As an Upstate Institute Field School Fellow, this summer I had the opportunity to work with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Central New York Regional Field Crop Specialist. Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) provides a variety of important services for local communities including regional agricultural programs, outreach and education, insect pest monitoring, plant variety trials, as well as other agricultural and sustainability-related initiatives. In addition to the county offices located across the state, Cornell Cooperative Extension has five regional Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crop teams. The regional teams offer expert advice to farmers about managing their farms.
Before working with Cornell Cooperative Extension, I had limited agricultural experience and did not know much about farms. I naively did not appreciate how many small decisions and factors farmers weigh for food to be on our table. I found it surprising and very impressive how farmers balance so many different things. CCE serves a wide range of people within the community. The county offices organize various information including education surrounding healthy eating habits, youth education, or open farm days, while the regional teams tend to work more closely with farmers. Both the regional teams and the county offices work with the community to research how policy changes might impact their lives and jobs.
The Central New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crop team covers eight counties: Madison, Fulton, Chenango, Herkimer, Montgomery, Otsego, Saratoga, and Schoharie. This summer I worked directly with the Central New York Field Crop specialist, meaning I spent a lot of time conducting fieldwork and farm visits. The fieldwork was primarily centered around insect pest monitoring, a soybean variety trial, and miscellaneous farm visits. We monitored insect pests to inform farmers if they should spray an insecticide. Preventing unnecessary insecticide spraying saves farmers money and reduces chemicals in the environment. The soybean variety field trial will help inform farmers what soybean varieties produce the most profitable plants, or in other words, the plants with the highest yield and lowest production cost. This research benefits farmers, who often live close to the margins and small price changes can be the difference between making a profit or not. The most important part of the trial is the harvesting that will occur in September after I have left. Harvesting will tell the participating companies what the final yield of each variety was.
Throughout the summer I have also helped with data collection that was sent out in a weekly newsletter to farmers to keep them informed of regional trends. This newsletter included weather reports, crop growth status, and pest levels. Additionally, I helped with data and sample collection for field trials in response to New York’s Birds and Bees Act which bans neonicotinoid insecticides.
This summer was the perfect opportunity to witness themes from my two majors at Colgate, Environmental Studies and Biology, in a tangible setting. My biological background helped me understand the scientific trends and ecological interactions that occur on farms across the state, while my environmental studies courses equipped me with a better appreciation of the impact that the environment has on people. After my time on farms this summer, I have a greater appreciation for the thought and time that goes into food production and the careful ecological balance that must be maintained on farms.
Reflecting on my time with CCE and the Upstate Institute this summer, I feel very lucky to have this opportunity. I explored many pockets of Central New York that I likely would not have seen otherwise, and feel like I have a better sense of where I live and go to school. I feel a great sense of pride when I drive around with my friends and can identify what crops are growing in the various fields we pass. This summer was a fantastic opportunity to apply the knowledge I have learned in my classes and learn more about the community beyond Colgate.