Fall Rural Futures Newsletter 2013

7/27/2019 Fall Rural Futures Newsletter 2013

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FALL 2013 ISSUENYS Legislative Commission on Rural Resources

Inside This Issue:The Rural Classroom of the Future: Here TodayPicture the rural school of the future. The classrooms are bustling with technologyand activity. Students have traded the burden of a heavy-laden backpack for a tabletcomputer. Students receive instruction and network with world-renowned scholars,scientists, artists and musicians from across the state, without the need to be in the sameroom. Advanced Placement courses are offered in partnership with schools throughoutthe region. Younger students collaborate online with a city zoo to share their ideas toimprove animal habitats. Another classroom engages in an electronic cultural exchangewith a school located on the other side of the globe.

That future is now. It is being implemented in a number of schools, including PineValley Central School District, a rural district encompassing portions of northeasternChautauqua County and northwestern Cattaraugus County.

During the 2012-2013 school year, 350 iPads were provided to teachers, studentsand classrooms at Pine Valley. This school year, the program has been expanded. Everystudent from grades three through 12 will receive iPads. Kindergarten through secondgrade classrooms will also receive a smaller number of the devices. Each teacher willreceive her or his own iPad.

Some people might cringe at the thought of providing students with the responsibility to

use and care for an expensive electronic device. In practice, though, the school districtexperienced very few problems with them. Of the 350 iPads given to students, onlya very few required repair. The school was able to locate lost iPads using specializedsoftware loaded on the tablets.

Furthermore, a detailed student handbook outlines the requirements for the care,cleaning and personalization of the iPads. It provides details on the software provided,acceptable use of the devices, prohibited activities, and the responsibilities of the school,students and parents. The school has also invested in a protection plan and warrantiesfor the devices.

The Rural Classroom of the Future...

Virtual Learning Legislation ............

Pro le of a Rural Teacher ..................

Dairy Farmers Reaching Out ...........

Harvest New York ............................

USDA Rural Development: An Interwith Lee Telega ................................

Fighting for the Rural Hospital..........10

Positive Results: A Rural HealthTelehealth Demonstration Study ......

Crowdfunding on the Farm ..............

Feral Swine ......................................

Emerald Ash Borer ...........................

Volunteer Fire ghters & EMS ...........

SAVE THE DATES ..........................

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Integration

Adding iPads to the classroom environment provides teachers with a newtool that is quite exible. There are a multitude of apps that teachers can useto tailor the device to their teaching style and courses of study. Teachers areencouraged to search for new apps and experiment with them.

The devices will also streamline some of theadministrative functions that teachers perform.Because each teacher will have an iPad, it willenable them to take attendance on the devices.With the additional safety and security concernsthat school districts face, the devices provideanother method for emergency communication.

Through the use of classroom managementsoftware installed on the devices, teachers canuse their iPads to monitor and control the usageof student iPads. They can limit and change usageto a certain app to ensure that students are focused on the task at hand.Teachers can even use these tools to monitor the amount of charge left oneach students device. They can also help students regain access to their iPadsif they forget their passwords.

Additionally, the devices are a step toward a paperless school, a goal thatSuperintendent Peter Morgante is enthusiastically pursuing. He looks forwardto the day when students do not have to carry heavy textbooks, and insteadaccess them electronically.

Virtual Learning

New technology can also be incorporated into virtual learning initiatives.Online and blended learning programs, often referred to as virtual learning,provide schools with cost-effective opportunities to use technology to offerstudents access to courses otherwise not available.

Mr. Mike Bayba, Distance Learning Specialist at Erie 2-Chautauqua-CattaraugusBOCES is excited about the impact that distance learning, online learningand other hybrid learning programs will have on schools and students. He isworking with most of the schools in his BOCES region to develop and promotenew distance learning opportunities. For example, a database developed byErie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES lists a multitude of distance learningcourses that schools across Western New York have opted to teach or can

join.

Rural schools are nding that it is increasingly dif cult to provide thecoursework that students need to be accepted into many college programs.To address this issue, Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES applied a grantfrom the State Education Department to create Virtual Advanced Placement(VAP) courses. Pine Valley students are participating in VAP courses includingEnglish Language and Composition, Psychology, US Government and Politics.The school is hosting a Spanish Language and Culture course. Many of thestudents even got a head-start on the school year by starting their VAP coursesonline, before the school year even began.

