Port of Oswego CNY Agricultural Center wins ACEC award

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OSWEGO — The Port of Oswego Authority’s Central New York Agricultural Center, a project handled in partnership with C&S Companies, has received a silver award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), New York Chapter. “Oswego is home to the largest facility of its kind on Lake Ontario and the most technologically advanced handling […]

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“Oswego is home to the largest facility of its kind on Lake Ontario and the most technologically advanced handling system in New York State and on the Great Lakes and has an on-site USDA lab,” William Scriber, executive director and CEO of the Port of Oswego Authority (POA), said in announcing the award. “The grain handling capacity and conveyance improvements from this project have helped propel the Port to its highest level of business in years. We applaud C&S for being recognized for this award, and for the great job they did on the project.”

The $15 million project involved the construction of a centralized control building with dedicated spaces for electrical controls, the air-compressor system, and the automated silo-controls center. Installation of a new 4,000-amp electrical service powered the new silo. It also entailed setting up a fiber-optic network, implementing security upgrades, and executing drainage improvements.

The POA selected C&S Cos. to design and oversee the construction of its Grain Handling Capacity and Conveyance Improvements Project. For decades, the POA stored grain from local farmers on the ground under aging, timber-domed buildings, it said. The authority manually loaded it out for shipment by ship or rail. Recently, the POA began exporting grain internationally. To maintain its USDA export license, the Port of Oswego needed a modern silo and conveyance system, per the release. The new system is automated and includes a 21,000-metric-ton silo, an unloading pit for trucks and rail, and load-out systems for railcar, truck, and ship. Additionally, two on-site laboratories were upgraded: one for USDA inspectors to verify exports and one for SUNY Oswego to test inbound grain.

“We have more than 100 local farmers who deliver grain to the Port. This system can unload a truckload of grain (35,000 lbs.) in less than a minute, and it can load a railcar (100 tons of grain) in just minutes. This reduced unloading time allows farmers the ability to flow more grain into the facility,” Scriber said.

ACEC New York represents and supports engineering professionals in New York state. It advocates for them with its clients and all levels of government. It also offers education, inclusion, partnering, and knowledge sharing.

The Port of Oswego says its strategic location at the crossroads of the Northeastern North American shipping market, puts it less than 350 miles from 60 million people.

Ask Rusty: Can One Work While Collecting SS Disability?

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Dear Rusty: If a person is collecting Social Security (SS) disability benefits, can he, at any point, work at all? If he can, what is the maximum he can earn and still keep the disability benefit? I am asking because my husband is still young, but his injuries will not allow him to go back

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Dear Rusty: If a person is collecting Social Security (SS) disability benefits, can he, at any point, work at all? If he can, what is the maximum he can earn and still keep the disability benefit? I am asking because my husband is still young, but his injuries will not allow him to go back to the job he had prior to his injuries and surgeries. He does not just want to sit at home doing nothing.

Signed: Concerned Wife

Dear Concerned: Actually, the Social Security Administration (SSA) encourages those collecting SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) benefits to attempt to go back to work and it provides considerable leeway for them to do so. The monthly earnings limit for those collecting SSDI benefits in 2024 is $1,550. As long as your husband earns less than the limit while working, his SSDI benefits will not be in jeopardy. Your husband should contact Social Security’s Ticket to Work program directly to protect his disability status and discuss returning to work while collecting SSDI benefits.

The Ticket to Work program assists those now receiving SSDI benefits who wish to test their ability to return to work without putting their SSDI benefits at risk. The program provides considerable assistance — including new career-training opportunities and connection to potential employers — and it is voluntary and costs nothing. More information on Social Security’s Ticket to Work program is available at: https://choosework.ssa.gov/

It’s not mandatory for your husband to enroll in the Ticket to Work program but, in addition to other available assistance, he can request a trial-work period, which would allow for nine months, over a rolling five-year period, during which he can earn any amount (even over the normal monthly limit mentioned above) without risking his SSDI benefits. Within the trial-work period, only those months he earns over the normal monthly SSDI limit would count as a trial-work month. So, for example, your husband could work part time regularly earning under the normal monthly limit and if, in some months (up to nine), he earned more it wouldn’t affect his SSDI benefits.

