Margaret Roach at the “Away to Garden” blog reports on the new USDA Hardiness Map, and half of the nation’s 80 million gardeners are now a half-zone warmer in the first update since 1990. “The increase in our computing power today allows the research team to build into their algorithms things they knew were important factors in 1990, but couldn’t include,” said Catherine Woteki, Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics for the USDA, in an interview yesterday. Factors such as elevation, the slope of land, or how close to a body of water a location is, can cause sharp variation despite close adjacencies. “Taking those into account now provides a lot more detail,” Woteki said, “and people will be able to see islands of heat, and also cool ones, on the new map. As a scientist and a home gardener, I love seeing this so much more clearly.” Read the full story at Away to Garden.
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Brian Nearing of the Times-Union writes about local farmers worried that warm December weather poses a risk to their crops. Growers say trees, tricked by a warm December after an unusual winter blast in late November, are showing growth at the buds. Ed Miller, the president of 75-acre Gold Orchards, tells the paper there is no going back if an apple tree starts budding off too early. “A tree can decide that it is spring again already and start budding. When it gets cold again, it kills the bud, and you can lose an entire crop,” he said. But Ian Merwin, a professor of horticulture at Cornell University, says it’s too early to tell whether this mild, snowless start to winter will damage the state fruit harvest. He said an oscillation between unusually warm and normally cold temperatures poses the greatest risk, and that such a pattern is predicted in climatic models used to forecast the direction of man-made climate change. “It is not just how cold it gets; it is whether it was unusually warm before that,” Merwin said. Another crop that could be at risk from this winter’s lack of snow is alfalfa, which is prime feed for dairy cattle. Snow acts as an insulating blanket to protect field crops like alfalfa. Temperatures could bottom out to 4 degrees Thursday night before rebounding to overnight lows in the mid-20s for the weekend. Highs are expected to be just below freezing through Saturday, when clouds gather and the mercury hits 46. Sunday could see a combination of rain and snow, with the high near 37, and the low near 21. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.
Tags: agriculture, climate change, farming, farms
Kyle Glazier in Capitol Confidential, the Albany Times-Union’s political blog, reports that the 11 members of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, chaired by Georgia Republican Jack Kingston, are determining if local farms will receive additional disaster relief funds. A $3.65 billion Sept. 21 bill was voted down by both fiscal conservative Republicans — who wanted cuts in Democrat-favored green energy programs — and liberal Democrats — who said the funding was not enough. An $2.65 billion Oct. 5 compromise was signed by President Obama, but that is set to expire Nov. 18. “Following the tremendous damage done to farms by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, I have made it a priority to secure agriculture disaster relief funding in the next federal spending measure,” said Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, who voted against the bill last time, is more hopeful. “Congressman Tonko welcomes the support from Congressman Gibson and Congressman Welch, which is another indication of the growing bipartisan support for funding he and others have been calling for since the flooding occurred to help farmers who are struggling to recover,” Tonko spokesman Beau Duffy told Glazier. Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.
Tags: agriculture, agriculture disaster relief, Chris Gibson, farming, farms, Hurricane Irene, Paul Tonko
Cornell Cooperative Extension holds an “emergency” meeting for local farmers at 1 p.m. this Tuesday, Sept. 13 at the Agroforestry Resource Center, 6055 NYS Route 23, in Acra. “This meeting is designed to offer farmers the opportunity to access all of the different disaster relief efforts being carried on right now by the different organizations and agencies, and all in one place,” according to their press release. “Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA) the Farm Services Agency, (FSA) Farm Bureau, (FB) NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, (NRCS) Soil and Water Conservation Districts, (SWCD) Farm Net, the Department of Labor, (DOL) the Department of Social Services, (DSS) Crop Insurers, the Watershed Agricultural Council, (WAC) Farm Credit East, and Cornell Cooperative Extension will be on hand to help answer your questions, and help direct you to programs within the disaster relief efforts that can best fit your needs.” WGXC will also be on hand air the meeting live on WGXC 90.7-FM and wgxc.org. For more information, please call the Cornell Cooperative Extension at (518) 622-9820. If you have special needs related to program participation, please contact the Agroforestry Center in advance.
