New York Soil Health team member Michael Glos at the NY Soil Health Trailer, a mobile laboratory equipped with an interactive simulator showcasing the impact of rainfall on different soil types. Photo by Joseph Amsili / NYSH
Field Days Highlight Sustainable Farming Practices Across New York
By Kitty Gifford
The 2024 Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Field Days are poised to kick off again. Eleven events across the state will showcase practices for soil health and climate resilience in a variety of cropping systems. Organized by the New York Soil Health initiative in collaboration with a consortium of regional partners and farms, these field days aim to provide attendees with actionable knowledge and innovative techniques.
The series starts on June 12 with a Vineyard Soil Health Field Day at Betts Farm in Westfield, NY. Subsequent events include a Biochar Field Day at Hearty Roots Community Farm in the Hudson Valley on June 25, cover crops for cut flowers on July 16 in Poestenkill, NY, and more throughout the summer and fall.
As part of this statewide initiative, attendees can expect various offerings, from urban agriculture workshops to rural biochar and cover cropping demonstrations.
Highlights include:
- Vineyard floor management
- Cover crop options for different cropping systems and seasons
- Discussions on sustainable weed management strategies
- Rotational grazing and silvopasture systems
- New York Soil Health Trailer demonstrations
- Panels featuring local farmers and agricultural experts
Hands-on learning opportunities and expert insights will be at the forefront, ensuring participants have the tools to enact positive change on their farms and communities. Attendees can network with peers, exchange ideas, and explore innovative solutions to pressing agricultural challenges.
Collaborators and partners for the 2024 Field Day Series include Backbone Farm, Betts Farm, Cayuga Ag Enterprises, Cayuga SWCD, Cornell CALS, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cornell Small Farms, Franklin SWCD, Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming, King’s AgriSeeds, NYS Dept of Agriculture and Markets, NOFA-NY, Oechsner Farms, Propagate, Rodman Lott and Son Farms, Scenic Hudson, Tompkins SWCD, and USDA-NRCS.
For more information about each event, including locations, and to register, please visit fielddays.newyorksoilhealth.org.
Series Dates and Locations (more details coming soon!):
JUNE 12 | 10 AM – 3 PM
Vineyard Soil Health
Western NY – Betts Farm
7366 East Route 20, Westfield, NY 14787
JUNE 25 | 3:30 – 6 PM
Biochar Field Day Hudson Valley – Columbia County
Hearty Roots Community Farm
Germantown, NY 12526
JULY 16 & AUGUST 20 | 5:30 – 7:00 PM
Cover Crops for Cut Flowers
July 16th at 122 Garfield Road, Poestenkill, NY
August 20th at 266 Christie Road, Greenwich, NY
Eastern NY – Albany County
JULY 25 | 10 AM – 3:30 PM
Field Crops Soil Health Field Day
Seneca County
Rodman Lott & Son Farms
2973 NY-414, Seneca Falls, NY 13148
AUGUST 15 | 3 – 5 PM
Orchard Soil Health
Clinton County
Peru, NY
Registration coming soon!
AUGUST 19 (English) | 4 – 5:30 PM
AUGUST 20 (Spanish) | 4 – 5:30 PM
Summer Cover Crops
Long Island – Suffolk County LI Horticulture Research & Ext. Center
3059 Sound Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901
AUGUST 30 | TBA
Organic Field Crops –
Oechsner Farms 6521 NY-13, Newfield, NY 14867
Registration coming soon!
SEPTEMBER 24 | 10 AM – 12 PM & 1:30 – 3:30 PM
Soil Health in Rotational Grazing & Silvopasture
Schuyler & Tompkins County
10 AM – 12 PM | Backbone Farm, 5835 Goldenrod Hill, Trumansburg, NY
1:30 – 3:30 PM | Ramble On Farm, 3383 Colegrove Rd, Trumansburg, NY