MALONE - The Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) associations of Northern New York have announced the addition of Dr. Paul R. Peterson, Ph.D., as regional field crops educator.

Peterson comes to Northern New York from his role as the University of Minnesota Extension Forage Agronomist based in St. Paul, Minn. He earned his doctorate degree at the University of Minnesota in 1993 and was appointed an extension specialist and associate professor there in 2000.

Mr. Peterson said, “Prior to my arrival in Northern New York, I was keeping up with the Cornell Cooperative Extension Regional Field Crops Team’s work. A main focus right now, of course, is the true armyworm that is feeding on grass field crops in the region. The main message I am sharing immediately with growers is to check grass crops and corn near grass fields daily or at least every other day as these worms can develop into an ‘army’ quickly.”

Mr. Peterson has posted an armyworm update on www.ccenny.com.

Forage management, particularly helping NNY farmers improve forage-legume persistence in the face of drainage and snout beetle challenges, grass-forage options and utilization grazing are other specific interest areas for Mr. Peterson.

Mr. Peterson will work in four of Northern New York’s six counties: Clinton, Essex, Franklin and St. Lawrence counties. The CCE associations in Jefferson and Lewis counties each have a field crops educator on staff.

Mr. Peterson can be reached at CCE Franklin County in Malone at 518-483-7403 and by email to pp428@cornell.edu.

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