So, your younger disabled husband can, indeed, work while on Social Security disability, for as long as he wishes while earning under the monthly SSDI limit (the SSDI earnings limit changes yearly). He may also wish to enroll in Social Security’s Ticket to Work program for assistance with developing a new career. Plus, he can take advantage of using trial-work months in the event his work earnings will, at times, exceed the monthly SSDI limit. If your husband earns over the SSDI limit for more than the nine trial-work months and his benefits are consequently stopped, he can — within the 5-year trial-work period — have his benefits reinstated (without again going through the full application process) if his disability, once more, renders him unable to work full time.

For starters, I suggest your husband contact Social Security’s Ticket to Work program directly at (833) 889-0108 to discuss returning to work part time. The SSA will guide him through the entire process.

Russell Gloor is a national Social Security advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC). The 2.4-million-member AMAC says it is a senior advocacy organization. Send your questions to: ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

Author’s note: This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). The NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity.

Watertown Airport’s new approach lighting system is certified

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HOUNSFIELD — A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight-inspection team from Atlantic City, New Jersey on Feb. 21 certified the approach-lighting system at the Watertown International Airport. The new navigation aid is designed to help pilots who are landing aircraft in “poor visibility conditions,” said officials from the airport, which is located in the town of

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New network aims to connect farms, agribusiness to resources

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MOHAWK — Last fall, the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District (MVEDD), in partnership with Schoharie County, launched the Mohawk Valley Farm and Agribusiness Network (MVFAN) as a clearinghouse for farms and agribusinesses to provide information, resources, networking, and more. The network is the next iteration of the former Mohawk Valley Food Action Network, formed in

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The network is the next iteration of the former Mohawk Valley Food Action Network, formed in 2010 by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County and other partners to strengthen the local food system and promote efforts that increased food-system business opportunities.

The group went by the wayside, says MVEDD Deputy Director Heather Devitt, but a roundtable session last year in Schoharie County revealed that farmers and agribusinesses really needed a place where they could get information about resources such as loans and grants available to them.

Since MVEDD still owned the www.mvfoodaction.org URL, Devitt says the district decided to create MVFAN as a subcommittee and revive that website. The new site launched in October 2023.

“For the most part, it’s a clearinghouse,” says Devitt. It lists information on loans and grants, other programs, state and county resources, and even includes links to things like local farmer’s markets.

“Everyone wants to support farmers,” Amanda Whalen, MVEDD clean energy community coordinator, says. MVFAN is a way to give that support and provide vital information.

The best part, she says, is that MVFAN has already done the work, researching what funding is available for what projects and providing links to more information or online applications.

Farmers and other agribusinesses can access the site during their own time, taking what information from it they need. But they can also reach out to MVEDD if they need more help, Whalen notes.

“I don’t know how to farm, but I can help people fill out paperwork,” she quips.

Beyond just providing information on the website, MVFAN is taking even more steps to not only provide information, but also present educational and networking opportunities. Last year, it hosted a workshop on becoming “New York State Grown and Certified.”

“This was our way to connect the farmers … to funding,” Devitt notes. Along with providing all the information on how to become certified, the organization also provided information about funding available to help in that process.

On Wednesday, March 6, MVFAM is hosting a free “Field To Fork Forum” in the town of Jefferson in Schoharie County, in conjunction with the New York State Restaurant Association for restauranteurs and farmers to discuss locally sourcing food. The goal is to help farmers learn what they need to do in order to supply local restaurants and to help eateries learn about the local food options available to them.

“There’s going to be restaurants there,” Devitt says. “There’s going to be farmers there. There’s going to be a panel discussion.” There will also be a question-and-answer session and networking opportunities.

“It helps the farms,” she says. “It helps the restaurants. It helps the Mohawk Valley economy.”

The Mohawk Valley area was known as the breadbasket during the Revolutionary War because of its rich agricultural opportunities, and agriculture remains a large component of the area’s economy today, Devitt notes.

“I think this is the time really for the resurgence of local farms,” she concludes.

