Who We Are

The Agricultural Stewardship Program staff is able to help farmers establish environmentally sound and economically viable business practices. We coordinate agricultural and environmental conservation agencies and programs, as well as private sector consultants, to provide one-stop shopping for services. We also offer technical assistance, conservation plan development, Best Management Practices design and installation, and education programs.

Rebecca Wiseman, Agricultural Stewardship Coordinator
Education: Boston University - Masters Social Work
631-727-7850 x 206
rjw38@cornell.edu

Responsibilities include the development, implementation and education of environmentally sound agricultural practices to minimize the impact of agricultural inputs on surface water and groundwater. Rebecca's primary responsibility is to coordinate all aspects of the Agricultural Stewardship Program, both in the office and in the field. The target audience is production agriculture/horticulture enterprises. The Coordinator works in cooperation with CCE educators, Cornell faculty, Natural Resource and Conservation Service and Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District personnel.

Kevin Sanwald, Stewardship Technician
Education: A.A.S - SUNY Cobleskill
631-727-7850 x 221
ks368@cornell.edu

Agricultural Stewardship Technician Kevin Sanwald has been with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) since 2004. After high school he attended college at SUNY Cobleskill where he received his A.A.S. After college he returned to Shelter Island, his hometown. Previously, Kevin worked with organics for a private business in Water Mill, NY. Here at CCE his role in the Agricultural Stewardship Program is primarily working with commercial vegetable and sod production. Kevin has never been afraid of hard work, always looking to get his hands dirty. Working with Suffolk County growers on farm issues has allowed him to have the hands-on approach he loves.

Laurie McBride, Stewardship Technician
Education: B.A. - St. Joseph's
631-727-7850 x 205
lm277@cornell.edu

The Stewardship Technicians are responsible for providing agricultural growers with technical assistance in best management practices by conducting AEM farm assessments and on-farm demonstration projects. They are also integral to the overall development and implementation of the Stewardship Program. Stewardship Technicians work with individual growers and CCE Educators to collect and interpret data from various research and demonstration projects. Results from these projects are shared with cooperating farms, vineyards, nurseries, and greenhouses. AEM assessments help growers identify on-farm practices that could possibly cause contamination of ground and/or surface waters. On-farm demonstration projects teach growers the benefit of best management practices through the technicians' direct application of new agricultural practices aimed at reducing the possibility of ground and surface water contamination from fertilizer and pesticide use.

Sarah Osborn, Administrative Assistant
631-727-7850 x 207
so348@cornell.edu

 

Cooperating Universities, Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations

  • City College of New York
  • Cornell University
  • Long Island Horticultural Research and Education Center (LIHREC)
  • Rutgers University

Suffolk County (SC):

  • Department of Health Services, Office of Ecology
  • Department of Health Services, Office of Water Resources
  • Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD)

New York State (NYS):

  • Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)

Public Companies:

  • Suffolk County Water Authority

National Estuary Programs:

  • The Peconic Estuary Program (PEP)
  • The Long Island Sound Study

Environmental Organizations:

  • The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
  • The Group for the East End

Federal:

  • The Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2 (EPA)
  • United States Department of Agriculture - Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS)