NORWICH – 4-H continues to be one Cornell’s most successful programs locally, but its executive director wishes they could do even more. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County provided a review of agricultural programming to the county’s Agriculture, Buildings and Grounds Committee Tuesday.
Ken Smith, the agency’s executive director, told the committee many of the programs continue to be successful in Chenango County, 30 percent of which is farmland. CCE, which has existed since 1914, reaches out to local farmers and rural families in order to help educate and facilitate growth.
“4-H is one of our most important programs,” said Smith. 4-H is a national youth development organization that, locally, aims to inform youth about agricultural opportunities.
Cattle judging, livestock teams and tractor safety are some of the most successful aspects of the local 4-H program, according to Smith. Recently, one of the livestock teams won the regional Horse Bowl.
Children and young adults aren’t the only ones benefiting from CCE. Smith’s report indicated that an extensive dairy and field crop team works with farmers to “improve profitability” and “reduce impact on the Chesapeake watershed.” The team consults with individual farmers in order to provide advice and information about new regulations being considered by the Department of Environmental Conservation.
One such regulation is the banning of winter manure spreading, which Smith said would be a large financial hurdle for local farmers. However, he does not anticipate any law to go into effect in the immediate future. Supervisor Robert Briggs, R-Afton, chair of the committee, commented on the necessity of getting this information to local farmers.
“This will affect almost every town,” he said. “As a farmer you might like to know what’s coming down the pipe.”
CCE also provides the Second Career Program for individuals or families interested in agriculture as a part-time job. The program is an opportunity for people to get involved with farming while still maintaining other employment. Smith said between 500 and 600 of the 900 farms in Chenango County are actually run by “hobby farmers.”
Despite the success of many of the CCE programs, Smith says he wishes he could do more. Much of the aid provided by state and federal sources is actually going to waste, he said. Around $20,000 worth of checks from the federally-funded health and nutrition program for women, infants, and children (WIC) are meant for farmer’s markets in Chenango County, he explained. “About half get thrown away.” Briggs said he would like to see this money “get to local farmers instead of K-Mart or Wal-Mart.”
Supervisor Dennis Brown, D-Pharsalia, asked if there was anything more the Board of Supervisors could do to keep money flowing to the agricultural community. “I know ... sometimes the best way to get things done is to spend some money,” he said. He then proposed that Smith return to the committee next month with a report on what more could be done and what amount of revenue and personnel would be required.