New study looks at the susceptibility of fruit fungal communities to SWD

Naturally occurring yeast on fruit is the subject of a new study on how SWD are attracted to berries. (Photo by Robert Bogdan for Pexels.)

A new study out of Europe examines which types of naturally occurring yeasts attract SWD. The authors of the report conclude that the fungi, specifically Saccharomycetales yeast communities, are more abundant on raspberry. The authors believe awareness of this fact might lead them to better understand what drives SWD susceptibility of different fruit crops at different sites. They suggest that it may also inform the “seeding” of fruit with engineered fungal/yeast communities, in order to reduce their vulnerability to the pest.

The abstract states:

“Fungal metabolic volatiles attract Drosophila suzukii which oviposits in ripening fruits, but there are few data describing the fungal microbiomes of commercial fruits susceptible to this insect pest. We tested the hypothesis that fruit type and ripening stage have a significant effect on fruit surface fungal communities using DNA metabarcoding approaches and found strong support for differences in all three fungal community biodiversity metrics analysed (numbers, types, and abundances of taxa). There was an average fivefold greater difference in fungal communities between sites with different fruit types (strawberry, cherry, raspberry, and blueberry) than across fruit developmental stages, demonstrating site and/or fruit type is the greater factor defining fungal community assemblage. The addition of a fungal internal standard (Plectosphaerella cucumerina) showed cherry had relatively static fungal populations across ripening. Raspberry had a greater prevalence of Saccharomycetales yeasts attractive to D. suzukii, including Hanseniaspora uvarum, which aligns with reports that raspberry is among the fruits with greatest susceptibility and attraction to D. suzukii. Greater knowledge of how yeast communities change during fruit maturation and between species or sites may be valuable for developing methods to manipulate fruit microbiomes for use in integrated pest management strategies to control D. suzukii.”

Read the full paper here.

https://rdcu.be/cR4WP

Farmers Market Week Goes Global for 2022

Summer farmers market photo by Mark Dalton for Pexels.

By the Farmers Market Coalition

WASHINGTON — The national Farmers Market Coalition (FMC) is excited to announce a partnership with the World Farmers Markets Coalition (WFMC) in the celebration of Farmers Market Week on August 7th – 13th, 2022. In its 23rd year, National Farmers Market Week is led annually by FMC and is a fixture of the summer season for farmers markets across the United States. FMC is thrilled to invite WFMC to join in the celebrations this year and take National Farmers Market Week to an international scale. WFMC is a budding organization that brings together farmers market coalitions, associations and support organizations in nations around the world. FMC in the United States is one of the largest member organizations of the WFMC and, as one of the founding members, has helped shape the organization through its founding. WFMC was recently officially incorporated as a legal entity in Italy, and continues to see rapid growth in activities and membership thanks to support from the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

During the first week of August every year, farmers markets from Alaska to Florida celebrate everything that makes farmers markets important. As local food systems with short supply chains, they are resilient, dependable and provide an essential service to the communities they feed as well as the farmers and ranchers that rely on them. Not only do farmers markets increase access to fresh and nutritious produce, but they also facilitate personal connections between farmers, shoppers and community members. These important community benefits are not unique to farmers markets in the United States, and the WFMC is thrilled to invite more market organizations from around the world to join in the celebration.

This year’s Farmers Market Week slogan is farmers markets don’t just happen, highlighting the importance of farmers market operators, and everything that happens behind the scenes to make vibrant farmers markets thrive in communities across the country. This is well aligned with the mission of the WFMC that seeks to support farmers market management around the globe and promote shared learning about farmers market operations across national lines.

By inviting the WFMC to celebrate and expanding National Farmers Market Week to International Farmers Market Week, FMC believes that the celebration of farmers markets will have a much wider reach and a greater impact in highlighting the value of farmers markets. Farmers markets have massive local economic, ecological and social benefits in communities around the world that add up to huge collective global impacts.

To join in the celebration of International Farmers Market Week, farmers market organizations, organizations that work with food and agriculture, and anyone else interested in joining the festivity can use the hashtag #FarmersMarketWeek on social media and can tag the Farmers Market Coalition (@fmc.org) on all social media channels. FMC provides a toolkit on their website full of free social media templates and graphics for organizations to use. FMC will also host daily conversations with farmers market leaders on their Facebook page at 10am PT / 1pm ET during International Farmers Market Week. The celebration of National Farmers Market Week in the United States and the creation of the toolkit for farmers markets is made possible thanks to sponsorship from Mother Earth News Fair, Square, Farm Aid, Farm Credit, and American Farmland Trust.

In-person, farmers markets around the world will be celebrating on the ground at their farmers markets and inviting market visitors to celebrate with them. Farmers market customers can get out there and support by shopping at their local market!

“Farmers markets serve as the center of community connection, economic development and local food systems resilience in thousands of communities across the country,” shares Ben Feldman, Farmers Market Coalition Executive Director. “This year, we are thrilled that the WFMC will be joining us in celebration and elevating the important work of the people who make farmers markets happen.”

“The absolute best thing you can do to support farmers markets during International Farmers Market Week?” asks Richard McCarthy, President of the World Farmers Markets Coalition. “Think globally by acting locally, and get out there and make some delicious meals with food sourced from your local farmers market!”

USDA Accepts 2 Million Acres in Offers Through Conservation Reserve Program

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting more than 2 million acres in offers from agricultural producers and landowners through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general signup, which included nearly 500 acres in New York. This is the first of the program’s multiple signups occurring in 2022. With about 3.4 million acres expiring this year, Vilsack encourages producers and landowners to consider the Grassland and Continuous signups, both of which are currently open.  

