Register today for Labor Roadshow VII

Registration is open for Ag Workforce Development Council’s Labor Roadshow VII. Four regional events will cover topics such as how the new NYS Marijuana Law affects the workplace, state and federal employment law compliance, farm safety and OSHA compliance, updating payroll, and workforce development. The topic of overtime will be discussed, including the 2024 NYS tax reimbursements for overtime, payroll systems, and compliance.

Programmed events will run from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm on each date. Registration is required, and payment of $65 per person is collected on site. Visit the Labor Roadshow website.

Labor continues to be the primary challenge for many farm businesses and Labor Roadshow VII tackles those challenges head-on with topics including:

• Experienced labor attorneys to address managing in a union environment, complying with equal employment laws, and managing regulatory audits.

• How the new NYS Marijuana Law affects the workplace.

• State and federal employment law compliance.

• Overtime: the new 2024 NYS tax reimbursements for overtime, payroll systems, and compliance.

• Farm Safety and OSHA compliance.

• Workforce development: finding your future staff.

• Updating your payroll system to stay in compliance.

Dates and locations:

NORTHERN NY: DECEMBER 13 | Old McDonald’s Farm, Sackets Harbor

EASTERN NY: DECEMBER 15 | Greenwich Elks, Greenwich

CENTRAL NY: DECEMBER 19 | Cornell Agritech, Geneva *ONLINE OPTION: on this date only, you can register to attend via Zoom.

WESTERN NY: DECEMBER 20 | Genesee Community College, Batavia

Featured speakers:

• Attorney Joshua Viau, Fisher Phillips Law Firm

• Nick Donofrio, New York Regional Office US Department of Labor / OSHA

• Farm HR Managers Panel

• NYS Department of Ag and Markets

• NYS Department of Taxation

State Agriculture Commissioner Tours Frost-Damaged Vineyards

By New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

Unseasonable weather significantly impacted grape growers and other fruit and vegetable crops across the state

STEUBEN CO., N.Y. — State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball on Friday joined state and local leaders, representatives from the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, New York Farm Bureau, the United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (USDA FSA), Empire State Development, and Cornell Cooperative Extension to tour several vineyards in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions impacted by a recent freeze. The group visited with grape growers in Steuben, Schuyler, and Seneca Counties to assess the damage in the region and better understand the outlook and plan for recovery.

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Our grape growers haven’t seen frost conditions this late in the season in decades, particularly in the counties we visited.  The situation has been compounded by the fact that our growers also faced weather-related challenges last year. It is imperative that we do everything we can to help all grape growers across the State who saw damage to their crops, as well as our other fruit and vegetable growers across the State, to secure the assistance they need to overcome this challenging time. We will continue to work closely with our partners to advocate for assistance to help alleviate the current burden and any long-term economic effects of this damaging severe weather event.”

According to the Department’s Division of Emergency Management and Cornell Cooperative Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN), during the reporting period of May 15 to 25, 2023, New York State experienced extremely low temperatures, which resulted in frost damage to a number of crops throughout many regions of New York State.  In addition to the reports of damage to vineyards in the Southern Tier, Finger Lakes and Hudson Valley, there are reports of crop damage to other commodities in several other regions, including the North Country, Central New York, Capital Region, and Hudson Valley areas.

While Cornell Cooperative Extension continues to survey vineyards and other farms in the area to get a complete picture of the extent of the damage, the USDA FSA offices are standing by to assist growers. FSA staff across the area are already working with partners and producers to document the damage and prepare a disaster declaration request.

The FSA recommends that farmers affected by the freeze should continue to document their conditions (pictures and video) and any losses. Farmers can file a CCC- 576 (Notice of Loss) with their local USDA FSA. Contact information for the offices can be found here.

New York is the third largest grape producer and the third largest wine producer in the country.  According to the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, these growers generate a $6.65 billion economic impact for New York State.  There are 471 wineries in New York, growing a variety of grapes on 35,000 acres.

