Northern New York Agricultural Development
Grants
NNYADP Projects at Cornell E.V. Baker Agricultural Research Farm at
Willsboro, NY - 2008-2009
Cold Hardy Wine Grapes: Production and Wines
Project leader: Kevin Iungerman, CCE Northeast NY Commercial Fruit Program
This project continues to expand the Northern New York region’s ability to
grow its grape industry to meet emerging market demand for locally-grown
horticultural crops, value-added products and agritourism destination
commerce, i.e., winery tours/tastings.
Previous research focused on successful establishment of vineyards of cold
hardy hybrid grapes, i.e., site preparation, planting, trellising, early
vine training, deer deterrence, weed control, early grape and juice
characterization, and first specimen wines. This project will continue to
assess comparative hardiness and vine performance of 25 different wine grape
cultivars in the Willsboro trial at the Cornell Agricultural Experiment
Station at the E.V. Baker Research Farm. Most notable have been distinct
differences of vine vigor, growth habitat and leaf canopy-to-cropping
propensities.
Who benefits from this research?
Project outreach activities will help new and experienced grape growers with
practices meant to enhance grape sugar and acid formation as much as
possible within the available light and temperature parameters set by the
northern latitude. Additional attention will be given to how different
practices impact wood maturity that is important to winter acclimation
potential.
Winemakers will gain data from the process of making 8-10 finished wines,
expanding upon the single fermentation approach used with wines made in
2008. Various winemaking techniques will be evaluated for inherent potential
to capitalize on the cold hardy wine grapes ability to epitomize a
“Champlain Valley Wine.” Grower input will be used to develop a wine
evaluation tasting plan. Surplus harvest grapes will be designated as
shared-harvest grapes for volunteers to use to develop their private
winemaking skills.
The Lake Champlain Grape Growers Association and the Cornell Cooperative
Extension Northeastern NY Commercial Fruit Program are assisting this
project.
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Increasing NNY Maple Production through Producer Landowner
Collaboration Project leader: Michael Farrell, Natural Resources, Cornell
University
Maple syrup production is an important cultural and economic activity in
NNY. The demand for syrup is rapidly outpacing supply and prices are at
record highs. Producers are eager to expand their production, however, most
have already tapped all the trees they own. The primary ways to expand are
to add taps are through purchasing more land, leasing trees or purchasing
sap collected by a neighbor. NNY has a vast resource of untapped maple
trees. The current value of the maple crop in NNY is $3.25 million; that
could easily grow to more than $9 million/year (based on conservative
pricing) if producers were to increase the utilization rate for all of NNY
to that of Vermont (2%). This project will encourage producer-landowner
collaborations that will increase the maple production rate of all of the
NNY counties.
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Optimizing Grass Biomass Yield and Quality for Combustion
Project leader: Jerry Cherney, Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University
NNY imports much of its energy needs. Having alternative energy sources
within the region would create jobs and positively impact local economies.
The NNY region is ideally suited to growing large quantities of grass for
biomass. Grass biomass has the potential to be a local closed-loop energy
system with grass produced, densified and marketed locally. NYSERDA has
funded testing of appliances with grass pellets at Cornell and in St.
Lawrence County. For widespread adoption of biomass combustion some type of
densification (pelleting) is needed.
This project proposes to evaluate Northern NY’s potential to produce the
ideal grass biomass feedstock of consistent and high dry matter yields
relatively low in total ash content, nitrogen (N), potassium (K), chlorine (Cl),
and sulfur (silica). The basic factors influencing N, K, Cl and silica
uptake by grasses include plant species, soil type, plant water uptake, N, K
and Cl fertilizer use, manure application and harvest management.
This project will evaluate three species with high yield potential and focus
on the impacts of soil type, soil moisture and fertility management on the
yield and compositional traits, including the fiber composition and
degradation of switchgrass, reed canarygrass and tall fescue.
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Precise Nitrogen Management for Corn Production
Project leaders: Jeff Melkonian, Harold van Es, Crop & Soil Sciences,
Cornell University
Nitrogen (N) management for corn production is a challenging and
uncertain component of farm operations. With increasing nitrogen fertilizer
costs, improving N use efficiency is a prudent business move and helps
farmers meet increasing regulatory pressure to reduce N loading into surface
waters and groundwater. Estimating the N supplied by soil is critical to
adjusting N fertilizer application rates. Tillage practices can potentially
affect the amount of soil N supply by altering the amount of readily
mineralizable soil organic matter (SOM). This project continues evaluation
of no till vs. plow till management under different growing conditions. Past
research shows optimum N rates can vary up to 80 lbs/acre and that rates
need to adjusted depending on precipitation and temperature. A third year of
data will add to the understanding of tillage x SOM x N mineralization
interaction.
