Fruit acreage increases in New York State
ALBANY — Final numbers from the 2007 Census show that total acreage in New York State orchards increased from 2002 to 2007, according to Steve Ropel, director of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York Field Office.

In 2007, there were 2,639 fruit farms in New York with 99,658 acres of land in orchards and vineyards, down 2 percent in number of farms but up 1 percent in acreage from 2002.

Wayne County led all New York counties in apple acreage with 20,862. Wayne County's apple acreage grew 7 percent from 2002. Chautauqua County led all New York counties in grape acreage with 22,276. The acreage in Chautauqua County grew 15 percent from 2002.

The Census, which is conducted every five years, provides facts and figures on virtually every aspect of U.S. agriculture, including number and types of farm operations, the economic aspects of farm production and the demographics of U.S. farm operators.

Details on this and other Census data can be found on-line through the New York NASS Web site: www.nass.usda.gov/ny/.

U.S., state and county tables are available in PDF, Text, and CSV files. Printed copies will be available along with the CD-ROMS and a searchable database. For further information or assistance, call the New York office at 800-821-1276 or send an e-mail to nass-ny@nass.usda.gov.

Manure application being evaluated
CHAZY — Making the most of manure is the ongoing focus of research by the Cornell University Nutrient Management Spear Program (NMSP). With funding from the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program and New York Farm Viability Institute, field trials for evaluating various manure application practices are underway at the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy.

"The goal of this research is to determine the impact of different manure-application methods on nitrogen conservation, residue management and corn-crop yield," said Cornell graduate student Anne Place, who is working with NMSP.

Agronomist Eric Young, who recently joined the staff at Miner Institute, said results from this research will help farmers in Northern New York determine manure incorporation practices that can maximize nitrogen utilization with minimal soil disturbance.

Researchers are evaluating surface application of manure without incorporation into the soil, shallow incorporation of manure with an aeration tool, chisel incorporation and a farmer-selected incorporation tool at 10 farms throughout New York.

"Most farms, including the Miner Institute, selected the chisel plow as the third treatment," said NMSP leader Dr. Quirine M. Ketterings, lead investigator on the project.

Place collects soil samples before and after manure applications, at planting time, at sidedress time and when the corn is harvested. The samples are tested for nitrate levels, nutrient content, moisture and soil nitrogen supply potential using the Illinois Soil Nitrogen Test.

The research also includes data on soil compaction, residue coverage, late-season stalk nitrate levels, and corn crop yield and quality.

"What we have learned so far from the Miner Institute trial is that adding nitrogen will not overcome poor growing conditions, such as early-season wetness," Ketterings said. "We expect this second year of trials will provide a new opportunity to evaluate manure application methods under different weather and field conditions."

For more information on Northern New York agriculture, visit www.nnyagdev.org.

Farm renewable energy field days offered
MOOERS — The Small Farms Energy Work Team, a project of the Cornell Small Farms Program, is offering a series of on-farm renewable energy field days located around New York in late July and early August. Participants can come out and meet farmers who have installed small-scale solar, wind and hydro-power.

Attendees can learn about grants, energy audits and other energy resources available to farmers. Light refreshments will be provided. The field days are free and open to the public. Pre-register by calling Violet Stone or Adrienne Masler at 607-255-9227 or e-mail vws7@cornell.edu. Directions will be provided.

In Clinton County, the session will be held Saturday, July 25, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It will feature photovoltaics at Happy Haven Dairy Farm in Mooers. The 12.6-kilowatt PV (solar electric) system installed by Gary and Connie Menard produces enough electricity to offset about 25 percent of their dairy farm's annual energy needs. Assistance from The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture helped to reduce the cost of the six arrays.

For those times when the energy produced by the panels is greater than the needs of the farm, the excess flows into the utility grid. The Menards' electric meter will literally run backwards at such times, giving them full retail value for that energy.