Robotics, the New York Grown and Certified program and precision application of manure and no-till planting practices, will highlight the 95th annual Delaware County Farm Tour on Friday, July 11.
The farm tour, presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County, will begin at 11 a.m. at Harmonie Farms, the Mattson family, at 10790 state Route 30 in Downsville, according to a news release.
The third generation 175-cow dairy farm has been in the forefront of cutting-edge technology and practice for several years. The Mattsons recently installed robotic milkers and robotic feed pusher and upgraded their freestall barn. The farm is a long term successful adopter of no-till planting practices and has been steadily growing their equipment fleet for forage harvest.
The youngest generation on the farm, Andrew and Wendy Mattson, recently honored as the 2025 Delaware County Outstanding Young Dairy Farmers, are proud to continue the family tradition working along side father and uncle Mike and Mark Mattson, and a very dedicated crew of employees.
The tour will proceed to DeLancey for the second stop at 1 p.m. at Brookside Maple and Farm at 2544 County Route 2, owned and operated by Matt, Micah and Caroline Scobie, the release stated. Before the tour, guests will eat the lunch they brought; milk and ice cream will be provided. During lunch, Delaware County Dairy Ambassador Lillian Eklund will speak about her team’s dairy promotions efforts.
Brookside Maple and Farm is a diversified operation that includes a 4,500 tap maple syrup production facility, 40 cow-calf pair beef operation and sheep for fiber production with direct-to-consumer sales through online sales, farmers markets and farm stand, the release stated. They also market to local stores.
The maple operation is a New York Grown and Certified operation through the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, which will be discussed. The farm recently constructed their own winter feeding and cattle management barn, and they have been participants in the Watershed Agricultural Program. Guests will tour their beef barn and sap house/farm store and hear about their plans for growing the business.
This stop will also feature a demonstration of precision agriculture application of both liquid and semi-solid manure by Albano’s Precision Application, a custom manure services business serving farms of the region though the Conservation Innovation Grant Project, the release stated. The liquid manure application demo will feature direct injection into sod, and tour goers can look at the samples of as-applied manure application maps, the first in Delaware County. Manure injection benefits include reduced manure odor, reduced risk of nutrient loss and increased fertilizer manure fertilizer value for crop production.
More information about the tour can be found at https://ccedelaware.org/ or by calling 607-865-6531.