Thursday, January 31, 2008

Catskill Regional Dairy, Livestock and Grazing Conference


The Catskill Regional Dairy, Livestock and Grazing Conference was on January 17th at SUNY Delhi in Delaware County. This year's event was the biggest ever - selling out at over 125 attendees!


For the first time this year, what has traditionally been the Catskill Regional Dairy Conference was expanded to meet the growth of diversified and sustainable farms in the Catskill Region. The event was expanded in order to address the needs of farmers that raise beef, sheep and goats as well as dairy and meat producers who are incorporating grazing in to
their operation.

Staff from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County and the CADI staff at SUNY Delhi provided wonderful food and speakers.



Peter Mapstone, a dairy grazier from Manlius, NY and featured speaker, discusses with Catskill farmers renovating and improving pasture and turning them into profitable working grazing paddocks.


Trout Creek beef farmer, Art Reynolds (right), visits with NRCS Conservationist, Brandon Dennis (left), between sessions.


Attendees pack in to hear a talk from Ken Jaffe of Slope Farms in Delhi, NY on distributing meat from small-scale farms.



Local farmers Gerry Dewitt of Dewitt Farms and Katharina Kessler of Promisedland Farm enjoy a great local luncheon served by Ulla Wadner of SUNY Delhi.

Thanks so much to all that came out for a great learning day!

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