A Publication of the NYS LegislativeCommission on Rural Resources

The NYS Legislative Commission onRural Resources is a joint bipartisan

of ce of the State Legislature.

Senator Catharine M. Young, Chair

Assemblyman Dennis H. Gabryszak,Co-Chair

Senate Members:Senator Thomas F. OMaraSenator Patricia A. Ritchie

Senator David J. Valesky, Ex Of cioMember/Special Advisor

Senator Terry GipsonSenator Cecilia Tkaczyk Tel: 518-455-2631

Fax: 518-426-6919E-mail: [email protected]

Assembly Members:Assemblywoman Barbara S. LiftonAssemblyman Michael J. Fitzpatrick Assemblyman Philip A. Palmesano

Tel: 518-455-3999Fax: 518-455-4175

Website: assembly.state.ny.us

FALL 2013 Rural Futures

NEWS OF INTERESTABOUT RURAL

NEW YORK STATE


(Photo courtesy of Pine Valley Central School District)

(Continued from page 1)

Trends FALL 2013 ISSUE


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Virtual learning is applicable across all age ranges, not just

high school students pursuing college credits. For example,Pine Valley third graders participated in a distance learningprogram with the Buffalo Zoo on a project focused on animalenrichment. The program provided the students with theopportunity to design and plan an animal enrichment item,something that an animal could safely interact with in its zooenvironment. Along the way, students participated in videoconferences with zoo staff to learn about animal behaviorand evaluate their plans. The program culminated with a visitto the zoo to see how the animals interacted with theiranimal enrichment items.

Mr. Matthew Bromberg, Director of Technology at Pine ValleyCentral School District, is hoping to connect a classroomin Pine Valley, most likely third graders, with a classroomin India. He is making a trip to India and will visit a schoolthere in the hopes of setting up a world cultures distancelearning opportunity between the schools. Conducting acultural exchange is made more effective through the use of classroom technology.

Challenges to Implementation

There are a number of obstacles that must be overcome inthe process of implementing virtual learning programs andincorporating new technology into school classrooms.

In rural areas, broadband access can be limited. While thePine Valley Central School District has excellent broadbandcapability, there are many areas within the community that donot. It can be dif cult to get an adequate signal in some areasto place a wireless phone call, let alone transmit data. It is aproblem that is far too common in rural areas.

Pine Valley addresses this problem by making Wi-Fi available inthe school parking lot. They also partner with local librariesby providing computers and Wi-Fi access for students. Thereare a limited number of mobile wireless router cards available

for students to borrow. Finally, students are able to view andsave much of their work of ine, then upload it later whenthey get to an area with Internet access.

Managing the technology is a big challenge, too. Even thoughthe devices are quite intuitive, especially for the youngestusers, simply providing students and teachers with tabletcomputers is not adequate. Careful planning and signi canttime are needed to synchronize the devices and managethe multitude of applications needed to keep classroomcurriculum functioning smoothly.

Another challenge relates to the schools goal of providingtextbooks electronically. Inconsistency among publishers anda lack of availability of textbooks in electronic form makesit more dif cult for Pine Valley to go paperless. Still, thedistrict remains optimistic that this is a challenge that will beovercome with time.



Pine Valley fth grade students learning with iPads. (Photo courtesy of Pine Valley Central School District)

Virtual Learning Legislation

With virtual learning gaining in importance throughout New York State, it is an issue being addressed by the Rural

Resources Commission.

A Rural Resources bill passed in the Senate (S.5509-A), and sponsored by Senator Catharine Young, would helprural school districts dramatically increase course offerings for students by taking steps toward the creation of a statewide online and blended learning program. The Assembly version of the bill is sponsored by AssemblymanDennis Gabryszak.

The legislation would direct the Commissioner of Education, in conjunction with other state entities, to establishan Online Learning Advisory Committee and to make recommendations regarding the development and deliveryof virtual learning services. The committee would be tasked with sharing their ndings and recommendations withthe Legislature and the Governor to be considered for inclusion in the budget.



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Looking Forward

The lessons learned along the way are important not just forPine Valley, but for other school districts that are looking atincorporating this technology down the road.