This project will also evaluate deep placement of N fertilizer for corn
production, and will educate farmers on the use of computer-based PNM
(Precision Nitrogen Management) decision support tool called Adapt-N to help
adjust N application rates.
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Variety Trials for Small Grains and Food-Grade Soybeans
Project leader: Mike Davis, Cornell University Agricultural Experiment
Station at Willsboro
Exceptionally high grain prices have generated a surge of grower interest
in small grains, particularly wheat. This project continues the evaluation
of small grain varieties (spring wheat, winter wheat, triticale, oats and
barley), the evaluation of winter and spring grains for pre-cut straw
production, and the evaluation of food-grade soybean varieties grown in an
organic rotation. Trials are planted at the Cornell Agricultural Experiment
Station at the E.V. Baker Research Farm at Willsboro, NY. Plot data
collection includes heading date, plant height, lodging score, yield,
percent moisture, bushel weight, winter survival, and disease resistance.
The pre-cut straw production trials will evaluate winter hardiness and straw
production potential for winter triticale and rye varieties and will
identify and evaluate spring wheat, oat and barley varieties that could be
suitable for pre-cut straw production. Properly harvested pre-cut straw that
has been bleached to a yellow or off-white color before baling is generally
longer, cleaner, and brighter than wheat straw baled after combining and, as
a result, commands a higher price.
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NNYADP Projects at W. H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute,
Chazy, NY – 2008-2009
* Additional funding support provided by Cornell University Agricultural
Experiment Station
Apple Orchard Management and Rootstock Development for NNY
Project leader: Terence Robinson, NYS Agricultural Experiment Station at
Geneva, Cornell University
The Northern New York apple industry totals approximately 5,000 acres
with a farm gate value of $16 million. To remain competitive in the world
apple market, NNY growers need to modernize their orchards to improve
production efficiency, yield and fruit quality, and to produce new
varieties. Replanting old orchards to new high-density production with
popular new varieties will help the long-term viability of the NNY fruit
industry.
This project will help growers with pre-planting decisions, land
preparation, variety and rootstock selection, spacing, training,
fertilization, irrigation, pruning, thinning and pest control. The colder
NNY climate poses unique challenges that require evaluation of new
rootstocks and management practices. All research trials will be at NNY
orchards.
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*Can Sulfur Addition Increase Alfalfa Yields and Quality? Year 2
Project leader: Quirine Ketterings, Animal Science, Cornell University
Sulfur deficiency can impact not only the yield, but also protein and
overall silage quality of alfalfa. S is closely associated with nitrogen in
the process of protein and enzyme synthesis, a constituent of amino acids
and vitamins, and could affect intake and digestibility due to impact on
ruminal microbes. Deficiencies in these amino acids and vitamins can greatly
impact milk production, increasing the need for imported feed, which in turn
negatively impacts farm nutrient balances and increases environmental
losses.
The current S status of alfalfa in NNY is unknown and there is a lack of
calibrated tools for determining deficiencies in advance of a yield or
quality decline. This project will:
• determine the S status and S removal by alfalfa grown in coarse-textured
soils (St. Lawrence, Lewis and Essex counties have a substantial alfalfa
acreage on such soils)
• evaluate tissue and soil testing tools that might enable producers to
identify deficiencies before yield or quality impact
• stimulate S use where needed for improved alfalfa production, enhanced
farm profitability and environmental stewardship.
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*Corn Hybrids for Grain and Ethanol Production in NNY
Project leader: Margaret Smith, Plant Breeding, Cornell University
The grain produced by corn hybrids is a major contributor to silage yield so
grain yield evaluation provides an indication of which hybrids would be good
candidates for silage use. Starch content analysis of commercial hybrids,
together grain yield data, provides comparative information regarding
ethanol production potential. This project will evaluate early and
medium-early maturing corn hybrids to identify those with the best potential
to meet growers’ grain and silage needs, and those with the likeliest
potential for ethanol productivity. Results are published in an annual Corn
Grain Evaluation Report and, with multiple year results, in the Cornell
Guide for Integrated Field Crop Management.
