News
Farmer Neighbor Dinner Announced
The Cattaraugus County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board, along with the Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism, the Cattaraugus County Farm Bureau, the Cattaraugus County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board will host the Fourth Annual Cattaraugus County Farmer-Neighbor Dinner on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at the West Valley Fire Hall, 9091 Route 240, West Valley, NY.
New Support for Veterans and Advanced Beginning Farmers
The Cornell Small Farms Program announced on February 2, 2015 that they received a 3-year grant, from USDA’s Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program (BFRDP), to assist Veterans and Advanced Beginning Farmers (3-9 years of farming experience). View more information on these services.
New Western New York food site
New Western New York local foods site! FreshLocalWNY.org has a local food guide, WNY Harvest Chart and more about local food in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties.
FreshLocalWNY.org has a list of Cattaraugus County businesses and their products too.
“Wednesdays in the Arboretum” Series
Cornell University Cooperative Extension’s Master Gardeners in Cattaraugus County will present a free gardening lecture series called “Wednesdays in the Arboretum”.
Every Wednesday evening, beginning July 9 through August 20, 2014 there will be two lectures at the Nannen Arboretum at 28 Parkside Drive, Ellicottville, NY from 7:00-8:30 PM. There are informational and exciting programs planned for each evening. Master Gardeners and other local experts will be conducting the classes.
See Honeybees at Work: USDA Launches BeeWatch
At the ribbon cutting of the USDA Headquarters People’s Garden in April 2010 plans were already in place to install a beehive on the roof of the Whitten Building as well as a “bee-cam” so anyone anywhere could learn about bee activity. USDA’s newest ‘buzzing’ residents were welcomed on Earth Day but the bee cam was put on hold. 18 gallons of honey later, that idea has finally come to bee. See what the bees are up to on any given day by viewing the video buzz.
2012 Census Of Agriculture's County Profile
The Census of Agriculture is conducted every 5 years, for the same years as the Economic Census and the Census of Governments. Starting with reference year 1997, the agriculture census has been conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). For 1992 and earlier years, the census was conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau or its predecessors. The Census of Agriculture accounts for all U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them.
2014 Conservation Farm of the Year: Tim Ploetz
Tim Ploetz and family own and operate a cow-calf beef operation on Jackman Hill Road in the Town of Ellicottville. They have been participating in the Agricultural Environmental Management planning program, and recently completed several best management practices to address agricultural runoff from the farmstead and to improve water quality. These practices include a covered concrete barnyard and drystack manure storage, roof runoff management, and a composting facility for livestock mortality. The farm has worked very closely and cooperatively with both the Cattaraugus County Soil &
2014 Friend of Agriculture: Charlesworth Family
The Charlesworth Family Farm began in the 1940's by John H. and Georgia Charlesworth. At an early age, John R. worked alongside his parents to learn the ins and outs of a successful farm. After marrying Mary, his wife of now fifty years, John continued the tradition of a family farm with her and their four children.
2014 Farm of the Year: Sprague's Maple Farm
Randy Sprague began sugarin' thirty years ago on a small scale, as a hobby. "I used to visit the Deschler Farm when I was a kid," says Randy, " and I would watch Van Deschler making and finishing maple syrup. I just fell in love with it." In the beginning, Randy would just make enough syrup for the family's use or to give a little away. A couple of years later, he decided to expand into a commercial operation, which meant a major shift with larger equipment.
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