Come and get your World Famous Cornell Chicken BBQ Dinner! CCE Niagara has partnered with the Niagara County Farm Bureau for this fundraiser, which will benefit both the Farm Bureau and CCE programming, so come and show us your support! It is happening on April 19 at the Niagara County Fairgrounds, 4487 Lake Ave. Lockport, NY 14094.

Drive-Thru Only: $15 per dinner pre-sale; $17 per dinner on day-of sale. Includes half chicken, coleslaw, salt potatoes, roll and butter. Tickets can be purchased at CCE Niagara during business hours at the Administration Building or online at the link below. Pick-up details: only 3-6pm; enter gate 4 and pick up dinner on the southside of the training center, then exit gate 5.

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Friday, March 15, 2024
8:30am Registration w/ refreshments | 9:00am–2:45pm Program (Lunch provided by Beans’ Smokehouse)
Where: Cornell Cooperative Extension Training Center, 4487 Lake Ave. Lockport, NY 14094

During this FREE event you will hear from industry experts on a variety of topics including Solar Solicitation – Know Your Rights; Climate Smart Farming; Planning for Retirement in Agriculture; Protecting Your Farmland for the Future; and Technology and Innovation in Agriculture. You will also have the opportunity to network with attendees and visit with agribusiness industry representatives to learn more about the latest grants, incentives and resources available to the agricultural community. Sign up now as space is limited. Whether you are involved in the agricultural community in Niagara County, or are looking to become involved, you do not want to miss this event!

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Niagara County Farm Bureau is celebrating National Agriculture Month through their reading program. Throughout March, bureau members will visit second grade classrooms in Niagara County schools and read a selected agriculture book. The chosen book is "Barn at Night" by Michelle Houts. In addition to reading the book, members will share an activity with the students and also talk to them about their own farm. The reading program has been ongoing for over 18 years. If you would like to schedule your class or group for a presentation, contact Elaine Barnett at 716-735-7791 or email info@niagaracountyfarmbureau.com.

Friday, March 24, 2023
8:30am Registration w/ refreshments | 9am–2pm Program (Lunch provided by Beans’ Smokehouse)
Where: Cornell Cooperative Extension Training Center, 4487 Lake Ave. Lockport, NY 14094

During this FREE event, you will learn about Workforce Management; Benefits and Requirements for Selling Direct to Customers; NYS Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) ‐ How it Will Impact Agribusiness; Niagara County Meat Processing Facility Feasibility Study; NY FarmNet Services & much more. Sign up now as space is limited. Whether you are involved in the agricultural community in Niagara County, or are looking to become involved, you do not want to miss this event!

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Friday, April 8, 2022
Virtual: 9am-3pm | On-Site: 8:30am Registration w/ refreshments | 9am–3pm Program (Lunch provided by Beans’ Smokehouse)
Where: Cornell Cooperative Extension Training Center, 4487 Lake Ave. Lockport, NY 14094 

In-person & Virtual Event. During this FREE forum, you will learn about meat production and regulation, agricultural labor issues, ag. conservation easements, agriculture districts, ag. assessments, natural resource conservation, climate resiliency farming and carbon sustainability tax credits, as well as a variety of grants, incentives and resources available to the agricultural community. Sign up now as space is limited. Whether you are involved in the agricultural community in Niagara County, or are looking to become involved, you do not want to miss this event!

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Over the course of the FREE two-day event (March 23 & 25), you will also learn about the Food Safety Modernization Ave, Cornell Cooperative Extension's Regional Agricultural Teams, CCE of Niagara's Beginning Farmer Training Program, low cost power programs, and services offered by the NCCC Small Business Development Center, Niagara County Farm Bureau, NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets, and Niagara County Center for Economic Development. Sign up now as space is limited. If you are involved in the agricultural community here in Niagara County, then you don't want to miss this event!

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Come and get your World Famous Cornell Chicken BBQ Dinner! CCE Niagara has partnered with the Niagara County Farm Bureau for this fundraiser, which will benefit both the Farm Bureau and CCE programming, so come and show us your support! It is happening on August 21st at the Niagara County Fairgrounds, 4487 Lake Ave. Lockport, NY 14094.

The meal consists of chicken, roll, butter, coleslaw, and corn on the cob. Dinners are $11 pre-sale or $12 the day of. Also available will be slices ($4) and whole pies ($20) of cherry, peach, blueberry, and strawberry-rhubarb.

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U-Pick is a critical direct marketing approach for many of our farms and provides customers with a unique connection to fresh produce grown close to home. In light of what we understand about the spread of COVID-19, new management practices will be needed to protect your farm team and your customers. This document provides recommended practices and communication strategies for U-Pick operations for the 2020 season.

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We are offering free face coverings that the county is making available for agricultural workers. If you and/or your employees need face coverings please use the contact information provided below to request them.

Provide the name of your farm, your contact information and the number of employees that you will need face coverings for; contact ncem@niagaracounty.com Or call 716-438-3171 and include the requested information.

Additionally, we have a variety of new resources on our website, www.cceniagaracounty.org that may be helpful to you, including new ag. guidance as we continue to work through NYS on Pause. The updated information for the 2020 Beginning Farmer Training is also available on the website.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I am happy to help in any way possible. Stay safe!

Thank you,

Amanda Henning
Agriculture and Food Systems Educator

The following information highlights programs that are being made available to businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Check back often as new programs will be added as they are announced.

Visit NiagaraCountyBusiness.com

 Now is the perfect time to join Niagara County Farm Bureau! Through June 30th all new members pay only $139 for membership through December 2021. Enjoy great member perks and community support at a great price.

Become a Member   

Members of the Niagara County Farm Bureau traveled to Albany to take part in the New York Farm Bureau's 2020 State Lobby Day on March 3rd. They represented the amazing agriculture in our area with legislators and all visiting attendess. Thanks to everyone who took their time to represent us!

Thank you to everyone who attended the Hemp 101 meeting! And thank you to our phenomenal speakers for sharing their info and knowledge Gina from Miller Hemp Organics, Reciprocal Roots, Sativa Remedy, HigherLivingRN, The Medical Cannabis Community and Jeanette Miller from The Eclectic Farmstead. Farm Bureau is committed to continuing the conversation and information sharing around this new crop.

Niagara County Legislator John Syracuse, left, presents a proclamation to John King, President of the Niagara County Farm Bureau, declaring the month of March as “Agriculture Month.” Mr. King addressed the Legislature on several issues including the Farmworkers Fair Labor Act, broadband in rural communities and the potential of the hemp industry. Mr. King pointed out that approximately 42% of land in Niagara County is actively farmed, and 95% of our farms are family owned.

View Mr. King's presentation   

The New York State Department of Labor (DOL) has announced that the wage board will hold five hearings across the state beginning this Friday and going through April. The wage board was created by the recently enacted Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act and is statutorily required to hold its first hearing by March 1st to consider lowering the current 60-hour work week threshold for overtime.

Read on and save the dates 

We are grateful to be a 2020 Award Recipient of the Industry Insider Award for Agriculture by the Niagara USA Chamber. We will receive on Friday, March 13th during the Chamber Honors Annual Dinner.