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*Corn Silage Hybrid Trials in Northern NY
Project leader: Bill Cox, Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell University
Corn silage is a major crop in NNY because dairy producers like this
high-energy forage in their feed ration. Dairy producers in NNY have planted
approximately 100,000 acres of corn silage annually since 2000. Research has
shown that hybrid selection is the most important management practice
affecting corn silage quality in most growing seasons. Many agronomists and
animal nutritionists now believe that stover fiber digestibility is the most
important hybrid characteristics affecting silage quality. Consequently,
seed companies have released brown midrib and leafy hybrids that have high
stover fiber digestibility. Corn silage hybrid trials have shown that some
of the new hybrids have reduced emergence in cool wet springs, poor kernel
set in warm dry summers and poor standability at harvest. Corn silage hybrid
trials provide excellent data on the agronomic performance and silage
quality grown under NNY conditions.
Corn silage hybrid trials are planted at the W.H. Miner Agricultural
Research Institute in Chazy, NY; at Greenwood Dairy in Canton, NY; and at
Robbins Farms in Sackets Harbor, NY.
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Effect of Maturity and Ensiling Time on Corn Silage Quality
Project leaders: Catherine Ballard, Kurt Cotanch, W. H. Miner Institute,
Chazy, NY
Recently, some dairy consultants have recommended delaying corn silage
harvest until whole plant DM approaches 40%. The reasoning behind this
recommendation is the very high price of grain corn and the desire for
higher NEL (net energy in lactation) in whole-plant corn silage. It is
widely reported in the literature that as the corn plant matures, the corn
stalk slowly decreases in digestibility.
Time that silage spends in the silo influences the protein solubility and
consequently the starch degradability of the silage. Newbold et al. (2006)
found that after approximately 4 months of ensiling, the starch
degradability increased substantially for corn silage stored in bunker
silos. This change in starch and protein digestibility with time in the silo
is important to know when formulating dairy rations. The increase in starch
degradability over time in the silo could lead to rations being fed to cows
with too much degradable starch, thereby increasing incidence of subacute
ruminal acidosis (Krause and Oetzel, 2006).
This NNYADP project will evaluate the impact corn maturity at harvest may
have on nutrient composition, starch digestibility and fiber digestibility
of different corn hybrids as ensiling time increases, and will determine if
the increase in NEL in whole-plant corn silage attained by harvesting more
mature corn results in more milk/acre as determined by Milk2006. In
addition, knowing the impact of increasing corn maturity at harvest on
protein solubility and starch degradability as ensiling time increases will
help determine if this practice may have adverse impact on rumen health.
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Management of Brown Root Rot in Alfalfa in NNY
Project leaders: Gary Bergstrom, Michael Wunsch, Plant Pathology, Cornell
University
Brown root rot (BRR) is a soil-borne fungus causing root and crown rot of
alfalfa, other perennial legumes, and overwintering grasses. It is
associated with yield loss, winterkill, slow emergence after winter
dormancy, and stand decline of alfalfa and with winterkill of overwintering
grasses. BRR was first detected in the eastern U.S. in 2003 in a Clinton
County alfalfa field in NNY.
No management tools currently exist for BRR in New York. Peace, the
BRR-resistant alfalfa cultivar grown in Saskatchewan and Alberta, performs
poorly in New York. Crop rotation is not effective for BRR management.
This project proposes to evaluate management options for New York by
assessing the relative BRR resistance of alfalfa cultivars adapted to New
York. Evaluations in 2009 will be compared with results from 2008 field
trials in Willsboro and Chazy in Northern NY and in Bath in Southern NY to
assist in the development of recommendations for growers. This research also
lays a foundation for the potential to selectively breed BRR-resistant
alfalfa.
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Using Ultrasound to Improve Beef Carcass Quality and Consistency
Project leader: Jessica Prosper, CCE Franklin County
Northern New York beef producers have identified the need for tools to help
them raise animals of more consistent quality for local and conventional
markets. In 2008, NNYADP funded a project that introduced farmers to the use
of ultrasound technology for elevating the beef carcass quality of live
animals. This project for 2009 proposes to extend awareness of this tool to
more beef producers across NNY and to assist them with using ultrasound data
and breed standards to select and cull their herds and select breeding
bulls. The use of ultrasound will help producers more quickly improve their
herd genetics and adjust their management practices to positively impact
their ability to maintain the consistency and quality of their market
animals. Workshops will be held on beef farms in the NNY region.
