ny crop grower 7.9.12

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New York Corn and Soybean Association • Summer 2012 • Page 1 The New Y The New Y ork Cr ork Cr op Gr op Gr ower ower A publication of the NY A publication of the NY Cor Cor n & Soybean Gr n & Soybean Gr owers Association owers Association Summer 2012, V Summer 2012, V ol. 2 No. 6 ol. 2 No. 6 NYCSGA Board Announces Two New Directors p. 4 & 12 Exec. Director Travels to Central America on Soybean Learning Tour p. 7 Will We Have A Farm Bill This Year? p. 4

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New York Crop Grower July 9, 2012

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The New YThe New York Crork Crop Grop GrowerowerA publication of the NYA publication of the NY CorCorn & Soybean Grn & Soybean Growers Associationowers Association

Summer 2012, VSummer 2012, Vol. 2 No. 6ol. 2 No. 6

NYCSGA Board Announces Two New Directors p. 4 & 12Exec. Director Travels to Central America on Soybean Learning Tour

p. 7Will We Have A Farm Bill This Year? p. 4

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New York Corn andSoybean Growers AssociationPresident, Steve Van VoorhisHenrietta, 585-746-1542

Vice President, Ron RobbinsSackets Harbor, 315-382-3883

Secretary/Treasurer, Ralph LottSeneca Falls, 315-568-9501

Board MembersRoger Arliss, Pit FarmClyde, 315-521-0488

Adam L. CraftWilliamson, 315-589-2386

Todd Du Mond, Du Mond Ag, LLCUnion Springs, 315-252-9191

Loren Herod, Community Bank NAGeneva, 315-781-2138

Bill Jenkins, Jenkins FarmWyoming, 585-786-5793

Seth Pritchard, Catalpa FarmCanandaigua, 585-748-3334

Mike Stanyard,Cornell Cooperative Extension Newark, 315-331-8415

Tom Sutter, Monroe TractorHenrietta, 585-334-3857,585-730-1853

Jason Swede, Gary Swede FarmsPavilion, 585-243-9739

Tim Taylor, SeedSource, LLCSkaneateles, 315-374-2611

Raymond DeanAuburn, 315-209-7183

Beth Chittenden, Dutch Hollow FarmSchodack Landing, 518-732-4633

Julia Robbins Executive DirectorSackets Harbor, 315-778-1443

The New York Corn and Soybean Growers Association is agrassroots organization representing corn and soybeanproducers’ interests. The Association works todevelop and expand markets, educate members, andenhance public policy for corn and soybean growers in theEmpire State. The Association sponsors research on cornand soybean production, utilization and marketing andhosts educational programs.

t's hard to believe it's July already. Itseems like yesterday it was January andthe New York Corn & Soybean Growers

Association was getting ready for the winterCorn & Soybean Expo. Instead, we're nowlooking forward to putting on our bestSummer Crop Tour to date. We have KenFerrie back again this year to talk aboutimplementing variable rates, as well asnearly three dozen exhibitors, and of course,Dinosaur Barbeque for lunch.

In addition to the Summer Crop Tour, theboard and our volunteers are busy preparingfor the Empire Farm Days NYCSGA foodbooth. When browsing the latest in tractorsand combines makes you hungry, make sureyou stop by our booth to refuel for the restof your day at EFD. NYCSGA will also have acheckoff display, highlighting what we'redoing to educate consumers about modernagriculture practices, as well as to showcaseyour checkoff dollars at work.

Speaking of putting your checkoff to work:included in this edition of the Crop Grower isa list and descriptions of the researchprojects that were funded this year by theNew York soybean checkoff. The NYCSGAboard and I think that there is a lot of valuefor growers in these projects, and we areanxious to share the results of ourresearchers' hardwork.

Finally, I'd like tothank the growersand grain dealers forcooperating with usduring our transitionfrom a membershiporganization to aQualified StateSoybean Board(QSSB). I understandthat this processhasn't been seamlessat times, but I amconfident thatkeeping your soybeancheckoff dollars righthere in New Yorkstate will reapinnumerable benefitsgoing forward.

I look forward toseeing you atEmpire Farm Daysand the Crop Tour.

I

President's Column

Prepping for a Busy August

Steve Van Voorhis, President

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appy Summer to growers and friends of the New York Corn &Soybean Growers Association. And what a busy summer NYCSGAhas planned! But before I tell you what's coming up this summer,

let me catch you up on what NYCSGA was up to this spring.

In April, the NYCSGA Board of Directors approved eight projects forsoybean checkoff funding. It is essential to the board that yourcheckoff dollars be put to good use, and they are confident that theprojects that were funded this year will be useful to growers and thesoybean industry as a whole. This newsletter includes a description ofeach project that was funded this year by the New York soybeancheckoff.

In May, I traveled to New York City to tour the biodiesel facilities in andaround the City. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the three fuelcompanies supplying the metro New York City area are selling B-20(diesel mixed with 20% biodiesel) heating oil to nearly all of theircustomers. This is great news for the biofuel industry and hopefully thisdemand for biodiesel expands outsides of the City.