“Our conservation programs are voluntary, and at the end of the day, producers are making market-based decisions as the program was designed to allow and encourages,” said Jim Barber, FSA State Executive Director in New York. “We recognize the Conservation Reserve Program is an important tool in helping mitigate climate change and conserve natural resources, and this announcement is just the first opportunity for producers to take advantage of the program. Producers are still looking at options under the working-lands Grassland Conservation Reserve Program, the more targeted buffer-type practices under Continuous CRP, and partnership opportunities through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).  For farmers who have decided to return all or a portion of their land into production agriculture, USDA will also be reaching out to ensure they understand and can take advantage of options to either prepare the land for production or transition it to beginning farmers.” 

Producers submitted re-enrollment offers for just over half of expiring acres, similar to the rate in 2021. Offers for new land under General CRP were considerably lower compared to last year’s numbers, with fewer than 400,000 acres being offered this year versus over 700,000 acres offered last year. 

Submitting and accepting a CRP offer is the start of the process; producers still need to develop a conservation plan before enrolling their land on October 1, 2022. Each year, during the window between offer acceptance and land enrollment, some producers change their mind and ultimately decide not to enroll some accepted acres without penalty.

The three other types of CRP—Grasslands, Continuous, and CREP—are still available for either working-lands or targeted, often smaller sub-field, offers. Producers have submitted offers on nearly 260,000 acres through the Continuous and CREP signup so far this year. The Grassland signup – which last year had its highest participation ever – closes May 13, 2022. 

Through CRP, producers and landowners establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve soil health and water quality, and enhance wildlife habitat on agricultural land. In addition to the other well-documented benefits, lands enrolled in CRP are playing a key role in climate change mitigation efforts across the country.  

In 2021, FSA introduced improvements to the program, which included a new Climate-Smart Practice Incentive to increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This incentive provides a 3%, 5% or 10% incentive payment based on the predominant vegetation type for the practices enrolled – from grasses to trees to wetland restoration.  

While the General Signup is closed, producers and landowners can still apply for the Continuous and Grassland signups by contacting their local USDA Service Center.  

2021 Berry Production Workshop

September 15, 2021, Kennedy
October 5, STEPHENTOWN
4:00pm-6:00pm

2021 season review of SWD management techniques
Free; register here.

Note: Due to severe weather, the Stephentown workshop was postponed until October 5. Sign up using the link above, then join us at The Berry Patch, 15589 State Rt. 22, Stephentown.

Join researchers, growers, and expert speakers for a two-hour review of Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) management techniques. We’ll cover the basics of SWD monitoring of adult and larvae populations and also discuss implementing a pesticide program.

This free program will focus on what has been learned about designing an exclusion netting support system that provides long-term control of SWD and maximum utility for berry farmers.

Exclusion netting is being used on field blueberries where it controls SWD while also excluding birds and moderating impacts of hail and heavy rain. Raspberries and strawberries also benefit from exclusion netting on the sides of high tunnels.

1.5 DEC credits available in categories 1A, 10, and 22.

AGENDA - STEPHENTOWN

4:00 pm | Welcome, Introductions & NYS DEC credit sign-up – Laura McDermott, CCE ENYCHP

4:05 pm | Brief Overview of SWD – Laura McDermott, CCE ENYCHP . Insect monitoring, fruit infestation monitoring, insecticide management and cultural management techniques will be discussed.

4:20 pm | Overview of Exclusion Netting – Dale Ila Riggs, The Berry Patch, and Ted Storozum, TekKnit, Quebec. Brief review of work undertaken and effectiveness of netting in open field and high tunnel systems. Discussion of adaptations made to netting material and the need for structural design.

4:50 pm | Structural Considerations When Installing Exclusion Netting – Chris Callahan, University of Vermont, and Paul Lucas, Gintec, Ontario, CA. The past two seasons has provided lots of new information about designing the support structure for Exclusion Netting. Gintec owner Paul Lucas has played a critical advisory role in this portion of the project and has decades of experience with protected agriculture systems. Cost information for the SWD exclusion netting and structure will be included. 

5:20 pm | Exclusion Netting on Fall Raspberries – Dale Ila Riggs, The Berry Patch. Research on using field netting for fall raspberries and incorporating it into a high tunnel system.

5:30 pm | Views from Other Growers – TBD. Growers that have adopted exclusion netting will share their successes and struggles with the netting. 

5:45 pm | Hands-On Removal of Netting – Attendees will watch and assist with removal of netting panels to better understand the requirements and ease of using netting. Netting storage and winter care will be discussed.

6:00 pm | Adjourn

AGENDA - KENNEDY

4:00 pm | Welcome and Introductions & NYS DEC credit sign-up – Anya Osatuke, CCE Harvest NY.

4:05 pm | Brief Overview of SWD – Greg Loeb, Cornell University. Insect monitoring, fruit infestation monitoring, insecticide management and cultural management techniques will be discussed

4:20 pm | Overview of Exclusion Netting – Greg Loeb and Stephen Hesler, Cornell University. Brief review of work undertaken and effectiveness of netting in open field and high tunnel systems. Discussion of adaptations made to netting material and the need for structural design.

4:50 pm | Structural Considerations when Installing Exclusion Netting – Stephen Hesler, Cornell University, and John Abers, Abers Acres. The past two seasons has provided lots of new information about designing the support structure for Exclusion Netting, but every farm is unique and Abers Acres owner will discuss how they installed the netting. Cost information about the SWD exclusion netting and structure will be included. 

5:20 pm  |  Exclusion Netting on Fall Raspberries – Greg Loeb, Cornell University. Research on using field netting for fall raspberries and incorporating it into a high tunnel system.

5:30 pm | Views from Other Growers – TBD. Growers that have adopted exclusion netting will share their successes and struggles with the netting. 

5:45 pm | Hands-On Removal of Netting – Attendees will watch and assist with removal of netting panels to better understand the requirements and ease of using netting. Netting storage and winter care will be discussed.

6:00 pm | Adjourn

A Final Farewell

By Elizabeth Malchoff, President of the New York State Berry Growers Association

Paul Baker, the New York State Berry Growers Association executive secretary for more than a decade, passed away May 26, 2021, as a result of injuries sustained during an automobile accident. Paul was a friend and fierce champion of agriculture in New York State and the country. He was exceptional at juggling priorities as well as job requirements. Paul also served as executive director of the New York State Horticultural Society and Ag Affiliates.

