NORWICH – Chenango County may not have gotten any of the state’s recent $5 million allocation for ag industry growth in the Southern Tier, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a local impact, according to the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County.

The first two major projects under the state’s $5 million Southern Tier Agricultural Industry Enhancement program were announced in March. They include $500,000 to the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Broome County for a one-stop agriculture development center and Taste NY market in Broome County, and $627,055 to Cornell University’s stocker cattle initiative for training and research in the growing cattle and beef industry.

“It’s good news for the entire area. The stocker cattle initiative especially is important for our region because realistically, beef cattle is a growing industry in Chenango County,” explained Ken Smith, executive director for the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County. “We’re capable of being one of the biggest beef producing counties in New York State.”

Cornell’s stocker cattle initiative will help promote beef as a viable career option for new farmers, as well as veteran farmers who are looking to diversify. The program will include informational seminars and training for farmers entering the stocker cattle industry, and provide personnel to assist in the grading and marketing process.