The Technology Farm has joined the Business Incubator Association of New York State. the purpose of this organization is to: To expand the resources available to start-up companies and to work with policy-makers on matters affecting the growth and development of incubator-based enterprises; to promote through cooperation and on a broadly integrative basis the educational and entrepreneurial activities of incubators within the state; and to establish a structure and ongoing process to network business incubators, incubating/incubated companies, and other interested parties. or Association.   With the many growing companies that are on site at the Technology Farm, this will be an outstanding opportunity for the park to expand.

  The 3rd annual IATFA conference took place on Dec. 3-4 at the Doubletree Hotel in Henrietta.  A large group of producers, academics, manufacturers, distributers and software developers gathered to discuss the challenges facing  Specialty Crops.  After spending the morning listening to a variety of speakers from IBM, John Deere Corp, Cornell University and Penn State University, the group broke out into smaller groups.  The first session was divided by commodity, the second by technology.  These enthusiastic groups determined the greatest concerns and discussed possible solutions to these issues.  When presented on Friday morning, the issues were remarkably similar regardless of commodity.  Cooperation among the producers seemed to be the biggest challenge but also the one that will provide the best outcome if achieved. The video and powerpoints from this conference will soon be on this site.    The date and location for the 4th annual conference will also be announced very soon.  Watch for the date.

  A very interestingwebsite for those of you who are growing a small business is SCORE Rochester. SCORE is a non-profit association composed of volunteers who share their management and technical expertise with owners/managers of small business and those who want to start their own small businesses.  Helping business men and women has been SCORE's goal since its founding in 1964.  SCORE has over 389 locations/chapters with 11,500 members and operates in the USA. SCORE volunteers hail from every facet of the business community.  Some have worked at large corporations such as Kodak, Xerox or Bausch & Lomb.  Some have served in our military or worked for the local or federal government.  Others have spent years cultivating their own small business.  They’ve made mistakes and enjoyed business success – they are ready to give their time and business insights back to emerging and existing business owners. Periodically the Rochester SCORE chapter recognizes some of its members or other contributors to the SCORE programs at one of our monthly meetings. As a resource partner with the U. S. Small Business Administration (SBA), SCORE operates in cooperation with the agency to provide business owners with information, resources and tools vital to their success.  This includes counseling on financing options, business strategy, marketing tactics, product development, cash flow, management and much more.

  East Lansing, Mich. -- Researchers at Michigan State University are working to turn the rutabaga into an oil-producing powerhouse that could make the turnip-like vegetable a better source of biofuel than other food crops.

  Fishers, NY -- A group of New York apples growers has formed a new company to grow, pack, market and sell new apple varieties created by Cornell Univesity's Apple Breeding Program.

  Since 1990, the combined population of the four largest metro areas in Upstate New York(Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, and B...

  ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that New York ranks fourth in the nation in the number of organic farms, behind California, Wisconsin and Washington.

  Albany, NY -- A total of $900,000 in grants are available to specialty crop growers to help these crops compete in the marketplace. State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is funding through the 2008 federal Farm Bill to assist New York's specialty crops, which includes fruits, vegetables, maple and honey and horticulture crops. Grant applications are due July 17.

  Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer believes a new and easy-to-navigate Web site would help bolster the use of farmers markets. Schumer has written to officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture urging them to do more to promote farmers markets and the benefits of locally grown food by creating a new, informative and easy to navigate Web site. He said the current site, which can be found at http://apps.ams.usda.gov/FarmerMarkets/, is outdated, difficult to access and search, and it does not provide a comprehensive list of the available markets in New York state. The site is also not well-promoted by the USDA and many people do not know it exists.        

  Albany, NY -- New York state will be receiving about $1 million in federal Specialty Crop Block Grant money. State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker said the money will be used to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, which includes fruits, vegetables, maple and honey and horticulture crops.

