Greetings!
Hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful spring weather! The Small Farms Update is intended for farmers and agricultural service providers in New York and the Northeast. If you have an announcement, event, job or funding opportunity, or resource to be included in the update, please send us an email. SUBSCRIBE HERE
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Rainy day? Watch Sustainable Farm Energy Webinars Online Anytime!
Need a break from Spring planting? If you missed any of the lunchtime webinars in the "New Generation Energy: Sustainable Power for Your Farm & Homestead" series this past March-April, you can stream them online anytime by visiting https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/resources/farm-energy/. Learn more about passive solar, radiant heat, solar electric, wind power, compost heat, and services that installers provide in this 4-part series. You'll also be able to get descriptions of each webinar and download PDF files of the slideshows. We've posted plenty of other sustainable farm energy resources at this page, too, awaiting you for a rainy day, or an evening read! Enjoy!
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Looking for Beef Cattle Management info?
The former Beef Management list serve is now being migrated exclusively to the Beef Management Website. If you were a former member of the listserve, you've automatically been subscribed to receive "posts" from the website. If you aren't a member yet and would like to subscribe, click here. On the right side of the page scroll down to "Subscribe". If you have any questions and/or suggestions on how to improve this educational tool, please contact Mike Baker at [email protected]
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Groundswell Announces New Sustainable Farming Programs
The Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming based in Ithaca, NY, is now taking applications for its 2013 Sustainable Farming Certificate Program, as well as several shorter courses. These programs provide hands-on training in small-scale, commercial organic farming systems and are geared for beginning and aspiring farmers. Scholarships are available. Program details and an online application form can be found at www.groundswellcenter.org. For more information, email [email protected] or call 607-319-5095.
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USDA Farm to School Program Survey
This first of its kind nationwide survey of more than 13,000 districts - the USDA Farm to School Census - is focused on determining how many schools currently purchase local foods, but it will also collect information about activities such as school gardening, farm field trips, and integration of farm to school concepts into the regular classroom curriculum. Information from the Census will be used by USDA to set priorities for outreach and technical support. Survey officially closes May 3. Info on survey can be found here: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/f2s/f2s-census.htm |
Featured Events
May 6, 2013. 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM. Pond Management for Rural Landowners. Cornell University's Arnot Forest; 611 (Schuyler) County Route 13; Van Etten, NY. Current and future pond owners have an excellent opportunity to learn more about managing their ponds from expert instructors. This education program will provide clear advice and answers for ponds owners regarding weeds, water quality, fishing, and wildlife management. The workshop is free and open to the public. For questions or additional information, please contact Schuyler CCE at 607-535-7161, or by email: [email protected] Please meet at the Arnot Forest Lodge by 6 p.m. For detailed driving instructions, please visit: www.arnotforest.info.
May 8, 2013. 12:30 PM - 5:15 PM. Internal Parasites in Sheep & Goats FAMACHA Workshop. Glynwood Center. 362 Glynwood Rd, Cold Spring, NY 10516. This workshop is designed to help sheep and goat farmers develop integrated parasite management (IPM) programs. Dr. tatiana Stanton of Cornell University will cover the basics of internal parasite control (parasite life cycles, effects of nutritional and pasture management) and then move on to serious discussions of dewormer resistance, judicial use of dewormers, and progress on deworming alternatives. The workshop will provide lots of hands-on training in doing fecal egg analyses (bring a refrigerated sample from one animal/farm) and on monitoring techniques such as the FAMACHA� Anemia Guide. To register contact: Anita Barber: [email protected], (845) 256-3338 (x101) OR (x129 to leave voicemail).
May 18, 2013. 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. BQA in a Day, Beef Quality Assurance Workshop. Log Cabin Restaurant, 2445 W. Walworth Rd, Macedon, NY. Classroom portion will be in the morning with chute side portion at a nearby farm. Cost is $30 for the first person from the farm/family, $20 for each additional members from the same farm/family. To register call Judy Glann at 315.331.8415 or email her at[email protected]. For more information contact Nancy Glazier at585.315.7746 or [email protected]. With attending this workshop, a beef producer will become Level 1 certified. With a signed VCPR (Veterinary Client Patient Relationship) form, producers will be Level 2 certified, and have the opportunity to purchase a BQA farm sign. Youth over 14 may participate and become fully certified. This workshop is sponsored by the Beef Checkoff.