Paul was instrumental in securing meetings with critical state legislators that assisted in securing funding and policy changes imperative to the agricultural community. He was very well spoken and could articulate the message in such a way that he was able to bring relevance on any topic to any audience. This gift made him an invaluable asset as a representative of the agricultural community. Paul enjoyed playing the devil’s advocate and encouraged us to grow our understanding of the opposition’s views, to be better prepared to face such challenges.    

During the time of inception of the Farmworker Fair Labor Practices Act, Paul recommended and facilitated meetings with legislators that were in favor of reducing the overtime threshold, and insisted that we, as industry representatives, be allowed to have a seat at the table when discussing the changes to the labor laws affecting farmers. I believe, based on Paul’s recommendation and the combined persistence of our conversations with legislators across the board, that the wage labor review board was adopted. This board is critical because it allows growers to have a representative present at future discussions. Without Paul’s ideas and recommendation, this review board might not have been part of the policy change.  

Paul was an intrical part of the Becker Forum. He hosted, led discussions, and secured speakers for grower awareness. A few years ago, Paul was asked to help develop this event as a way for growers to stay updated and informed of legislative policy changes, and discuss the more difficult bureaucratic regulations. Paul knew growers struggled in this area, and it was his attempt to support the grower in some of the more challenging aspects of commercial farming. Through his contacts, he brought in important speakers that could answer the growers’ questions and hear their concerns directly, ranging from legislators to Ag& Market reps. He even planned grower-based panels to facilitate raw and genuine grower discussions and education. Many growers that I know made it a priority to attend this event, because it offered so much value and education that the growers otherwise would struggle to find. Thanks to Paul’s knowledge of agriculture and his constant monitoring of our legislative environment, both state and federal, he was able to create the most effective and relevant grower-based meeting available.

Paul had his finger on the pulse with state and federal policy. He worked tirelessly at scouring the political landscape, keeping us updated on various state and federal policy discussions and potential changes. He had an uncanny ability to connect with people and understand the words not spoken, giving him invaluable insight into where various parties stood on the issues. Without his guidance, these organizations would not have been as effective in securing funds for research or influencing policy changes as they have been. A great portion of the success of the NYSBGA, the NYS Horticultural Society, and Agricultural Affiliates is due to Paul and his relentless efforts as a steward of the agricultural industry of New York State as a whole.

As a person, Paul was one of these people that was just easy to talk to. He was always calm and collected, but never afraid to tell it like it is. He was always supportive and encouraging, even if the encouragement was not what you wanted to hear. He was never afraid of a difficult conversation and flourished in a debate. It was like he knew what the opposition was thinking and countered before they could attack. He was always professional and respectful, so difficult conversations were less uncomfortable and more productive. He would also check us, when we started getting into too much “grower talk,” and would constantly remind us that we needed to discuss topics on the level of our audience to be more effective. He would often give subtle tips and feedback after a legislative meeting, on what we could improve or say to be more effective in the next meeting. He genuinely cared, and full-heartedly fought for, the agriculture community. He was an invaluable asset whose knowledge and presence are irreplaceable. The agricultural community has lost a huge champion whose void will be felt for years to come.

Finalists Announced for Grow-NY $3 Million Global Food and Agriculture Business Competition

Empire State Development and Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement have announced the inaugural 18 finalists for Grow-NY, a food innovation and agriculture technology business challenge focused on enhancing the emerging food, beverage, and agriculture innovation cluster in Central New York, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier.

“The Grow-NY competition has attracted a group of diverse, innovative entrepreneurs who are ready to focus on finding new ways to further transform New York State’s world-renowned food and agricultural industry,” Governor Cuomo said. “Through efforts like Grow-NY, we are continuing to bolster these regional economies and foster statewide growth in this critical industry.”

In all, 199 applicants hailed from North America, Europe, Central America, Africa, the Middle East, and New Zealand, as well as hundreds of inquiries from food and agriculture startups. In the U.S., 23 states were represented, including 112 entries from New York. Females comprised 32 percent of applicants, and among those who indicated an ethnicity, 46 percent were non-white.

The finalists represent the top 10 percent of submissions, as determined by a panel of 30 independent judges comprising the spectrum of food, beverage, and agriculture businesses and academics. Grow-NY will award a total of $3 million in prize money to seven winners. This includes a $1 million top prize, two $500,000 prizes, and four $250,000 prizes.

The 18 finalists are:

• AgVoice, Norcross, Ga. — Enables food and ag workers to use management tools on-the-go

• Capro-X, Ithaca, N.Y. — Upcycles dairy waste into valuable biofuels and bioplastics

• Combplex, Ithaca, N.Y. — Eliminates pests that threaten the health of honeybee hives

• Dropcopter, Syracuse, N.Y. — Leverages drones to pollinate crops and increase crop yield

• Halomine, Ithaca, N.Y. — Creates antimicrobial solutions to ensure food safety

• Independent Barley & Malt, Litchfield, Mich. — Growing new supply chains to provide world-class malt for the craft food and beverage market

• Livestock Water Recycling, Alberta, Canada — Modernizes manure management to improve yield and sustainability.