In June, I was very fortunate to travel to Costa Rica and Panama withthe US Soybean Export Council for their first ever "QSSB (QualifiedState Soybean Board) Training Camp". This was my first time evervisiting Central America, and it was a fascinatingexperience. I was astounded at the extensive use of US soy inCentral America-from raising tilapia on soy diets, to crushing soybeansinto trans-fat free vegetable oil. From developing soy meal for the dietsof dairy cows to using soy fillers in sausages and deli meat. The Panama Canal was also a memorable experience. Some of those

Panama-max ships clear the canal with just six inches on each side. Theexpansion of the canal will definitely provide a big boost for thecontainer shipping industry.

And now, what's coming up... I'm looking forward to seeing you atEmpire Farm Days (Aug. 7-9). Be sure to stop by NYCSGA's food boothfor some hot food and cold drinks. We'll also have a largesoybean checkoff display to showcase your checkoff at work and ourconsumer education campaign.

And I hope everyone is planning on attending the annual NYCSGASummer Crop Tour. We have another excellent program planned forthis year. Ken Ferrie is returning as our keynote speaker to build on lastyear's presentation. This year, he'll focus on implementing variablerates. And of course, we're having Dinosaur Barbeque for lunch!

Finally, for the first time, NYCSGA will be exhibiting at the DutchessCounty Fair in Rhinebeck, NY (Aug. 21-26). Our display willfocus on biodiesel and educating consumers about modernagriculture. The Dutchess County Fair attracts nearly 1 million visitors,mostly from the Hudson Valley and New York City area. The fair alsoreceived funding through the checkoff's Green Ribbon program to

utilize biodiesel asfuel for its rides andattractions.

It's going to be abusy and (hopefully)hot summer! I hopeyou find sometime to enjoythis too-shortseason.

H

Executive Director's ReportSweet Summertime...By Julia Robbins

Julia Robbins, Exective Director

315-923-9118Clyde, NY

[email protected]

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aymond Dean

What is the name of your farm?Elmhurst Dairy

What does your farm operation consistof? The farm includes 90 dairy cows and 600 acresof crops (soybeans, corn, hay, wheat and oats)

What is your secret to success? Keeping expenses under control.

How do you stay on top of the newtechnologies in farming? Magazine articles, the internet, winter meet-ings

What are some of the challenges andopportunities you run into as a farmer? Finding experienced labor is always achallenge, as well as keeping equipmentupdated.

What are you looking forward to duringthis growing season?I am looking forward to more "normal"weather and seeing the results of several newcorn hybrids that we planted.

Why did you join theNYCSGA Board?I'm hoping to meet more farmers and leadersin the grain industry in New York as welldevelop my own leadership skills.

You left another career to come back tothe farm. Why did you make that choice?I left an engineering position after 30 years inorder be my own boss, make my own hours,and see jobs done from start to finish.

Hometown: Auburn, NYEducation: BS, Electrical/MechanicalEngineering Family: Ken 22, Cheryl 21, Joanna 17,Madalyn 9Hobbies: Local and high school sports

R

hen the House of Representativesreturns from its Independence Dayrecess on Monday, July 9, the

interests of the American agricultureindustry will take center stage as thechamber begins work on its version of the2012 Farm Bill. As the voice for the soybeanindustry in Washington, the AmericanSoybean Association offers thefollowing breakdown of where thiscritical legislation stands, and wherethings go from here:

* The Senate passed its version of the 2012Farm Bill on June 21 on a 64-35 vote.It replaces Target Prices, theCounter-Cyclical Program (CCP), and ACREwith the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC)program that would partially offsetcurrent-year revenue losses of from11 to 21 percent at either the farm orcounty level (producer's choice).Benchmark revenue would be based onthe previous five-year Olympicaverage of prices and yields. Paymentacres would be the average of planted andprevented planted acres in 2009-2012.The payment acre percentage would be65 percent at the farm level or 80 percentat the county level.

* ASA recognizes that reducing federalbudget deficits will require cuts inagriculture spending, including for farmprograms. ASA supports development of anew program that will complement crop

insurance in helping farmers manage risk.Crop insurance is the core of the farmprogram safety net, and ASA opposeschanging its structure or shifting fundingto other programs.

* ASA developed a revenue-basedproposal very similar to the Senate billlast year. While the House has yet tofinalize its version before taking a position,ASA is pleased that the Senate hasapproved legislation that meetsASA's goals for a risk managementprogram that wouldcomplementcrop insurance.

* The House Agriculture Committee isscheduled to mark-up its farm bill onJuly 11. It is reported to offerproducers a choice between arevenue-based program similar to theSenate bill and a price-based alternative.The price-based program will includefixed target prices at significantlyhigher levels than under the CCP,tied to current-year production. Paymentacres would be the total of currentCrop Acreage Bases (CAB) on the farm.The payment acre percentage would be85 percent. Producers would be ableto plant up to their total CAB toany program crop.

