LERGP Research Team Welcomes Andy Joy

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (August 10, 2016) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension Chautauqua County’s Lake Erie Regional Grape Program (LERGP) at Cornell’s Lake Erie Research and Extension Laboratory (CLEREL) is pleased to announce the addition of Andrew Joy to their staff. Andy has been hired to fill the Field Tech III Research assistant position which makes him responsible to: provide technical and research support to CLEREL research staff; participate in completing vineyard, farm, and facility operations with specific attention to station farm equipment, implements and vehicles; and coordinate pesticide use and reporting at CLEREL.

Andy is a native of Fredonia, New York and comes to the LERGP with a lifetime of experience. He currently runs 30+ acres of his own grapes as well as continuing to work with his parents on their family farm of over 100 acres. In addition to grape farming, he is familiar with various other crops and livestock. His farm boasts hogs, meat chickens, laying hens and a herd of more than 40 meat goats. Andy has earned an AS in Diesel Tech and a BT in Ag Engineering from SUNY Cobleskill. He is excited about working in the grapes and other crops at CLEREL and using his education and experience to work alongside the LERGP staff in their current projects and the implementation of precision agriculture.

In relation to the recent $6 million USDA/NIFA grant that was awarded to Dr. Terry Bates for his work through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI), Andy will be responsible to work with researchers to perform the variable rate techniques required in any trials performed at CLEREL.

The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program is a cooperative effort between Cornell and Penn State Universities; the participating Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations of Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara and Cattaraugus Counties in New York and Erie County in Pennsylvania; and participating industry partners National Grape Cooperative (Welch’s), Constellation Brands and Walkers Fruit Basket. The LERGP extension team provides research-based educational programming for commercial grape growers throughout the year at venues across the Lake Erie grape belt. For more information on LERGP, call 716-792-2800 or visit our website at http://lergp.cce.cornell.edu/

The Lake Erie Regional Grape Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated August 10, 2016