Sam Filler, Executive Director, New York Wine & Grape Foundation, said, “The growers and producers behind New York’s vineyards are critical contributors to our agricultural and tourism economy. Facing frost conditions this late in the season can be detrimental to their crops, as well as other growers across the state, which is why we must do all that we can to lessen the damage. We’re grateful for the assistance of the State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the Farm Service Agency for their support in this time and will continue to do all that we can to combat the effects of these extreme weather events for our growers.”

Jim Barber, State Executive Director, U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency, said, “New York grape growers suffered unprecedented damage after the May 18 freeze event due to an unusually warm spring that forced the onset of bud development several weeks ahead of normal. Joining Commissioner Ball in discussions with the growers, we talked about existing programs, such as low interest emergency loans from the USDA, and the importance of state and federal agencies working together to support our farmers through times of economic stress.”

Hans Walter-Peterson, Senior Viticulture Extension Specialist at Cornell Cooperative Extension, said, “While isolated frost or freeze events are not uncommon here, this freeze event in the Finger Lakes impacted the majority of vineyards in the region. Damage estimates are anywhere from 5 – 100%, so the impacts vary significantly depending on location. At this point, we have to wait and see what kind of crop might emerge from secondary shoots that emerge after this damage in order to assess how much of an impact this freeze will have on growers’ yields.”

Assemblyman Phil Palmesano said, “We have been in close contact with Commissioner Ball and the Governor’s office since last week’s frost and we welcome Commissioner Ball’s visit to see the damage and to hear firsthand from regional growers and producers about what they’re facing on the short- and long-term impact.  The vine damage is extensive and it is going to have a dire effect on vineyards and wineries that are fundamental to our local economies. These are major economic engines. It is imperative that we immediately initiate a collaborative effort, at every level of government, to help deliver the assistance, resources, and support needed to help one of New York State’s most vital and productive industries recover.”

Senator Tom O’Mara said, “This is an unprecedented frost for grape growers throughout our region. The widespread vine damage will result in devastating losses for many growers and have a detrimental impact across this state’s vital Finger Lakes wine industry. It will be critical for all of us, at every level of government, to deliver the resources necessary to assist growers and the industry as a whole recover throughout the year ahead. We appreciate Commissioner Ball for surveying the damage firsthand and we stand ready to work with him to initiate a swift response from the state and federal governments.”

Upstate 2.0 Wins $1M NSF Award to Transform Economy

By Bridget Hagen, marketing/communications coordinator for the Center for Regional Economic Advancement

Upstate 2.0, a partnership between Cornell and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) that aims to bolster economic development in upstate New York, has received a $1 million development award from the National Science Foundation’s Regional Innovation Engines.

The collaboration seeks to transform upstate New York to an innovative bioeconomy, where biological resources are sustainably converted into goods and services to reverse the impacts of climate change and ensure environmental justice. This includes maximizing opportunities in food systems, forestry, robotics and fossil fuel replacement.

“This proposal will create a more resilient supply chain and grow the regional economy, all while reducing fossil fuels and creating good-paying jobs,” said U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). “I am proud to deliver this $1 million Phase One award and I will keep fighting so scientists trained right here in Ithaca can lead the way for an upstate New York green clean energy future.”

“There is incredible potential for a bioeconomy in upstate New York,” said principal investigator Jillian Goldfarb, associate professor of biological and environmental engineering in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). “To build a climate-smart, prosperous upstate, our team will engage diverse stakeholders – farmers, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, educators and researchers – to create a roadmap for sustainable economic development.”

The Upstate 2.0 institutions – which now have the opportunity to compete for a $160 million federal investment – will leverage their research, education and entrepreneurial expertise in sustainable agri-food and forestry systems; climate beneficial technology and nature-based innovation; and bio-based industrial processes and products.

“ESF has more than a century of forest management research and expertise. We look forward to partnering with Cornell to put our collective resources into action to drive transformative change and sustainable economic impact in upstate New York,” SUNY ESF President Joanie Mahoney said. “The challenges of climate change are immense. Collaborations like ours are necessary to develop and implement solutions to help our state reach its net-zero goal.”

Research will be conducted through strategic partnerships among innovators, industry, entrepreneurs, job creators, policymakers and community members, with support from the Cornell Cooperative Extension network, Cornell’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement and the NSF Interior Northeast I-Corps Hub.

