OSWEGO, NY – The Oswego City School District Board of Education will be conducting its committee and regular meetings on Tuesday at the Oswego High School Anthony J. Murabito Media Center.

Committee meetings will commence at 5 p.m. with curriculum, finance and personnel while the regular meeting will follow immediately.

The committee meetings are open for public comments and are held to approve placement of  resolutions on the March 25 regular meeting agenda.

On the March 11 agenda, facing action, are several resolutions connected to the May 20 Oswego City School District budget and board member election.

A resolution is also on the agenda to nominate Dave White as a continuing member of the BOCES board representing Oswego.

FULTON, NY – Team slots are disappearing quickly for this year’s OCO Retro Bowl, the annual bowling tournament fund raiser to benefit Oswego County Opportunities.

Retro Bowl takes place on April 5, at Lakeview Lanes.

OCO holds this fundraiser every spring to help support its programs and services.

The OCO Retro Bowl takes place from noon – 6 p.m.

Registration is $100 per team (five bowlers).

Choice of flights is available on a first come, first served basis: noon – 2:30 p.m. or 3 – 5:30 p.m.

Businesses and individuals are invited to donate door prizes for the raffles and silent auction, and major sponsors are being solicited as well.

“This year’s proceeds will focus on ‘filling the empty plates’ of those who lack the resources to provide healthy meals for themselves and their families. We’re focusing on ways to reduce and eliminate hunger in Oswego County,” said OCO Executive Director Diane Cooper-Currier. “OCO is an anti-poverty agency, and it’s our mission to fight poverty in many forms – including the inability to afford or prepare nutritious meals.”

The funds support existing services as well as help build financial resources for the community’s future.

Every level of support makes a difference, Cooper-Currier said.

“At OCO, more than 90 cents of every dollar received goes right back out to help people. That’s much higher than the national average for non-profits in the United States,” she said. “You can give with confidence that your money is working hard to combat the forces of poverty and hunger close to home.”

The 2014 OCO Retro Bowl is sponsored by “Making a Difference” Sponsor G&C Foods, and “Building Dreams” Sponsors NRG Oswego Harbor Power, LLC; Oswego County Federal Credit Union; POMCO; and the Walmart Foundation.

For registration or sponsor information, or to donate a door prize, contact OCO at 598-4717 or visit www.oco.org

A private, non-profit agency, OCO’s many programs touch the lives of more than 30,000 Oswego County residents each year.

One of Oswego County’s largest employers, OCO employs more than 600 people and boasts a volunteer force of 1,200.

OCO strives to improve the quality of life in Oswego County by helping people, supporting communities and changing lives.

For more information, visit www.oco.org

Senator Patty Ritchie, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, recently unveiled her “Young Farmers NY” plan to address issues related to the advancing average age of New York farmers and to preserve the future of family farming.

The initiative will support and encourage a new generation of farmers and help strengthen the state’s leading industry for decades to come.

Senator Ritchie is pictured with Jessica and Orion Behling, New York Farm Bureau president Dean Norton and Senator Cathy Young)

“Young Farmers NY,” which was announced at a Capitol news conference, is a series of proposals to smooth the transfer of farmland to the next generation, preserve existing farmland, and help young farmers overcome obstacles to give them a greater opportunity for a successful career in agriculture.

“Farming is critically important to the economic success of our state. It’s also a way of life, handed down from generation to generation,” said Senator Patty Ritchie. “But the next generation of family farmers is being driven off the land by skyrocketing start-up expenses, tight profit margins, and high risk. The real risk we face is a continuing decline in family farms if we don’t do more to preserve them by investing in the next generation of farmers.  The Senate plan would do that and more.”

The senator was joined at the news conference by Orion and Jessica Behling, co-operators of Behling Orchards, a family-run apple farm in Mexico. Orion is also president of Young Farmers and Ranchers of Oswego County.

Mr. Behling said, “When farming is in your family’s DNA, it’s hard to imagine doing anything else. Farming is hard work at any age, but beginning farmers face particular challenges in starting their business, and the Senate’s plan takes away some of the uncertainty, and helps us create a foundation for future success.”

Young Farmers NY is in response to research that shows the average age of New York farmers is increasing, as fewer young people pursue farming careers.

According to new data from the USDA Census of Agriculture, the average age of New York farmers is now 57.1 years.

There are two farmers aged 65 and older for each one under age 35.

This and other factors lead to farmland being lost forever to development.

About 50,000 acres of farmland were lost in New York in each of the last five years, the federal agency reported.

Young Farmers NY addresses these problems in two ways, by helping to encourage more young people to consider a farming career, and by reducing financial roadblocks to starting a new agriculture business.  The plan calls for a state investment of more than $30 million.

Highlights of the Young Farmers NY program include:

Loans, grants, and tax credits for the sale or lease of land and equipment, as well as for new technological innovations;

Estate tax reforms to encourage farm preservation from generation to generation; and

Agricultural education efforts including an apprenticeship program, student loan forgiveness and increased funding for the in-school Future Farmers of America (FFA) program.

