Upcoming Events

Nutrient Management on a Modern Dairy Farm

Jon and Julie Patterson invite members of the Network to visit their family-run dairy in Aurelius, NY, for a tour and presentation on modern nutrient management techniques, designed to keep nutrients on the farm.

This fun and educational event is scheduled for October 26, from 10:00 am until noon, and will include:

• a visit to the Patterson Farms manure separation and composting facilities

• a review of a working nutrient management plan and spreading schedule

• a visit with 800 cows and 550 heifers

For more information, contact the Pattersons at (315) 255-2161. Attendance is limited, so RSVP early!

Road Courses and Water Resources: A Workshop for Highway and Municipal Officials in Tompkins County

County and local highway and municipal officials are invited to attend a workshop about new federal stormwater regulations, the effects of road maintenance practices on water quality, and liability issues for highway officials. The workshop will be held October 15, 2002 from 8:30am to 12:30pm at the Cayuga Heights Fire Department, 194 Pleasant Grove Road, Ithaca.

Composting For Cayuga County

The Cayuga County Soil & Water Conservation District is conducting workshops for Cayuga County residents interested in learning how to compost.

Two workshops will be held at the District Office, 7413 County House Road in Sennett, NY, on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 22 and 23, from 7-8 pm.

There is a $10 registration fee, for which participants will receive an Earth Machine compost bin — an $80 value! (Limit — one per household)

Contact the District Office for pre-registration and directions, at 315-252-4171, Extension 3. Pre-payment is also required.

Independent Newsgroup Forming

Those who are interested in helping to establish regulation of
jet-ski/motorboat noise and two cycle engine pollution on Cayuga Lake may
email quietclean@yahoo.com in order to join the Cayuga Lake email newsgroup.

Some Food for Thought...

"The Cayuga Lake watershed is larger than most people would think. Due to the fact that the general public does not know much about their lake's watershed, toxins are released into the watershed without a second thought. People do not realize that when you dump toxins, they do not just go away. They get into theground and storm drains, then into streams and rivers and are led down to the lake. Once in the lake their concentrations can just build up and pollute…"

Probably, the above expresses some ideas with which you are already familiar. The quote is taken from an essay written by a high school student, Nicole Loerzel, of Auburn, who was an award winner in our 2002 contest. It’s nice to see yet another generation beginning to wrestle with these problems, and the Network is honored to support their exploration! Remember, we will have another essay contest in 2003, with three levels of competition as before…grades 6-8, grades 9-12, and adult level. Watch for the announcement in a coming edition of Network News.

— Barney Unsworth, Public Relations Committee