“Throughout our history, Cornell has been a place where ideas from different disciplines come together in new and transformative ways, resulting in positive impacts that extend far beyond our campus and region,” said Lynden Archer, the Joseph Silbert Dean of Engineering. “The NSF Engines development grant will allow us to leverage the power of our collaborative environment to create and execute a broader plan that enhances our region and serves as a model for the rest of the country.”

By developing solutions to global challenges in sustainability and building a more resilient supply chain, Upstate 2.0 aims to grow the regional economy in upstate New York while helping to realize the state and nation’s goal of a net-zero carbon economy.

“This grant will accelerate our transition to a circular economy that is based on agricultural innovation, new climate and food technologies, and carbon removal, creating new jobs in the region and placing New York state in a leadership position in climate neutrality,” said Benjamin Z. Houlton, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of CALS.

Upstate 2.0 is one of more than 40 teams in the inaugural round of NSF Engines Development Awards, which intend to help partners collaborate to create economic, societal and technological opportunities for their regions.

The awardees span a broad range of states and regions, reaching historically underserved geographic areas. With the awards, the organizations will create connections and develop their local innovation ecosystems within two years to prepare strong proposals for becoming future NSF Engines, which will each have the opportunity to receive up to $160 million.

“These NSF Engines Development Awards lay the foundation for emerging hubs of innovation and potential future NSF Engines,” NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan said. “These awardees are part of the fabric of NSF’s vision to create opportunities everywhere and enable innovation anywhere. They will build robust regional partnerships rooted in scientific and technological innovation in every part of our nation.”

Launched by the NSF’s new Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships and authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, the NSF Engines program harnesses the nation’s science and technology research, development enterprise and regional-level resources.

NSF Engines aspire to catalyze robust partnerships to positively impact regional economies, accelerate technology development, address societal challenges, advance national competitiveness and create local, high-wage jobs.

“Through these planning awards, the NSF is seeding the future for in-place innovation in communities and to grow their regional economies through research and partnerships,” Panchanathan said. “This will unleash ideas, talent, pathways and resources to create vibrant innovation ecosystems all across our nation.”

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture Sets Its Federal Policy Focus for 2023

NASDA members, the state commissioners, secretaries and directors of agriculture, hand-selected seven issues to serve as the organization’s primary policy focus for 2023. They include the 2023 Farm Bill, animal health, environmental regulations, food production and the supply chain, food safety, international trade and workforce development.

NASDA CEO Ted McKinney says, “These issues were chosen for the organization’s 2023 focus as NASDA members see specific opportunities for progress regarding each of these areas to best serve farmers, ranchers and all communities across the nation. Further, we believe these are the areas where state departments of agriculture are uniquely positioned to lead impact and direct policymaking solutions this year.”

NASDA has published one-pagers offering background and insight for each policy priority.

2023 Farm Bill
The next farm bill must remain unified, securing a commitment to American agriculture and the critical food and nutritional assistance programs for those who need it most.

Environmental regulation
NASDA supports the science-based and comprehensive regulatory framework the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act provides to ensure environmental and public health protection. NASDA stands ready to assist the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in implementing FIFRA, ensuring our environment, including endangered species, is protected and U.S. farmers and public health officials have access to the technologies they need.

Regarding the recently published “waters of the U.S.” rule, NASDA will continue to impress the role of states in regulating non-navigable waters.

Food production and the supply chain
NASDA is committed to ensuring long-term stability and resilience in our nation’s food supply chain through supporting projects to increase U.S. meat processing, food and nutrition security and reducing food waste.

Food Safety
NASDA will continue to advocate for funding state Food Safety Modernization Act programs because state departments of agriculture are the front line of protection for consumers when it comes to food safety. State agencies, including state departments of agriculture, play a vital role in implementing and enforcing our nation’s food safety and inspection laws.
 
Animal Health
NASDA is committed to working with intergovernmental agencies and industry stakeholders to foster a collaborative approach to animal health initiatives, especially in protecting U.S. livestock from foreign and emerging animal diseases.