  ORLANDO—Changes in the infectious traits of germs, their resistance to antibiotic treatments, and even changes within human bodies all can have dire effect on our susceptibility of foodborne illness as a result of the globalization of the food supply. Experts in food safety will target the factors that threaten to contribute to the emergence of illnesses spread via food on Sunday, June 25, at the Orange County Convention Center here, during this year’s Institute of Food Technologists’ Annual Meeting + FOOD EXPO®. Prions and brain-wasting disease, viruses and the animal version of hepatitis E, and the heightened ability of foodborne bacteria to infect the body are just some of the issues to gain critical review in this scientific presentation featuring researchers from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Department of Agriculture, the National Center for Food Safety and Technology, and elsewhere.

  ORLANDO—Resources are fewer and the responsibilities greater for ensuring the country’s food safety and protecting its public health, according to a high-ranking U.S. Food and Drug Administration official speaking here Sunday to scientists and senior executives within the food industry at the opening of the Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting + Food Expo® . Robert Brackett, who heads up the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, said drastic cutbacks within the FDA are not imminent, but described his department as operating in “an era of austerity.” CFSAN’s workforce of 950 full-time employees in late 2003 will shrink to 817 in 2007 he said.

  April 16, 2009   GENEVA, NY -- Seth Mulligan has been chosen as the new executive director fo...

  Syracuse, NY -- The New York Farm Viability Institute is looking for knowledgeable New York farmers and agricultural producers to review project proposals submitted to the institute's grant programs. The institute is a nonprofit, farmer-led organization that awards funds for research and outreach projects that help increase profits on New York farms. It supports projects that focus on business management, marketing, production issues, technology adoption, outreach education and more across the diverse agricultural sectors, farm sizes and production practices in the state.

  Jefferson County wineries are bottling the region's first wine from a white cold-hardy grape. Otter Creek Winery owner Kyle R. Hafemann calls the La Crescent grape the "north country's Riesling," which he said is similar to the taste of the cold-hardy grape.

  Hold your nose while you’re eating andyou miss a lot. That’s because the flavorexperience is not limited to what wetaste on the tongue. While our taste budsdo detect the five sensations—sweet, sour,salty, bitter, and umami—there’s somethingelse going on. And that’s aroma.In fact, most of what we call taste isreally an olfactory experience. Beyond thefive taste sensations, all other tastes are theresult of the sense of smell, via orthonasal(outside of the mouth) and retronasal (insidethe mouth) olfaction    

  The incidence of the most common foodborne illnesses has changed very little over the past three years, according to a 10-state report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The findings are from 2008 data reported by the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), a collaborative project of the CDC, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and 10 state sites. FoodNet monitors foodborne disease and conducts related epidemiologic studies to help health officials better understand the epidemiology of these infections in the U.S. Each year, the current data is compared to the previous three years and the period from 1996 to 1998, the first three years of surveillance. The FoodNet population is similar to the U.S. population and therefore provides reliable information on the incidence and trends of foodborne illness in the U.S.

  CHICAGO — Along with the increased worldwide demand for fish and seafood is a rise in the illegal practice of substituting lesser-valued seafood for the more highly prized varieties, such as sea bass labelled as halibut or rockfish labelled as red snapper. To prevent this illegal practice, a number of DNA-based methods have been developed to detect fish and seafood species in commercial products.

  CHICAGO — Consumers are willing to pay extra for food processed using new technology once they understand how it works and what it does, according to a study presented in the Journal of Food Science Education, published by the Institute of Food Technologists. To meet consumer demand for food that is minimally processed, additive free and has an extended shelf life, there has been increased interest in the commercial development of nonthermal-processing technologies. High hydrostatic-pressure processing (HPP) involves the application of hydrostatic compression and varying process temperatures that make microorganisms inactive. Product development and distribution of HPP foods continues in the U.S., with the introduction of new products such as salsa and whole pressure-shucked oysters. HPP has been successfully applied to ready-to-eat meats, and some processed fruits and vegetables, jams, yogurt and rice products.

