GENEVA, N.Y. — Since the 1990s, local organic field crop and dairy farmers have gathered to build relationships and discuss potential solutions to shared challenges. The keystone of the event is an informal potluck lunch as well as the lively discussions that follow. The group also hosts several presentations from farmers, researchers, and industry leaders on a variety of field crops and dairy topics.
The New York Certified Organic field crop and dairy farmer-to-farmer – or “NYCO” meetings – are free to attend, and all are welcome. They are held in Jordan Hall auditorium, 630 W North Street in Geneva. Participants are encouraged to bring a dish to pass for lunch. This year, the meeting schedules will be as follows:
January 14, 2025
10am – Welcome and coffee
10:15am – Organic grain market update – Heath Dewey, USDA
10:30am – Organic dairy market update – Dan Mezzoprete, Wegmans
10:45am – Experiences with new or alternative markets
- Chris Johnson, Tuscarora Grain Company (Bloomsburg, PA)
- Direct market dairy – in communication with several speakers
Noon – Potluck lunch
1:00pm – Guided breakout group discussions based on the morning topics as well as agronomic challenges and any new topics of interest.
2:00pm – Adjourn
March 11, 2025
10am – Welcome and coffee
10:15am – Vipan Kumar, Cornell – harvest weed seed destruction
10:45am – Lightning talks: experiences with alternative fertility sources
- Jean Bonhotal, Cornell Waste Management – On-farm composting
- Adam Murray, PRO Dairy – Integrating animals in a grain rotation
- Thomas Bjorkman, Cornell – Selecting the most suitable cover crops for fertility
- Emily Reiss, CCA – How to compare fertility sources, including off-farm manure
Noon – Potluck lunch
1:00pm – Guided breakout group discussions based on the morning topics as well as agronomic challenges and any new topics of interest.
2:00pm – Adjourn
There is no registration required for this year’s event, but to receive updates on possible weather-related changes, contact Bryan Brown at [email protected] or leave a message at 315-787-2432.
–New York Certified Organic
New York State Integrated Pest Management
Cornell University
