NNY
Agricultural Research Farms
Cornell Willsboro Research Farm
Website: Willsboro
Research Farm
Brochure:
Download Willsboro Research Farm Brochure
Photos:
Farm Photo Gallery
Fast Facts
·
Also known as: Cornell E.V. Baker
Agricultural Research Farm at Willsboro
·
Size:
351.12 acres
·
Location:
1.5 miles north of Willsboro at entrance to Willsboro Point peninsula, Lake
Champlain borders farm on the east
·
Elevation:
100 feet at Lake Champlain shoreline to 240 feet
·
Latitude/Longitude:
44.23, 73.23
·
Climate:
cool temperate
·
Fully-automated
weather station:
Collects air/soil temperatures, precipitation, evaporation, light, and wind
speed
·
Precipitation:
33 inches of average annual
precipitation (16-inch average May-Sept)
·
Growing season: 150 days
·
Soils:
Bombay glacial till, Stafford and Cosad deltaic or glacial lake sands,
Kingsbury glacial lake clay, all in unusual proximity making for good
comparison research
·
Organic production: Approximately 20
acres dedicated to organic production research; 6 acres reserved for
certified organic production; see also
http://www.organic.cornell.edu/facilities/willsboro.html
·
Unique feature: several sites (lysimeter
plots) for soil-water-plant studies that enable researchers to monitor water
and soluble constituent movement processes through a range of soil types
·
Crop variety trials: spring and
winter small grains, wheat, barley, oats, triticale, soybeans, and flax
·
Project work has included:
-
cold hardy wine grapes – in cooperation with
Champlain Valley Grape Growers Association and Cornell Northeastern
NY Commercial Fruit Program
- development of best management practices for optimizing crop productivity, while minimizing the potential for erosion and nutrient run-off
-
development of the production and pelleting of grasses as a
renewable biomass heating fuel
-
organic cropping systems for wheat, flax, food-grade soybeans,
alfalfa-timothy hay
-
non-chemical
biological
controls for alfalfa snout beetle
-
extended-season production of fruits, vegetables and fresh-cut
flowers using high tunnel structures
·
Project partners: include various
funding sources, including the Northern New York Agricultural Development
Program (NNYADP)
·
Off-farm trials: at W.H. Miner
Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy, NY
·
History:
E. Vreeland Baker donated his farm to Cornell University for agricultural
research in 1982.
· Other NNY Research Farm Sites:
Cornell Cooperative Extension of St.
Lawrence County Learning Farm and Education Center in Canton
Cornell Uihlein Maple Research Forest in
Lake Placid
Cornell Uihlein Potato Research
Station in Lake Placid
William H. Miner Agricultural Research
Institute in Chazy.
For More Info: Farm Manager Michael H. Davis, 518-963-7492, mhd11@cornell.edu