  CHICAGO —Some vegetable cooking methods may be better than others when it comes to maintaining beneficial antioxidant levels, according to a new study in the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists. Results showed that, depending on the vegetable, cooking on a flat metal surface with no oil (griddling) and microwave cooking maintained the highest antioxidant levels. Fruits and vegetables are considered to be the major contributors of nutritional antioxidants, which may prevent cancer and other diseases. Because of their high antioxidant levels and low-calorie content, consumers are encouraged to eat several servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

  Two professors from Cornell University are providing information about Milk Protein Concentrates. To access the information, go to the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corp. Web site at this link and then click on the Milk Protein Concentrate area to obtain the information. Professors David Barbano and Mark Stephenson compiled the information. Milk Protein Concentrates are the broken-down proteins and fats that result from milk being processed at high temperatures. Some manufacturers use these concentrates in their dairy products instead of actual dairy milk.

  Here is what Gov. David Paterson proposed spending for some agriculture programs versus what state lawmakers have agreed to spend: County fairs: No funding vs. $453,000 Wine, grape industry: No funding vs. $1.2 million -- $250,000 for marketing and promotion, $951,000 for the New York Wine and Grape Foundation Apple industry: No funding vs. $275,000 Maple industry: No funding vs. $150,000 Tractor rollover program: No funding from either Farmland protection: $17.5 million vs. $23 million Farm Viability Institute: $400,000 vs. $3.2 million Source: Offices of Sen. Darrel Aubertine, D-Cape Vincent, and Assemblyman William Magee, D-Nelson 

  Imagine if food scientists had the ability to take sodium and reduce the size of its particles. If that were possible, then a beverage might not need as much sodium to achieve a desired taste profile. The ability to create smaller particles is just one of the possible applications that nano-scale science and technology hopes to bring to the beverage and food industries. The most straight-forward definition of nanotechnology is controlling matter between 1 and 100 nanometers. One nanometer is 1 billionth of a meter. To understand what that means in terms of size, the width of a one human hair is 50,000 nanometers.

  ScienceDaily (Mar. 25, 2009) — Over the past few years, honey bee keepers have experienced problems due to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), which has hurt honey bee populations, causing some growers of fruits, nuts and vegetables to wonder how their crops will be pollinated in the future.

  Got nothing to do this weekend? Well, how about heading out to pick up some of that wonderful sweetness of the maple trees. It's the first Maple Weekend of this season and maple producers across the state -- and here in Central New York -- will have open houses, tours and some will have pancake breakfasts to kick off the 2009 maple season. Maple Weekends are March 21-22 and March 28-29. Sites are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.For more information and for a list of participating sugar houses, visit this Web site.

  Some people travel from vineyard to vineyard along the Cayuga Wine Trail, others stick to their all-time favorites. But those really dedicated to wine can lease their own vines, tend their own grapes and make their own wine at Cayuga Ridge Winery.

  Can we save the earth one stir-fry at a time? I was certainly dubious when I first saw the book, Cool Cuisine: Taking the Bite Out of Global Warming. Still, the lush cover photography of a verdant table setting and a bowl of farm-fresh eggs drew me in. As I flipped through the pages, I was a bit surprised to see they were packed with clean, colorful graphics and sidebars explaining everything from the atmospheric carbon cycle to the role of bees in agriculture and step-by-step instructions for successful composting. Each chapter concluded with a set of tasty-sounding recipes, and the copious endnotes had detailed references.

  University of Illinois plant geneticist Stephen Moose has developed a corn plant with enormous potential for biomass, literally. It yields corn that would make good silage, Moose said, due to a greater number of leaves and larger stalk, which could also make it a good energy crop.

  Anyone who wants informtaion on how to sell at Farmers Markets should attend one of the upcoming "Farmers' Market Information Day" meetings scheduled throughout the state.

  Congress and the FDA must upend the nation's agricultural policies to keep its food supply safe Agriculture has fueled the eruption of human civilization. Efficiently raised, affordable crops and livestock feed our growing population, and hunger has largely been banished from the developed world as a result. Yet there are reasons to believe that we are beginning to lose control of our great agricultural machine. The security of our food supply is at risk in ways more noxious than anyone had feared.