Tags: agriculture, Agroforestry Center, Farm Bureau, farming, farms, FEMA, floods, Hurricane Irene
Columbia County election information
Primary votes are being held Tuesday, September 13, from noon until 9 p.m., and every election district in Columbia County will be voting. Depending on the municipality, voters enrolled in the Democratic, Republican, Conservative, or Independence parties may have a primary election in which they may cast a ballot. Eligible voters are those who have been enrolled in those parties for some time or those who changed their enrollment to those parties earlier than mid-October of 2010. The Columbia County Board of Elections is open for absentee voting today, Fri. Sept. 9 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 10, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., and Monday, Sept. 12, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
• There are countywide races on the Republican and on the Independence Party lines for County Judge. Additionally, there is a citywide opportunity-to-ballot race for mayor on the Democratic line.
• An opportunity-to-ballot race is one in which no candidate’s name appears on the ballot, providing an opportunity for enrolled Democratic voters, in the case of the City of Hudson, to write in the candidate of their choice. All other primary races similarly offer an opportunity for write-ins, as well. Commissioners Virginia Martin, Democratic, and Jason Nastke, Republican, confirm that, as New York State is a “voter intent” state, they will recognize as valid votes reasonable variations in candidates’ names as they may be written in by voters, or slight deviations in where on the ballot the voter writes in the candidate’s name. Each ballot provides a separate row, under the party row, that says “Write In,” which is where a write-in name is intended to be entered.
• 108th Assembly District (Chatham, Kinderhook, New Lebanon, and Stuyvesant), Independence, for Judicial Delegates and for Judicial Delegate Alternates
• Hudson 1-1, Democratic, for Supervisor and for Alderman
• Hudson 3-1, Democratic, for Supervisor
• Copake, Independence, for Justice
• Gallatin, Republican, for County Committee
• Greenport, Independence, for Supervisor and Highway Superintendent
• Kinderhook, Conservative and Independence, for Justice
• Kinderhook, Independence, for Tax Collector
• New Lebanon, Independence, for Supervisor
• Stockport, Independence, for Supervisor and Town Council
• Stuyvesant, Independence, for Supervisor and Town Council
• Voters have been notified of the many changes in pollsites in Chatham, Claverack, Copake, Ghent, Greenport, Hudson, Kinderhook, Livingston, Stockport, and Stuyvesant. Updated election-district maps are at columbiacountyny.com/depts/elections/districts.html. The Board of Elections can be reached at 828-3115.
COLUMBIA COUNTY REPUBLICANS WEBSITE
COLUMBIA COUNTY DEMOCRATS WEBSITE
COLUMBIA COUNTY INDEPENDENCE PARTY
COLUMBIA COUNTY CONSERVATIVE PARTY
Greene County’s Board of Election website offers no information about upcoming primary elections.
Mountain Top Arboretum acquires 156 acres in Tannersville
The Mountain Top Arboretum, in Tannersville, is acquiring 156 acres adjoining its existing 23 acres of nature preserve through a conservation easement with the Department of Environmental Protection of the City of New York. “This land is beautiful and unspoiled Catskill native forest with streams and marsh” said Larry McCaffrey, Chairman of the Mountain Top Arboretum, in a press release. “It fits perfectly in our mission to present varied natural environments from woodland to wetland to forest for our visitors. These diverse landscapes provide perspective on the entire ecosystem and its role in water conservation.”
Cuomo likes Obama jobs plan
Governor Andrew Cuomo made this statement last night after President Obama’s speech about jobs:
“Tonight, President Obama laid out a real plan to jumpstart the economy and put Americans back to work. The President realizes that it is essential that creating jobs be the top priority at all levels of government. As the President said, politics cannot come before the urgent need to put Americans back to work. This is a plan that can and should be supported by officials of all political stripes and we need to see the Congress move this nation forward.”
Cairo history gets political
The Cairo Historical Society dunk tank at the “Temperance & TommyGuns” event Sept. 17 on Main St. Cairo will include all sorts of local political figures. Both candidates for Town Supervisor: incumbent Republican John Coyne and Democrat challenger Ted Banta. There is also John Gallagher facing local dunking, who is on the Zoning Commission, which has faced intense criticism in town, and “Unk” Slater who also seems to arouse controversy sometimes at Cairo town meetings. Here’s the line up: 11:30 a.m.: Unk Slater; noon: John Coyne; 12:30: Heather Maasmann; 1 p.m.: John Gallagher; 1:30 Hillary Higgins; 2 p.m.: Steve Rumph; 2:30: Jerry Buckley; 3 p.m.: Derick Hasenkopf; 3:30: Adam Reese; 4 p.m.: Ted Banta; 4:30: Karey Quinn.