• Nuravine, New York, N.Y. — Maximizes indoor and greenhouse crop yield via water nutrient solutions

• Paragon Pure, Princeton, N.J. — Creates flavors, colors and nutrients protected within whole grain rice flour

• Perfect Granola, Victor, N.Y. — Crafts locally-sourced granola for NY schools while giving back

• Radical Plastics, Beverly, Mass. —Developed a patented catalyst technology that renders conventional plastics biodegradable

• RealEats America, Geneva, N.Y. — Delivers fresh, healthy meals, while minimizing food waste

• Re-Nuble, Rochester, N.Y. — Transforms food waste into organic nutrients as a sustainable alternative to mineral salts

• Simply Good Jars, Philadelphia, Pa. — Expands access to fresh and healthy foods via high-tech vending machines

• Slate Chocolate Milk, Boston, Mass. — Crafts better chocolate milk in cans, for adults

• Tiliter, Munich, Germany — Identifies products at supermarket checkouts with AI—no bar code needed

• Varcode USA, Naperville, Ill. —Monitors temperature changes of products using high-tech barcodes

• Whole Healthy Food (Healthy Baby), Ithaca, N.Y. — Develops new food ingredients with therapeutic benefits

The finalists will pitch their ideas and business plans at the Grow-NY Food and Ag Summit on Nov. 12 and 13 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center. Tickets, sponsor, exhibition and volunteer information is available at https://growny.splashthat.com.

All finalists will receive:

• Dedicated mentorship from a hand-selected business advisor;

• Additional pitch training to hone their live pitches for the judges;

• An expenses-paid, three-day business development trip to the Grow-NY region for up to two finalists per team; and

• Networking introductions, business tours with potential partners, and valuable appointments for finalist team representatives.

Judges will base award decisions on the following five criteria:

• Viability of Commercialization and Business Model – the potential for the entrant to generate revenue and maintain a cost structure that allows for a competitive and sustainable business, demonstrate technological readiness, or innovate to fulfill its value proposition;

• Customer Value – the degree to which the entrant is providing something for which customers are willing to pay, and addressing a substantial market;

• Food and Agriculture Innovation – the extent to which the entrant is pushing what’s considered state-of-the-art in the food and agriculture industries, and contributing to Upstate NY’s status as a global leader in innovation in these markets;

• Regional Job Creation – the potential for creating high-quality jobs in the Grow-NY footprint; and

• Team – the quality and completeness of the team and its readiness to deliver.

Empire State Development is providing funding for the Grow-NY competition through its Upstate Revitalization Initiative, and Cornell University’s Center for Regional Economic Advancement is administering the competition. The winner will be required to make a positive economic impact in the Grow-NY region, which features counties within Central NY, the Finger Lakes, and the Southern Tier of New York State. The winning business will help contribute to job growth, connect with local industry partners and contribute to a thriving economy.

To learn more about the finalists, mentors and judges, and to see full schedule of Grow-NY events, please visit grow-ny.com.

The Effect of the Trump Administration’s China Tariffs on Farmers

As the trade war with China stretches into its second year, the agricultural industry has been hit hard. Many farmers felt that the $12 billion aid program set up in 2018, after the first series of tariffs were levied, didn’t do enough to prevent losses. Meanwhile, economists who analyzed the subsidies found them to be not as effective as opening foreign markets to trade. 

After last month’s unsuccessful trade negotiations between the U.S. and Chinese presidents, the White House raised tariffs from 10 percent to 25 percent on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, with President Trump threatening to raise duties on an additional $325 billion worth of imported items—accounting for nearly all of U.S. imports from China. In return, Chinese president Xi Jinping, promised “necessary countermeasures,” in addition to the tariffs that have already been levied on $110 billion in U.S. products.

As the trade war escalates, the Trump Administration is looking into additional aid for farmers. “Make no mistake about it, we have already had preliminary discussions in the White House for additional support for farmers if this impasse with China continues,” said Vice President Mike Pence, the vice president, during a May 9 event in Minnesota. But with no solutions on the table at the moment, and the vast majority of economists  rejecting the argument that tariffs are good for the United States, farmers are left wondering what will happen next.

Roger Johnson, president of the National Farmers Union (NFU), released this statement:

“China’s unfair and manipulative trade practices are clearly a problem that need to be fixed. But addressing these practices has created new problems for American farmers and ranchers in the form of lost export markets, a commodity glut, and severely depressed prices.

“We are more than a year into this trade war with China, and this most recent escalation suggests that there is no end in sight. At this point, we can’t expect export markets to go back to the way they were—the damage has already been done. In the long term, there needs to be a fundamental shift in the way we establish the economic sustainability of agricultural production in the U.S. But until that happens, struggling family farmers and ranchers are in desperate need of a lifeboat to keep them afloat, whether that’s another round of Marketing Facilitation Program payments or some other form of economic disaster assistance.”

Cornell’s Juliet Carroll Earns Excellence in IPM Award

Dr. Juliet Carroll, Fruit IPM Coordinator at Cornell University, earned the Excellence in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Award from the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYSIPM) at the Viticulture day of the B.E.V. (Business, Enology, Viticulture) conference in Rochester. The award honors individuals who encourage the adoption of IPM in their businesses, schools, communities, and farms, and who develop new tools and tactics for sharing these practices.

Dr. Carroll spearheaded the expansion of NEWA, a website and network that allows growers to understand how the weather will affect fungal and insect pests, and takes the guesswork out of their pest-management strategy. Carroll ran NEWA for over a decade. Under her leadership, NEWA went from 45 weather stations in New York State to over 500 in 12 states. Her work, along with Wayne Wilcox and Greg Loeb, on improving the user experience with the grape disease and grape berry moth models on NEWA, had an enormous impact on the implementation of grape IPM in New York.

Dr. Carroll also led the development of Trac software. Introduced in the early 2000s, the software simplified and digitized pesticide recordkeeping for large and small growers and processors alike. It allows farmers to input the information once, and generate customized reports for different processors. The software also includes reference to “IPM Elements” for grapes and other crops—a tool that helps growers assess their pest management practices.

Dr. Carroll built Trac software for five fruit crops, and partnered with a colleague to create TracTurfgrass for golf, lawns, sports fields and sod farms. Luke Haggerty, grower relations representative for Constellation Brands, calls Carroll’s TracGrape software “a true breakthrough” in recordkeeping. Of her work with NEWA, Haggerty says, “Julie has always been very proactive in developing and delivering the products needed for our growers to produce grapes in an environmentally and economically sustainable way.”