  Ag Literacy Week begins Monday throughout New York state. The fourth annual event, run by New York Agriculture in the Classroom, is March 16-20. People throughout the state will visit elementary schools to read a book with an ag theme.

  WASHINGTON, D.C., March 5, 2009 – Though confronted by numerous challenges, America’s young farmers and ranchers express a high level of optimism about agriculture and say they are better off than they were five years ago. Those are the general findings of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 17th annual survey of young farmers and ranchers.

  High Tunnels for Season Extension – Friday, April 3, 2009 - Owego, NY Learn how to earn more income by lengthening the growing season inside tunnels, greenhouse-like structures used for growing fruits and vegetables. Judson Reid, extension educator with the Cornell Vegetable Team, will talk about the pros and cons of different tunnel designs. Chris Wein, Cornell professor of Horticulture, will show different ways to manage both the high and low temperatures in a tunnel. Molly Shaw, South Central NY Ag Team, will discuss low tunnels and caterpillar tunnels, low cost alternatives to high tunnels. Tim Stoughton, vegetable and greenhouse grower in Newark Valley, will talk about his first years of growing in a high tunnel. Laura McDermott, Eastern NY Berry Specialist, will help you calculate how much income a tunnel will actually earn you.   In the afternoon, visit different tunnel structures at Our Green Acres and see the spinach ready to harvest in the tunnel at Purdys Produce.   This workshop will be held at the CCE-Tioga office in Owego, NY from 9:00 AM -3:00 PM and is free to farmer participants and includes a light lunch thanks to funds from the NY Farm Viability Institute. Please pre-register by March 31. E-mail: mew58@cornell.edu  Phone: 607-687-4020.  

  The American Farm Bureau Federation has launched a Web site targeted at consumers. The site, Your Agriculture, at this Web link, is aimed at educating the non-farming public about agriculture issues, farmers and ranchers and the food, fiber and fuel they grow. "The average American is three generations removed from the farm and does not have a clear understanding of where their food comes from," said American Farm Bureau Federation director of public relations Don Lipton. "We hope this new Web site will help us engage in conversation with consumers about modern agricultural production while shedding light on issues faced by America's farmers and ranchers."

  The New York State Working Group on Local Foods and Local Markets has established a Yahoo group: Buy Local NY (BuyLocalNY@yahoogroups.com). This Yahoo group is for anyone interested in growing, processing, distributing, selling or promoting New York foods to New York consumers. It's also for those interested in buying, cooking, preserving and enjoying the bounty of New York. Buy-Local stakeholders including -- but not limited to -- program facilitators, project coordinators, farmers, processors, distributors, food service directors, market managers, consumers and others are invited to join this Buy Local NY yahoo group; which will focus on connecting farmers and consumers. This group is facilitated by the New York State Work Team on Local Foods and Local Markets, which is supported by the Cornell Small Farms Program.

  The U.S. agricultural industry has long complained about a labor shortage in the fields. The work force is aging and it is frequently too difficult for new farm workers to get visas. So, the federal government has just begun implementing new rules to ease the H-2A temporary agriculture worker program.

  Syngenta CEO Mike Mack told a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture meeting in Washington, D.C. that agricultural technology has an important role to play in global food security. Syngenta is an international agribusiness conglomerate. Its North American Crop Protection unit is based in Greensboro. At the 2009 USDA Outlook Forum, Mack said rising populations, changing diets, loss of farmland and other factors are increasing pressures on the food supply. He also noted that $30 billion worth of crops were lost to drought in 2007 even as more biofuels are demanded for energy.

  Optimistic, but cautious about sales performance was the message food company executives delivered to investment analysts at the annual Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference.

  The root of culinology’s importance in that it “inspires collaboration between professionals in culinary arts with professional in food science and technology. And it does so unconditionally, with the single goal of developing innovative, healthy and great tasting foods.”