North Country winners of state funding focus on planning process

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LAKE PLACID — Three communities in Jefferson and Lewis counties are looking ahead to the planning process and figuring out how to spend millions in state-grant funding for local improvements. The Village of Lowville in Lewis County will receive $10 million in funding as the North Country winner of the seventh round of the Downtown

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LAKE PLACID — Three communities in Jefferson and Lewis counties are looking ahead to the planning process and figuring out how to spend millions in state-grant funding for local improvements.

The Village of Lowville in Lewis County will receive
$10 million in funding as the North Country winner of the seventh round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI).

At the same time, the state announced the Villages of Canton and Alexandria Bay as this year’s North Country region NY Forward winners, receiving $4.5 million each, the office of Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Jan. 23.

Hochul announced the awards during a visit to Lake Placid.

Lowville will begin the process of developing a strategic-investment plan to revitalize its downtown with up to $300,000 in planning funds from the $10 million DRI grant. A local planning committee made up of municipal representatives, community leaders, and other stakeholders will lead the effort, supported by a team of private-sector experts and state planners.

Canton’s NY Forward application presented a “realistic, visionary and comprehensive” plan to transform blight into new mixed-use development that will offer housing options, retail space and entrepreneurial opportunities, per a release from the governor’s office.

Alexandria Bay’s NY Forward application presented “impressive” private-sector project opportunities that will renovate blight, improve public amenities, grow the business sector, and build “much needed and diverse” downtown housing opportunities, Hochul’s office said.

In DRI’s seventh round of funding awards, the state will award $10 million to a community in each of New York’s 10 economic-development regions. It amounts to a total state commitment of $100 million in funding and investments to help communities boost their economies by “transforming downtowns into vibrant neighborhoods,” according to the release.

As is the case with DRI. the $100 million NY Forward program applies the same “plan-then-act” strategy as the DRI but for New York’s smaller and rural communities. Both involve “strategic planning with immediate project implementation to support a more equitable downtown resurgence.”

Long-time employee now leads Children’s Home of Jefferson County

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WATERTOWN — The new president and CEO of the Children’s Home of Jefferson County (CHJC) has only been working in the role since early January but is very familiar with the organization. Michelle Monnat, who has worked at CHJC for 16 years, most recently served as its CFO. CHJC describes itself as northern New York’s

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Ball outlines priorities in State of Agriculture address

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He spoke at Agricultural Society Forum in Syracuse SYRACUSE — New York State wants to make $34 million in funding available for on-farm fluid-milk storage technologies and processing infrastructure. It also seeks $21 million for a new alternative waste management and enhanced precision-feed program to further the mitigation of agricultural greenhouse-gas

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He spoke at Agricultural Society Forum in Syracuse

SYRACUSE — New York State wants to make $34 million in funding available for on-farm fluid-milk storage technologies and processing infrastructure.

It also seeks $21 million for a new alternative waste management and enhanced precision-feed program to further the mitigation of agricultural greenhouse-gas emissions.

Those elements were part of the State of Agriculture Address that Richard Ball, commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, delivered on Jan. 11 at the 192nd New York State Agricultural Society Annual Forum held in Syracuse.

His remarks outlined the progress made in 2023 and priorities for the state’s agricultural industry in 2024.

The forum, which is traditionally the oldest and largest agricultural meeting of its kind in the state, was held at the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center at Oncenter in Syracuse.

In keeping with this year’s forum theme of “Harnessing Regenerative Business,” Ball spoke about the state’s work to boost the agricultural industry and strengthen the food system while also combatting climate change.

Ball outlined the state’s goals for the new year as part of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2024 State of the State plan. It includes a number of new programs and initiatives to help grow the agricultural community and “promote a more resilient future for the agriculture, food, and forestry sectors,” per a Department of Agriculture and Markets news release.

The plans also include key investments into the Eastern Finger Lakes Coalition of Soil and Water Conservation Districts to accelerate agricultural and resiliency-related projects on farms of all types. This will also include support for the use of more cover crops, to reduce runoff, and to improve soil health and reduce water quality impairments in the region.

