X

NNY Ag Development Program reports on successful alfalfa pest research

Posted 1/14/19

The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has posted its annual report highlighting the research and results worthwhile to local farmers. Recent NNYADP projects have addressed challenges …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

NNY Ag Development Program reports on successful alfalfa pest research

Posted

The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has posted its annual report highlighting the research and results worthwhile to local farmers.

Recent NNYADP projects have addressed challenges and opportunities related to climate adaptability for cows, crops, and conservation; as well as developing birch syrup as a niche product to help Northern NY maple producers grow into the region’s $10 million annual sales potential as identified by Cornell University.

Other NNYADP research is building on food buyer, consumer, and farmer interest expressed in the NNY local food hub feasibility survey, and providing valuable pollinator-friendly information to the emerging NY honey industry and to NY apple growers.

The cold-hardy grape research nursery at Willsboro has just begun evaluating new varieties suggested by growers, plant breeders and the leading academic programs for production in New York State, and early commercial-scale production data from the “super fruit” Juneberry nursery at Willsboro is now encouraging on-farm trials.

As evidence of the combined long-term commitment by New York State and the NNYADP to funding and finding a solution to the devastating alfalfa snout beetle, the annual report notes that the biocontrol application developed in NNY has not only restored alfalfa production regionally but is now finding use to manage pests in other crops across New York State and elsewhere in the U.S.

The 12-page report is at www.nnyagdev.org.