Pine Valley joins a number of schools across the country thatare integrating cutting-edge technology and creating virtuallearning environments in the classroom. They have learned alot throughout the process, and they are eager to share whatthey have learned.

Were not riding the wave, were leading the wave, said Mr.Bromberg.

He recognizes that creating this learning environment canbe overwhelming. He recommends that school districtsexploring this technology ensure that they have the necessary

staf ng and the support of the community, school board andstaff. Mr. Bromberg suggests jumping in and ne-tuning theprocess along the way. Finally, he is quick to point out thatBOCES and other organizations can provide a great deal of

support throughout the journey.From the era of the one-room schoolhouse to present day, ithas not been easy for rural school districts in New York. Yet,the challenges faced by rural schools provide opportunity forinnovation. By using technology to shrink distance, enhanceeducational accessibility, streamline processes and reducecosts, many of the solutions to the challenges faced by ruralschool districts may be closer than rst thought.

For more information about the school district and their program,please visit Pine Valley Central School Districts website: www.pval

Profle o a Rural Teacher:Sarah Olson, Pine Valley Central School District


Mrs. Sarah Olson has worked for PineValley Central School District for veyears, with most of that time spentteaching fth graders math and science.

Simply passing along knowledge to herstudents is not enough for Mrs. Olson.Like so many great teachers, she clearlyhas a passion for teaching, and she wantsher students to develop a lifelong desirefor learning.

I want to empower the students towant to learn, she said.

Mrs. Olson did not begin her career asa teacher. She worked in accounting, but

realized that she needed a change incareer. Sitting in an of ce was not forme, said Mrs. Olson. So, she told herhusband that she wanted to go back toschool.

She chose to become a teacher in a ruralschool. Im a country girl, she said. Shedrives 45 minutes to Pine Valley becauseshe prefers the close-knit atmosphere

of a small community. It is a polite andfriendly environment, and one whereteachers get to know students, parentsand members of the local community.

When Pine Valley embarked on aninitiative to bring iPads to the classroom,she leaped at the chance. It was anopportunity to create a paperlessenvironment in her classroom. Shedid not have to use reams of paper toprint out homework assignments ornotes to parents, many of which wouldhave ended up crinkled in the bottomof a backpack. Students submittedhomework electronically. She used heriPad to grade it. Furthermore, she wasable to contact parents electronically topass along classroom announcementsand even share homework assignments,much to the chagrin of some of herstudents.

Her students loved the new technology.

Many of them even admitted to enjoyingtaking notes on the devices. Manyparents found it easier to communicatewith her and keep up with classroomactivities. It made it easier to provideinformation to students in multipleformats including text, photos and video.It also enabled her to share assignmentsand classroom notes with students whowere out sick.

After teaching topics including fractions,area, perimeter, electromagnetism,optics and ecosystems, Mrs. Olson ismoving on to a new role in the districtas an Elementary Technology IntegrationTeacher. Her new responsibilitiesinclude assisting other teachers as theyincorporate new technology in schoolclassrooms. She is excited to helpbridge the gap between the technologygurus, who manage the technology, andthe students and teachers, who will useit every day.

In her quest to build a love of learningwithin her students, Mrs. Olson seesgreat potential by keeping up withtechnology in the classroom. Along withher peers, she clearly recognizes thechallenges facing rural schools, and sheeagerly promotes the integration of newtechnology as an important solution.

(Photo courtesy of Mrs. Sarah Olson)



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Ms. Lorraine Lewandrowski is a dairy farmer and a lawyer

from Herkimer County. She is not shy about sharing herviews on the importance of dairy farmers in New York State.She shares her message in person and via social media, inparticular as a proli c user of Twitter, with more than 10,000followers.

She strongly believes that farmers themselves can be amongthe best advocates for farming and agriculture.

Ms. Lewandrowski has spent the past few years reaching outand building relationships with food interest groups, especiallywith groups in New York City. It is not always an easy process,and the issues discussed can be contentious.

Still, Ms. Lewandrowski believes that it is worth the effort.She points out that many people interested in food arevery interested in where their food originates. Reaching outprovides opportunities to dispel myths and share informationabout the importance of farming in rural New York.