* ASA expressed strong concerns about atarget price program tied to current

production during last fall's SuperCommittee process. ASA believes higherfixed price supports will influenceplanting decisions and distort productionwhen prices are at or below targetprice levels. This is particularly true when,unlike under the CCP, target prices aretied to current-year production. Andallowing producers to plant up totheir total CAB to any crop wouldmake this distortion even worse.

* ASA has expressed its views on atarget price program to House AgricultureChairman Frank Lucas and to Members ofthe Committee who represent soybeandistricts. ASA believes House action isessential in order to enact a farm bill thisyear, before program authorities under the2008 Farm Bill expire on October 1.ASA supports moving the process forwardby having the House Committee report abill as scheduled, and that the fullHouse pass a bill before Congressadjourns on August 3 for afive-week recess.

As the House moves forward with theFarm Bill deliberations in the comingweeks, ASA and the New York Corn andSoybean Growers Association willkeep you up to date on key developments.

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Q&A with New Directors

Status of the Farm Bill

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n May 12, NYCSGA Board DirectorBeth Chittenden and ExecutiveDirector Julia Robbins attended the

Brooklyn Food Conference. This annualevent is hosted by the Brooklyn FoodCoaltion, an organization that focuses onthree main causes: access to healthy andtasty food for all; environmentalsustainability, and justice for food workers.

The vision of the Brooklyn Food Conferenceis, "a food system that supports the healthof our people and our planet. Right now theindustrial food system harms both. Too oftenthat same system underpays its workers anddenies their rights. We want to turn thataround and the only way we can do that isto work together on many levels and manyapproaches." The Conference's programwent on to say, "We want food withoutpesticides, synthetic fertilizer, hormones,antibiotics or genetic engineering."

The following are accounts from Beth &Julia on their experiences at the BrooklynFood Conference:

Beth Chittenden:In May, Julia and I were in NYC and spent afew hours at the Brooklyn Food Conference.WOW, what a learning experience it was. Itwas held in a high school with at least 8floors and they expected 2,000 - 3,000people to attend.

* 184 speakers were scheduled

* Cooking demos

* Films

* Extensive expo of all the organizationsthat focus around food in NYC

A couple things we noticed:

* Most of the farmers present were smallorganic farms, many in the Hudson Valley,one from Ithaca & Pulaski

* Cabot was present trying to find marketsfor their cheese.

* MANY organizations were against GMO's,chemicals, pesticides, factory farming, beef,soybeans, pink slime etc.

* Anti-modern agriculture has spent moretime researching the negative aspects ofagriculture and are acting on them - moreso than many of us who work in agricultureknow about our own research.

* To have a conversation with these groupsyou need to be knowledgeable and patient

* WE are in BIG trouble if they succeed indoing HALF the things they hope to do.

WE as farmers need to have a voice. It ishard for us to support our practices whenwe don't even have a seat at the table.

Julia Robbins:While Beth spent most of her time talkingwith attendees in the expo area, I went tolisten to a couple speakers. I was astoundedby the misinformation people are portrayingas fact. Kathy Ozer, from the National FamilyFarm Coalition, said that "'family farms' arebeing taken advantage of by their largecorporate grain dealers (such as Cargill &

ADM)", as people around the room noddedin agreement. Furthermore, the term

"family farm" seems to be the latest buzzword, with most attendees and speakers at

this event whom I interacted withportraying a "family farmer" as a farm handin overalls who needs their "help" in savinghim from corporate America. WE KNOWDIFFERENT. And we have to start talkingabout the FACTS vs. the MYTHS.

New York Corn & Soybean GrowersAssociation will definitely be exhibiting nextyear at the Brooklyn Food Conference sothat we can start having this conversation.

If you run across someone spreadingmisinformation about modern farmingpractices, please take a minute to explainthe truth. Every little bit we can do willhelp.

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Anti-Modern Agriculture Attitudes DominateBrooklyn Food ConferenceBy Beth Chittenden & Julia Robbins

S. soybean farmers are invited totell the story of conservation ontheir farms by entering the

2012-2013 Conservation Legacy Awards.Winning entries will help tell the story tothe public about how soybean farmers arecommitted to protecting the soil, water andair through outstanding environmental andconservation practices while continuing tofarm profitably.

The 2012-2013 Conservation LegacyAwards program is sponsored by theAmerican Soybean Association (ASA),BASF, Monsanto, United Soybean Boardand Corn & Soybean Digest magazine.

Conservation Legacy Award winnersfrom three regions (Midwest, Northeastand South) will each receive anexpense-paid trip for two to the2013 Commodity Classic convention andtrade show, Feb. 28-March 2 inKissimmee, Fla. Regional winners will

also be showcased in video featuresfocusing on their winning conservationpractices. In addition, the regional winnerswill be featured in a special insert in

Corn & Soybean Digest magazine.

