Soil Health – New Soil Health Innovations, Initiatives, and Farmer Networking
Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2018, 3:45 – 5 p.m.
Session organized by David Wolfe, Cornell University
At this session you will hear directly from a panel of innovative growers regarding how they have addressed challenges of adopting practices that improve soil health, and what they have found to be the benefits. There will also be informative presentations on tools for identifying the best cover crops for your farm and your soil management goals, and a discussion about how you can get involved in a new state-funded soil health initiative to expand farm research and strengthen farmer-to-farmer exchange.
Soil Health – Novel Cover Cropping and Strip Tillage Practices for Vegetables
Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018, 9 – 10:15 a.m.
Session organized by Ryan Maher, Cornell Small Farms Program
Attend the Soil Health at the 2018 Empire State Producers Expo to learn how you can integrate cover cropping and reduced tillage practices while overcoming the residue and weed management challenges. Hear Janaki Fisher-Merritt from the Food Farm (Wrenshall, MN) discuss how they have worked to incorporate cover crops in a diverse rotation with cover crop fallows, interseeding, and cut-and-carry mulching. Ryan Maher, from the Cornell Small Farms Program, will share research results from the latest trials on strip tillage in winter hardy cover crops and adaptations for organic cropping systems. Come to think through the approaches and tools that will work to reduce inputs and improve productivity on your farm.

The 2018 Empire State Producers Expo is Jan. 16-18 at the SRC Arena in Syracuse, NY. This annual show combines the major fruit, flower and vegetable associations of New York State in order to provide a comprehensive trade show and educational conference for New York producers, as well as neighboring states and Eastern Canada. In years past over 100 presentations were given by Cornell Cooperative Extension personnel and highly regarded speakers from across the country. Panel discussions feature some of the top industry experts and growers in New York. Between educational sessions, attendees can visit the trade show featuring over 150 commercial vendors and non-profit exhibitors.
Educational sessions topics include commodity specific programs in berries, cabbage, snap beans, peas, beets, carrots, fruiting vegetables (tomatoes, peppers), cut flowers, tree fruit, sweet corn, tomato, onion, Cole crops, root crops, vine crops, and emerging markets (hops, malting barley, mushrooms, hemp, hard cider); and multidisciplinary programs in precision irrigation, weed management, soil health, biopesticides, beginning farmer operations, marketing, greenhouse production, climate and forecast models, GMOs, and wildlife management. DEC pesticide recertification credits and Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) credits will be offered during the appropriate educational sessions.
For more information about the Expo and to register, visit the New York State Vegetable Growers Association website at nysvga.org/expo.