Additionally, the state said it will provide increased support for agricultural education and agricultural workforce development, and will introduce new initiatives to safeguard public, plant, and animal health.

New York will also focus on developing bio-production within the agriculture and forestry sectors and revitalizing the state’s aquaculture industry, ensuring New Yorkers can access a “wider range of local food while promoting a healthy climate,” the department said.

“We are all working through a number of concerns and uncertainties, from disruptions in the marketplace and skyrocketing inflation impacting our farmers and the people we serve, to labor and immigration challenges, the ever-increasing threat of climate change, and everything in between. But I believe we were designed for such purposes, and no problem is too big for us if we work together. Where there are challenges, there are also opportunities for us to become stronger, more resilient,” Ball contended.

In his address, Commissioner Ball also highlighted the department’s continued work alongside its many partners to ensure a strengthened food supply chain through several programs and initiatives.

They include the Farmers’ Market Resiliency Grant program; the Farm-to-School initiative; the 30 percent NYS Initiative; the FreshConnect Program; and the New York Food for New York Families program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Ball also spoke about the department’s ongoing activities to promote New York producers through the Taste NY and the state’s Grown & Certified programs. He also noted efforts to continue to increase diversity and racial equity in New York agriculture.

NYS comptroller’s audit finds Village of Mexico didn’t adopt realistic budgets

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MEXICO — New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli on Feb. 21 announced the results of six local government and school audits, including an audit of the Village of Mexico in Oswego County, regarding its financial management. The comptroller stated that the Village of Mexico board “did not adopt realistic budgets or manage fund balance.

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Agriculture census shows steep drop in family farms statewide

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N.Y. Farm Bureau reacts ALBANY — The USDA’s 2022 Agriculture Census report indicated about a 9 percent drop in family farms in New York state to 30,650 farms from 33,438 farms in the 2017 census, representing “the steepest decline in the past three decades.” That’s according

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N.Y. Farm Bureau reacts

ALBANY — The USDA’s 2022 Agriculture Census report indicated about a 9 percent drop in family farms in New York state to 30,650 farms from 33,438 farms in the 2017 census, representing “the steepest decline in the past three decades.”

That’s according to the New York Farm Bureau, which said the figure represents a “cause of concern for New York agriculture,” per its Feb. 14 statement.

The Farm Bureau said 98 percent of farms in the Empire State remain family-owned, but the overall number of farms declined by nearly 2,800. The state also lost 364,000 acres of farmland over the past five years, the Bureau noted.

A “significant” portion of the decline is in dairy farming, the largest commodity value in New York state.

New York had a decrease of nearly 1,900 dairy farms, though the total number of dairy cows “slightly increased.” This reflects the market consolidation that has been happening in the industry. Other farms showing losses include vegetable, berry, and organic farms, the bureau said.

The census did reveal some “bright spots,” including an increase in the number of orchards, as well as oyster producers. Market value also rose significantly, topping $8 billion. This largely resulted from temporary increases in major commodity prices during the pandemic, which have since fallen in the past year.

The USDA predicts farm income to fall another 25 percent in 2024. The department also noted a “significant climb” in farms using conservation practices like no-till and cover crops with an increase of about 200,000 acres statewide.

Farm costs also represent another significant increase. Every production expense had a rise — from fertilizer and fuel to seed and lease prices. The biggest increase in production expenses is labor, which had an “astounding” 41 percent jump in five years, the Farm Bureau said. It’s “not surprising” with the surge in wage rates and overtime expenses on farms in the Empire State.

Employment increased slightly with about 1,000 new farmworkers in the state, bringing the total to 56,678 employees.

“The numbers do not come as a surprise but should be a renewed wakeup call for the state. As we continue to see the decline in the number of farm families, we must do all that we can to reduce regulatory costs and expand market opportunities,” David Fisher, president of the New York Farm Bureau, said in the statement. “New York Farm Bureau has stressed that the costlier it is to do business in this state, the harder it is for farms to stay in business. The loss of farmland and food production has major impacts on the economy and quality of life for all New Yorkers. We must work together to reverse this trend, include passing a strong Farm Bill that supports New York’s diverse agriculture.”