One National Conservation Legacy Awardwinner will be chosen from the threeregional winners and announced at theASA Awards Banquet held duringCommodity Classic.

All U.S. soybean farmers are eligible toenter. Applications must be submittedonline by Aug. 6. Applications will bejudged in five areas: soil management,water management, input management,farmstead protection, and conservationand environmental management.

To learn more about the ConservationLegacy Awards program and to access theonline application visitwww.soygrowers.com/clap.

For more information contact:Jill Wagenblast,ASA Director of Marketing & Planning,(314) 754-1310,[email protected].

U.

On-the-Farm Conservation Stories WantedTell Your Story When You Enter theConservation Legacy Awards

www.nycornsoy.org

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estern New York Crop Management AssociationYield Response to Varied Seeding Rates$8,800

"The objective of this trial is to evaluate yield response of soybeansto two different row widths planted at three different seedingrates."

Western New York Crop Management AssociationVaried Rates and Timing of Nitrogen Application to Increase SoybeanYield$10,000"The objective of this trial is to evaluate yield response of soybeansto application of nitrogen at two different times, three separatemethods and three different rates."

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Livingston County Soybean Tactical Agriculture Teams (Tag Teams):Soybean Management Programs for New York Producers$4,437Project includes conducting on-farm TAg Team season-long integrat-ed pest management and integrated crop-management educationprograms for soybean producers in Genesee and Ontario Counties;increase producer knowledge of agronomic and economic aspects ofsoybean production with an emphasis on the identification, biology,and management of critical pests, including diseases, weeds andinsects; teach producers the value of scouting and sampling for peststo determine if pesticide applications are warranted andeconomically justified.

BCA Ag TechnologiesAssessing Seed Treatments and Mid-Season Micronutrient FoliarApplications and the Impact on Yields in Soybean Production $5,613"The objective of this experiment is to assess early crop growthhabits in response to a biofertility inoculants designed to enhanceseedling development and increase fertilizer use efficiency. Amid-season foliar application of a micronutrient blend will beapplied to assess crop response to selected micronutrients and todetermine if there is a synergistic effect with the inoculants."

DuMond Ag, LLCSoybean Placement, Population, Tillage and Fertilization Trial(Continuation)$9,975"A second year follow-up on 2011 trial to determine the stand,emergence, yield benefits to placing soybean seed with a cornplanter on 20" rows as compared to drilling them on 15" rows;evaluate how different populations affect yield of soybeans plantedon 20" rows and/or drilled at 15" rows; evaluate the response to asingle pass vertical tilled soybeans to conventional tilled soybeans."

Cornell UniversityEnhancing Integrated Options to Better Manage Soybean WhiteMold Using a Biological Fungicide$9,491"Develop research-based information to enhance soybeanproduction and protection from Sclerotinia white mold through anobjective field evaluation of effectiveness of a commercially availablefungicide (Contans) in New York state."

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware CountyEducation and Technical Assistance through TAg Teams for DairyFarmers Beginning to Grow Soybeans in the Catskill Region$5,765

"This project will provide grower education and technical assistanceto a small but growing number of dairy farms that are beginning togrow soybeans in the Catskill region as a means of diversifying andcontrolling feed costs. Up until the last three years, there has beenlittle or no soybean production in this region."

National Biodiesel Board State Regulator & Technical Support- Northeast$15,000"The State Energy Initiative Project focuses on regulatory activity atthe state level. In general, state regulatory officials, have a limitedunderstanding of biodiesel, its physical properties, and itsenvironmental benefits. As a result, NBB staff is often called upon toprovide expertise for rulemaking efforts on issues such as low carbonfuel standards, statewide mandates, underground storage tank rules,measures to control criteria pollutants, and U.S. EPA Clean AirAttainment issues."

Cornell UniversityField Scale Studies Evaluating Soybean Inoculants and otherSeed Treatments$7,850Determine if certain inoculants, seed treatments and fungicidetreatments provide a soybean yield advantage, reduce soilpathogen damage, and are economically advantageous for farms.

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New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association2012 Soybean Checkoff Funded Research Projects & Initiatives

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QSSB Training Camp, June 17-22, 2012Costa Rica & Panama,Hosted by USSEC & ASABy Julia Robbins

rom June 17 to June 22, twenty-one stateand national soybean staff attended thefirst annual "QSSB Training Camp" in

Costa Rica & Panama, hosted by the USSoybean Export Council (USSEC) and theAmerican Soybean Association (ASA). Thepurpose of the trip was to give state staff anopportunity to see firsthand the internationalmarketing programs that USSEC and ASA arecurrently conducting in Central America. Eachof the processing facilities that we visited inCosta Rica and Panama owe much of theirsuccess to the technical assistance that yourcheckoff dollars provide through ASAInternational Marketing and USSEC.

Aquaculture:We visited Granja ACI aquaculture farm, anoperation that harvests tilapia six days a weekand uses 42-45 metric tons of soybeans per day(2 containers).