International trade
To increase export opportunities for U.S. food, agriculture and forestry producers NASDA is asking Congress and the Biden Administration to leverage existing trading relationships, secure new trade agreements, fully fund trade promotion programs and engage with global trade institutions. NASDA continues to advocate for the promotion of science-and-evidence based trade standards globally.

Workforce development
NASDA is committed to working with the federal government, private industry and academia to identify and address agricultural workforce challenges.

Read more about each of the 2023 policy priories and all NASDA’s policy work at NASDA.org/policy. 

Sen. Gillibrand touts funds for climate-smart farming

ITHACA, N.Y. — U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, visited Cornell Aug. 29 to champion agricultural conservation and climate-smart farming provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act and highlight related research and extension efforts in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The act’s nearly $360 billion investment in energy and climate spending is projected to reduce U.S. carbon emissions by roughly 40% by 2030.

“We are putting farmers and rural communities at the forefront of climate solutions by investing in climate smart agriculture, land conservation and forest restoration,” Gillibrand said. “This legislation recognizes the critical role that farmers play in our fight against climate change.”

Gillibrand was introduced by Joel M. Malina, vice president for university relations, who thanked the senator for her support of agricultural research, extension and education programs at Cornell, New York state’s land-grant university.

“Senator Gillibrand understands the importance of research to solve our most pressing problems like climate change, of extension to translate the science developed here into solutions that are adopted on farms and in communities across the state, and of education to ensure that the next generation is ready to lead,” Malina said.

Before the press conference, held at the Guterman Greenhouses, Gillibrand was given a brief tour that showcased Cornell research on water and energy-efficient indoor agriculture, as well as cover-cropping systems that inform climate-smart farming practices.

“Here at our college, we are grateful for [Sen. Gillibrand’s] work to increase funding for research and development programs,” said Benjamin Z. Houlton, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of Cornell CALS and professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and of global development. “These programs are vital to ensure that we have science-based strategies to support our farmers as they access new funding through the Inflation Reduction Act,” he said.

To that end, Neil Mattson, professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science Horticulture Section, and colleagues are developing energy efficient greenhouse lighting control strategies that predict how much sunlight is available and control LED light output to precisely deliver the total amount of light required by the crop. Adoption of such technology could help growers qualify for the Inflation Reduction Act-funded Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which incentivizes energy efficient technologies through direct grants to farmers.

Matt Ryan, associate professor in the Soil and Crop Sciences Section of the School of Integrative Plant Science (CALS), discussed how his work on cover crops helps address challenges of higher input costs, new pests, herbicide-resistant weeds and extreme weather that New York farmers face.

“One of the best solutions that we have for extreme weather are cover crops, which are plants that are not harvested but instead are seeded and grown to provide benefits,” Ryan said. “They are a green tool because they can help farmers increase production, but they also provide environmental benefits.”

Cover crops protect and put carbon in the soil, enhance resilience to extreme weather, decrease runoff and reduce water pollution, suppress weeds and support pollinators and natural enemies to pests, among other benefits. Through the New York Soil Health Initiative, Ryan and others have documented the soil health benefits of cover crops and are sharing this information with farmers.

Virginia Moore, assistant professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science Plant Breeding and Genetics Section, a cover crop breeder, develops new varieties for farmers that better fit into their crop rotations, improve soil nitrogen and are adapted to local environments and seasons.

“We test cover crop varieties at over 15 locations across the U.S. and identify the most consistent and stable varieties so that we can make better recommendations to farmers,” Moore said.

The Inflation Reduction Act includes funds through the U.S.D.A.’s Conservation Reserve Program that will pay farmers $25 per acre annually when they plant cover crops.

The act provides more than $18 billion in increased funding for the U.S.D.A.’s voluntary land conservation programs that offer farmers, landowners and ranchers access to financial support, technical assistance and voluntary easement opportunities, Gillibrand said.

Another $1.3 billion is dedicated to helping farmers interested in implementing more climate smart methods, as well as for studying how carbon and greenhouse gases are introduced and retained in our environment, she said.

A key provision in the act, which originated from Gillibrand’s 2021 Relief for America’s Small Farmers Act, provides $5.3 billion in direct debt relief and assistance for farmers who are struggling or at risk of losing their farms, she said.

