Cornell Cooperative Extension

Suffolk County
potato field

Potato field in bloom.

lettuce

Local lettuce waiting to be harvested.

grapes

This will be a good year for wine!

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Agriculture

Suffolk County, Long Island is one of New York’s most important agricultural regions. Well-drained, glacial soils, a maritime climate with abundant sunshine and proximity to markets throughout the NY metropolitan region make Long Island an ideal location for over 100 different crops. Suffolk County, the eastern 2/3 of Long Island, is ranked first statewide in the wholesale value of crops thanks to thriving greenhouse, nursery, sod, potato, vegetable and winegrape industries. Suffolk County is also ranked first in sales of aquaculture, poultry and egg products. This diversity offers residents and visitors a wide range of products and agri-tourism activities to enjoy.

Established in 1917, the Agriculture Program was Cornell Cooperative Extension’s original mandate and continues today with specialists that have a wide range of expertise. Farmers face many challenges including a changing climate, rising costs, labor shortages, stiff competition and environmental stewardship. The CCE Agriculture Program staff helps to address these challenges through targeted research and innovative educational opportunities. The partnership between farmers and CCE will ensure the economic and environmental sustainability of the agricultural industries on Long Island for many years to come.

Hemp planted in rows.

Beginning Hemp?

This guide highlights keys to successful hemp production in New York State.

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Boxwood Guide

Boxwood Guide

This guide is a diagnostic tool for nursery growers and landscape professionals and serves as a starting point to become familiar with common problems that affect boxwood on Long Island.

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Huechera Sugar Plum

LI Horticulture Resource Guide

Our annual guide featuring useful information for nursery growers and landscape professionals.

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moth

QwikPest

A guide to help you quickly identify what’s going on in your yard.

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Contact

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Agriculture Program
ccesuffolkag@cornell.edu

Last updated January 19, 2023

Agriculture

Cooperating Agencies

Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center, Riverhead
|https://cuaes.cals.cornell.edu/farms/lihrec/
ph 631.727.3595; fax 631.727.3611

Long Island Farm Bureau, Riverhead
http://www.lifb.com/
ph 631.727.3777; fax 631.727.3721

NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets, Albany
https://www.agriculture.ny.gov/

NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation, Region 1 Pesticide Division, Stony Brook
ph 631.444.0340; fax 631.444.0231

Soil & Water Conservation District, Riverhead
http://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/SoilWaterConservationDistrict.aspx
ph 631.852.3286; fax 631.852.3302

USDA Farm Service Agency, Riverhead
https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/New-York/index
ph 631.727.5666; fax 855.862.0829

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Riverhead
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/ny/home/
631.727.5666; fax 855.862.0829

Agriculture Publications

Long Island Fruit & Vegetable Update. Weekly technical newsletter with timely updates, early April through September.

Suffolk County Agricultural News. Research reports, agency updates and more for commercial growers and landscape professionals. Published monthly.

Subscribe or Renew ONLINE!

Northeast Greenhouse IPM Notes. Periodic updates and information for the greenhouse industry.

Email List Request and Subscription Form

Cornell Pest Management Guidelines. Hard copies are available through the Horticulture Diagnostic Lab, call 631.727.4126 to check availability or use the order form here. Hard copies and on-line access can be purchased here: https://cropandpestguides.cce.cornell.edu/

Regional Newsletters

Appellation Cornell. News, research and extension updates from the statewide Cornell viticulture and enology programs. https://grapesandwine.cals.cornell.edu/newsletters/appellation-cornell.

Branching Out. An Integrated Pest Management newsletter for trees and shrubs. http://branchingout.cornell.edu/.

LIHREC Annual Report.Research and extension updates from university and extension staff working on Long Island. Request copies by emailing Mark Bridgen, Director of LIHREC, mpb27@cornell.edu or calling LIHREC at 631-727-3595.

Veraison to Harvest. Weekly update on grape ripening and harvest conditions throughout New York state. https://grapesandwine.cals.cornell.edu/newsletters/veraison-harvest

Advisory Committee

Kenneth Johnson, Chairperson

Christine DeSantis
Dennis Limonious
Nathan Ludlow
T.J. Starr
Eran Strauss
Bianca Sullivan

Events

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Weather information and diagnostic services

Horticulture Diagnostic Labs. See highlight box on this page. Diagnostic services via walk-in to Griffing Ave., Riverhead office or phone, 631.727.4126 mornings. Information and recommendations for home gardeners as well as horticultural and landscape professionals.

Weather data, current year. Staff at the Horticulture Diagnostic Lab compiles regional weather data. Daily Growing Degree Day and weekly temperature and precipitation reports are available via e-mail. Contact Sandra Vultaggio, sib7@cornell.edu, 631.727.4126.

Weather data, previous years. http://ccesuffolk.org/agriculture/growing-degree-days-gdd/gdd-from-previous-years.

Soil testing services. The Horticulture Diagnostic Lab in Riverhead tests soils for pH and conductivity (soluble salts). Available to homeowners as well as commercial growers. See link above for more information on this service as well as for a list of labs that perform more extensive tests.

Diagnostic services for landscape professionals and commercial growers. Bring plant/pest samples to LI Horticultural Research & Extension Center, 3059 Sound Ave, Riverhead. $30 fee.

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Information for home gardeners and landscape professionals

Horticulture factsheets. Factsheets on fruit, vegetables, ornamental plants and lawns for the home gardener. more...

IPM factsheets. Factsheets on insects, weeds, ornamental plants, lawns, turf and athletic fields. more...

Pest Management for Suffolk County properties was established by Suffolk County to phase out pesticide use on County properties. more...

Pick Your Own List. A listing of participating local farms. more...

Farmers' Markets in Suffolk County. Selling only what we bake, make, grow or catch. more...