Storm recovery updates
• Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thu. Sept. 8 that damage from Tropical Storm Lee that last several days will probably match or exceed damage from Hurricane Irene last week.
• Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) announced Thu. Sept. 8 that Columbia County is now eligible for Individual and Public Assistance following the destruction done by Hurricane Irene.
• Greene County Emergency Services announced Greene County schools will stay closed through Mon., Sept. 12, when an announcement will be made if they will open Tuesday or Wednesday, or some other day.
Grants available for agriculture damage
Soil and Water Conservation Districts began assessing damage in agricultural disaster areas to identifying projects to restore farms and farmland this week, part of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s $15 million Agricultural and Community Recovery Fund (ACRF).
There are three parts of the program:
• Farm Operations Match Program: This will match farmers’ dollars for the purchase of feed for animals and produce from other New York producers to allow the farms operations to continue;
• On Farm Capital Needs Program: This will provide grants and deferred and low/interest loans to meet the immediate and long-term needs of farmers devastated by Hurricane Irene; and
• Main Street Business Assistance Program: This will provide a combination of grants and low interest loans to help Main Street Businesses get back in operation in eligible counties.
“The land is a farmer’s greatest resource. The conservation component released today will help farmers who have had their land devastated by Hurricane Irene recover,” said Darrel J. Aubertine, Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets.
Fundraisers/ways to help
• If you want to volunteer in Windham, email helpwindham@gmail.com to register and receive instructions.
• Volunteers are desperately needed to help clean up the Prattsville area. Come with protective clothing, N-95 or higher dust masks, goggles, cleaning supplies, gloves, boots, flat shovels, wheelbarrows and pails. Call 734-4938 to volunteer first and ask where you should report for duty.
• Free Shopping Spree for storm victims at the Catskill Elks Club this weekend, Sept. 9-10 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Anyone in need can get what they want at the Catskill Elks Club, 45 North Jefferson Ave. Call 518-943-0989 for more information.
• Janet Schwarzenegger is organizing a cookie bake for the National Guard stationed in Leeds. If you would like to contribute home-baked cookies for delivery on Friday evening please contact Janet at 622-9647 or pdjanet@aol.com. Cookies can be dropped off at the Cairo Library, Kaaterskill Associates at 517 Main St., in Cairo, or at Janet’s home or arrange for a pick up.
• Performers announced for the Oct. 1-2 fundraiser for Greene County storm victims at the Michael J. Quill Irish Cultural Center in East Durham include the Catskill Glee Club, The Lustre Kings, Michael Packer, Kirsten Thein, Kitty Kelly, Lara Hope & The Champtones, Alexis P. Suter with Connor “The Kidd” Kennedy, Tas Cru, Prof. Louie & The Crowmatix, Phil Brown (of Little Feat) with Rhett Tyler are among the bands Sat., Oct. 1. Solo or duos Saturday include Peter Head, Andrew & Stephanie AKA Lex Ridge, David Kraii, Keith & Joy, Thomas Earl, and Finley & Pagdon. Sunday’s full bands include Michael Farrell School Of Dance, The Michael Louis Band, The Jonny Monster Band, Voodelic, The Five Points Band, Shorty King, John Cerbone, Rhett Tyler Trio, with solo and duos including Abby Lappen, John Holt, Wet Paint, Nick Bukuvalas, Peggy Atwood, and Mike Herman.
Tags: "Unk" Slater, Adam Reese, agriculture, Andrew Cuomo, elections, farming, farms, Heather Maasmann, Hillary Higgins, Hurricane Irene, Jerry Buckley, John Coyne, John Gallagher, Karey Quinn, Mountain Top Arboretum, Ted Banta, Tropical Storm Lee
Gillibrand bill addresses Community Supported Agriculture
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced legislation Wed., July 27, that would create a competitive grant program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). CSA members pay for a share of a farm’s produce, and throughout the season, members receive a weekly amount of vegetables. “Community Supported Agriculture can be a key component for providing our families with more locally grown produce,” said Senator Gillibrand in a press release. “Tens of thousands of families have joined CSAs over the years, bringing fresh, vitamin-rich fruits, vegetables, eggs, homemade breads, meats, and cheeses to tables all across America.” Gillibrand says there are 350 CSAs in New York, and several in Columbia and Greene counties. The Community Supported Agriculture Promotion Act’s would award federal funds to non-profit organizations, extension services, and state and local government agencies to provide marketing and business assistance to new or current CSA farmers, as well as assist in the development of innovative delivery and distribution programs.
Are there rattlesnakes in Hunter?
Jim Planck in The Windham Journal investigates whether there are Timber Rattlesnakes in the Town of Hunter. He says the Silver Hollow area down toward Edgewood, may have them, but Kaaterskill Clove does not have the Threatened species. Planck says posts at www.catskillmountaineer.com tipped him off. “While existing Timber Rattlesnake populations occur on Overlook Mountain and Mount Tremper, both in northern Ulster County, the Silver Hollow one — if verified by the NYS Department of Conservation — would be Greene County’s first one, as the Department’s Timber Rattlesnake distribution map shows no populations in Greene County,” Planck writes. “DEC did receive a report, with a photograph, from a hiker last fall,” DEC press officer Lori Severino told Planck, “of a Timber Rattlesnake he found last August in Greene County a few hundred feet from the Ulster County line…. It was on/near Plateau Mountain,” she said — which adjoins Silver Hollow. But the writer does not discover if there is antidote locally. “Asked if there is, in fact, a rattlesnake antidote or treatment, Severino replied, ‘Yes, though the Albany area hospitals may or may not have a supply of it.’” Read the entire story in The Windham Journal.
Is the boss here?
Diane Valden in The Columbia Paper writes that the Ancram Board of Ethics found, “that Highway Superintendent James MacArthur violated the local Ethics Law by appointing his brother Robert to serve as highway boss when he took a vacation in late March of this year,” Valden writes. Superintendent MacArthur, who is directly elected by town voters, explained at the town’s July 21 meeting that at he never used to take a vacation at all, but started to take them after getting re-married about four years ago. He said he had his brother, who “previously worked for the Highway Department,” sworn in by a town justice, so that employees would get more done in his absence. “They say I violated the ethics law for nepotism, and I suppose that is true, but deputy highway superintendent is not a paid job. I can appoint anybody my deputy,” Mr. MacArthur explained. The board said he took action, “without having fulfilled the required prior notice, permissions and clearance from the Town Board” to make the appointment or authorize his brother’s payment. “Because Mr. MacArthur rescinded the appointment and his brother resigned, the ‘primary legal and ethical infraction… was corrected,’ said the decision, which went on to recommend that the draft of the new Highway Employee Handbook be reviewed and finalized as soon as possible, and that a clear and concise job description for highway superintendent be established,” Valden wrote. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.
Tags: agriculture, community-supported agriculture, CSAs, DEC, ethics, farming, farms, James MacArthur, Kirsten Gillibrand, Robert MacArthur, snakes, Timber Rattlesnakes, USDA
Windham Vineyard grapes, from their website.
• Windham Winery
“Highest elevation vineyard and winery in the Northeast,” website boasts. “We produce small batches of hand crafted fine wines including Riesling, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, estate grown specialties, fruit wines & dessert wines.” Windham Vineyard & Winery, County Route 10, Windham, NY, 12496. 518-734-5214
• Tousey Winery
Riesling, Rose, Cabernet, Pinot Noir, and others, and a Chardonnay coming soon. Tousey Winery, 1774 Rt 9, Germantown, NY, 12526. info@touseywinery.com, 518-567-5462
• Hudson-Chatham Winery
The winery features a tasting room with hand-crafted wines, cheeses, and desserts, and includes vineyard tours and a gazebo with scenic views. 1900 Route 66, Ghent, NY, 12075. 518-821-7253
Tags: agriculture, Albany, Andrew Cuomo, business, Darrel J. Aubertine, farming, grapes, Hudson-Chatham Winery, Tousey Winery, Windham Winery, wine, wineries
County sheds dozens of jobs
Jeff Alexander in The Greene County News reports that Greene County officials will save $1.3 million eliminating 42 county jobs. Twelve of those jobs are lay-offs, while the other 30 are jobs the county is not re-filling. County Administrator Shaun Groden says three jobs will be eliminated from the highway department. “Nobody wants to lay anyone off. We have discussed this with unions about making modest changes in contracts. All the unions said they’d make no changes to contracts,” Groden told the paper. Greene County Legislature Chairman Wayne Speenburgh, R-Coxsackie, said, “I’m really sorry it had to come to this. I thought we had a good dialogue with the union representatives.” Legislature Minority Leader Harry Lennon, D-Cairo, told Alexander, “I feel very bad and I’m disappointed because I did have a positive feeling about those meetings. The tones were very positive and I was hoping the union representatives would accept our proposals.” Read the full story in The Greene County News.
Behind Veneer, Doubt on Future of Natural Gas
Ian Urbina in The New York Times has read over “scores of internal e-mails and documents” from the United States Energy Information Administration, a division of the Energy Department, and discovered that while official policy has steadily increased its estimates of domestic supplies of natural gas, he discovered much internal skepticism about the shale gas industry. “One official says the shale industry may be ‘set up for failure.’ ‘It is quite likely that many of these companies will go bankrupt,’ a senior adviser to the Energy Information Administration administrator predicts. Several officials echo concerns raised during previous bubbles, in housing and in technology stocks, for example, that ended in a bust,” Urbina writes. He quotes one energy analyst at the Energy Information Administration writing, “Am I just totally crazy, or does it seem like everyone and their mothers are endorsing shale gas without getting a really good understanding of the economics at the business level?” Read the full story in The New York Times.
Weather postpones New York vegetables
Doug Ohlemeier in The Packer, a produce industry trade journal, writes that there will be “big delays and shortages of New York vegetables this summer, after spring rains pushed back planting and harmed early production.” Sweet corn, green beans, bell peppers, cucumbers and cabbage could be delayed by up to 10-14 days. Other farmers worried about losses. Maureen Marshall, vice president of Torrey Farms Inc., Elba, N.Y., “We expect a 10-20 percent loss on the early crop of squash, cucumbers and beans,” Marshall said. “It could be higher. This will be an interesting summer.” Read the entire story in The Packer.
Sports scores
14U Coxsackie Owlz 6- Guilderland Bulldogs 4
Tristan Valencia hurled a complete game to pick up the win for the 14U Coxsackie Owlz (6-3, 6-5) Sunday, June 26 over the Guilderland Bulldogs 6-4. Valencia gave up one earned run on eight hits, five walks, and seven strikeouts. Matt McDonald went 2-2 with a double for the Owlz, and Sam Palmateer 1-2 with an RBI.
13U Coxsackie Owlz 23- Kingston 0
13U Coxsackie Owlz 8- Kingston 3
The 13U Coxsackie Owlz (8-1, 10-3) swept a double-header from Kingston, 23-0 and 8-3 Sunday, June 26. In the first game, the Owlz had 14 hits, with Derrek DuPont going 3-3 with four RBIs. Chris Zwoboda 2-3 with four RBIs, and Kyle Roberts went 4-5 with an RBI double. Justin Maldonado went the distance for the win, giving up three hits and two walks while striking out four. In the second game, Kingston tied it at three after two innings before the Owlz pulled away, with Roberts going 2-2 with an RBI double and getting the win, pitching six innings giving up three runs, two earned, on three hits and two walks and eight strikeouts.
Tags: agriculture, Coxsackie Owlz, farming, farms, Harry Lennon, hydraulic fracturing, Natural Gas, Shaun Groden, Wayen Speenburgh
WGXC volunteer Kate Blofson interviews Ross Rogers of Turtle Tree Seeds at Camphill Village in Copake about how to save, dry, and store seeds. Click here or on image to listen to the mp3 interview.
Tags: agriculture, farming, farms, interview, local audio, seeds, Turtle Tree Seeds
The Albany Business Review reports that net earnings per cow for dairy farms in our region rose $782 per cow last year, according to the Farm Credit’s Northeast Dairy Farm Summary report. In 2009, by comparison, cows in New York, New Jersey, and New England were costing farmers $386 each, rather then earning them money. The news this year was not all good: Debt per cow was at $3,337, the highest in the 32 years the report has been compiled. Read the entire story in The Albany Business Review.