Dean Norton, president of New York Farm Bureau said, “As the average age of farmers grows each year, it is imperative that we encourage and promote the development of our young farmer community. This plan is designed to not only help young farmers that are already involved in agriculture, but to get more young people involved in farming. New York Farm Bureau thanks Senator Skelos, Senator Ritchie and the Senate Republican Conference for their work to ensure that New York State agriculture remains the state’s top industry.”

Additional components of the Young Farmers NY program include the following:

LAND OWNERSHIP

The biggest single obstacle to starting a farm business is the high cost of land, equipment and supplies for starting farmers. Long-time farmers face pressure to sell to developers for higher prices than can be gained from keeping land in farming, lenders can be wary of extending credit to untested new farmers, and the state’s tax code makes it difficult for farmers to pass on their business to the next generation. Young Farmers NY seeks to help prospective farmers overcome these obstacles.

Young Farmer Farm Preservation Tax Credit: Provides eligible farmers with up to 10 percent of the sale or rental price for the sale or lease of land or equipment to a new farmer. This preserves farmland, allows retiring farmers a more equitable return on their lifelong investment, and lowers the cost of farmland for beginning farmers. ($5 million)

Young Farmer Revolving Loan Fund: Provides $5 million for start-up loans for land and equipment purchases by new farmers. ($5 million) Young Farmer Innovation Grants: Allocates up to $50,000 for new farmers through a competitive grant program that seeks to encourage new technology or production innovation. ($1 million)

Farm Savings Accounts: Establishes savings accounts similar to college or retirement accounts.  Savings intended for the purchase of farmland or equipment would grow tax-free. ($5 million)

Estate Tax reform: Increases the estate tax exemption and lower rates as proposed in the Executive Budget. ($14 million)

AGRICULTURE EDUCATION

Just as many other successful industries, modern farming relies on technology and cutting-edge information to improve production, cut costs and boost profits.

Young Farmers NY includes:

Young Farmer Apprenticeship Program: Provides funding to BOCES programs to establish partnerships with real working farmers to help young people gain hands-on experience they can bring to their own successful farm operation. ($500,000)

Young Farmer Student Loan Forgiveness Program: Directs the Board of Regents to establish a student loan forgiveness program for up to 10 agriculture degree graduates annually who agree to work full-time in agriculture a minimum of five years. ($100,000)

Funding for Agriculture Education: Increases funding for the in-school FFA program, which encourages careers in agriculture. There are 77 FFA chapters in New York, including in New York City. ($158,000)

As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Ritchie has been a leader is supporting family farming.

Over the past three years, she successfully fought to restore budget funds affecting key agricultural research, education and marketing programs.

Senator Ritchie also spearheaded the “Grown in New York” plan and other important new laws to help boost farmers’ bottom lines, including a cap on farmland tax assessments and increased funding for tractor rollover prevention efforts, additional agriculture research, marketing and promotion.

The Young Farmers NY program will be included in the Senate’s budget resolution.

“The future of agriculture in New York is bright, and we can strengthen our rural, farm economy by taking steps now to preserve family farming for the next generation,” said Senator Ritchie.

The next Oswego County Corn and Soybean Growers pest management meeting will be held March 31 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Oswego County Federal Credit Union, 5828 Scenic Ave., Mexico.

Presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County, the workshop will provide management techniques for corn and soybean growers in Oswego County to aid them in variety selection, weed control, insect management, and proper planter maintenance.

Three NYS DEC Recertification Credits have been approved in categories 1a, 10, 21 and 23.

Dr. Russell Hahn, associate professor, Department of Crop and Soil Science “Strategies to Control Problem Weeds in Field Crops.”

Discussion about his field experiences and research utilizing different practices to control problematic weeds in field crops.

Ken Wise, NYS IPM Field Crops, “Controlling Various Field Crop Pests.”

Information about field crop pests that growers will see in the upcoming season and discuss control methods that they can utilize to reduce plant issues.

Dr. Elson Schields, professor, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, will present his findings of how to deal with instances of BT Corn Rootworm Resistance in corn and options farmers have.

Jonathan Schell, Agriculture Team coordinator CCE Oswego County, will talk about row planters and grain drills on proper calibration and operation to ensure correct fertilizer, insecticide application as well as proper yields of soybeans and corn.

Lunch included in workshop/training $20 fee.

Pre-registration is required.

Please return registration form or call in reservation by March 26.

If you have questions or if you have any special needs, please call Cornell Cooperative Extension at 315-963-7286.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County has a deep-rooted local presence that is responsive to the needs of our communities.

In addition to the support we provide to our county’s agricultural community, we also offer many outreach programs on the importance of nutrition and food preparation.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County’s mission is to interpret, disseminate, and deliver research-based information and knowledge on issues relevant to Oswego County youth, individuals, families, farms, small businesses, and communities; and further, to contribute to improving the quality of life in Oswego County through education and empowering volunteers and staff to lead, guide, and teach.

For more information go to www.thatscooperativeextension.org