Dairy & Livestock

USDA Milk Loss Assistance for Dairies Impacted by 2020-2022 Disaster Events

Were you forced to dump milk during any of the winter storms of 2022?If so, please visit your FSA office to determine eligibility of relief through USDA.

Producers have until Monday, October 16, 2023 to complete the required paperwork for submission.

Click here for more information.

Workshop: Integrated Parasite Management for Goats & Sheep Workshop

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 – 10:00am-2:00pm

CCE Schoharie and Otsego Counties Cobleskill Office – 173 S Grand St, Cobleskill, NY 12043

Price: Registration, $40 (Addl. attendees $40.00 each)

Host: Central New York Dairy and Field Crops Team

Internal parasites are one of the largest health issues that affect sheep and goats across the country. Many producers are unaware how important it is to understand parasites in their flocks. In this workshop, producers will learn the basics of parasite control as well as how to develop integrated parasite management programs for their farms that include evasive grazing and selective deworming and/or alternative treatments. We will also go over the current status of several alternative methods of parasite control.

As part of this workshop you will receive hands-on training on how to use the FAMACHA© Anemia Guide (good only for the barber pole worm) and five point checks to determine the need for treatment and how to do fecal egg identification and analysis.

You are encouraged to bring a refrigerated fecal sample of 8 to 10 fecal pellets in a baggie from one sheep or goat at your farm to the workshop. In the interest of biosecurity please wear clean clothes and shoes to the workshop and plan to change them prior to doing your own farm chores.

Register here.

Webinar: Navigating the "New & Improved" MeatSuite

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 – 7:00pm-9:00pm, Online via Zoom

Price: Free

Cornell University, in conjunction with our partners at NC State University’s NC Choices program, is pleased to announce a webinar to help your farm gain new customers through MeatSuite.com. The presentation will introduce and review the basics of MeatSuite.com, a free directory for NC and NY farmers to list meat sold in bulk, how to log-in, navigate the site, and create or edit your products and profile. Registration is free.

Navigating the "New & Improved" MeatSuite: Learn the basics of MeatSuite, from log-in to submitting your products and profiles for listing on the site. We’ll cover some of the new features and make a recording of our click-by-click tour for you to watch again while working on your profile.

Join Zoom meeting here.

Speaker Bios:

Matt LeRoux, Extension Associate, Cornell University

Matt has over 20 years’ experience serving farms through Cornell Cooperative Extension, non-profits, and consulting. Specializing in market strategy, Matt works with a diverse mix of produce and livestock farmers and food businesses. Career highlights include developing the Marketing Channel Assessment Tool for produce growers and the Cornell Meat Price Calculator.

Lee Menius, Technical Specialist, NC Choices

Menius is an NCSU Animal Science Graduate working in the local food scene for over 20 years. Menius owns and operates Wild Turkey Farms in China Grove, NC, which has spent the majority of its time providing pasture raised meats direct to consumers and restaurants since its founding in 1998.In 2016, Lee opened Carolina Craft Butchery, an NCDA inspected butcher shop along with his wife, Domisty Menius. Lee has worked with Cooperative Extension, Rowan Soil & Water Conservation District, NC Farm School, and NC Choices where his work has focused on educational projects and working with farmers and processors to develop effective and profitable systems. Throughout his career, Lee has led numerous workshops and producer training on topics such as business planning, processing, and outdoor swine production. 

Livestock Processing Resources

Cornell Small Farms Guide to Direct Marketing Livestock and Poultry (2019 revision):
https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Marketing-Livestock-Guide-2020-updated.pdf

Niche Meat Processing Assistance network:
https://www.nichemeatprocessing.org/

USDA FSIS Small & Very Small Plants Guidance Resources page:
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/compliance-guidance/small-very-small-plant-guidance

Cornell Sheep and Goat Marketing Page:
sheepgoatmarketing.info

Relevant Webinars:

• Creative Slaughterhouse Workarounds:  View Recording
  • In this interactive discussion, we aim to help you regain some sense of control over how, when and where you get your livestock processed, and how you sell meat to customers.

• Starting a Red Meat Slaughterhouse:  View Recording
  • Learn the primary considerations for opening a red meat slaughter and processing facility in NYS, from infrastructure to regulations and from labor to financing.

• How to better communicate with your Meat Processor: View Recording
  • This webinar covers how to effectively work with your local meat processor, communicate cut instructions, and understand the difference between USDA and custom cutting. 

CNYDFC Team Upcoming Events

NY Grazing Coalition – Upcoming Pasture Workshops and Related Events

• Webinars by eOrganic - Available anytime!
• NRCS Conservation Webinars On-Demand - Search for pasture and grazing related topics.
• Penn State Extension Webinars - Find educational material about dairy cattle, including nutrition and feed management, grazing, health and care, reproduction, facilities and technology, and business management.

Last updated September 11, 2023