Cornell’s Climate Smart Farming Program was well represented at the 184th Annual NYS Ag Society Forum, held in Syracuse/Liverpool, NY on January 7, 2016. The NYS Agricultural Society’s Annual Forum is the largest statewide agricultural meeting bringing together all sectors of the food system to explore topics critical to the future of New York Agriculture. This year’s program theme was focused on “Climate Smart Farming: Changes & Opportunities.”
On January 6th, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Reception and Panel focused on the work that Cornell is doing to “Help Farmers Respond to Climate Change.” Speakers included: Allison Chatrchyan, Director of the Institute for Climate Change and Agriculture; Toby Ault, Assistant Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences; Johannes Lehmann, Professor of Crop and Soil Sciences ; and Kitty O’Neil, Regional Field Crops and Soils Specialist with the Climate Smart Farming Extension Team.
On January 7th, Dr. Art DeGaetano, with the Cornell Northeast Regional Climate Center, provided a keynote presentation on Climate Changes in the Northeast and Impacts to Agriculture.” Dr. Mike Hoffmann, Professor and Climate Institute Executive Director, moderated a farmer panel to hear important perspectives on impacts and changing practices, from Peter Martens, a grain farmer from Dresden, NY; Wendy Burkhart-Spiegel, a vegetable grower from Madison, NY; and Dale Stein, a dairy farmer from LeRoy, NY.