the need for more on the ground knowledge. This segued nicely into a dynamic presentation on the development, design, implementation and impact of tree-forage-livestock systems by the team of Dusty Walker, Gene Garrett and Larry Godsey from the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry (www.centerforagroforestry.org). They chronicled the five tenets of agroforestry; forest farming, alley cropping, riparian buffers, windbreaks and silvopasture into an over-arching goal of incorporating trees with other plant/livestock species that are economically and environmentally
beneficial.

When attendees bombarded the panel with questions about
how to apply these practices on their own land, the response of “it depends”
resonated many times. They talked
extensively about the benefits of natural shade since animals prefer it; tree
species, spacing and thinning to allow adequate sunlight to hit the ground and
the economics of establishing a system and the financial rewards to the landowner.

As an after dinner treat, Agri-dynamics founder, Jerry
Brunetti, gave his fascinating interpretation into Silvopasture as the “pantry and pharmacy for man and beast”. Based on his research, farm work and books like the 1928 classic Tree Crops by J Russell Smith and Wild Health by Cindy Engel, he has concluded that hedgerows with their diverse plant species and tree crops integrated into pastures have high quality cost effective medicinal qualities for all.

In the segment, “A vision to expand Silvopasturing in the Northeast”, New York’s NRCS Grazing Specialist, Dave Roberts and Eastern Region National NRCS Forester, Tom Ward teamed up with Nancy Glazier, Small Farms Educator from the Northwest NY CCE and Cornell’s NYS Extension Forester, Dr. Peter Smallidge to explain the possibilities. They discussed what every grazier needs to know about forestry and what every woodland manager needs to know about grazing in addition to exploring suitable land evaluations and learning about current resources and technical assistance for burgeoning Silvopastoralists. It was reiterated that Silvopasture is not grazing livestock in unmanaged woodlots or pastures.

The large group then traveled to Brett and Maria Jose’ Chedzoy’s Angus Glen Farms, LLC bordering the Watkins Glen State Park to see first-hand, 20 years of Silvopasture on the ground and overhead. Brett brought a wealth of practical knowledge on tree species, placement, thinning strategies using a variety of tools, understanding canopy percentages and integrating cattle and goats into the woodlots or woods into pastures on their 250 acres of owned and leased land. He humorously said it will take decades to fully implement the dynamic “vision”.

These grazing entrepreneurs used their locust groves to supply all the fence posts for the farm, have adopted tall and winter grazing strategies throughout the farm and manage timber sales in a holistic approach to long term sustainability.

Accolades overflowed for the two day event. Susan Truax, South Central Grazing Specialist from Pennsylvania NRCS commented, “I learned about more tools and environmental/financial considerations to help landowners manage and improve their forests and forages.” Mari Omland of Green Mountain Girls Farm in Vermont said, “I now see the importance of shade and the symbiotic relationship of trees and pastures.

I like the conversations around sustainable organic Silvopasture
practices. It was definitely worth the six hour drive.” Grazing Advocate for the Seneca Trail RC&D Council, Helen Terry, liked “feathering the edges of the pasture into the woods and seeing all the diverse economic opportunities.

If the exceptional attendance and passion for Northeastern
Silvopasture systems were any indication, it seems next year’s conference may go from “silvo” to gold…

The conference was made possible by the USDA National
Agroforestry Center, Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Forest Service, Penn State University Cooperative Extension, Cornell University
Cooperative Extension, Finger Lakes Sustainable Farming Center, The Cornell Small Farms Program, NYS Grazing Lands Conservation
Initiative and the Upper Susquehanna Coalition.

For more information contact Brett Chedzoy, Schuyler
County CCE at (607) 535-7161 or go to www.forestconnect.info

Invasive Asian Plant Raises alert near Cayuga Inlet

Article by Liz Lawyer posted in the Ithaca Journal-
Ithaca -- It was an unexpected find -- an ordinary-looking water plant growing in a green clump in a small backwater to the Cayuga Inlet.

But staff members detected something unusual about the plant picked up two weeks ago at Cass Park by a student with the Cayuga Lake Floating Classroom. Though it closely resembles a native species -- elodea -- the plant has some subtle differences that marked it as the invasive Asian plant Hydrilla verticillata... To read the rest of the article please visit the Ithaca Journal site

WaterSense

Watersense is an EPA partnership program.

Save water and protect the environment by choosing WaterSense labeled products in your home and business and taking simple steps to save water each day.
The WaterSense webpage has handy tools so that you may calculate your water savings,save water, energy, money and find rebates locally!!

For more information please visit the WaterSense website today!!

Agricultural Plastic Container Recycling

Agricultural Plastic Container Recycling- Friday, June 3rd 9am- 6pm at the 4H Youth Fair Site on Meads Hill Road in Watkins Glen Only non-refillable plastic containers from less than 1 gallon to 55 gallon barrels made from high density polyethylene (HDPE) embossed with recycling symbol #2 on the bottom are acceptable. Larger containers are accepted but must be cut into 2’ X 2’ strips. 5 gallon buckets must have metal handles removed. All containers must have caps and booklets removed. All containers MUST be clean, empty, triple rinsed, and dry. Any container that is not cleaned will be returned to the owner. PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED. You must call and advise us of the approximate amount of containers for recycling. Large plastic bags to store cleaned containers are available for free. You must be registered by May 20th. Coordinated by Schuyler County Soil and Water Conservation District, Our Agricultural Environmental Management Partners: CCE, Farm Bureau, and the Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board in conjunction with USAg Recycling Inc. & the Ag Container Recycling Council (ACRC). CONTACT INFORMATION. Schuyler County Soil and Water 910 South Decatur Street Watkins Glen, NY 14891(607) 535-6878.

Refrigerator and freezer recycling program

Rethink. Recycle. Reward.

NYSEG- Get $30 for your old working second fridge or freezer
and save up to $150 a year on energy.

Chances are, the older second refrigerator or freezer in your basement or garage could be costing you up to $150 a year to run. Instead, recycle it, reduce your energy use and keep harmful materials out of landfills. We’ll pick it up for free and give you $30.

Eligibility and Requirements:

You must be a residential NYSEG electric customer and own the unit to be recycled.
The refrigerator or freezer must be:

* Between 10 and 30 cubic feet in size
* Empty, and in working order at time of pickup
* Accessible with a clear path for removal


>> Click here to schedule your pickup, or call 1.877.691.0021.

Limit two units per residential address per year. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
Your rebate check will be mailed within 4 weeks of your old refrigerator or freezer being picked up.