Greetings!
The Small Farms Update is intended as a resource for farmers and agricultural service providers in New York, and is provided to you by Cornell's Small Farms Program. Our mission is to foster the sustainability of diverse, thriving small farms that contribute to food security, healthy rural communities, and the environment. The Cornell Small Farm Program is a joint effort of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Cornell Cooperative Extension.
This update summarizes announcements, information resources, opportunities and upcoming events relevant to small farms. Please feel free to share this information in newsletters, email lists, etc. If you have announcements or resources you would like to include, please send us an email. SUBSCRIBE HERE
Thank you again for your interest and support of small farms in New York.
Anu Rangarajan
Director, Cornell Small Farm Program
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Feeding Sprouted Barley? Purchase Carefully!
If you are a farmer purchasing barley for sprouting this year, it is important to ask your supplier if the grain has been put through a grain dryer. Most barley being harvested during this rainy summer has been dried, and heat dried grain will not germinate. Please be aware that barley capable of sprouting may be in short supply this year, so contact your supplier early and often!
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Featured Events
July 31, 2013. 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM. Biomass Energy Workshop & Field Tour. Big Flats Plant Materials Center, Big Flats, NY. If you are interested in sustainability and renewable energy, this workshop is for you. Event includes a demonstration of a biomassgasification and power generator, plus presentations on establishment methods of grasses and willows, management of diseases, sustainability on marginal land, and utilization of biomass for thermochemical and lignocellulosic conversion and pelletization. For more information and to register please click here. Contact Paul Salon at [email protected] or (607) 562-8404 with questions.
August 6-7, 2013. 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Making Organic Waste Products Work For You. Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District, 100 Grand Place, Cortland, NY. Learn in-depth what makes a good compost. Discussion will include site setup, maintenance and permitting, and quality indicators. The tour on August 7 will feature a variety of sites in Cortland County, including a leaf and yard facility, vermicomposting, manure composting and mortality composting. Register by July 27: cwmi.css.cornell.edu/augevent. For further information, contact Jared Popoli at (607)756-5991 or [email protected].
August 13, 2013. 8:00 AM - 3:30PM. Cornell University's 11th Annual Floriculture Day.Cornell Campus in Ithaca, NY. This year's theme centers on plants that thrive and perform well in the summer heat. The day's multitude of events includes keynote presentations such as "Cutting Edge Coneflowers and Other Showstoppers" in the morning, tours of Bluegrass Lane annual and perennial trials facility and a comparison of greenhouse vs. high tunnel grown bedding plants after lunch, and new this year, the Kathy Pufahl Container Design competition will also be held in conjunction with Floriculture Day. The afternoon will conclude with an ice cream social. Online registration is available here. Field day questions may be directed to Polly at [email protected] or (607) 255-2131.
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NY Master Forest Owner (MFO) Program - Applications Due Sept. 11
This program provides private forest owners of New York State with the information and support necessary to manage their forest holding wisely. Volunteer MFOs receive a 4-day training in wildlife management, forest economics, and ecology. MFOs then act as resources for neighboring forest owners and continue to attend classes and maintain contact with natural resource managers. Training takes place September 25-29 at Cornell University's Arnot Teaching and Research Forest, Van Etten, NY. Learn more and apply by September 11 here.
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Kitchen Manager, Farm to Freezer: Silver Spring, MD
Farm to Freezer produces a line of delicious, healthy, and locally-sourced foods that are frozen at the peak of ripeness. They seek a kitchen manager and 2 culinary assistants to manage all aspects of frozen food production, including safe food preparation, safe kitchen practices, and instructing and supervising volunteers who help with food preparation. Read the full job description here and apply by sending resume, cover letter, and 3 references to [email protected].
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Part-Time Program Assistant: South Deerfield, MA
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) is a non-profit organization that strengthens local agriculture by building connections between farmers and the community. Programs include the Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown marketing campaign, technical assistance trainings and workshops for farmers and the public, and support for winter markets. The Program Assistant will support CISA staff in program implementation and communications. Learn more about this position and apply here.
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Northeast SARE Research & Education Grants - Pre-proposals Due July 29
The Research and Education program funds outcome-based projects offering research, education, and demonstration projects that benefit farmers and explore new sustainable farm practices. Projects should be directed toward research results that will translate quickly into farmer benefit. Pre-proposals for 2014 projects are due July 29, 2013 with full proposals due in November. Learn more and apply here.
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Vermont Food Safety Infrastructure Grants - Due July 31
The Vermont Farm Viability Program is offering grants of up to $20,000 to assist agricultural infrastructure businesses in Vermont with food-safety investments. Businesses or cooperatives may apply for funds for construction, equipment, or other investments that directly enhance food safety practices. Learn more and view the application, due July 31, here.
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Flood Protection: USDA Floodplain Easement Program - Due Sept. 2
Funds are available for landowners in floodplain areas affected by Hurricane Sandy to repair damage from previous storms and protect land and structures from future ones. Easement compensation rates vary by location and depend on where the land is located within the floodplain. Interested landowners should contact their local USDA Service Center to apply by September 2. Learn more about the Floodplain Easement Program here.
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Sheep Producers: Flock Expansion Funds Available
The National Livestock Producers Association's (NLPA) Sheep and Goat Fund Committee has identified up to $2 million available for the purchase of breeding animals (ewes and rams). New and current sheep producers seeking to expand their flocks are encouraged to apply. Applications accepted on a rolling basis. Learn more about the Sheep and Goat Fund and apply here.
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Organic Growers: Stay Ahead of Plant Diseases!
This challengingly wet season provides perfect conditions for plant diseases such as late blight and powdery mildew. NOFA-NY Certified Organic has a freshly updated list of products approved for organic control of these diseases available here. If you plan to use organic sprays to control disease on your farm, remember that many organic disease control options are prophylactic, so you need to begin applications before the disease hits. If you need advice dealing with plant disease, call Northeast Organic Farming Association Technical Assistance Info-Line at 1-855-266-3269 to talk with someone on their team of experienced organic farmers.
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Fruition Seeds: Providing Organic Seed Grown in the Northeast
Fruition Seeds sells certified organic, open-pollinated (non-hybrid) seed grown in the Northeast. Founded by two organic farmers, Fruition Seeds markets regionally adapted seeds which are specially adapted to environmental conditions specific to the Northeast bioregion. Learn more about seed saving and browse the seed catalog at www.fruitionseeds.com/. |
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Farming for a Sustainable Community: A Training Manual
This free publication by the American Friends Service Committee documents the knowledge of lifelong New Mexican farmer and the sustainability lessons he has learned from fellow farmers throughout his life. The guide includes models for land selection, soil preparation, crop planning, cultivation, handling, marketing and season extension with point-by-point instruction, case studies, and illustrations. Download a free copy here.
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Need personal help?
Sometimes local questions are best answered by your neighborhood Cornell Cooperative Extension agent. Check out our county-by-county listing of small farm agents here. You can also get to know our Cornell Small Farms Program staff, or contact us. Just starting to farm? We have an extensive directory of beginning farmer service providers across the Northeast in the "Who Can Help?" section of our Northeast Beginning Farmers Project website.
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