“The investments that Senator Gillibrand has spoken about today are impactful to Tompkins County, Cornell University and all of our small farmers,” said Shawna Black, chair of the Tompkins County Legislature.

–Krishna Ramanujan
Cornell Chronicle

Guidelines for PYO Farms during the COVID-19 Pandemic

From Cornell University:

U-Pick is a critical direct marketing approach for many of our farms and provides customers with a unique connection to fresh produce grown close to home. In light of what we understand about the spread of COVID-19, new management practices will be needed to protect your farm team and your customers. This document provides recommended practices and communication strategies for U-Pick operations for the 2020 season.

These actions will help protect you and your team as well as reassure customers that you are taking steps to protect them and the produce you grow.

Read the article here. Then download a printable version of Cornell’s “Best Management Practices for U-Pick Farms during the COVID-19 Pandemic” that you can share with your staff.

Looking for information on protecting staff and customers in your farm store? Read these articles from NYS Ag and Markets.

1. Guidance for Cleaning Retail Food Stores (issued in conjunction with the New York State Department of Health)

2. Guidance for Home Delivery 

3. Guidance for Protecting Vulnerable Populations 

2018 Farm Bill Passes House and Senate

In December, the 2018 Farm Bill, featuring more than $400 billion in agriculture subsidies, conservation programs, and food aid, passed the House 369–47 and the Senate 87–13. It was signed into law by President Donald Trump just before the holidays.

Although the President and the Republican majority in Congress were initially in favor of two provisions—more stringent work requirements for food stamp recipients, and relaxed restrictions on pesticide use—both became points of contention during House negotiations and were left off the Senate version of the bill.

Among its highlights, the bill reauthorizes crop insurance and conservation programs. It also supports trade programs, bioenergy production, and organic farming research, and it increases funding for employment and training programs by almost $15 million. Under the new law, dairy farmers will benefit from reduced-cost support programs, and industrial hemp cultivation will become legal. While the bill maintains current limits on farm subsidies, it expands the definition of family to include first cousins, nieces, and nephews, making them eligible for payments under the program.

New York Farm Bureau President David Fisher said, “Today’s final vote for the 2018 Farm Bill is a major victory for New York’s farmers, rural communities and consumers. Farmers needed stronger risk management tools in place moving into next year, where there are signs that the economic stress will continue in the farming community. In particular, the new Farm Bill enhances the dairy safety net for farms of every size, including increasing the margin that qualifies for federal insurance programs. New York Farm Bureau also appreciates the research and support programs in the bill that will benefit New York’s specialty crop producers. Having some certainty moving forward in challenging times is a relief for farmers.”

Fisher continued, “In addition, the Farm Bill supports critical conservation programs, rural development projects, and marketing and research programs to expand market opportunities for farmers. It legalizes industrial hemp which will benefit farms interested in diversification. And the legislation provides permanent funding to help veterans and a new generation of beginning farmers. The biggest portion of the Farm Bill also guarantees Americans, who can least afford to eat, the ability to access the food farmers produce.”

Read a summary of the bill here.

How to Develop an E-mail Program for Your Farm

While it may seem tempting to let go of your e-mail marketing in favor of social media, especially during the busy growing season, there are several compelling reasons why you’ll want to stay on top of your e-mail list, and keep promoting your farm or farm store.

1. Most customers, including 71% of millennials, prefer to hear from businesses they follow through e-mail first. True, you’ll often hear people say they get too many e-mails, but studies have proven time and again that this doesn’t dissuade them from staying on their favorite business’s e-mail list. And with many social media channels—Facebook being the most prominent example—modifying their algorithms to make it harder for a business’s content to be seen in the news feed, you’ll get much more visibility from e-mail.

2. E-mail subscribers are your most loyal customers, and are several times more likely to spread good word of mouth to friends, family, and their community.

3. E-mail is “owned” media, which means you have complete access to your entire e-mail list at all times, and can put out any content you think will inform and entertain your audience. There are best practices for e-mail content, but on the whole, this offers much more freedom for you to tell the stories you want to tell—without being filtered out by a pesky algortithm.