In late March, Ms. Lewandrowski and a small group of dairyfarmers made the ve-hour trip to New York City. Thisinformal group, called NY Farmers & Friends presented aworkshop titled Introduction to the New York Milkshedat the 2013 Just Food Conference. During the workshop

they shared information about the complexity and diversity

of dairy farms in Upstate New York and their connectionto New York City. It prompted a lively question and answersession and generated quite a few contacts for the group. Thegroup was asked about sharing their message at schools, andthe event resulted in quite a few follow-up discussions viaemail and social media. It may even lead to urban residentsmaking their own visits to dairy farms.

When she communicates with food-interest groups, Ms.Lewandrowski tries to put herself in their shoes and givesthem great credit for thinking about food. She loves meetingurban gardeners and learning about school gardens. She

also recognizes the value of two-way communication. It isimportant to learn about and understand the food-relatedissues that are raised by urban residents.

Ms. Lewandrowski encourages farmers to reach out to foodinterest groups in the urban environments closest to them,build relationships, and share what they learn with their fellowfarmers.

Read more about Ms. Lewandowskis March trip to New YorCity in her Small Dairies and the Big Apple blog post on wwdailyyonder.com.

NY Farmers & Friends members and farmers Ms. Tammy Graves, Ms. Deb Windecker and Ms. Lorraine Lewandrowski presenta workshop about Upstate dairy farms at the 2013 Just Food Conference in New York City.

Dairy Farmers: Reaching Out



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Dairy Modernization

The Ten Pound Club is a discussion group for dairyfarmers in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties organizedby Harvest NYs Dairy Modernization Specialist, Ms. BethDahl. The group brings together ten dairy farms with over1,700 cows. The goal is to expose participants to a varietyof applied management and facility options which supportincreased milk production. The group resumed meeting inthe late summer with a tour and discussion at Cabhi Farmsin Clymer, NY.

Individual farm consultation by Ms. Dahl helped ChautauquaCounty farmers develop a plan for growth and modernization.A pro t team, which included other CCE specialists, a FarmNet consultant and a herd nutritionist, was assembled.Utilizing data provided by Harvest NY, John and Laura Knightwere able to analyze detailed growth options for their farm.Models and budgets provided by the pro t team were key toincreasing the Knights comfort around succession planning,preparing them for 15 percent herd growth this summer, and

updating their facilities and routines to accommodate theplanned growth. Continuing work will include planning for anew barn and milking facility.

For contact information or to learn more about Harvest New Yorkplease visit their website at www.harvestny.cce.cornell.edu.


Harvest New York FALL 2013 ISSUE

Agriculture Economic Development

Since April 2013, Ms. Cheryl Thayer, Harvest NYs Local FoodsSystems Specialist, assisted multiple agricultural businesses toidentify and apply for a total of $978,636 in grant funds. If awarded, grants will help organizations create and retain jobs,as well as generate more income in the states agriculturalsector.

Food Hub Feasibility Study and Business Plan

Ms. Thayer, in collaboration with Field and Fork Network and New Venture Advisors, is working through the marketresearch and business planning phase of developing a regionalfood hub to assist the many small farmers with their entryinto larger and more diversi ed markets. This projectwill directly bene t Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming andGenesee Counties, with secondary bene ts to Chautauqua,Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties.

Tri-County Farm to School

This project proposes to unite Chautauqua, Erie and NiagaraCounties in a collaborative partnership that will increasethe ability of schools and farms to nd mutually bene cialpurchasing relationships.

Farmers Market SNAP Incentive Program

Ms. Thayer is assisting the Field and Fork Network in bringingthe Fair Food Networks highly successful Double Up FoodBucks program to Western New York farmers markets.Leveraging the support of public and private funds, thisproject matches Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program(SNAP) bene ts at participating farmers markets dollar-for-dollar, up to $20 per visit, 100 percent of which is retainedby farmers.

Intensive Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)Training, Technical Assistance and Market

Development:

Building on Cornells existing GAP trainings, this project aimsto increase the number of GAP certi ed farms in a ve-county region of Western New York with a goal of helpingsmall and mid-size farms break into new wholesale markets.

Harvest NY staff help host a food system roundtable discussio

which included a tour of Foodlink in Rochester, NY, a regionfood bank. (Photo courtesy of Harvest NY)


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The mission of the United StatesDepartment of Agricultures (USDA)Rural Development agency is toimprove economic conditions and thequality of life for rural communities.Lee Telega was recently appointedas the New York State Director forUSDA Rural Development. He took amoment to meet with Rural Futuresto discuss what Rural Developmentdoes, who the agency helps, and whatprojects and resources are availableto rural residents and communitiesthroughout New York State.