  A Purdue University researcher has found a way to eliminate bacteria in packaged foods such as spinach and tomatoes, a process that could eliminate worries concerning some food-borne illnesses.

  This science may literally be outside the box: A briefcase-sized kit is carried to a field where thousands of tons of food are growing. The search is for microorganisms that could infect and kill the plants, wreaking havoc on the food supply and market.

  Cornell is conducting a large study with food & beverage manufacturers in NYS. The purpose is to come up with firm strategies to improve competitiveness and to develop policies that support firm growth. Food & beverage processors provide substantial economic contributions to the state economy, and we would like their voices to be heard and registered via our study’s survey.Our survey has just been mailed and we urge you to respond, if you receive it in the mail. Please be assured that individual responses will be confidential and that we will report only aggregated results. A copy of our report will be sent to all respondents. Respondents will also be invited to attend focus groups around the State to help address findings from the survey. More information can be found at:  http://agribusiness.aem.cornell.edu/foodmanuf.html Thank you for your help!—Kristen Park, Extension Associate, Cornell University, (607) 255-7215  

  According to report released by International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, 13.3 million farmers in 25 countries are using agricultural biotechnology. Ninety percent of these are resource-poor farmers in 15 developing countries. Sharon Bomer Lauritsen, Executive VP, Food and Agriculture for BIO stated that ag-biotech provides solutions for farmers in the form of plants that yield more per acre, resist diseases and insects, and reduce production costs.

  DuPont Co. sees its agriculture business as a bright spot amid a bleak economic landscape, with profits expected to grow 15 percent annually in the next five years.

  Lisa Shumard Shelton was raised on a farm but she did not expect to get a job in agriculture after college.

    “You can build a unit and include the necessary shielding, then install it in an existing food processing fa...

  Functional Technologies Corp. (TSX VENTURE:FEB) reports that The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) recently announced that it welcomes the next stage in the commercialization of the proprietary hydrogen sulfide (H2S) reducing yeast technology developed at the University of California at Davis (UC Davis).

  Food safety remains paramount and energy’s cheap for now, but this certified recession has processors looking to 2009 with hesitation.

  (Honolulu, Hawaii & New York City, January 21, 2009) – The Intelligent Community Forum announced today its list of the Top Seven Communities of 2009 during a luncheon ceremony at PTC ‘09. The Top Seven announcement is the second stage of ICF's annual Intelligent Community awards cycle.  Gaining a place among the Top Seven is a major achievement as well as a step toward even greater recognition for communities working to create prosperity and social inclusion in what ICF terms the "Broadband Economy."  The cycle concludes in New York City on May 15, 2009 during ICF’s annual Building the Broadband Economy Summit (www.icfsummit.com), where one of the Top Seven will succeed the Gangnam District of Seoul, South Korea as Intelligent Community of the Year.   Bristol, VA Eindhoven, Netherlands Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada Issy-les-Moulineaux, France Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada Stockholm, Sweden Tallinn, Estonia  

  Japanese researchers have developed a technology to produce hydrogen from cattle dung and urine for use in fuel cells. The new technology developed by Junichi Takahashi at Obihiro Univ. of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine and Sumitomo Corp.'s research group can also be applied to human waste and allows the production of hydrogen without producing unwanted carbon dioxide.

  Local foods Squash seed oilTurning an agricultural byproduct into a gourmet specialty food was hardly on the minds of Greg Woodworth and Kelly Coughlin when they moved their online cookie company, Stony Brook Cookie Co., from Boston to Geneva in 2007. But soon enough, the food entrepreneurs were approached by a local farmer who wondered whether they might find a use for butternut squash seeds left over from processing the squash for area grocery stores. With the help of scientists at the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park in Geneva (where Stony Brook cookies are made), Woodworth and Coughlin began marketing Stony Brook Wholehearted Foods Finger Lakes Butternut Squash Seed Oil last fall.

  One of Gov. David Paterson's proposals may have far reaching implications for Chautauqua County - allowing the sale of wine in grocery stores.

  Happy New Year from the Business Development Team at the Canadian Consulate General in Buffalo! We are starting 2009 by showcasing a Canadian technology success story from the past year: solar energy cells which are flexible! Canadian researchers are using nanotechnology to meet our need for sustainable energy. We also have some interesting partnerships developing where Canadian and US organizations have benefitted by working together. Our mandate is to facilitate cross-border business relations so our newsletter will focus on developments, both regulatory and economic, relevant to Canada-US business activities. In the coming year, please look for the Business Development Team’s Newsletter on a regular basis.  

  Quebec-New York Economic Summit On November 17, 2008 New York Governor David Paterson and Quebec Premier Jean Charest, speaking at the Fourth Quebec-New York Economic Summit called for upgrading infrastructure on both sides of the border to improve trade and speed economic growth during this downturn. In 2007, trade between the two totalled $8.9 billion (Canadian). That represented a 12.7-percent increase from 2006. Creating a Green Corrider between Quebec and New York to expand trade between Quebec and New York also formed an important part of the discussion.  

  The Institute of Food Technologists recently unveiled Food Facts, a web page aimed at helping consumers prevent foodborne illnesses.

  Fall 2008- Newsletter An open forum for exploring issues in agricultural biotechnology. Includes an overview of  NABC 20.     The University of Saskatchewan will host NABC 21June 24–26, 2009Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change

  WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2008 – USDA’s Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) announced today the addition of the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) to its funding portfolio as authorized under the 2008 Farm Bill.  The Request for Applications is expected to be released early in 2009 on the CSREES and Grants.gov Web sites.

  Every knight needs a crusade and a sword. For Belmont-based entrepreneur Eric Vogt, who was knighted as a Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole by the French Minister of Agriculture in 2006, that crusade is to protect the honor and integrity of fine wines.

  Vienna, 2 December 2008 - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) today called for increased investment in a plant breeding technique that could bolster efforts aimed at pulling millions of people out of the hunger trap.

  An accounting firm offer tips to navigate, perhaps even capitalize on the current financial crisis.

  Maintenance Free Solution for Soil Monitoring in Remote Vineyards and Open Field Applications UTRECHT, Netherlands, Nov 03, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- GreenPeak Technologies, a leader in ultra-low power communication technology for wireless sense and control applications, today announced a new remote soil moisture monitoring application developed by its Spanish integrator Sensing&Control.

  DES MOINES, Iowa - A society's prosperity is inextricably linked with its agriculture, the President of the Global Development Program for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said on Thursday.

  Accuracy may be the top priority of microbial testing, but in light of the fast-paced global food system, speed is critical to every processing plant’s efficiency and profitability.

  A small-scale imaging system that inspects and sorts wheat samples and other grains at moderate speeds with 95 to 99 percent accuracy has been developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and cooperators.

  COBLESKILL _ On Thursday, elected officials, industry partners and college leaders will present a ceremonial groundbreaking at the State University College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill.

  Industrial Nanotech, Inc. (Pink Sheets:INTK), an emerging global leader in nanotechnology, announced today that the Company has launched a new patented product for the agricultural market which has been proven to provide a solution to the growing crisis that threatens 15 billion dollars worth of crops in the US and billions more worldwide:  honey bee loss.

  Processors are providing – and wise consumers are choosing – foods that just may turn around the obesity epidemic.

  On Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy revealed the National Biofuels Action Plan, an interagency plan detailing efforts to accelerate the development of a sustainable biofuels industry.

  WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2008--The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) proposes to revise existing regulations regarding the importation, interstate movement and environmental release of certain genetically engineered (GE) organisms under the Plant Protection Act (PPA) of 2000.

  A exclusive conversation with ‘food safety czar’ David W.K. Acheson, FDA’s Associate Commissioner for Foods.

  WASHINGTON – Almost $14 million was awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to support research, education and outreach for food safety.