4. E-mail provides the highest return on investment (ROI) of all types of digital marketing—104% compared to social media’s 25% and display advertising’s 13%. If the other three points didn’t convince you that keeping up with your e-mail list is important, this is one super-persuasive case.

E-mail marketing generally takes one of two forms: a promotional e-mail or a newsletter. Promotional e-mails usually highlight a specific product or service and are meant to inspire the customer to take quick action: buy a product, register for an event, or create an account, for example.

E-mail newsletters are informative in nature, and give customers something interesting or entertaining to read, such as gardening or cooking tips, or links to articles about the health benefits of berries. They may link to a product for sale, but their focus is on informing rather than selling.

It’s possible to send both newsletters and promotional e-mails to the same list of subscribers, though you’ll want to determine in advance how many of each you plan to send, to keep the best balance. You can also employ segmenting, or sending certain content to one group of customers.

How to Create a Marketing E-mail

Depending on your list size, the number of times per month you plan to mail, and the amount of bells and whistles you want, there are a variety of e-mail distribution services that fit the bill. Mailchimp and Robly tend to be the most user-friendly, and have a larger selection of attractive drag-and-drop templates that make it easy to design great-looking e-mails. Constant Contact, one of the original e-mail distributors, has a long history of consistency, but is not as intuitive to use and often has a less modern look.

No matter which one you choose, if you have fewer than 200 subscribers, you can start with a free version of the service. It takes only a few minutes to create and account and get started on creating your first e-mail. If you'd like to walk through the process on screen, YouTube has dozens of short videos dedicated to setting up an e-mail in Mailchimp or Robly.

What Should Each E-mail Include?

There are a lot of nuances to e-mail marketing, but in general, each e-mail you send should have:

• Your contact information
• Your logo
• Links to your social media

If you’re sending a newsletter, try including a brief article on a relevant topic, and 2 or 3 additional items you’d like to highlight—these could be products that are currently in stock in your store, a list of upcoming farmers’ market appearances, or a link to something interesting that’s happening in your community.

If you’re sending a promotional e-mail, focus on one item (e.g., strawberries) or one category of items (e.g., small fruits). Instead of simply selling the item itself, however, provide interesting related content that uses your product—for instance, a recipe for a summer cocktail that includes strawberries, or tips on how to freeze your bounty of U-pick strawberries. Don’t forget to mention that the item is in stock, and the hours when customers can buy it.

How Long Should a Marketing E-mail Be?

Considering that you have about 8 seconds to catch a reader’s attention, short and sweet is a good basic rule! Stick to 300 words or less for a featured newsletter article, and 100 words or less for secondary articles. Whenever possible, break up longer passages of text with visual elements such as bulleted or numbered lists, or boldface run-in heads, like the ones at the beginning of this post.  

How Often Should You Send a Marketing E-mail?

Because most of your sales happen during a condensed period of time, it’s best to send e-mails to your customers weekly during the growing season, to keep them updated on what they can buy from you and where they can find you.

You can easily cut back during the slower seasons: consider biweekly mailings during the ramping-up period in spring, when you have just a handful of products in stock, and monthly e-mails during the off season. Yes, you should definitely keep sending e-mails even during the off season! Customers won’t expect you to have products in inventory, but they will appreciate hearing from you on topics like winterizing your home garden, how to incorporate different foods into holiday menus, and what’s going on at your farm—whether that’s a new barn being raised, a picturesque snowfall, or your livestock or pet mascots frolicking outdoors.

It’s okay to make these e-mails shorter; the point isn’t to write New Yorker-length features about farming, but to keep your farm top of mind for customers, and to cultivate the image that you’re a resource for more than just a pint of berries. The attention to serving your customers will pay off with increased customer loyalty and sales.

Sending marketing e-mails or newsletters isn’t as hard as it might seem, and it’s one of the best ways to keep in regular contact with customers and encourage them to spread the word about your farm to friends. Spend a little time up front on planning, and you’ll reap the rewards later.

Got a question about e-mail marketing? If you’re a current member, get in touch with our communications manager, Robin Catalano, at nysbga@gmail.com.