Tilapia Processing Facility:

Following our visit to ACI's fish farm, wevisited their processing facility, where 800workers, working six days a week, process5,000 pounds of tilapia per day. The facilityalso processes kosher tilapia.

Port of Puntarenas:

Just a few miles from our hotel was the Portof Puntarenas.

Inolasas isa soybeancrushingand feedprocessingfacility thatuses 100%US soy.98% of thesoy oilproducedat theplant issold

through Wal-mart. The soy meal goes to DosPinos, which we visited in the afternoon.

Dos Pinos is thelargest dairycooperative inCosta Rica,producing milk,ice-cream andcheese. Wevisited Dos Pinos'feed mill, wherethey produce soymeal for the dairy,poultry and porkindustries.

Cargill's La Cinta Azul meatprocessingplant:La Cinta Azulproduces over2.1 billionpounds ofpoultry, porkand beefproducts. Thecompany usessoy fillers inmany of its delimeats andsausages.Panama Canal:On our fourth

day in Central America, wevisited the Panama Canal, which is currentlyundergoing an expansion so that the extra

large "Panama-max" vessel, holding over50,000 containers, can travel through the

canal. Grain is the number two commoditythat passes through the canal. Number one isgoods such as cars, electronics, toys, etc., andthe number three commodity is oil.

Melo:Following our visit tothe canal, we touredMelo, a diversifiedcompany basedaround the poultryindustry. Melo'sportfolio includeschicken raisingoperations, fast-foodrestaurants,real-estate and a feedprocessing facility, the

latter of which wevisited. Melo uses 55%US Soy and 45%Argentine soy. Theirdecision to use soyfrom South America isbased simply on cost.

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4 - Union Springs:NYCSGA will host its annualSummer Crop Tour atDuMond Farms in Union Springs onAug. 14. The event will focus onproduction technology used ingrowing soybeans and corn.DuMond Farms is also usingfunding from the soybeancheckoff to continue itsplacement, population, tillage andfertilization trial.

5 - Ithaca:Cornell researchers are usingsoybean checkoff funds to findways to better manage white moldand to evaluate soybean inoculantsand other seed treatments.

6 - Warsaw:Consultants from Western New YorkCrop Management Association havebeen awarded funds from thesoybean checkoff to study ratesand timing of nitrogen applicationto increase yields, as well as theyield response to varied seedingrates.

2 - Rhinebeck:The Dutchess County Fair,Aug. 21-26, is again a GreenRibbon Fair, earning financialsupport from the soybean checkoffto showcase its use ofsoy-based products,including biodieselfuel to operatecarnival rides.And this year, NYCSGAwill have a largedisplay at the fairfocusing on educatingvisitors about modernagriculture andbiodiesel.

3 - Albany:NYCSGA is providing funds to theNational Biodiesel Board toeducate New York state regulatorystaff about biodiesel, its physicalproperties, and its environmentalbenefits. NBB will also providetechnical expertise for rulemakingefforts on issues such as lowcarbon fuel standards, statewidemandates, underground storagetank rules, and more.

YYour Soour Soybean Checkybean Checkoff Dollarsoff Dollarsat Wat Work in New York in New York Stateork State

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7 - Walton, Brockport,Geneva:

The popular Tag Teams soybeanmanagement education programfor producers will be underwayagain this summer throgh soybeancheckoff funding awarded toCornell Cooperative Extensions inDelaware and Livingston Counties.

1 - Seneca Falls:Once again, NYCSGA will beexhibiting at Empire Farm Days,Aug. 7-9. This year, we’re focusingon the ways NYCSGA is working toeducate consumers on modernagriculture practices, as well as themany uses of soybeans grown inNew York. Stop by to participate infun soybean-related activities andto feed your growling stomach atour popular food booth!

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n May, Executive Director Julia Robbinsjoined Tom Verry, Director of Outreach &Development for the National Biodiesel

Board, on a tour of biodiesel facilities in themetro New York City area.

"I was surprised to discover how muchbiodiesel is being consumed in the New YorkCity area as well as how receptive consumersare to using the product to heat their homesand fuel their vehicles," Julia said.

She and Tom Verry visited three largebiodiesel suppliers in the metro area. Fred M.Schildwachter & Sons, located in the Bronx,began blending its fuels with biodiesel backin 2001. Since then, almost all ofSchildwachter's 8,000 customers are using aB-20 blend to heat their homes. And,Schildwachter's really likes using soy oilbecause of its clean burning properties. Thecompany currently stores 500,000 gallons ofbiodiesel on site and has the capacity to store1,000,000 gallons.

Metro Fuel Oil Corp in Brooklyn is also amajor fuel oil supplier in New York City andLong Island and supplies much of the city'spublic works fleet. Metro is currently buildingone of the largest biodiesel plants in NorthAmerica, with a capacity of up to 110 milliongallons per year. The company is hoping thatNew York will continue to increase itsproduction of soybeans so that they candeliver New York soy biodiesel to their NewYork City customers. The biodiesel plant isexpected to open this fall.