Tim Martinson, Cornell Cooperative Extension Viticulture specialist, noted, “IPM is built on information and decision-making tools. Juliet has built TracGrape and NEWA into useful, practical tools for growers.”

Dr. Carroll also co-edited organic production and IPM guides for grapes and several berry crops, and has regularly presented at Lake Erie Regional Grape Growers’ conferences and Coffee Pot meetings. She has conducted research on devastating pests, such as spotted wing drosophila (SWD), investigating whether hungry hummingbirds can provide meaningful control.

In addition, Dr. Carroll has chaired the Northeast IPM SWD working groups for the past decade, bringing research scientists, growers, industry reps, and extension educators from across the region together to help find solutions. Carroll has also helped fruit growers with bird management.

Learn more about integrated pest management at nysipm.cornell.edu.

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.

Can a Robot Be the Future of Berry Crop Pollination?

Photo by Yu Gu, West Virginia University

Recognizing both the sobering statistics for colonies of pollinators and the steadily increasing global population, scientists at West Virginia University, in a project funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s National Robotics Initiative, have created a robot called the BrambleBee. Says Dr. Yu Gu, Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at WVU, “We are not aiming at replacing bees. We are hoping to use the robotic pollinator in places where bees are not available or not enough.”

This includes high tunnels, where the growing season can be extended, but where pollination is more difficult because light diffusion makes it harder for honeybees to navigate the crops.

So far, the BrambleBee has been tested on blackberry plantings. Like a self-driving car, the BrambleBee is a robot that learns to navigate specific places. Using lidar—a detection system that works similarly to radar, but uses light from a laser instead of radio waves—the robot first creates a 3-D map of a greenhouse. It then passes through the rows again, with the purpose of reaching as many flowers as possible with its mechanical arm. After positioning itself in front of a plant, the BrambleBee takes photos of the plants and flowers and creates an even higher-resolution map.

When it finds a flower that’s ready for pollination, the BrambleBee extends a small 3-D-printed brush with flexible polyurethane bristles—modeled on the scopa, or hairs of the honeybee—to gently loosen the pollen. This transfers the pollen from the anthers to the pistils for pollination. The BrambleBee is thought to be careful enough to work alongside bees, as opposed to miniature pollinating drones, which may injure bees as they hover over and around crops.

Says Dr. Nicole Waterland, Associate Professor of Horticulture at WVU, “A robotic pollinator does not need to rest and could potentially pollinate continually.” Another benefit of the BrambleBee: the ability to work in multiple locations. Neighboring farms could share the cost of a unit and then transfer the robot between them for autonomous pollination.

The BrambleBee is still in the experimental stage, but early results are promising for it and other robotic tools. “We hope this is the beginning of a new era in crop production using robotic systems,” Waterland says. “We would like to utilize this platform as a start to create a robot that could act as a grower’s assistant. We hope the robot could help with monitoring the health status of the plant, e.g., monitoring water status and nutrient needs.”

FY 2019 H-2B Cap Relief Update

The Federation of Employers and Workers of America (FEWA) has shared this important update.

Last month, the Appropriations Committees filed the conference agreement on the FY 19 Labor-HHS and Department of Defense “minibus” appropriations bill, which includes a continuing resolution (CR) to maintain funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other federal Departments through December 7, 2018.  

What does this mean for H-2B?

The conference report that was filed would continue the Department of Labor (DOL) H-2B provisions that have been included in past funding bills.  No immediate changes to the program.

Cap relief is not included in this “minibus” bill that is expected to be signed into law.

What does this mean for H-2B Cap Relief?

The CR for the DHS though December 7 is important, as it relieves the pressure of a governmental shutdown.

The DHS funding bill passed by the House Appropriations Committee in July would exempt returning workers from the annual H-2B visa cap, along with other adjustments. The Senate Appropriations Committee–passed version of FY 2019 DHS funding bill asks DHS to consider a more equitable annual allocation of the 66,000 visas. 

Congress will not take up an FY 2019 funding bill for DHS after the November 7 elections. THIS WILL BE OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR H-2B CAP RELIEF. 

What can you do?

After this bill is signed into law, House members will be returning to their home districts to begin campaigning for election day. Meet with your representative at home and stress the importance the H-2B program has on your business and the need for immediate cap relief. View H-2B Cap Relief Talking Points.  

After November 7 elections, Congress will return to DC, and within the first week concentrate on electing leadership roles. Once that is complete they will have until December 7 to negotiate the remaining bills to fund the government. THIS WILL BE OUR OPPORTUNITY FOR THE H-2B RETURNING WORKER EXEMPTION. 

FEWA and the H-2B Workforce Coalition continue to urge Congress to include the House cap relief language in a final appropriations bill. FEWA’s Jarrod Sharp and Robin Svec will be in Washington, DC, later this month to further advocate for this language.

In addition to continuing to push for Congress to pass H-2B cap relief we will let you know when Congress votes on this legislation.

A Dozen Reasons Why the EWG “Dirty Dozen” List Is Not an Ethical Guide for Produce Selection

By Marvin Pritts, horticulture professor, Cornell University

Each year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) puts out a list of “dirty” fruits and vegetables that consumers are supposed to avoid because they contain pesticide residues. For the third year in a row, strawberries were number one on the list. The list is misleading, having been created without consideration of several important scientific and social/cultural issues, but its popularity with the press forces growers to struggle with educating customers who have bought into the EWG’s misleading messaging.

Here are some talking points to share with customers to explain why the EWG’s “dirty dozen” list shouldn’t be used to guide their produce selection.