Additional N.Y. figures

The Agriculture Census figures also showed 6,502,286 acres in production in New York, down from 6,866,171 in 2017; average farm size is 212 acres, up from 205 acres in 2017; and the average net farm income of $76,281 per farm is slightly below the national average.

The data for New York also indicate 21,894 female producers and 35,664 male producers; the average producer age is 56.7 years old, up from 55.8; and 6,335 farmers are under the age of 35, a drop from 6,718 producers in 2017.

ANCA: Center for Businesses in Transition announces 2024 team, programs

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SARANAC LAKE — The Center for Businesses in Transition (CBIT) partnership has announced upcoming networking and learning opportunities that aim to connect retiring business owners and prospective buyers with customized business-transition support. CBIT is a program of the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA). North Country business owners who are ready to sell now or in

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CBIT is a program of the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA).

North Country business owners who are ready to sell now or in the next several years, as well as entrepreneurs who are interested in purchasing an existing business, can participate in CBIT’s programs, ANCA said.

Programming for this year includes matchmaking events, educational workshops, and opportunities to meet with any of the 20 CBIT community liaisons and partners who represent 16 organizations across ANCA’s 14-county service area.

The partnership confirmed its 2024 team at its annual retreat held in Lake Placid on Jan. 26, ANCA said.

Returning liaison and partner organizations include Franklin County Economic Development Corporation, Hamilton County Economic Development, Lewis County Economic Development/Naturally Lewis, LivingADK, St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce, Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, Adirondack Economic Development Corp., Adirondack Park Agency Economic Services, Essex County Industrial Development Agency, SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and the Ti-Alliance.

With the goal of expanding CBIT services to more North Country communities, CBIT welcomed two new liaisons who are based in the Mohawk Valley — Denise Cavanaugh of the Herkimer County Chamber of Commerce and Heather Devitt of the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, Inc. (MVEDD). A grant from the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties supports the inclusion of those two organizations, ANCA said.

The program’s reach has also been expanded with the addition of Robert Griffin of the Onondaga Small Business Development Center at Onondaga Community College to the partnership.

“This is a big step for CBIT to reach an additional six counties located on the fringe or border of the Adirondack Park,” Dan Kieferbach, director of community engagement at LivingADK, said in a news release. “We are excited to see this program enter new territory and look forward to strengthening our partnerships as the program continues to grow.”

The nonprofit LivingADK serves communities in the Western Central Adirondack region. Kieferbach has been a CBIT community liaison since 2023.

Goals for this year

The CBIT partnership is focused on four main goals for 2024. They include expanding opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to visit the region through its Familiarization Tour Program, along with “enhancing the experience of aspiring entrepreneurs who engage with the Center.”

The CBIT also wants to work at measuring the program’s economic impact on local communities and the broader North Country region and preparing for the “2025 Small Communities. Big Opportunities Conference,” a two-day gathering that focuses on matchmaking, networking, and sharing business transition information and resources.

Since 2019, CBIT has supported more than 250 owners preparing for retirement or other life changes and engaged over 120 individuals interested in owning a business in the region. The partnership supported successful ownership transitions at 63 North Country businesses, which retain local jobs as well as key products and services that enhance quality of life in their rural communities. Business-transition success stories are shared in CBIT’s Five-Year Case Study, which can be viewed on the center’s website (https://www.adirondack.org/center-for-businesses-in-transition).

“Even the smallest of these businesses have a big impact on the overall economic health of our region,” Danielle Delaini, entrepreneurial economy program director at ANCA, said in the release. “Each shop, each restaurant, each service provider — they serve local needs and bring diversity and vibrancy to their communities. Our 2024 team is extremely knowledgeable about their local areas and passionate about CBIT’s mission. We are all eager to support more North Country businesses with the connections and resources they need to successfully move on to the next generation.”

CBIT launched in 2018 with grant funding from the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) and has since been supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Community Development Initiative, National Grid’s Project C, Franklin County Government Office of Economic Development, Adirondack Foundation and local-business sponsors.

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N.Y. Farm Bureau reacts

Additional N.Y. figures

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