Agricultural Update
Agriculture
and
February 2016
Life Sciences Institute
Economic Development and Innovative Workforce Services • 1000 East Henrietta Road, Bldg. 8-312 • Rochester, NY 14623 • 585.292.2065 • rking@monroecc.edu
MCC Helps Community Protect
Farmland, Avoid Land-use Conflicts
During 2015, Monroe Community
College’s Agriculture and Life
Sciences Institute (ALSI) engaged
local landowners, farmers,
municipal leaders and others
in workshops that explored
Agriculture & Farmland Protection
Plan funding opportunities.
Sixty-five guests participated in the March 2015 workshop
and forum, entitled Planning for the Future of Agriculture
by Monroe County Towns, at MCC’s Brighton Campus. The
event featured presentations by New York State Department
of Agriculture & Markets Farmland Protection Manager David
Behm, Farmland Protection Specialist John Brennan and ALSI
Senior Agriculture Specialist Bob King, Ph.D., CCA (pictured
above). Representatives from the towns of Chili, Ogden, Parma,
and Pittsford participated along with partners from Cornell
Cooperative Extension of Monroe County, Genesee Land Trust,
Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District and the
Monroe County Department of Planning & Development.
“The workshop brought landowners, farmers and local leaders
together in order to share information and address critical
agricultural issues,” says King. “By being conversant on critical
issues impacting agriculture and the food-related industry,
municipal leaders and the public can work together to promote
balance and quality of life within the community.”
Agriculture and Food Production
Targeted for Regional Economic
Development
In its 2015 strategic plan, United for Success, Finger Lakes
Forward, the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development
Council (FLREDC) identified agriculture and food production
as one of three industry clusters that have “unique strengths
for the Finger Lakes region” and are worthy of investment.
The plan referred to agriculture and food production as one of
the pillars that form the “foundation for sustainable economic
development” along with the optics, photonics and imaging, and
next generation manufacturing and technology clusters.
Each pillar was selected based on its potential to grow jobs,
increase regional wealth, drive private investment and help
reduce poverty. Agriculture and food production comprises:
• Food production
• Agriculture / Ag-tech
• Wineries & craft beverage
•Agri-tourism
• Controlled environment
agriculture
• Healthy, natural foods
• Sustainable farming
In December 2015, Governor Andrew Cuomo named the
FLREDC an Upstate Revitalization Initiative (URI) Best Plan
awardee. The FLREDC will receive $500,000 over the next five
years, in addition to economic development funds, to bring the
Finger Lakes region forward.
Attendees received information on issues such as quality of
life, tradition, economic activity, balance of economic uses,
agriculture and food related employment opportunities and food
security, as well as the knowledge of funding opportunities, such
as planning grants, to help mitigate these issues.
In October, ALSI staff partnered with the Monroe County
Planning & Development Department to present an update of
the Monroe County Agriculture & Farmland Protection Plan.
The fall workshop focused on helping landowners and farmers
avoid and reduce conflicts while promoting agriculture as a land
use. Topics included agricultural districts’ law, agricultural value
assessments, obtaining participatory assistance on an issue,
and local planning and zoning issues.
www.monroecc.edu/go/agriculture
Pictured above: Students in MCC’s Intro to Agriculture course
(AGS 101) visited Colby Homestead Farms in Spencerport
where they learned about the role of animals and the use of
automation and labor in agriculture.
www.growmonroe.org
Agriculture
and
Monroe Community College
Life Sciences Institute
www.monroecc.edu
Agriculture: A Growing Profession
MCC offers a 24-credit Agriculture and Food Studies certificate
that prepares students with fundamental knowledge and skills
required to succeed in the agricultural and food-related industry.
Courses are offered online and in the classroom. Training funds
are available for qualified workers through the Finger Lakes
Food Processing Cluster Initiative.
The certificates covers specific skills, including:
• Food quality
• Inventory management
• Food safety
• Documentation
• Supervision
• Team skills
• Communication
• Problem solving
The MCC Agriculture and Food Studies certificate is approved
by the State University of New York and the New York State
Department of Education. For more information, please visit
www.monroecc.edu /go/agriculture.
Mild Temperatures Prompt Questions,
Concerns
Local reporters are always eager to uncover the potential impact
of unusual weather patterns on agriculture. As reported by
WXXI 1370 and 13WHAM in December 2015, MCC’s Bob King
explained how last year’s late, hard frost helped farmers recoup
potential losses following a wet spring and dry summer. King
explained the benefits of freezing temperatures, including how
they help aerate the soil and allow water to penetrate in addition
to providing moisture for seedlings.
King shared how milder weather and longer periods of sunlight
into February may affect plants, especially perennials like lilacs,
by actually fooling plants into budding. When a plant or tree
buds too early it can become especially susceptible to freezing
temperatures. The mild-temperatures trend could enable insect
pests and diseases to carry over through the winter, creating
issues in the spring and summer for farmers.
What
is a
Certified Crop Adviser?
The Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) certification was established
in 1992 by the American Society of Agronomy to provide
a benchmark for practicing agronomy professionals. The
certification recognizes advisers/consultants who advise
growers or farm managers/operators on agronomic practices.
More than 13,000 professionals, including MCC Senior
Agricultural Specialist Bob King, Ph.D., hold this certification.
Connect
with
MCC
www.monroecc.edu
Anne M. Kress, Ph.D.
President
Monroe Community College
(585) 292-2100
PresidentKress@monroecc.edu
Agricultural Update
Seniors Learn About Sustainability
the Future of Farming
and
In May 2015, ALSI staff
partnered with Irondequoit
Senior Ministries to host a
“Maturity Matters” session
for members of St. Kateri
Tekewitha Parish. Twentyseven participants learned
about the future of farming
in Monroe County and
toured MCC’s greenhouse.
Participants received information on new products, production
practices, controlled climates and sustainability. The session
was prompted by Irondequoit Senior Ministries Director Pat
Gambacurta who contacted ALSI Senior Agriculture Specialist
Bob King, Ph.D. after seeing the televised agricultural
documentary Locally Grown. MCC faculty and students helped
present the two-hour workshop.
Churchville-Chili Students Make
“Career Connections”
In November 2015, ALSI staff and MCC Biology faculty visited
Churchville-Chili Middle School and helped fifth- and sixthgrade students make “career connections” to agriculture and
food-processing fields. Seventy students learned about career
opportunities in food processing, food safety, edible plant part
identification and human and plant nutrition. In addition to
handling and identifying fruits and vegetables sourced from
local farmers’ markets, the students received handouts on
edible plant parts and the MCC Home Vegetable Garden Guide.
The guide was produced by MCC students and is available
online at www.monroecc.edu/go/agriculture.
So far my experience in the agricultural program at MCC
has been an eye-opener. … I enrolled in the program as a
result of my desire to learn more about hydroponics and
aquaponics and a need to be better at farming. I wanted to
grow apples first, and now I want to grow sustainable crops
and be profitable doing what I love to do when I’m older.
~ Craig Tower, electrician, returning adult student in
MCC’s Agriculture and Food Studies Certificate program
(Source: Country Folks West, July 20, 2015)
Todd M. Oldham, MBA
Vice President
Economic Development and Innovative Workforce Services
(585) 292-3792
toldham@monroecc.edu
Bob King, Ph.D., CCA
Director and Senior Agriculture Specialist
Agriculture and Life Sciences Institute
(585) 292-2065
rking@monroecc.edu