1. Data used by the EWG counts the presence/absence of a residue, but does not consider the total amount of residue. This is not a valid method of assessing risk, since the amount of a residue is critical for determining if that residue is toxic.
2. Pesticide residues in plants are miniscule and are not know to have any health effects in mammals, whether the mammal is a baby or a sensitive adult. Nearly all fruits and vegetables have levels far below (often a million times lower) levels known to cause physiological effects in humans. Just because a residue exists does not mean it is toxic at such low levels.
3. Growers who rotate pesticides to reduce the risk of developing pesticide resistance will score more poorly on the EWG scale than growers who use large amounts of a single pesticide to control a pest.
4. Residue data from crops vary greatly depending on where a crop is grown. For example, strawberries grown in the warm, wet climate of Florida receive far more pesticide applications than strawberries grown in the Northeast, yet strawberries are ranked number one for residues, regardless of how and where they are grown. This creates a major disadvantage for local growers.
5. Plants produce natural pesticides so they don’t get eaten by pests. The amount of naturally produced pesticides is estimated to exceed human-applied residues by ten-thousandfold. The amount of synthetic pesticide residue is dwarfed by the amount of naturally occurring pest-deterring chemicals already present in plants.
6. Plants not treated to manage pests often have higher levels of natural pesticides.
7. Human systems have developed mechanisms to detoxify naturally occurring chemicals in the food we eat. These detoxification mechanisms work on both natural and synthetic chemicals, keeping us safe as long as these detoxification mechanisms are not overwhelmed.                    
8. Organically grown food also may contain pesticide residues. Organic growers face the same insect, fungal, and weed pests as conventional growers, so they often will use chemical sprays to manage them. Neither the organic residues nor the synthetic residues have ever been shown to be harmful to humans.
9. The health benefits of eating a strawberry—ranked number one on the “dirty dozen” list—far exceed any detriment from consuming a pesticide residue. For example, strawberries have more vitamin C than oranges by weight and are high in antioxidants and nutrients.
10. The EWG list discourages consumers from eating healthy fruits and vegetables such as spinach, tomatoes, grapes, and apples, which also rank high on the list and are known to be extremely good for health.
11. Consumers already eat far fewer fruits and vegetables than are recommended for good health. This is especially true for low-income populations. The EWG list can do harm to low-income groups by discouraging good eating habits.
12. The EWG approach to ranking risk is not supported by any scientific organization, has never undergone peer-review, and has never been published in a scientific journal. Recommendations regarding a person’s ability to reduce pesticide-residue exposure by altering eating habits are not supported by the data

Looking to Boost Exposure for Your Farm? Try Taste NY

With the growing season on the horizon, now is the time to look into opportunities to showcase your fruit outside the confines of your farm or typical farmers’ market appearances. Eighteen Taste NY market locations at service areas on the New York State Thruway will soon be open to visitors, and offer potential exposure to more than 200 million travelers who might not otherwise be able to try your products. Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office reports that sales of food products at Taste NY markets topped $13 million in 2017.

On the value of participating Taste NY, State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball says, “Taste NY farmers’ markets give our regional Thruway Service Areas a unique flavor and provide our farmers with a great opportunity to connect directly with new consumers. I encourage New York’s producers to consider participating this upcoming season and give travelers a chance to taste our agricultural products that are among the best in the world.”

View a list of participating service areas. To learn more about selling your fruit through Taste NY markets, e-mail TravelersServices@thruway.ny.gov.

About Taste NY

The Taste NY initiative has seen steady growth and recognition since it was created in 2013 by Governor Cuomo. The program reported sales of $1.5 million in 2014, tripled those figures to $4.5 million in 2015, and $13.1 million in 2016. Taste NY, which is overseen by the Department of Agriculture and Markets, has created opportunities for local producers to showcase their goods at a variety of venues throughout the State and at large public events, such as the Great New York State Fair and the Barclays Tournament at Bethpage State Park. It has also helped the farms and companies participating in the program to reach more customers, increase online sales, and, in many cases, expand the processing capacity of their business. Taste NY’s food and beverage businesses also support the State’s farmers by using New York grown and produced ingredients in their products.

Today, New York products sold under Taste NY branding are available in more than 70 locations throughout the State as well as the New York State Office of Trade and Tourism in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

For more information about Taste NY, visit www.taste.ny.gov. Connect with Taste NY through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Getting Ready for the Season and H-2A Applications

With a huge increase in applications to the H-2A guestworker program over the past few years an average processing time of 90 days, it’s critical for growers to submit their paperwork as early as possible, to avoid some of the delays we experienced last year in getting workers onto our farms. If you haven’t gotten started on your applications yet, now is the time to get moving. Here are some good guidelines to remember:

Review your farm’s work activities and rules, including related disciplinary policies (e.g., verbal warning, written warning, termination). Write them down; you’ll need them for your H-2A contract.

Create job descriptions for your H-2A workers. Be specific about the type of work and the physical requirements (e.g., bending, lifting, climbing a ladder, driving). Remember that, by law, your H-2A hires area allowed to work on only those tasks.

Determine whether you prefer to apply directly to the program, with or without the assistance of an agent, or hire a contractor to handle it. If you choose a contractor, clarify all responsibilities and fees up front, ask about compliance processes, and request references of previous customers, so you can make sure your money will be well spent.

Confirm that you can secure appropriate housing, including cooking facilities, if meals won’t be provided.

Create a plan for worker transportation, both to and from your farm at the start and end of the season, as well as daily transportation from worker housing to your farm and weekly trips to the grocery store. If you’re using your own van or car, make sure it’s up-to-date on maintenance and repairs.

For more considerations on the benefits and drawbacks of the H-2A guestworker program, read this overview from our neighbors at Community Involved in Supporting Agriculture.

And don’t start this season without checking out this downloadable PDF from Texas A&M on the difference between an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) audit and a raid, and how you can be prepared for either.

How Does the New Tax Bill Affect Farmers?

The new tax bill has been on many people’s minds, and none more so than farmers. The Farm Bureau endorsed both the House and Senate versions; however, as the New York Times reports, “Some of the president’s policies could actually harm the farm industry. New analyses of the tax law by economists at the Department of Agriculture suggest it could actually lower farm output in the years to come and effectively raise taxes on the lowest-earning farm households, while delivering large gains for the richest farmers.”

