{"DS | Byline name"/}By Mark Boshnack
{"DS | Byline title"/}Staff Writer
{"DS | Body text"/}An annual conference brought together about 125 people from a wide range of agricultural backgrounds at State University College of Technology at Delhi on Thursday. The Catskill Regional Dairy, Livestock and Grazing Conference took place at Sanford Hall.
It is intended to provide an exchange of information to help farmers deal with the economy, said John Thurgood, watershed agricultural extension team leader with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County.
This has included relatively low prices for wholesale milk and high grain prices, he said. The event was sponsored by the county Extension and Watershed Agricultural Council.
The day started with an outlook on dairy markets and continued with information on how changing animal diets can increase profit and improve water quality through precision feeding. There was also information addressing the needs of livestock and renewable energy.
At a couple of afternoon sessions, Don Hebbard, Watershed Agricultural Council agricultural engineering specialist, described how he and his wife, Louise, built a home with his retirement in mind.
The home uses a 2,700 kilowatt primary solar-panel heating system that is augmented by an active solar energy collection system, he said.
"Energy conservation provides the best return on investment," he said.
He also advised anyone looking at such renewable energy systems to take advantage of all energy credits.
James Tucker, owner-operator of Wire Nutz Electric in East Meredith, specializes in solar panels and other alternative energy electrical projects in the watershed region. The New York State Energy Research Development Authority certified installer discussed such areas as planning and funding a project.
"The entire process can take six months," he said.
A couple of people at the energy sessions said they found them useful.
Tim Camann of Sidney said he lives on what used to be a farm. His house is going to need a new furnace, and he said he was interested in learning more about alternative systems. He was interested in solar but was thinking that might not be the way to go, following the presentations, he said.
Diane Maxwell is a fifth-generation dairy farmer living in Delhi. She attended the sessions with her husband, who stayed with those focused on dairy while she checked out alternative energy.
With what is going on in the industry, these types of opportunities help farmers to be better managers, she said.
