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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Online Toolkit for Small Farm Writers and Bloggers
If you weren't able to attend our journalism training "Telling Better Stories: Journalism Training for Small Farm Educators and Writers" held on the Cornell campus in mid-April, we've posted videos, worksheets and powerpoint presentations from the event online. These great resources teach you how to hone your writing skills, take better photographs, start podcasting, and adapt your articles for different audiences. You'll find these free resources posted next to descriptions from the workshop here. |
Featured Events
June 5, 2013. 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Pasture Grazing for Profit. USDA Service Center, Ghent and Grazin' Angus Acres, Columbia County. Specialist-led discussion will include the topics "Costs and Potential Returns of Grazing on Pasture" and "Nutritional Attributes of Well-Managed Pastures". Participants will travel to Grazin' Angus Acres for a walking tour of the premier grass-based livestock operation in Columbia County, featuring a purebred Angus cow-calf breeding herd. To register, please contact Eileen at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties, 518-622-9820.
June 12-14, 2013. Holistic High-Intensity Grazing & Genetics Workshop. Herondale Farm, 90 Wiltsie Bridge Road, Ancramdale, NY. Learn techniques to put you on the path to profit, including mob grazing, holistic financial management, and guiding principals for 100% grassfed genetics. Other topics include fencing, herding, and watering, as well as how genetics, selection, and management are the guiding principles used to build herds of cattle that can produce superior quality meat. Cost is $450 for 3 days, with refreshments and lunch included. Respond to [email protected] or 518-329-3769 for more information or registration.
June 22, 2013. NOFA-NY Field Day: Producing Heirloom Wheat for the Personal Homestead. 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM. Edge Brook Acres, 27 Hopeful Lane, Wilton, NY 12831. The field day will provide the opportunity to experience "Home Grown" wheat production on a personal scale. Leave your tractor home and discover self- sufficiency, harm hack ingenuity, and the on farm research that reflects food production systems for the future. The cost of this workshop is $10 per person or $15 for two or more people per farm. To pre-register contact Stephanie: 585-271-1979 ext. 509; [email protected]. Pre-register and pay by June 19.
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Energy Corps State Project Coordinator: Forty Fort, PA
The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is seeking a State Project Coordinator to facilitate the National Energy Corps AmeriCorps project. This is a regular, entry-level position providing an excellent opportunity to work with a dedicated and professional staff on local and state projects while developing skills working on a national grant. This position will be based at NCAT's Northeast regional office in Forty Fort, PA. View application materials here. |
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Farm and Garden Manager: Morristown, NY
Certified Organic farm seeks full time Farm and Garden Manager for production and demonstration vegetable garden and field crops. Require organic experience and appropriate education for conducting workshops and hands-on training in organics. This organic farm, restaurant, and bed and breakfast operation is located on 240 acres on St. Lawrence River. Possible on-farm housing available. Contact Mahlon Clements: [email protected] or 315-323-1905. |
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NOFA-NY Regional Representatives Positions Open
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY) is a statewide organization leading a growing movement of farmers, consumers, gardeners, and businesses committed to promoting local, organic food and farming. NOFA-NY is looking for people passionate about and already active in promoting local organic food to become a Regional Representative in their area. Regional Representatives are responsible for helping to increase visibility and membership for NOFA-NY. If you live in the Buffalo, Syracuse, Canton, or Binghamton area and are interested in learning more about the position, please contact Tanya at [email protected]. |
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Attention NY Farmers! Funds Available for Refrigeration - Due June 14th
The New York State Agricultural Product Cooling Project provides funding to increase the cooling capacity on your farm or to/from market. The goal of this project is to decrease farm waste, expand product shelf-life, product quality, food safety, and profitability on farms in NY. All applications need to be returned to: Cooling Project, CCE Wayne, 1581 Rte 88N, Newark, NY 14513 or emailed to [email protected]. Deadline: June 14, 2013. For questions call Beth Claypoole, 315-331-8415.
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Enroll your land in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) - Due June 14th
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced the restart of sign-up for the CRP program. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion and develop wildlife habitat. In return, USDA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Sign-up ends June 14, 2013. Find more information at www.fsa.usda.gov.
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Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive (SACC) Grants - Due June 14th
The goal of the U.S. Department of Agriculture SACC program is to significantly increase crop production and/or acreage by developing and testing superior germplasm, improving methods of planting, cultivation, and harvesting, and transferring new knowledge to producers. Up to $210,000 available. Deadline: June 14, 2013. View more information and the application here.
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| Funds Available for Wash Stations to Orange County, NY Growers - Due June 28th
Greenmarket, a program of GrowNYC, is soliciting proposals from fruit and vegetable producers in Orange County, NY for a funding opportunity to build new or improve existing produce washing stations. Up to $2,500 in grant funding is available for up to 20 farmers in Orange County. Applications are due by June 28, 2013. Proposed projects must be completed by March 15, 2014. Find more information at grownyc.org/greenmarket.
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Specialty Crop Block Grants - Due July 10th
The Specialty Crop Block Grants are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist State departments of agriculture in enhancing the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined as fruits and vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, horticulture, nursery crops, including floriculture. Up to $18 million in grants available. Deadline to apply: July 10, 2013. Learn more about eligibility requirements and application procedures here.
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Adapt N Software: Tool for Nutrient Management
Cornell University researchers developed this computational online tool to help farmers identify cost-saving nitogren application procedures. It factors in the significant impact of weather on nitrogen availability, using high-resolution weather data for individual fields, plus the interactions of weather with soil type, tillage and crop rotation practices, the crop maturity class, planting date, and manure applications. Users can receive daily updates by text or email with nitrogen application recommendation alerts based on changing weather or irrigation patterns. The Adapt-N Users Manual, an in-depth Adapt-N webinar training, and additional information is online at adapt-n.cals.cornell.edu. |
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Bug Watch: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug and Spotted Wing Drosophila
The Northeastern Integrated Pest Management Center spotlights these two invasive species in an effort to educate growers, as well as the general public, on how to identify these pests, why they are important, and what is at stake if we don't stop their spread. The Spotted Wing Drosophila appears on the cover of the Spring 2013 issue of Integrated Pest Management Insights, available for download here. |
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The New Horse-Powered Farm: Tools and Systems for the Small-Scale, Sustainable Market Grower
In this practical guide for the beginning teamster, author Stephen Leslie offers detailed instruction for using workhorses, choosing between draft breeds, and understanding training programs. Additionally, he provides contact information for equipment suppliers, training schools, and other local resources available in the Northeast for continued support, as well as farm profiles of exemplary horse-powered enterprises already up and running. High fuel costs and energy concerns make this book a valuable tool for Northeast farmers seeking to harness the production power of horses on the small farm. Learn more or place an order here. |
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Looking to expand your market? Consider becoming certified to accept SNAP
Trying to figure out how to accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP - formerly known as food stamps) payments has been a challenge for trailblazing farmers and their partner organizations because of a general lack of information on the topic. This webinar demystifies the topic and provides instructions on how to become authorized. |
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