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NNYADP-NYFVI Projects
The following projects are jointly funded by the Northern New York
Agricultural Development Program and the NY Farm Viability Institute.
Biological Control of Alfalfa Snout Beetle Using Natural Nematodes
Project leader: Elson Shields, Entomology, Cornell University
Alfalfa snout beetle (ASB) continues to the single most limiting factor
to alfalfa stand longevity in the infested areas of all of NNY’s six
counties. A promising biological control uses nematodes to reduce ASB
populations. A farmer-friendly, low-labor and relatively inexpensive method
for rearing the nematodes is being refined. This project aims to:
• Examine the feasibility of using a commercial applicator to rear and apply
the nematodes
• Apply the nematodes into key affected fields
• Initiate research to answer growers’ question as to whether the nematodes
will persist across a corn rotation in high enough numbers to be effective
on alfalfa in subsequent years.
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Breeding Alfalfa Varieties with Resistance to Alfalfa Snout Beetles
Project leader: Don Viands, Plant Breeding, Cornell University
Growing alfalfa snout beetle (ASB)-resistant varieties of alfalfa will be an
important second means of defense to restore alfalfa stand longevity in NNY
(see also the previous project for information on using nematodes to first
reduce ASB populations in affected fields). This project continues field
testing of alfalfa varieties selectively bred at Cornell University. A
greenhouse screening process is increasing the frequency of resistance genes
in 16 alfalfa populations. Significant decreases in larval feeding on roots
were evident in greenhouse trials after three cycles. On-farm trials will
provide data on the varieties’ ASB-resistance under actual growing
conditions and field exposure to ASB.
Who benefits from this research?
Alfalfa growers in all six NNY counties; in New York state’s Wayne, Cayuga
and Oswego counties; and in southeastern Ontario, Canada, keep watch of the
progress of this research in reducing ASB populations to levels that will
allow for higher quality, higher yield harvest of alfalfa crops over a
longer period of time without the need to replant due to ASB damage.
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Economic & Environmentally Sound Manure Mgt in Reduced Till Systems-Aerway
Project leader: Quirine Ketterings, Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell
University
This project evaluates manure application methods ability to reduce
phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) runoff, leaching and volatilization losses,
build soil carbon, enhance soil moisture-holding capacity, and maintain or
increase crop production. The application method of most interest is surface
application followed by partial incorporation with an Aerway for N and
moisture conservation. At each NNY site, surface application (no
incorporation until five-plus days after application) will be compared with
chisel or Aerway incorporation following manure application.
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Extending the Growing Season for Horticultural Production in NNY
Project leaders: Chris Wien/Amy Ivy, Horticultural Science, Cornell
University
Protecting horticultural crops grown in Northern New York from the extremes
of weather occurring here continues to be a high priority among growers in
this region. There is high interest in the use of high tunnels and other
protective structures for production of a range of crops, as evidenced by
attendance and participation in an April 2008 grower workshop held in
Saranac Lake and at open house demonstrations held throughout the region
during the summer of 2008. Growers are also looking for low cost ways to
extend their growing season.
NNY growers have contributed a long list of potential topics for further
research, demonstration and discussions. This project will:
• Compare the small fruit, vegetable, and flower varieties grown in a high
tunnel with the performance of identical varieties grown outside
• Produce 2nd-year evaluation of the high tunnel production of the perennial
crops of blackberry, strawberry and raspberry and of the annual crops of
tomato, cucumber and Lisianthus to gather more data. It will be instructive
to compare data from extremely wet weather of 2008 with data from a second
growing season
• Compare the performance of grafted and non-grafted tomato and cucumber
varieties grown in a high tunnel
• Test three alternative tomato grafting techniques
• Explore the potential for utilizing mobile high tunnels in market garden
operations to offer diversified growers a covered environment for crops
during critical times of the year or periods of the crops life cycle,
including frost protection in spring and fall, enhancement of the growing
environment for heat-loving crops in summer, and protection from salt and
soil-borne disease problems that can occur when crops are continually grown
in permanent greenhouse beds.
This project will include on-farm demonstrations.