Tags: agriculture, business, cows, dairy farms, farming, farms
There are competing bills in the New York legislature currently to name a state vegetable. Sen. David Carlucci, D-Clarkstown, Rockland County, wants onions; Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette, Seneca County is pushing for corn, according to Joseph Spector in the Poughkeepsie Journal. “Onions are one of the most important vegetable crops in New York in terms of crop value,” Carlucci says. Nozzolio, the corn advocate, has several GOP sponsors in the Assembly.
Tags: agriculture, corn, farming, onions
WGXC volunteer Tanya Blue interviewed Donna Willliams, who is starting Field Goods, a new business designed to deliver food from area farms directly to local and regional consumers. So far they are working with Otter Hook Farm in Greenville, and Hudson Locale in Hudson. So far the new business only has two drop-off locations, Elliott Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine at 876 Columbia St. in Hudson, and at Sleepy Hollow Lake, just north of the Village of Athens, but they hope to connect with large companies in Albany. Field Goods operates much like any other multi-farm community-supported agriculture farm with drop-off sites, pre-paid shares. Like a CSA, subscription customers receive a delivery each week of fruit and vegetables. The contents of the delivery will vary each week depending on what is in season and crop conditions. Click here to listen to the interview with Williams.
Tags: agriculture, csa, farming, farms, local audio
Congressman Chris Gibson is not claiming any credit, but is crowing that the Environmental Protection Agency indicated Wednesday that they won’t treat spilled milk under the same rules that govern oil spills. Gibson met with EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck Wednesday Feb. 16 to discuss a host of issues affecting the 20th Congressional District, including EPA dairy regulations. The EPA proposed to regulate milk because it contains a certain percentage of animal fat, which is a non-petroleum oil, and thus would be covered under the Oil Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure program. Dairy farmers would have been responsible for developing a spill prevention plan for milk equivalent to an oil spill prevention plan. But that is not going to happen. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: agriculture, Chris Gibson, dairy, dairy farms, farming, milk
Urban farming envisioned for Detroit, as pictured on the Gas 2 website.
Tags: agriculture, farming, farms, organic farming
New York landowners, farmers, and forestland owners have until January 14, 2011 to apply for 2011 conservation program funding from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative (CBWI), the Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA), and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP). These conservation programs were authorized by Congress under the 2008 Farm Bill to provide funding and technical assistance to landowners who voluntarily implement conservation practices. These practices improve natural resources and wildlife habitat on privately-owned agricultural land and forestlands. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) offers funding assistance in the form of engineered structures, such as manure handling facilities, and conservation practices such as grassed waterways. Focus areas within the EQIP program include livestock waste, cropland, and grazing. Private forestland owners have opportunities to improve forest health and productivity under the woodland program focus area. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative (CBWI) assists producers to help minimize excess nutrients and sediments in order to restore, preserve, and protect the Chesapeake Bay. In New York, the Bay program offers funding and technical assistance to producers in the priority areas of the Upper Susquehanna Watershed. The Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA) focuses on improving irrigation efficiency. A primary goal of the program is to assist agricultural producers in mitigating risk through production diversification or installation of conservation practices. The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) focuses on improving habitat for at-risk shrub-dwelling birds. Additional funding for this program was received as part of the New England/New York Forestry Initiative. Another focus within the program is establishing and enhancing grassland habitat for declining bird species, pollinators, and other wildlife. Applications for EQIP, CBWI, AMA, and WHIP are competitive and ranked based on national, state, and locally identified resource priorities, and their overall benefit to the environment. Interested landowners can apply for all programs at their local USDA-NRCS office. For sign-up details or additional conservation program information contact your local USDA-NRCS office or visit www.ny.nrcs.usda.gov.
Tags: agriculture, farm, farming, forests, land conservation
On The Air
WGXC is on 90.7-FM now, at full-power, 3300 watts. We cover all parts of Greene County except parts of the mountaintop, and all of Columbia County except for a bit of Western Columbia County south of Germantown. WGXC also covers a large part of southern Albany County. We have heard reports that the signal is getting from Delaware County to Great Barrington, from Selkirk to Saugerties, from Pine Plains to the I-90 extension.
Local weather/webcams
National Weather Service, Albany
Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page
When the computer is turned on, the Hawthorne Valley Farm Weather Page reports weather information in Harlemville. Check dates and times to see whether reports are live or from when the computer was turned off.
Greene County webcams:
Catskill webcam: Thomas Cole House Claude Mirror
Nearby webcams:
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