HOT TOPICS IN AGRICULTURE

Please also take a look at the Upcoming Events

for items of interest to those in the Ag field.


You can view previous Hot Topics by Clicking HERE.

CCE Natural Gas Leasing Web Site
With the recent explosion of gas leasing activity in New York State, Cornell Cooperative Extension aims to provide unbiased, timely information to landowners as they learn about how gas leasing will impact them and their communities.http://gasleasing.cce.cornell.edu/

Soybean Insect Defoliation Assessment
Mexican bean beetles and Japanese beetles are often conspicuous visitors to soybean fields in mid- to late summer. Adult beetles feed on soybean leaves, causing a skeletonized and brown appearance. While this damage may be very visible, damage is rarely economic. Bean leaf beetle, another foliage feeder causing concerns in adjacent states, has been observed in NY, but to date, has not been found at economic levels.

Indeterminate soybean types can tolerate up to 35 percent defoliation until bloom, about 20 percent while pods are small and soft, and about 35 percent when pods are hardening. Treatment for pest damage below the percentages listed is not recommended.

Representative insect defoliation levels of soybean leaflets.

Soybeans have a remarkable ability to compensate for foliar damage - the plants can sustain a fair amount of defoliation before it is likely to affect economics/yield. The following links will provide information to help assess the amount of injury. In most situations an insecticide is not needed.

Soybean Insect Defoliation Assessment http://ohioline.osu.edu/icm-fact/fc-22.html

Japanese Beetle IPM http://www.ipm.uiuc.edu/fieldcrops/insects/japanese_beetles/

Managing Soybean Pest Problems in New York http://ipmguidelines.org/FieldCrops/content/CH06/default-4.asp

New Website Caters to Beginning Farmers
"What are my marketing options?" "How can I finance my farm start-up?"
"What should I grow on my land?" If you have questions about starting a farm or are considering diversifying your farm enterprises, the new NY Beginning Farmers Resource Center at http://beginningfarmers.cce.cornell.edu can offer you information and inspiration to help you begin.

This interactive website offers a forum where new farmers can swap ideas and stories and ask specific questions.

It also contains lessons that walk new farmers through the steps of starting a farm business, including setting goals, evaluating land, and learning about markets and regulations. Online worksheets embedded in the farm planning lessons allow new farmers to respond to questions and apply what they learn to their own situation, and then download their completed worksheets for later use in a business plan if desired.

The Frequently Asked Questions section is a treasure trove of information on the farm-start-up process, with responses to the most commonly-asked questions like "Where can I find a grant to start my farm?" and "What regulations apply to me?"

Visitors can also peruse the events calendar, get connected with agencies that can provide personalized assistance, download the Guide to Farming in NY, and find production information on our sister site at the Cornell Small Farms Program.

Visitors seeking advice and inspiration will find it in the Voice of Experience section, which contains articles by and about successful farmers in NY.

The site was developed by the NY Beginning Farmer Project, which is working to build the Grow Local movement to support the Buy Local movement. The NY BFP is funded by the NY Farm Viability Institute and Cornell Cooperative Extension and is a project of the Cornell Small Farms Program. Please visit the NY Beginning Farmer Resource Center online at http://beginningfarmers.cce.cornell.edu.