    Oct. 1, 2008 Grad student Kevin McAvey starts foundation to reverse upstate New York 'brain drain' By Jill McCoy It is a rare Cornell student who does not find the university's campus and environs beautiful and a great place to live for four years. But after graduation, the tide often changes: Diploma-wielding young adults rush to leave upstate New York in the quest to land jobs in an urban area. Graduate student Kevin McAvey has started a foundation to encourage college graduates to stay in upstate New York.

  Marketing Course for NNY Farmers, Artists, Entrepreneurs Begins October 27 –Turn Ideas into Profitable Business Vent...

  Walk into a grocery store after Sept. 30, and you’ll be more likely to find out whether that head of lettuce you are buying was grown in Mexico or the United States. If you pick up a bag of lettuce, however, don’t necessarily expect the same information.

  HONG KONG - British candy maker Cadbury announced a recall Monday of chocolate made in its Beijing factory after it was found to contain melamine, the industrial chemical that has sickened tens of thousands of Chinese children.

  CAMDEN, N.J. — Fall signals harvest season across the country. This year it also marks the kick-off of a national campaign to help support the future of American farming. Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB) is partnering with the National FFA Organization and Grammy-nominee Jewel to help raise awareness of the importance of supporting the future of American agriculture - the nation's largest employer.

  SCIENCE teachers in the New England have been given a chance to see how much of a role the subject plays in the local agricultural industry.

  Researchers at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom have discovered how Salmonella can cause food poisoning by at...

  Company seeks to reduce foodborne illnesses and deaths by informing consumers early about major food recalls and safety alerts.  BellTower Technologies LLC today announced the launch of FoodAlert.org, the nation's first free high-speed telephone food safety alert notification service for American consumers and their families.

  The Entrepreneurs Network (TEN) is now accepting applications for its next class which begins in November. Based on best practices of leading entrepreneurial training, education and networking programs, TEN's mission is to grow early stage technology, life sciences and high-growth companies in the upstate region.

  MONTEREY, Calif. — Eighteen months after receiving funds from a $2 million dollar donation by Fresh Express LLC, Salinas, nine researchers from universities and government labs revealed what could end up being vital findings on E. coli O157:H7, including its possible origins, growth, survivability, risks and effect on the industry.

  Visual acuity built into a robotic system may be the key to solving today’s harvesting problems. With labor more difficult to secure, gathering crops such as apples, grapes and oranges, among others, has become a big challenge, but a developing technology may bring a whole new way to harvest.

    FOX RUN VINEYARDS on Seneca Lake has been named one of the top 100 wineries in the world by Wine & Spirits magazine, and will celebrate that achievement with a press conference and wine-and-food tasting on September 17 from 1 to 3 pm.  Wine & Spirits editor and publisher Joshua Greene noted that the magazine staff tastes over 9,000 wines a year, with the top 100 wineries selected on the basis of a range of wines that score at the top of their categories.  For years, Fox Run has been widely recognized as one of the top quality producers in the Finger Lakes and New York overall, with the hallmark of quality across a broad range of wines.  Being in Wine & Spirits’ top 100 is not only a major achievement for Fox Run, but also a great reflection on both the Finger Lakes and New York overall.  Congratulations and thanks to the Fox Run team.  More information about the event is available by calling Leslie Kroeger at 800-636-9786 or email foxrunmarketing@foxrunvineyards.com

  The 2008 Water Reuse in Agriculture Conference, "Water Reuse in Agriculture: Ensuring Food Safety," will be held October 26-28, in Monterey, Calif. Cosponsored by the USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) and the WateReuse Association, the conference will explore the benefits of using recycled water to meet agricultural needs.

  At the edges of two small ponds in a Greece subdivision are two pairs of small signs nailed to posts. OAS_AD('ArticleFlex_1');   “WARNING,” two of the signs read. “Avoid contact with water. Do not allow pets to drink from pond.”

  What if you could open a bag of carrots and get a readout that shows whether or not the produce contains harmful levels of...

  Researchers say they have come up with a new method that allows rapid, large-scale studies of Escherichia coli’s...

