Pesticide Risk to Bees Tuesday, April 21, 2026 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm CCE Lewis County, 7395 East Road , Lowville, NY 13367 What we know and what we need to know betterWhat do we know about the impacts of pesticides on pollinators? What steps do regulatory agencies like the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) take to safeguard our pollinators? Are protections from the EPA adequate or inadequate? This talk will dig into our team’s efforts to synthesize the science on this topic while interacting with regulatory agencies, beekeepers, farmers, and the pesticide industry. The talk will also describe some attempts from industry to misinform the public, explain why these attempts occurred and their effectiveness, and how evidence-based legislation on this topic can potentially be improved via public engagement.THIS EVENT IS FREE BUT REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED (REFRESHMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED)BIO:Randall Cass joined Cornell University as a honey bee extension associate in the spring of 2025. He manages the NYS Beekeeper Tech Team, supports honey bee research, and is an extension resource for beekeepers throughout the state. Previously Randall served as a bee extension specialist at Iowa State University for over seven years, overseeing research, teaching classes, and providing extension to beekeepers in the Midwest. He has also conducted research and collaborated on beekeeping projects internationally in Chile, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ghana, and Sweden. Randall holds a Master of Science from the University of California, Davis and a B.A. from Willamette University. $0 Mellissa Spence, mms427@cornell.edu, (315) 376-5270 Registration: https://bit.ly/lewisbees26 ========================================= Lewis County 4-H Tractor Safety 2026 Tuesday, April 21, 2026 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm CCE Lewis County, 7395 East Road , Lowville, NY 13367 The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County 4-H Tractor Safety Course provides essential safety training for youth ages 14 and older. This program is designed to prepare young workers for safe equipment operation during the upcoming agricultural season.Youth who are not currently members of the Lewis County 4-H program may complete their enrollment at the time of registration.Federal Certification Requirements**Federal law requires the certification of youth under the age of 16 who operate tractors off property owned/leased by their parents. If youth plan to work on a farm, they need to hold this certification. **2026 Course ScheduleTo receive a certificate of completion, participants are required to attend all four instructional sessions as well as the final Test Day. Tuesday, April 7, 2026: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at CCE Lewis in LowvilleTuesday, April 14, 2026: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Location to be determined)Tuesday, April 21, 2026: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Location to be determined)Tuesday, April 28, 2026: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Location to be determined)Test Day: (Date and Location to be determined) $25 Denise DeVoe, dcd242@cornell.edu, 3153765272 Registration: https://pub.cce.cornell.edu/event_registration/main/events_landing.cfm?event=4HTractorSafety26_223 ========================================= Specialty Crops Acreage Reporting Deadline for 2025 is Now April 24 Friday, April 24, 2026 12:00 am - 11:45 pm Online Event The USDA recently announced the reopening of the 2025 crop acreage reporting period for the Assistance for Specialty Crop Farmers (ASCF) program. This program is specifically designed to provide financial relief to producers facing rising input costs, such as fertilizer and fuel, as well as broader market disruptions. By reopening this window, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is ensuring that local specialty crop growers have an additional opportunity to establish eligibility for upcoming assistance.Producers of eligible crops now have until April 24, 2026, to file or verify their 2025 acreage reports. Because ASCF payments will be calculated based on these reported acres, ensuring your 2025 records are factual and filed on time is a necessary first step to participate in the program.To learn more visit: www.fsa.usda.gov/news-events/news/03-31-2026/usda-reopens-acreage-reporting-period-specialty-crop-farmers-impacted Eric Antrim, esa63@cornell.edu, 315-788-8450 ext. 242 ========================================= Lewis County 4-H Tractor Safety 2026 Tuesday, April 28, 2026 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm CCE Lewis County, 7395 East Road , Lowville, NY 13367 The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County 4-H Tractor Safety Course provides essential safety training for youth ages 14 and older. This program is designed to prepare young workers for safe equipment operation during the upcoming agricultural season.Youth who are not currently members of the Lewis County 4-H program may complete their enrollment at the time of registration.Federal Certification Requirements**Federal law requires the certification of youth under the age of 16 who operate tractors off property owned/leased by their parents. If youth plan to work on a farm, they need to hold this certification. **2026 Course ScheduleTo receive a certificate of completion, participants are required to attend all four instructional sessions as well as the final Test Day. Tuesday, April 7, 2026: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at CCE Lewis in LowvilleTuesday, April 14, 2026: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Location to be determined)Tuesday, April 21, 2026: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Location to be determined)Tuesday, April 28, 2026: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Location to be determined)Test Day: (Date and Location to be determined) $25 Denise DeVoe, dcd242@cornell.edu, 3153765272 Registration: https://pub.cce.cornell.edu/event_registration/main/events_landing.cfm?event=4HTractorSafety26_223 ========================================= Sparks Club Monday, May 4, 2026 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm CCE Lewis County, 7395 East Road , Lowville, NY 13367 Save the date for the next Sparks Club meeting! Stay tuned for updates $0 Denise DeVoe, dcd242@cornell.edu, 3153765272 ========================================= Robotics Club Wednesday, May 6, 2026 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm CCE Lewis County, 7395 East Road , Lowville, NY 13367 Get ready to turn theory into a practical, completed, take-home project! Continuing our deep dive into Circuits, youth members will become electrical engineers for the day. We'll be working hands-on to build personal LED flashlights from scratch. This project is a powerful way to reinforce concepts like current flow, voltage, and resistance, giving youth tangible proof of their new STEM skills. Every participant will leave with their own working flashlight—a fantastic reminder that they can build anything they set their minds to! Join us brighten your understanding of robotics! $0 Denise DeVoe, dcd242@cornell.edu, 3153765272 ========================================= Sparks Club Monday, June 1, 2026 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm CCE Lewis County, 7395 East Road , Lowville, NY 13367 Save the date for the next Sparks Club meeting! Stay tuned for updates $0 Denise DeVoe, dcd242@cornell.edu, 3153765272 ========================================= Robotics Club Wednesday, June 3, 2026 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm CCE Lewis County, 7395 East Road , Lowville, NY 13367 Get ready to turn theory into a practical, completed, take-home project! Continuing our deep dive into Circuits, youth members will become electrical engineers for the day. We'll be working hands-on to build personal LED flashlights from scratch. This project is a powerful way to reinforce concepts like current flow, voltage, and resistance, giving youth tangible proof of their new STEM skills. Every participant will leave with their own working flashlight—a fantastic reminder that they can build anything they set their minds to! Join us brighten your understanding of robotics! $0 Denise DeVoe, dcd242@cornell.edu, 3153765272 =========================================