Metro also operates a biodiesel andpetroleum storage facility in Calverton, LongIsland.

The third fuel supplierthat uses biodiesel islocated in PortChester, NY(WestchesterCounty). WestmoreFuel Company, Inc.,

provides heating oil and on-road diesel fuel tocustomers in lower Westchester County, NYand lower Fairfield County, CT, an area thatincludes the cities of Port Chester, NY andGreenwich, CT. Westmore has a storagecapacity for 800,000 gallons of heating oil and300,000 to 350,000 gallons of on-road diesel.The company also stores 20,000gallons of B-100 on site. 100 percent ofWestmore's customers receive B-20 heating oil.

Westmore recently completed a large tankand piping installation project allowingcustom rack blending of biodiesel for any

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Biodiesel is Big in the Big AppleBy Julia Robbins

Biodiesel 11

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n opportunityto increaseU.S. soybean

meal exports liesright in yourbackyard. Portsdown the East Coast,including one inNewark, N.J., couldcreate a new marketopportunity forsoybean farmers.

Europe demandshigh-quality soybeanmeal to feed itspoultry, livestock andfish, but the U.S.currently cannotdirectly meetEurope's soybeanmeal needs with thebulk vessels shippedfrom U.S. ports.Shipping more U.S.soy in individualcontainers out of theEast Coast ports canpotentially solve theproblem. This wouldallow for smallershipments to be sent

directly to Europeand help meet theneeds of its animalproducers.

Right now, the U.S.sends many emptyshipping containersfrom the East Coastback to Europeancountries that importlarge amounts ofsoybean meal. Thiscreates theopportunity to usethese emptycontainers to shipU.S. soybean mealback to Europe.More than 390,000empty 20-footcontainers sentoverseas couldpotentially shipsoybean meal backto Europe. Each ofthese containersloaded with 19 tonshas the capability tocarry more than 7.4million metric tonsof U.S. soybean

meal, or theequivalent of 273million bushels.

"If we can use ourports here on theEast Coast to shiphigh-quality,protein-rich soybeanmeal directly to theEuropean farmers at

a competitive price,they are going tobuy our soybeanmeal instead of set-tling for soybeanmeal from othercountries," says RickStern, UnitedSoybean Board (USB)Audit & Evaluationprogram chair and asoybean farmer fromCream Ridge, N.J.

U.S. ports in Newark,N.J.; Baltimore;Norfolk, Va.;Charleston, S.C.; and

Savannah, Ga.,already havecontainer-loadingcapacity and couldbegin shippingcontainers with moreU.S. soy soon.Soybean meal caneasily be sent fromsoybean-crushingplants to these portsby rail or truck.

The soybeancheckoff wants tofurther investigateopportunities incontainerized

shipments and hasfunded researchlooking at eastboundcontainer trade.Preliminary findingshave shown shippingrates to be verycompetitive duringsome times of theyear, and manyEuropean marketsremain veryinterested incontainer shippingoptions because ofthe quality of U.S.soybean meal.

AEast Coast Ports Open New Market Opportunity

blend from B2 toB99.

Currently, the city ofNew York has amandate that allfuels consumed inthe city contain a B-2(2% biodiesel) blend.Later this year, thatmandate will increaseto B-5, which is moregood news forsoybean growers!

There is also pendinglegislation in NewYork state that wouldexpand the B-2mandate to all ofNew York state.

And the good newsfor consumers? NewYork state offers atax credit toconsumers who heattheir home withbiofuels: a 1 centcredit per gallon foreach percent of

biodiesel-up to a B-20blend.

Finally, starting onJuly 1, 2012 in NewYork state, heatingoil and on road dieselwill both be made up

of 15 parts per mil-lion of ultra-lowsulfur diesel. Thiswill mark the firsttime since 1994 thatboth products willhave the exact sameproperties.

Biodiesel from 10

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eth Chittenden

What is the name of your farm?Dutch Hollow Farm

What does your farm operation consistof? Dutch Hollow Farm is an LLC owned by 5members of the Chittenden family. We milk600 jersey cows and raise all of ourreplacements. Each year we sellapproximately 40 females for breeding stockthroughout the nation. In addition wemerchandise about 10 bulls as young siresthrough bull studs to enter the artificialinsemination programs. All our animals areregistered, currently we are using IVF andembryo transfer on our animals with thehighest genomic potential.

All the crops for the animals are grown bythe farm as well as soybeans and corn forHMSC or dry shelled. We do sell extra cropsto several other farmers as well as dryshelled corn. Furthermore we are diversifiedwith a custom harvest business. We plantcorn, chop haylage & corn silage for otherfarms as well as bale hay for several localfarms.