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Improving N Management for Corn: Protected N Source, ISNT, and Stalk
Nitrate Test Implementation in NNY: A Package that Can Save Farmers $$$$$
Project leader: Quirine Ketterings, Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell
University
With increasing fertilizer and fuel prices, farmers need options for
reducing input costs. Earlier research has developed tools to help farmers
identify which sites need nitrogen and which do not; this ability has saved
$50 to $100 savings on individual fields. This project will evaluate the
potential for N fertilizer savings on several Northern NY farms with an
estimated savings expected of 20 to 40 percent in fertilizer budgets.
Farmers working with county-based teams will be assisted with the use of
ISNT, which allows assessment of N needs before planting, and stalk
nitrate-based N management tools.
This project will also compare two promising protected N sources –
Environmentally Smart Nitrogen (ESN) and Nutrisphere-N – for corn production
systems under NNY weather and soil conditions at the Cornell Agricultural
Experiment Station at the E.V. Baker Research Farm at Willsboro, NY. ESN is
a polymer-coated controlled-release N fertilizer that reacts to soil
temperature. Nutrisphere-N is also a polymer and can be used for urea as
well as liquid N sources. Both have potential to reduce overall N fertilizer
costs and environmental losses for corn production systems.
Who benefits from this research?
The participating farms will develop field history data and realize an
expected $50-100/acre savings. Corn growers independent of size or
management style will benefit from further validation of the two corn N
management tools and the field input cost savings that result from their
use. Livestock and cash grain operators can also put these tools to good
use. The protected N trial will aid in the development of initial guidance
for fertilizer choice for fields that need extra N.
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Klebsiella Mastitis in NNY: Cow Adapted vs. Environmental Strains
Project leaders: Ynte Schukken, Gary Bennett, Quality Milk Production
Services, Cornell University
Developing prevention and control methods for coping with Klebsiella
mastitis in dairy cows is a priority for the dairy producers of Northern New
York. NNYADP has funded an earlier on-farm project that identified important
risk factors for this form of mastitis and suggested management strategies
to reduce the impact of Klebsiella mastitis on dairy herds in the region.
What are the three key components of this project?
• To continue to identify the strains of Klebsiella that exist in NNY, with
a special emphasis on those that cause multiple cases on a single dairy farm
and those that cause chronic cases. This data will be compared with data on
strains that cause only a single case or cases of short duration and strains
that are found only in the environment of the cow and not in clinical
mastitis cases.
• To identify the differences between strains in the three main groups of
isolates, specifically comparing the ability of each to grow in dry cow
secretion of fully involuted mammary glands, and identifying the presence or
absence of multiple iron-uptake systems. An additional aspect of this effort
is to identify virulence factors of each strain.
• To develop three case studies to highlight preventative and treatment
programs with an economic analysis of the Klebsiella-related herd problems.
Who benefits from this research?
Those benefitting from this research include Northern New York’s dairy
farmers and dairy operators all across the state, indeed anyone working with
dairy cows. Consumers benefit indirectly when the dairies are able to keep
cows in the milking line and efficiently producing high quality milk.
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Production and Evaluation of Perennial Grasses For Use As Bioenergy
Feedstock in Northern NY
Project leaders: Don Viands/Hilary Mayton, Plant Breeding, Cornell
University
Perennial grasses have been identified as promising sources of biomass for
conversion to liquid fuels, gases and combustible products. Grasses
established for use as dedicated bioenergy crops have the potential to
increase Northern New York’s agricultural revenue streams, to use idle
farmland, and expand options for manure management for livestock farmers. To
be successful, growers must be able to produce high yield/acre grass crops.
This project continues warm and cool season grass variety evaluation for
yield and quality potential and best management practices under NNY growing
conditions.
What are the timeline and data goals of this project?
Warm season perennial grasses require three years to produce mature stands
for the evaluation of production year data. Trials planted in NNY in 2007
and 2008 will not reach full production until 2009-2010.
Harvesting these trials will provide a regionally-based science evaluation
of:
• baseline data on yield, disease and crop quality
• characteristics for biomass use (e.g., cell wall sugars, theoretical
ethanol yield, ash and mineral content, and total BTUs [British Thermal
Units])
• the varieties’ potential for conversion to liquid fuels, heat and power in
gasification and combustion systems
• the costs of production, and
• economic return per acre
• seeding rates
• disease prevention and
• best agronomic practices.
Who benefits from this research?
The Northern New York region has great potential for growing grasses as
energy feedstock. Long-term, the rural economy and consumers are expected to
see economic gains from having a local supply and production of this energy
crop.
Learn more about the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program and
its many completed projects at
www.nnyagdev.org.
