New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

agriculture

Stay Alert for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

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How infected backyard poultry could spread bird flu to people (courtesy CDC)Since it was first introduced into New York State in January 2022, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been documented in captive birds in multiple counties and detected in free-ranging wild birds and mammals throughout the state.

Wild bird mortalities from HPAI increase in late fall and peak over the winter months, then typically decrease in the late spring and summer months. At this point, it is widespread in wild birds and even suspected to be present in counties where it has not yet been detected. [Read more…] about Stay Alert for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

New York State Responding to Bird Flu Found at Poultry Farm

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free range chickens being fed outdoors courtesy Wikimedia user AsterionNew York State is monitoring and encouraging testing to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) as the State continues to see HPAI in the wild bird population and now in a poultry farm on Long Island. [Read more…] about New York State Responding to Bird Flu Found at Poultry Farm

Clarkson Researchers Field Test Harmful Algal Bloom Mitigation System

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Clarkson HABS Mitigation Process (Clarkson University)A team of researchers at Clarkson University has conducted a successful field test of its innovative process to combat Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).

The process, called electrochemical ozonation, has been scaled up to a pilot-scale boat-mounted reactor with a treatment capacity of approximately 500 m³/day and is capable of inactivating harmful algae and destroying cyanotoxins within minutes. [Read more…] about Clarkson Researchers Field Test Harmful Algal Bloom Mitigation System

Dire News In New York’s First-Ever Pollinator Distribution Survey

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honey bee forager collecting pollen courtesy Jon SullivanNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has released a multi-year survey of hundreds of pollinator species in New York State.

It’s hoped the Empire State Native Pollinator Survey 2017-2021 will provide the foundation for future pollinator research and conservation efforts. [Read more…] about Dire News In New York’s First-Ever Pollinator Distribution Survey

Climate Science: Does Rising CO2 Benefit Plants?

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NOAA Climate graph, adapted from original by Dr. Howard Diamond (NOAA ARL) atmospheric CO2 data from NOAA and ETHZ CO2 emissions data from Our World in Data and the Global Carbon ProjectScientist-like persons hired by the fossil fuel industry have long maintained we should celebrate an ever-increasing level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. This gas, a key building block in the photosynthetic process, can enable plants to grow faster and get larger. It’s been called the “CO2 fertilization effect.”

Many crop yields are projected to increase. And bigger woody plants, the reasoning goes, can amass more carbon, thus helping to slow the rate of CO2 increase in a handy negative-feedback loop. [Read more…] about Climate Science: Does Rising CO2 Benefit Plants?

An Education on Agroforestry from Warren County Soil & Water

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Education on AgroforestryThe Warren County Soil & Water Conservation District has announced a new grant program, Education on Agroforestry, funded by the Lake Champlain Basin Program (LCBP) and Northeast Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC).

The grant funds a pilot program to develop education and implementation of an agroforestry plan for SUNY Adirondack’s farmlands. [Read more…] about An Education on Agroforestry from Warren County Soil & Water

Nitrogen Pollution: Too Much of a Good Thing

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Harmful algal blooms provided by DECWhen air and water meet, such as when it rains, air pollution can easily turn into water pollution. Waterways can receive a lot of pollution this way from both rain and run-off.

Air pollution can damage fragile aquatic ecosystems, with one of the most harmful pollutants being nitrogen. [Read more…] about Nitrogen Pollution: Too Much of a Good Thing

Other Important Uses for Milkweed

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Common Milkweed Follicle courtesy Wikimedia user H ZellAfter the undulating clouds of blackbird flocks have left the scene, and the broad chevrons of geese have mostly disappeared over the horizon, another momentous fall event begins.

Yes, it’s time for one more native species to take to the air. The great milkweed migration is on. [Read more…] about Other Important Uses for Milkweed

NY Farmer Named to USDA Organic Standards Board

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NOFA NYA founding member of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY), Brian Caldwell, was recently appointed to a five-year term on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). [Read more…] about NY Farmer Named to USDA Organic Standards Board

Farmers Markets: An Alternative to a Food System in Flux

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Sign seen during curbside pick-up at the Saranac Lake Farmers’ Park It - Adirondack HarvestIn March, when Governor Cuomo signed the New York State on PAUSE executive order, which mandated that all non-essential businesses in New York State had to close, farmer’s markets were exempted as essential retail businesses and, as such, allowed to open or remain open.

But, as concerns about the spread of COVID-19 grew, farmers market growers, gardeners, and managers, like other small business operators, found themselves rushing to come up with innovative contingency plans to modify their operations and employ solutions that would protect their livelihoods, as well as the health and well-being of their customers, market workers, and the community at large. [Read more…] about Farmers Markets: An Alternative to a Food System in Flux

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