What is your secret to success? There is no silver bullet to survive in thedairy business but we have found that bydiversifying and doing what we know bestit lessens the risk that currently exist inagriculture. Brian works with the crops andoversees the overall management of thefarm while brother Alan spends his timestrictly with the cows and the breedingprogram. Younger brother Nathan managesthe young stock and heifers. Each brotherspends time in their specific field. Recently Ihave started an education program invitingthe public, schools, and groups to the farmto learn about all aspects of agriculture.Family members and help work together asa team to make all the efforts at DutchHollow successful.

Activities/memberships/other boardsthat you participate in/ serve on? For the past several years I have served onthe Dairy Promotion Committee in ColumbiaCounty helping promote dairy andagriculture throughout the county. Both mydaughters have served as the county DairyPrincess. In the past I have also served onthe CCE 4-H Dairy Committee helping toorganize and coach dairy bowl, dairyjudging, showmanship clinics and the eventsat the fair. Currently I am also on theColumbia County Farm Bureau Board.

I have also worked with the American JerseyCattle Association to plan and organize theNational Junior Jersey Convention, served onthe National Junior Committees and the

All-American Committees. Presently I am theJunior Advisor for the New York JerseyCattle Association.

How do you stay on top of the newtechnologies in farming? We find it very important to stay abreast thenew technologies in agriculture. Agriculturemagazines often introduce new technologyas well as on-line issues. Each year we attendmeetings offered by agricultureorganizations, attend farm shows and talkto salespeople from many differentcompanies.

What are some of the challenges andopportunities you run into as a farmer? Each year brings new and old challenges, ofcourse the weather, price of grains and milkare always at the forefront. However in ourcurrent location finding dependable,knowledgeable help is a huge problem.Another issue that we are faced with more

and more each year is dealing with thepublic. The general public has noknowledge of the practices we use in thefields and more landowners are trying todictate what we can grow on the land.

What are you looking forward to duringthis growing season?This growing season we purchased thePrecision System to use on the corn planterand converted the planter to a vacuumsystem. We are hoping to increase our yieldper acre just by improving the population ofthe seed per acre. After a disastrous croplast year due to Irene and a wet spring weare hoping to increase our inventories of allour crops.

Why did you join the NYCSGA Board?The reason I decided to join the NYCSGABoard was to become a part of a growingvoice in New York promoting and educating

consumers about agriculture. Withoutfarmers telling their story, educatingconsumers and promoting their business toomany people with misinformation willdictate to us what technologies we can use.This board has the ability to reachconsumers in many different facets as wellas support their facts with current research.

You left another career to come back tothe farm. Why did you make thatchoice?I grew up on a farm, went to college to bein agriculture and that is where my truepassion is. Unfortunately I had to leave theindustry for a time period to provide for myfamily, but as always I was lead back to myroots and my love. As well as working as amember of Dutch Hollow Farm I am alsorunning an education center on the farm toeducate consumers about the amazingbusiness we are all part of.

Hometown: Schodack Landing, NY Education: BS from Cornell University inAnimal ScienceMS in Education from College of Saint RoseFamily: I have been married to BrianChittenden for the past 23 years. We havetwo children, Cassie currently at CornellUniversity and Meagan a Senior in HighSchool. Meagan is hoping to continue hercareer in the Culinary field. Hobbies: Recently we just purchased acamp to have a little quiet time away fromthe farm. It is also located on the VASTsnowmobile trails in Vermont where wespend time during the winter relaxing onour snowmobiles. Other activities I enjoyinclude riding my horse, browsing forantiques and preserving our pastthrough scrapbooks.

BQ&A with new Directors

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IMPLEMENTING VARIABLE RATE APPLICATIONS

August 14, 2012DuMond Farm, Union Springs, NY

8:30am - 4:30pm

Featuring: Ken Ferrie, Crop-Tech Consulting, Inc.

Agenda8:30am - Registration & Exhibits

9:30 - SpeakerKen Ferrie - Implementing Variable Rate Applications

11:30 - Dinosaur BBQ LunchEquipment Displays, Agribusiness Exhibits

1:00 - SpeakerKen Ferrie - Implementing Variable Rate Applications Continued

2:00 - Field Session 1Soybean Population and Row Spacing Trial - Cornell Cooperative

Extension Field Educator

Nitrogen Stabilizer Trial - Ken Ferrie

Implementing Variable Rate Technology-Issac Ferrie

Adapt-N: Online Nitrogen Management Model - Cornell University

3:15-3:30 - Break & Exhibits

3:15 - Field Session 2Soybean Population and Row Spacing Trial - Cornell Cooperative

Extension Field Educator

Nitrogen Stabilizer Trial - Ken Ferrie

Implementing Variable Rate Technology - Issac Ferrie

Adapt-N: Online Nitrogen Management Model - Cornell University

4:30 - Adjourn and Evaluations

Ken FerrieAs President of Crop-Tech Consulting, an independent

agronomic consulting business, Ken Ferrie overseesthe test plots in the Farm Journal Test Plot program

and leads the curriculum for Farm Journal’s CornCollege. Ken is noted for his extensive cutting-edgeknowledge and systems approach to farming. He isknown as one of only a few completely independentagronomists in the US. A graduate of Illinois State

University, Ken is a native of northeast Iowa. He hasprevious experience as a floater operator, crop scout,

maintenance manager at three elevators, co-op manager and company agronomist.