Question: Please tell us alittle more about USDARural Development and howyour agency works with ruralNew York residents andcommunities.

Lee Telega: Simply put, RuralDevelopment is the (rural) economicdevelopment arm of the United StatesDepartment of Agriculture. Throughour three mission areas Housing,Utilities and Business we seek toimprove the overall economy andquality of life in rural communities.With more than 20 programs solelydesigned to assist rural communitiesthroughout New York, chances are wehave something that may bene t anarea and its residents in one way oranother.

Q: How does Rural Developmentassist rural communities?

LT: As I was just mentioning, we havethree main mission areas. They consistof the Rural Housing Service (RHS),the Rural Business Service (RBS) andthe Rural Utilities Service (RUS) as wellas a Community Programs component.

The Rural Utilities Service can supportsuch essential public facilities andservices as water and sewer systemexpansion. The Rural Utilities Servicealso supports electric, telephone andbroadband network expansion. TheRural Housing Service is made upof two program areas: Single FamilyHousing and Multi-Family Housing.Single Family Housing can assist withpurchasing, renovating or improvingthe energy ef ciency of a rural homewhile Multi-Family Housing works toprovide affordable rental housing forvery low to low and moderate income

families, the elderly and persons withdisabilities.

Our Community Programs can supportconstruction, renovation or expansionof rural health clinics, schools, provideassistance to Boards of CooperativeEducation Services (BOCES), and helpemergency service facilities including

police and re departments purchaseequipment, vehicles and otherinvaluable lifesaving tools.

The Rural Business Service promoteseconomic development by supportingloans to businesses through banks,credit unions and community-managedlending pools to those that are bothinterested and eligible to participate

whether a rural community wantsto establish a revolving loan fund ora business or producer is looking toexpand their market reach.

Additionally, we offer technicalassistance and other informationto help agricultural producers andcooperatives get started and improvethe effectiveness of their operations.We provide technical assistance to helpcommunities undertake communityempowerment programs and somuch more.

Q: What funding is available?

LT: The level of funding will vary bymission and program area each year.As you might imagine, budget andfunding commitments change eachscal year as well. These changes aredriven by either Departmental focusor Presidential initiative.

However, it is safe to say that fundingin the form of (direct) loans, loan

guarantees, grants and a combinationof all of the above are readily available.

Q: How are you currently working with New York State?

LT: Recently, members of my staff andI met with Senator Young to discusswhat opportunities existed for us topartner. Appearing in your publication

Lee Telega, New York State Director for USDA Rural Development. (Photocourtesy of USDA Rural Development)

USDA Rural Development in New York StateAn Interview with Lee Telega


Interview FALL 2013 ISSUE


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USDA Rural Development worked with Mercy Flight Western New York to provide a combination of loansand loan guarantees totaling more than $3 million dollars for the purchase of two state-of-the-art helicoptersdesigned to enhance their emergency medical transport capability. (Photo courtesy of USDA Rural Development)

is just one example of how we are already working togetherand identifying how to better reach interested stakeholders.

Our primary interest is in connecting with other state leaders

and organizations to ensure that federal investments in ruralcommunities complement those of New York State.

In the coming months my team and I will be sharing successstories with you and your readers on how we have assistedcommunities and residents throughout the state.

Q: Where are your of ces located?

LT: We have 10 of ces geographically dispersed throughoutthe state. Your readers can visit our NY Of ces webpage andnd the nearest of ce and contact information. So, dependingon where you live, we may be in your county, in your town oreven down the road. We are generally co-located with otherUSDA agencies, such as the Farm Service Agency (FSA) orthe National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) andmany others. These centers serve to be a one-stop-shop forinterested stakeholders, so I strongly encourage your readers,if they are interested, to log on, call or stop by. Our folks areeager to help.

Q: How do I nd out if my community is eligiblefor assistance from USDA Rural Development?

LT: I would encourage any interested reader to visit our

eligibility website and select, by interest, the program theywish to learn more about in relation to their eligibility.

Each program we offer has different criteria that determinewhether or not a community or residence is eligible rangingfrom population of a given community to Median HouseholdIncome (MHI).