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Farm Manager Position Opening in Geneva, NY
Farm Manager position available for vegetable seed company's research and demonstration farm facility in Geneva, New York. Qualified candidates should possess demonstrated knowledge and ability to organize and implement all farming activities from land preparation to harvesting, experience with growing all sorts of healthy vegetable crops, ability to implement long term land stewardship concepts, operational experience with appropriate types of farming equipment as well as equipment repair and maintenance. Competitive salary and benefits package. Salary commensurate with experience. Please e-mail resume to: [email protected]
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Wanted: NY Fruit for Brooklyn Buying Club
Bed-Stuy Bounty (www.bedstuybounty.com), based in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn is looking to establish an ongoing relationship with fruit growers. Wholesale relationship for buying club managed on the Wholeshare.com platform as well as CSA-style distribution for 26 weeks this June-November needed. MUST be willing/able to deliver to central location on Thursdays. Please contact Melissa Danielle at 347-927-2885/0226
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MESA's Certificate in Global Agroecology and Local Food Systems in Peru Program
Participants will train alongside farmers and Multicultural Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture Alumni, learn from experts and engage in workshops and community-based projects that reinforce their academic coursework. Curriculum and fieldwork will explore traditional Peruvian agriculture, farmer-to-farmer exchange, agroecology practices, local market drivers, social movements and agricultural reform. The project-based education and community fieldwork experience will equip beginning farmers and advocates with the skills to repair our global food system. MESA's diverse and experienced team of alumni and faculty are eager to provide participants with a compelling academic curriculum, language study and immersion, cooperative learning, mentorship and participatory work experience. Please feel free to contact us directly at 510-654-8858 or send an email at [email protected].
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9 acres of Land For Rent, Afton NY
Seeking new farmer for a 9 acre former cornfield in Afton, NY (23 miles from Binghamton). Land has sat idle for 3 years (not mowed). Soil type is unknown. There are no real amenities on the property, no electricity, no buildings. There is a stream 30 feet below the meadow where it drops off at the tree line. Best candidate would use organic practices, but open to all possibilities. Lease 3-5 year commitment ideal but negotiable. Contact Tom Gordon at 917-686-1663
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Regional IPM Competitive Grants Program Request for Applications
USDA-NIFA has released the FY13 Regional IPM Competitive Grants Program Request for Applications. Proposals are due by May 16, 2013, and no letter of intent is required. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov. For eligibility, the RFA, and other information, see our summary of the RIPM Grants Program with links to the USDA-NIFA page here.
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| NOFA-NY Announces Neighborhood Farm Share Program
This program helps consumers with limited means by lowering the up-front cost of signing up for a CSA share at the beginning of the season. They provide subsidies of up to $100 to qualifying individuals and families to participate in a local CSA or similar-model farm business. To find out if you qualify and to download an application, go to Neighborhood Farm Share. This year, they're providing subsidies to individuals and families in the Rochester and Buffalo areas. Subsidies will be administered on a first come/first serve basis. To read more about our Neighborhood Farm Share program, about the CSA farmers involved, and Community Supported Agriculture in general, check out the spring issue of our New York Organic New.
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Enhancing Vegetable Production in Northern NY: Project Report Now Ready!
With funding from the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, Cornell University researchers are evaluating two methods to enhance fresh market vegetable production in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. One method involves testing for nutrient levels throughout the growing season; the other is fertigation - the delivery of vital nutrients to crops through drip irrigation systems. The project report on these two methods is on the NNYADP website under Horticulture at www.nnyagdev.org.
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New 'Modern Farmer' Magazine Available
A new magazine called "Modern Farming" has just released its debut issue. Modern Farmer is a quarterly magazine devoted to the people, policy, issues, animals, plants, and technology of farming and food. Visit the online blog at http://modernfarmer.com/
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New Book: Cows Save the Planet
In Cows Save the Planet, journalist Judith D. Schwartz looks at soil as a crucible for our many overlapping environmental, economic, and social crises. Schwartz reveals that for many of these problems-climate change, desertification, biodiversity loss, droughts, floods, wildfires, rural poverty, malnutrition, and obesity-our ability to turn these crises into opportunities depends on how we treat the soil. Cattle, like all grazing creatures, can, if appropriately managed, restore land and help build soil. Rebuilding soil is only one aspect of this important, paradigm-shifting book. Drawing on the work of thinkers and doers, renegade scientists and institutional whistleblowers from around the world, Schwartz challenges much of the conventional thinking about global warming and other problems. Learn more or order the book here.
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