Issac FerrieCrop-Tech Consulting

Todd DuMondDuMond Farms,Crop Tour Host

DirectionsDuMond Farms, 5083 White Road

Union Springs, NY 13160

From the North, East, or West: Take Exit 40(Auburn Weedsport) off I-90 (NYS Thruway).

Take Route 34 South through Auburn. Ap-proximately 3-4 miles south of Auburn turn

right on Skillet Road. At the second stopsign, turn left onto White Road. DuMond

Farms is the first farm on the right.

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Soybeans:Eligibility: Any farmer whogrows more than 10 acres of soy-beans in New York state is eligi-ble. Test area blocks - two acres inone block (ex.: 180’ x 484’ = 2acres) to be selected by the grow-er. For convenience, the test areamay be measured after harvest bythe contest supervisor. The har-vested area must be inclusive ofheadlands and outside rows.Participants must use non-irrigat-ed soybeans, but are not restrict-ed as to variety, fertilization, spac-ing or other cultural practices.There will be four classes of beansbased upon maturity (0, 1, 2, &3).Judging and Prizes: The NYCS-GA Yield Contest Committee willdetermine the winners for eachmaturity group based on soybeanyields at 13% moisture. Firstplace in each maturity group (0,1, 2, & 3) in each of the five re-gions (West, Finger Lakes, Cen-

tral, East & North) will receivespecial recognition and plaquesat the 2013 Corn & SoybeanExpo. Grand Champion (across allmaturity groups) will win a trip fortwo to the 2013 Commodity Clas-sic (no substitutions, includes reg-istration, travel & hotel). Overall2nd & 3rd place winners will beawarded $250 & $100 respec-tively.

Corn:Eligibility: Designated fields mustbe at least 10 acres of the same hy-brid number with 1.25 continuousacres to be harvested from eachfield and accurately weighed in thepresence of an unbiased supervi-sor. The harvested area must be ex-clusive of headlands and outsiderows, and include more than onepass across the field. The originallyentered hybrid number must be thesame hybrid number that is report-ed on the Harvest Report Form.Judging & Prizes: The NYCSGA

Yield Contest Committee will de-termine winners for each regionbased on corn grain yields at 15%moisture. Any plots that yield morethan 250 bushels per acre of grainmust have a second contiguous1.25 acres harvested and weighed.The second 1.25 acres must adjointhe first harvest area. The averageof the 2 yields from the 2 harvest-ed areas will be considered the fi-nal yield.1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners ineach of the 5 regions will receivespecial recognition and plaques atthe 2013 Corn & Soybean Expo.This year, the overall Grand Cham-pion will also receive a trip for twoto the 2013 Commodity Classic inOrlando (no substitutions, includesregistration, travel & hotel). The2nd & 3rd place overall winnerswill receive $250 & $100 respec-tively.

2012 New York Grain Corn and Soybean Yield Contests

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NCGA YieldContestEntrants in the NationalCorn Growers Association(NCGA) Yield Contest whoare also entrants in theNYCSGA Yield Contestmay use the NCGAHarvest Report Form todetermine the contestyield. If using the NCGA

Harvest Report Form, theNCGA Rules andprocedures will applyin determining thefinal yield.

ALLAll decisions of theContest Committee arefinal. The Committeereserves the right to

disqualify any entrywithout refund forviolation of the statedrules and harvestprocedures. Contestentrants will be notifiedin December 2012 of thefinal yields and contestplacements. The winnerswill be recognized at the2013 NYCSGA Corn &

Soybean Expo in Syracuseon January 26.

FSARepresentativeThe unbiased contestsupervisor may be aNRCS, SWCD staff person,Extension agent, farmlending institutionrepresentative, FFA or

vocational ag instructor,private crop consultant,state/private collegeagricultural staff member,FSA crop insurance agent,or retiree from one ofthese occupations. Asupervisor may have nofinancial or directbusiness ties to acompany sellingagri-business supplies.

Contest supervisors areresponsible foroverseeing allcomputations and fieldmeasurements and mustbe present duringharvesting, weighing andmoisture testing.Weighing of all entriesmust be calibrated onapproved certified scalesor weigh wagon.

The applicant mustcompletely fill out theHarvest Report Form(s)and attach the weighticket(s) along with themoisture percentinformation or moistureticket. The unbiasedsupervisor must sign off

on the completed HarvestReport Form(s). Thecompleted Harvest ReportForm(s) must be sent to:Mike Stanyard,Cornell CooperativeUniversity Extension,Wayne County CCE,1581 Route 88NNewark, NY 14513.

Email [email protected] with questions315-331-8415.

The forms must be sentwithin 7 days of harvestdate or no later thanDecember 1, 2012,whichever date is earlier.

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