Hoosick Grange News

Hoosick Grange met on September 28. Master David Cornell conducted the usual business. The Lecturer announced that she had the program booklet almost completed. Elsie Marpe and Loie Slingerland are designing the cover. The Lecturer hopes to have them done by the next meeting.
Norma Brenenstuhl was in charge of the Lecturer’s program. Her program was on New York State Agriculture. She had a joke on the farmer feeding the alligators. Then she told us the value of New York’s tree and fruit and grape crops. They totaled $322 million, up 12 percent. N.Y. apples rank second nationally The leading varieties are Mclntosh, Empire, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious. Grapes placed third behind California and Washington. Tart Cherries fourth in the nation and strawberries are the most valuable fruit in N.Y. and placed seventh nationally. Vegetables totaled $409 million in 2010. Fresh market vegetables ranked sixth among all states, and N.Y. produced the second largest crop of cabbages in the nation. Sweet corn ranked fourth and onions fifth. Snap Beans ranked fourth, and tomatoes ranked seventh nationally. Pumpkins ranked first, cucumbers fourth, squash second and cauliflower third. Of field crops, corn, soybeans and wheat are most widely grown. N.Y ranks third in corn silage and 18th in grain corn, valued at $147 million. The State placed ninth in oats, 27th in wheat and 22nd for soybeans. Hay was 26th in rank and valued at $261 million in 2010. Potatoes reached a value of $69.1 million in 2010 and made N.Y. the 11th leading producer. N.Y. ranked second behind Vermont in maple syrup. Floriculture crops are valued at $183 million and rank seventh nationally. In livestock production, dairy and animals in N.Y. provide $2.48 billion value to farmers. Milk is New York’s leading agricultural product and is produced all across the state. Milk sales account for one half of total agricultural receipts. Production in 2010 was 12.7 billion pounds with a value of $2.2 billion. New York is the nation’s fourth leading producer and Wyoming is the State’s leading county. New York livestock producers marketed 289 million pounds of meat animals. Poultry and the combined value of eggs and chickens was $66.2 million and ranks 20th in egg sales.
Norma read the “Death of a Salesman – Dough Boy.” She had a game with the alphabet and a joke. Her closing thought was – anger is one short letter from danger. The Lecturer thanked Norma for a fine program. Our next meeting is on October 12. It’s music night with Janet Hurd. Invite guests. Bring can goods for the State Grange. The Refreshment Committee is Omer and Marion Brenenstuhl. Marion Cipperly had delicious refreshments for the evening.