  Collaboration Focuses on Identifying Key Genes to Help Farmers Produce More, While Conserving More

  ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Aug 26., 2008 -- Leica Geosystems announced today it will release a new software upgrade for the mojoRTK Auto-steer console allowing producers to take full advantage of the CORS (Continuously Operating Reference Station) networks being built across the country.

  IRVINE, Calif.--BioLargo, Inc. today announced that it has entered into a marketing and representation agreement with Ioteq IP Pty, Ltd., an Australian company, and its United States affiliate Ioteq, Inc., under which BioLargo will represent and market Ioteq’s iodine-based disinfection technology, Isan®, on an exclusive basis in the United States and on a non-exclusive basis in the rest of the world. BioLargo will make monthly payments to Ioteq of $20,000 per month and receive up to a 40% royalty of all revenues received by Ioteq as a result of BioLargo’s efforts in arranging a wide range of business opportunities for Ioteq’ technology.

  BELLEVILLE, ON, Aug. 25, 2008----Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., a research-based, technology-driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company, announced today that its U.S. Animal Health business, Bioniche Animal Health USA, Inc., has been granted full listing by the Organic Materials Review Institute for its premier immunostimulant technology for calves, Immunoboost. The addition of Immunoboost to the official OMRI list indicates that this biological product has met the national standard for use in organic dairy and beef operations in the United States.

  A 40-mile stretch of fiber-optic cable has been installed from Eastview Mall in Victor to the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park in Geneva

  New magazine celebrating the abundance of Central NY season by season

  Four farms from three counties- Cayuga, Seneca and Tompkins- have been selected for the Lake-Friendly Farm Award for 2008, presented by the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network. Recipients were: Switzer Farm in Tomkins County, Hosmer Winery and Canoga Creek Farm in Seneca County and Long Point Winery in Cayuga County. These farms have incorporated practices that protect and conserve water resources into their operations, according to the Watershed Network. Lake-friendly farming practices include innovative manure handling facilities, tree planting along streams and restoring wetlands. Though some funding is available through private and municipal grants to implement thise practices, they do add cost for the farmers. "Most farmers are dedicated stewards of land and water resources. On behalf of all those who benefit from clean water and fresh agricultural products, we thank them for their efforts," said Sharon Anderson, the network's Watershed Steward.  

  (Aug. 21, 5:45 p.m.) The Food and Drug Administration now allows food processors to irradiate fresh spinach and iceberg lettuce to kill E. coli and other pathogens.But despite heightened consumer awareness of food safety issues in the wake of outbreaks — including a 2006 E. coli outbreak linked to bagged spinach — it’s not clear consumers would pay a premium price for treated product.

  Between satiety-inducing ingredients and a Wii workout, we may beat obesity yet. Satiety seemed to be a big buzz word at this year’s Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting & Food Expo. I’ve always been fascinated by the word, though not in scientific terms, but in the marketing and psychological aspects.

  NEW YORKFARM DAY on September 23 will give official Washington a taste of just how good food can be, while also reminding ...

  CRAFTSBURY, Vt.—Pete Johnson, owner of Pete's Greens, already extends his vegetable farm's summer bounty by using cold storage.  Now, he'll be able to quick-freeze some of his crop, thanks to a new Vermont Agency of Agriculture mobile freezing unit, allowing him and other farmers to offer customers more through the year.

  While it’s common to use perforated liners in packaging for long-distance shipping of grapes, a study by scientist...

  A platinum catalyst is being used in new technology that could reduce the risk of salmonella being carried on food.

  ScienceDaily (Aug. 7, 2008) — Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists are using a new tool to find relationships between DNA markers and economically significant traits in cattle.

  U.S. farmland values are at a record high even as the rest of the country suffers the worst housing crisis since the Great Depression, with the highest crop prices ever pushing up agricultural real estate.

  When the 2008 Summer Olympic Games open in August, the event will put more than athletes in the spotlight. The bright lights will also shine on high-tech ticketing and food-tracking systems built on radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology.

  When apples are brought out of storage in January or February, they are usually in peak condition — at least if you eat them right away.