In a January 8 speech to the Farm Bureau convention in Nashville, President Trump stated that the tax overhaul will cut taxes by $5.5 trillion, and that most of those cuts will go to “working families, small businesses, and—who?—farmers.” In reality, individuals would receive $1.1 trillion, over 10 years, in tax cuts. According to the Times, “That falls to under $1 trillion when excluding tax cuts for businesses income from so-called pass-through companies, which are taxed through the individual code.”

Here are the major changes growers need to know about. The new tax bill:

• Lowers tax rates for pass-through entities, including sole proprietorships, LLCs, partnerships, and S corps. Some experts estimate that only farms with around $1 million in annual sales—about 4 percent of U.S. farms—are in a high enough tax bracket to benefit from the lower rate.
• Offers a new farm-equipment depreciation schedule: five years instead of seven.
• Eliminates the Section 199 deduction, which allows farm co-ops to deduct a portion of their expenses and. According to the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, this deduction is responsible for saving farmers in co-ops $2 billion annually in tax liabilities. Mother Jones reports that following pressure from agricultural groups, Senator John Thune (R.-S.D.) inserted a provision into the bill that would give co-ops a 20% deduction, the same as pass-through entities, “though it wouldn’t fully offset the loss of Section 199.”
• Makes health care less affordable for many. Farmers relying on Obamacare for health insurance may lose or end up paying significantly more for health coverage. It’s estimated that 17.6 percent of farm households currently get their health insurance through the individual market.
• Puts federal farm spending in danger of being cut due to the budget shortfall created by the bill. As Mother Jones puts it: “The Congressional Budget Office calculated that the Senate version of the tax bill would likely add $1.4 trillion to federal budget deficits over the next decade.” These may affect farm subsidies and crop-insurance support.
• Increases the federal estate tax exemption to $11.2 million for individuals and $22.4 million for a couple. While this is an undeniable boon, experts note that it’s likely to affect less than 2 percent of farms.
• Eliminates deductions for state taxes and mortgage interest, as well as property taxes. It may be possible to make a property tax prepayment for 2018 early and deduct it on your 2017 bill, but regulations vary by county and municipality. Ask your town tax collector if this is an option that’s open to you.

We’ll keep you posted on changes to the tax bill and how they affect you over the coming months.

Farmers' Market Finds with Dale Ila Riggs

This summer, NYSBGA board chair Dale Ila Riggs was interviewed by Albany radio station WEQX about how she got her start in farming and why growing and selling healthy, happy berries has become such an important part of her work. Listen to the interview through the link below.

Blueberries Offer a Host of Health Benefits, Including Improved Cognitive Function

Blueberries Offer a Host of Health Benefits

It’s no secret that a colorful fruits, especially blueberries, offer a variety of health benefits. From reduced risk of debilitating diseases to improved complexion and hair, blueberries are a nutritional powerhouse that have significant positive effects on human health. And new studies are showing that blueberries can even enhance cognitive function. With summer—and fresh berries—due to arrive in farmers’ markets and on farm stand shelves in a little more than a month, there’s never been a better time to incorporate fresh, local blueberries into your diet. 

Blueberries are chock-full of many health-promoting vitamins and compounds, including anthocyanins, a flavonoid that has been linked to protection against free radical damage and a decreased risk of cancer, obesity, and diabetes. The blueberry is also known to support heart health, with high levels of fiber, potassium, folate, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. Likewise, this humble fruit’s high levels of potassium, calcium, and magnesium all help to decrease blood pressure. Blueberries are also high in vitamin K, which improves calcium absorption—a low intake of which has been linked to an increased risk of bone fracture. Some studies even suggest that regular eating of blueberries can promote healthy skin and hair, increase energy, and contribute to weight loss.

Recent studies have demonstrated the blueberry’s positive effect on cognitive function. A pair of 2014 studies found that consumption of blueberries can improve short-term memory loss and motor coordination, and in patients with the neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson’s disease, consumption of blueberries has been linked to a reduced risk of cognitive decline.  Another study found that blueberries (in a freeze-dried powder form) may also have an effect on the onset of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. “The blueberry group demonstrated improved memory and improved access to words and concepts,” concluded lead author Robert Krikorian.

The latest study, published in March 2017 in the European Journal of Nutrition, provided more evidence that blueberry consumption improves cognitive function. The authors found that adults age 60 to 75 who consumed 24 grams of freeze-dried blueberry powder (the equivalent of one cup fresh berries) daily showed significant improvement in verbal memory, repetition, and task switching over their placebo-group counterparts.

Blueberry Nutrition at a Glance
A 1-cup serving of blueberries contains:

• 84 calories
• 3.6 grams of dietary fiber (14% of daily requirement)
• 0 grams of cholesterol
• 1.1 grams of protein
• .49 grams of fat
• 21 grams of carbohydrate
• 24% of an adult's recommended daily allowance of vitamin C, 5% of vitamin B6, and 36% of vitamin K
• Iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, manganese, zinc, copper, folate, beta-carotene, folate, choline, vitamin A, vitamin E
• Phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity, including anthocyanins, quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin and chlorogenic acid

Traveling Professors

Traveling Professors

How Overseas Research & Information Sharing Benefits Our Farms

By Marvin Pritts

Ever wonder what those Cornell professors do when they run off to another country? Oftentimes it’s to attend a conference, but occasionally we are asked to help a particular group of farmers with their production practices. Some may ask if we should be helping farmers in other countries—won’t they just end up competing with us in New York? And given that there are problems here at home, shouldn’t Cornell faculty just stay put and work on solving local problems?

In April, I had a chance to visit Chin State in the country of Myanmar. This country has been relatively isolated from the rest of the world, as it was under a military dictatorship for 50 years. Recently, it has had elections, so a democratic government is now in place. However, some of the outlying regions continue to have ethnic violence. Chin signed a peace treaty with the federal government in 2016, so it is now safe for foreigners to enter.