Thank you for stopping by Lee. It was great totalk to you and learn more about your agency and what partnership opportunities exist.

LT: Thanks again for having us. I look forward to workingwith Senator Young, Assemblyman Gabryszak and all of themembers and staff of the Legislative Commission on RuralResources.

Mr. Telega can be reached via phone or email at [email protected] or at (315) 477-6400. Their website is www.rurdevusda.gov/nyhome.html.


Interview FALL 2013 ISSUE


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With so many changes happeningon the state and federal levels withhealthcare, often, it is hard to answerthe most important question: what do

these changes mean to me?

During a medical emergency, it isvital to get a sick or injured personto a hospital as quickly as possible.In many rural communities, issuesof transportation and geographicdistance are important contributingfactors to this trip. As healthcarecontinues to change, it is importantthat our rst line of defense therural hospital remains stable and

sustainable.

Rural hospitals are often the largestemployer in the geographic region.These facilities provide importantservices and care, as well as contributeto the economic development of thecommunities they serve. Recently,

much attention has been paid to theplight of hospitals downstate andin New York City. However, ruralhospitals throughout New York State

are not only faced with nancial andsustainability concerns like their urbancounterparts, but they must alsoconfront unique issues such as growingpersonnel shortages, high volumes of uninsured patients and access to care.

In order to address these concerns,Senator Catharine Young, Chair of theCommission on Rural Resources andSenator Kemp Hannon, Chair of theSenate Health Committee, hosted a

roundtable discussion in June focusedon the status of rural hospitals.Attendees included CEOs from anumber of rural healthcare facilities,community healthcare organizations,representatives from the New York State Department of Health, andmembers of the State Legislature.

Attendees at the event gave rst-handaccounts of innovative models thatrural facilities are currently utilizingto adapt to the changing healthcare

landscape. The participants spokeabout initiatives including telehealth,telemedicine, collaborative efforts,physician recruiting as well as otherstrategies to both reduce costs andimprove outcomes in New Yorksmost rural communities. They sharedpersonal experiences and offeredsuggestions from their time in ruralhospitals.

Given the importance of this topic, it is

a discussion that continues to evolve.Future events will include methods tomatch the needs of communities withlocal healthcare facilities as well asregulatory and administrative reforms.A full video of the June roundtablecan be viewed at the Commissionswebsite.

State leaders discuss the future of rural hospitals with representatives from rural healthcarefacilities, community healthcare organizations and of cials from the New York StateDepartment of Health.

Fighting or the Rural Hospital

News In Brief FALL 2013 ISSUE


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Positive Results:A Rural Health Telehealth Demonstration Study

Many people who struggle with chronic medical conditions still have a desire to live independently, yet they facemany dif culties in managing their health. In rural areas, they may have to travel long distances for routine medicalappointments or for emergency care. Home health care providers can also be costly or in short supply.

Solving this problem might be achieved through the use of telehealth technology.

A three-month demonstration study of telehealth services conducted by WILLCARE in Chautauqua County wascompleted earlier this year as part of the New York State Department of Healths Telemedicine DemonstrationProgram. The project studied the effectiveness of usingtelehealth technology to monitor the vital signs of individuals living at home who have been diagnosed withcongestive heart failure, diabetes or chronic obstructivepulmonary disease (COPD). Each of these diseases can becostly to treat through traditional of ce or home healthcare visits and could require hospitalization if not closelymonitored.

Home telehealth monitoring equipment was providedto patients, as well as customized training and educationrelated to their conditions. Each patient who participatedin the study completed a daily series of monitoringsessions where data like vital signs and oxygen saturationlevels was collected. The process took only a few minutes.The data gathered was transmitted to a monitoring service where it was reviewed by registered nurses who

were trained in telehealth. Those nurses agged any concerns, and they were able to communicate quickly withthe patients, caregivers and physicians.

The results were very positive. Because of this proactive approach to healthcare, participants experiencedsigni cant improvements in their health status and their functional capabilities. Most importantly, it reducedhospital visits for the patients involved in the study by more than a third. It also reduced the length of hospitalstays.

