Dr. Larry Smart, a Cornell University professor, will be sharing his knowledge at CCE-Chautauqua’s upcoming “Growing Hemp in NYS” workshop to be held March 2 in Jamestown.

JAMESTOWN — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Agriculture Program is excited to announce an educational opportunity for those interested in learning more about hemp production in NYS. On Saturday, March 2nd from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., join Dr. Larry Smart, Professor and Program Leader at Cornell University; Tim Sweeney, Agricultural Policy Analyst with the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets; Jessica Golley-Halftown, Hi-Y Farm in Little Valley, NY; and Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management Educator with CCE-Chautauqua for this interactive workshop. This workshop will be held at the Frank Bratt Agricultural Center in Jamestown, 3542 Turner Road, and is $10/person. To register, contact Katelyn Walley-Stoll at 716-664-9502 ext. 202, kaw249@cornell.edu, or visit www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua.

Industrial hemp has over 25,000 applications as agricultural products, textiles, fiber, construction items, and more. Recent legislation has made the production of hemp in NYS possible, and additional research and outreach is being done by Cornell University to assist producers interested in growing hemp.

Leading the day with a presentation on “Growing Hemp for Grain, Fiber, and CBD” will be Dr. Larry Smart, a Professor in the Horticulture Section of the School of Integrative Plant Science and Cornell University and is Associate Director of Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, NY. Larry is a plant geneticist and breeder whose lab uses genomic tools in breeding shrub willow bioenergy crops and to better understand hybrid vigor and pest and disease resistance. More recently, he has been leading Cornell’s research efforts in hemp and has initiated a long-term breeding program to develop new hemp cultivars for New York State. He received his B.S. in Biology at Cornell University and Ph.D. in Genetics at Michigan State University.

Tim Sweeney, Agricultural Policy Analyst with the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, will be sharing an overview on the regulatory aspects of growing hemp along with a discussion on the impacts of the 2018 federal farm bill. Sweeney’s portfolio at NYSDAM includes the Industrial Hemp Agricultural Research Pilot Program. Prior to coming to his current position, Tim was a Principal Analyst at the NYS Legislative Commission on Rural Resources. Tim has an Associate’s degree in plant science from SUNY Cobleskill, a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of New Hampshire School of Law.

Jessica Golley-Halftown, representing Hi-Y Farm of Little Valley, NY, will be sharing her own experiences of Hemp Production in our region. Hi-Y was originally established by her grandparents as an active beef farm, and has continued to grow and diversify. The family researched and successfully applied for the NYS Hemp Pilot Program, and are currently entering their 2nd growing season. Jessica, along with her brother, Chris, and mother, Judy, is proud to help the industry grow in our region and create a new version of Hi-Y Farm.

Light refreshments will be offered. Registration will begin at 12:30, and pre-registration is recommended to reserve a seat for the event. This workshop is designed to be interactive, so participants are encouraged to bring their questions and ideas to this collaborative environment!

Additional workshops are being held at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County over the coming weeks as part of their LEAF (Learn. Empower. Achieve. Farm.) Workshop Series. This includes a workshop on “Keeping Long Term Hay Fields Productive”, led by Dan Steward of WNY Crop Management Association, on Tuesday, February 26th from 6pm to 8pm for $5/person. Steward will discuss setting goals for forage quality and how cutting schedules, species selections, soil fertility, and fertilization all contribute to success.

The L.E.A.F. (Learn. Empower. Achieve. Farm.) Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua) in line with the County’s 20/20 Comprehensive Plan. CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua . Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.