Although it is now safe to travel to Chin, this region has been cut off from the rest of Myanmar, and the world, for most of its existence. There is no real industry in Chin State. Travel to the capital city, Hakha, is an 11-hour drive on dirt roads from the nearest city with an airport (which has just one flight a day). Farming villages are even farther from Hahka. The roads in this state are one-lane, steep, and curved, with no guardrails and 1,000-foot dropoffs. During the rainy season, roads become impassable because of mud and landslides. Most of the country speaks Burmese and is Buddhist, while many different languages are spoken in Chin and Chin people are mostly Christian. All of these differences reinforce the isolation and makes education in this region difficult.

There is little to no flat land in Chin State. The hillsides are too steep for most grazing animals, except for goats. But having goats is risky, because they can escape through fences and eat valuable crops. The rain stops after the rainy season, so farmers then endure six months of drought. The capital city is too far to take goods to market, especially given the state of the roads.

People who live in villages in Chin are malnourished. It is estimated that 40 percent of the population suffers from protein, vitamin, and mineral deficiencies. Our task was to visit these villages, determine if anything could be done to help increase fruit and vegetable production and consumption, train extension educators, and advise about the curriculum used in the state agriculture institutes and the agricultural university at Yezin.

The people of Chin State were exceptionally friendly and open to new ideas. We shared information and techniques for drip irrigation, sources of nitrogen fertilizer, soil management, postharvest handling, and garden design, and I hope these will gain traction and be implemented. Farmers in the United States do not have to fear competition from a country that is struggling to feed itself.

Such activities in developing countries help spread Cornell’s reputation abroad. It also could pay dividends for us in the future. For example, apple and pear germ plasm grow wild in the hills. Developing a good relationship with Myanmar could give us access to new germplasm in the future. Establishing such relationships increases the probability that bright students will come to the United States to study. Also, when we can work with growers in another country to reduce their pesticide use and minimize environmental impacts, it benefits all of us. Myanmar is strategically located between China and India, so having friendly relations with them is politically beneficial. Finally, it is simply the right thing to do.

So while spending time in developing countries may not appear to benefit New York growers, we are laying the groundwork for future dividends to be paid.

The Berry Patch Pioneers Innovative Use of Exclusion Netting to Combat SWD

The Berry Patch Pioneers Innovative Use of Exclusion Netting

to Combat SWD

The Berry Patch, in tiny, rural Stephentown, has pioneered an innovative solution to spotted wing drosophila (SWD) infestation. Since it arrived in the United States in 2008, SWD has made it virtually impossible to grow commercially acceptable, pesticide-free raspberries and blueberries, but the Berry Patch’s experiments with exclusion netting seek to end crop losses.

Spotted wing drosophila is native to Southeast Asia. It first appeared in California in 2008, and spread to Florida the following year. By 2010, SWD had migrated to the Carolinas, Louisiana, Utah, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Northeastern fruit growers first went to battle with the insect in 2012, when an average of 80% of raspberry and 30% of blueberry crops—and approximately $4.3 million in revenue in NY state alone—were lost due to infestation of the fruit during its early ripening stages. Dale-Ila Riggs, co-owner of the Berry Patch and NYSBGA board chair, says, “This pest is a game-changer for berry growers nationwide. There are no natural enemies for it in the U.S.”

In 2012, Riggs lost about 40% of her lucrative blueberry crop to SWD. After observing some early research on the use of exclusion netting at Cornell University’s New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, she obtained a Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Farmer grant to test the use of the netting on her half-acre blueberry planting. Riggs adapted her existing bird-netting support system into a support system for the exclusion netting, with extra protections and anchoring to withstand thunderstorms, hail, and up to 60 mph winds. She then compared the fruits from the covered plot to the fruits grown in a control plot protected only with bird netting.

Berry Patch co-owner Dale-Ila Riggs adapted her existing bird netting structure to exclusion netting, with extra security features to help it withstand the volatile Northeastern climate.

The results were startling. Riggs documented an infestation rate of 0.7% and 0.3% in 2014 and 2015, and last year had a 0% infestation rate—a rate virtually unheard-of in agricultural systems.  Other farms around the country are taking notice, and have started to duplicate the Berry Patch’s successful growing system.

Riggs will set up her blueberry exclusion netting again in early July, prior to SWD’s summer activity. She also plans to experiment with the same exclusion netting for her high-tunnel raspberry planting for the first time this year. “With SWD, no one has been able to grow pesticide-free berries that are free from infestation,” Riggs notes. “The netting makes it possible. This is a highly effective method that brings new hope for growers.”

Doing “Nearly Everything Wrong”: A West Coast Farm with Northeastern Techniques

Doing "Nearly Everything Wrong":

A West Coast Farm with Northeastern Techniques

We’re always happy to see berries in the news, and we especially like to see stories that praise the growing and harvesting methods New York State growers have been using for decades. That’s why this April 17, 2017, story in the New York Times caught our eye.

The article, about Rick and Molly Gean, owners of the strawberry farm Harry’s Berries, near Los Angeles, touts growers who “do nearly everything wrong, at least according to the gospel of modern commercial berry farming.” The Geans started out with commercial strains of berries but now organically grow Gaviota and Seascape strawberries. They sell 500,000 pounds of berries per year, with 70 percent of their business at farmers’ markets; pints are priced at $8. The article states that Harry’s Berries are the preferred fruits of many West Coast chefs, and even a handful in the Northeast.

What’s most interesting about this article is the spotlight it shines on the Geans’ harvesting, which happens once every five days, to ensure peak ripeness. “Ripeness is all,” proclaims the piece. “When the berries run out, they run out, because the Geans would rather send a customer home empty-handed than with a berry that doesn’t meet their standards.”

While the article doesn’t acknowledge that New York’s independent berry growers have been harvesting only at peak ripeness for generations, this is a great talking point with customers. And while we may not have the advantage of year-round growing in a mild climate, our short season gives us the opportunity to highlight the berries as “limited edition,” available only for a few weeks a year. Keep a copy of the Times article in your farm store or at your market booth, and see if it sparks some important conversation.