In rural areas, patients often have to travel long distances to get to a hospital. Not only are the distancesburdensome, but with rising fuel costs, travel can become unaffordable. Hospital visits are particularly costly,especially when patients are admitted for lengthy stays. A reduction in hospital visits dramatically reduceshealthcare costs, eases burdens on caregivers and improves patient quality of life.

The patients themselves provided important feedback for the study. As a result of surveys conducted during thestudy, patients reported feeling comfortable with using the monitoring equipment. Many of them said that theygained peace of mind and an increased feeling of security as a result of the monitoring.

Telehealth can be an important part of the equation for addressing the healthcare needs of rural New York and improving access to care. The results of this study show just how promising telehealth can be for ruralhealthcares future.



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John Condzella is a fourth-generation farmer from Suffolk

County. His family has been growing fruits and vegetables ontheir family farm for over 100 years. They sell their productsat local farmers markets and through Community SupportedAgriculture (CSA) relationships.

While growing up on the familyfarm, Mr. Condzella gained anappreciation for locally-grownproduce. With an understandingthat locally-grown products oftenhave better avors and can behigher in quality, he recognized

that the same thing could be donewith beer. The rise in popularity of smaller craft breweries created ademand for local hops, leading Mr.Condzella to embark on an effortto grow hops on his farm.

He quickly realized that harvestingpresented an obstacle to growinggreater quantities and morevarieties of hops. Because hopshave a very limited time framefor harvesting, and hand-pickingis quite labor-intensive, he neededto look for a mechanical means toincrease productivity.

He found it in Europe. Aftera lengthy Internet search, hefound a Wolf WHE 140 HopfenP ckmaschine for sale on a smallfarm that was no longer growing hops. The machine canaccomplish in mere minutes what would take hours for aperson to do by hand.

However, he was not certain that he could get a loan for anexpensive machine that would only be used a couple weekseach year. Instead, he turned to Kickstarter, a crowdfundingwebsite, to obtain the money he needed to buy and ship themachine to the United States.

He created a video promoting his idea to raise funds forthe harvester, including his plan to share the use of the

machine with other hops farmers nearby. Contributors

chose to pledge amounts from ve dollars on up to over$5,000. Each contributor to the campaign received a rewardupon the successful completion of the project. Some of therewards included hand-written thank you notes, contributor

names on a placard placed on themachine, hop plants, beer mugs,clothing, farm tours, meals on thefarm, and even naming rights forrows of hops and for the harvesteritself. The higher the contribution,the greater the rewards.

He reached out to people he knewand on social media to promotehis project. In just over a month,more than 315 people pledgedto support his campaign. Most of them live in New York State, butthere were contributors fromacross the country, and evenone from Norway. Mr. Condzelladid not know most of thecontributors, although he mademany new friends throughout theprocess. A number of the peoplewho supported the purchase evenopted to decline their reward forcontributing, preferring insteadthat the money be spent fully onthe project.

Mr. Condzella met his fundraisinggoal. He purchased the machine

and shipped it across the Atlantic where it eventually arrivedon his farm. It enabled him to successfully harvest his crop,

something he could not have accomplished without it. Otherfarmers are already looking into borrowing the harvester. Mr.Condzella plans to add another acre of hops to the farm inthe upcoming months.

While crowdfunding might be best known for its use in fundinglms, art projects or books, there is no reason it cannot beused on a farm. With planning, passion and a bit of innovation,it can certainly be included in the farmers toolbox.

Long Island hop farmers Mr. John Condzella and Mr. Andrew Tralka, stand in front of Mr. CondzellasWolf hops harvester after using it to harvest Mr.Tralkas crop. (Photo cour tesy of Mr. John Condzella)

Another Tool or the Farm: Crowd unding



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Invasive Species Watch: Feral Swine (Sus scro a)

When it comes to invasive species, feralswine are some of the most destructiveand dangerous, especially among the four-legged variety. Popular television programsshow trappers slogging through swamps,and trekking through forests and farmlandin states like Louisiana, Texas and Florida tocapture problematic feral swine.

But it is not a problem limited to the deepSouth. There are at least four groups of feral swine that have been breeding in NewYork State. They have been found in Clinton,Cortland, Delaware, Sullivan, Onondaga, andTioga Counties.

The term feral swine refers to Eurasianboars that have been released or have escapedinto the wild. They can also be domestic swinethat have escaped and are living wild, or ahybrid combination of domestic swine andEurasian boars.

Many of these animals are quite large and very aggressive. With their razor-sharp tusks, they pose a risk to livestock andpeople. They root up large areas of crops and other plants as they forage for food. Feral swine can carry diseases that can betransmitted to other animals or spread via nearby water supplies. Their behavior can push out native species like deer andturkey. They pose a danger to threatened or endangered species. For example, it has been documented that feral pigs haverooted out and consumed the eggs of the Blandings turtle, a threatened species in New York State.

These animals have caused thousands of dollarsin damage to crops and land for New York farmers and landowners. In comparison tomany southern states where they cause tens of millions of dollars in damage annually, the impactis nowhere near as extensive. Yet it is an issuethat must be addressed before populations of feral swine become entrenched.

Feral swine are capable of producing signi cant

numbers of offspring. With high survival ratesof their young, there is the potential for rapidpopulation growth. As populations of feral swinespread out and settle in new areas, the damagecould become more widespread.

It is a problem that is being addressed now, lestNew York State join the ranks of states that canonly attempt to manage the problem, let alonecontrol it.

Feral swine in New York State photographed by a trail camera. (Photo courtesy of USDA Wildlife Services)

A muddy wallow created by feral swine in New York State. (Photo courtesy of USDA Wildlife Services)




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15

Volunteer Firefghters & EMS:Building a Tradition oExcellence

Rural communities depend on volunteers for a number of important tasks, especially the re ghters and emergencymedical personnel who respond with haste when theirneighbors are in need. These volunteers protect theircommunities and serve as the backbone of local emergencyresponse.

In communities like Westons Mills, located in CattaraugusCounty, re protection and emergency response are providedby volunteers who take great pride in their service. WestonsMills Fire Department has built its success on tradition,

training and experience.Family connections are important in Westons Mills, withmany volunteers being second or third generation membersof the re department. Members attend monthly meetings,participate in fundraisers, host community events and proudlymarch in parades. They have built a reputation for winningawards, including their recent selection as grand champion atthe Southwestern Firemans Parade.

There is also a heavy focus on training in Westons Mills, withtraining conducted weekly. Fire Chief Will Smith wants hisdepartment to be trained to the same level as professionalre ghters. It is vital because they put that training to work during the 200 300 calls they respond to each year.

Westons Mills Fire Department and other re departmentsacross the state have built organizations where volunteerswant to participate in a tradition of excellence. Doing so isvital to recruiting and retaining volunteers.

Yet that does not mean it is easy to nd those volunteers.Unfortunately, in many communities, especially in rural areas,it is becoming more dif cult to recruit the volunteers that areneeded for these critical emergency services.

To address the shortfall, local re departments and emergencysquads are actively seeking new members. In particular, theFiremens Association of the State of New York and otherorganizations sponsor a statewide effort called RecruitNYwhere local re departments hold open houses in an effortto recruit new volunteers. This years event took place duringthe last weekend in April. It is part of an overall goal to recruit15,000 new volunteer re ghters across the state.

There is no need to wait until next years RecruitNY openhouses. Communities throughout New York are looking forvolunteer re ghters and emergency medical responders tobuild upon their proud traditions of excellence.

Are you, or someone you know, interested in becoming a volunteere ghter or emergency medical responder? Contact your local re department, ambulance company or visit RecruitNY.org.

A proud tradition of re protection and emergency services(Photo courtesy of Westons Mills Fire Department)



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Please email the Commission at [email protected]

NYS Rural Housing Coalition, Inc.34th Annual ConferenceOctober 9-10, 2013Hyatt Regency, Rochester, NYruralhousing.org/events518-458-8696

Finger Lakes Cheese TrailOpen HouseOctober 12-13, 2013 (Columbus Day Weekend)10 am 5 pmVarious locations around the Finger Lakescheesetrail.comfacebook.com/FLXCheeseTrail

75th Annual Cornell Nutrition Conferencefor Feed ManufacturersOctober 22-24, 2013Doubletree Hotel, East Syracuse, NYansci.cornell.edu/cnconf/registration.html

New York Farm BureauState Annual MeetingDecember 3-5, 2013Holiday Inn, Syracuse, NYnyfb.org/news_and_events

Fall Rural Futures Newsletter 2013

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Transcript of Fall Rural Futures Newsletter 2013