Greetings!
The Small Farms Update is intended as a resource for farmers and agricultural service providers in New York and the Northeast, and is provided to you by Cornell 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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Poultry Production Course Now Open for Registration
Cornell Small Farms Program's NEW online course, BF 130: Poultry Production, will help you decide whether raising poultry is a viable option for your farm. This course - taught by experienced farmers and Cornell Cooperative Extension educators - includes guest presenters, virtual farm tours, videos and more. You'll learn the basic requirements for producing and profiting from chickens, ducks, and turkeys, as well as best practices for getting started, maintaining a healthy flock, choosing breeds, processing meat animals and eggs, and marketing your products. BF 130 is 6 weeks long and begins on Wednesday, Oct 2. The course costs $200. Visit http://nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/all-courses/bf-130-poultry-production/ for more information.
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It's Class Time! Online Courses for Aspiring, New, and Experienced Farmers Now Open for Registration
Are you interested in creating a farm business plan for the first time, or maximizing the efficiency of your current market strategies? With courses ranging from berry, poultry, vegetable, and organic production to financial planning and goal setting, Cornell Small Farms Program seeks to meet the educational needs of farmers of all experience levels and interests.
The interactive 5- to 7-week courses are led by experienced educators and farmers who want to help you start or diversify your farm business. Read full descriptions of all upcoming classes and register at http://nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/. Reserve your seat soon as some courses fill quickly! |
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Glean NY Accepting Tax Deductible Food Donations
Fruit and vegetable growers with good food that doesn't have a market are encouraged to donate produce to food banks throughout the state under an initiative, "Glean NY." The Glean NY project hopes to increase the donation of nutritious fresh food that might not otherwise be harvested due to weather damage, crops fruiting at unusual times, irregular sizes, cosmetic damage, or other reasons. Donated produce does not have to be washed or graded. In some instances, food banks can supply field crates, and pickup food at the farm. Food banks own refrigerated trucks and can arrange pickup of donations within a day or two of receiving a call. For information about donating, call the Food Bank Association of New York at (518) 433-4505.
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Featured Events
September 8, 2013. 1:00 PM- 4:00 PM. Family Field Day. Thompson Reseach Farm, 133 Fall Creek Rd., Freeville, NY. This event will feature hands-on activities led by faculty and staff researchers on the latest techniques and proven practices for organic gardeners and small farmers, including weed and water management using cover crops and mulches, trickle irrigation and hand tools for gardeners, plant variety selection, hand pollinating and breeding for disease resistance, and much more! This event is FREE. For more information contact Betsy Leonard at (607) 423-8366 or [email protected].
September 10, 2013. 2:00 PM. On-Farm Research Trials for Innovative Management Techniques for Spotted Wing Drosophila. The Berry Patch of Stonewall Hill Farm, 15370NY Route 22, Stephentown, NY 12168. Through efforts by local berry growers, including members of the NYS Berry Growers Association, and supported by NY state and federal funding, these trials are advancing our understanding of this invasive pest. Plan to join growers, extension educators, Cornell University research faculty, industry and government representatives for updates on innovative management techniques for SWD. Registration: call Marcie at 518-272-4210
September 23, 2013. 9:30 AM- 4:00 PM. Diverse, Innovative Small Farm Production Practices with Holistic Management. Creekside Meadows Farm, 2242 Reservoir Road, Deruyter, NY (Madison County). This Open-Gate Farm Day, organized by Holistic Management International, is ideal for agricultural producers, land managers, local agency representatives, and anyone interested in sustainability and small farm production practices. At this interactive event, you'll see how fellow New York land managers are using multi-species grazing and integrated cropping practices to improve pasture health and soil fertility. Register by September 17th through Holistic Management International: https://holisticmanagement.secure.force.com/pmtx/evt__QuickEvent?id=a1aA000000507MR
October 17, 2013. 9:30 AM- 4:00 PM. Organic Cover Crop Workshop and Tour. Presentations during this workshop will focus on nitrogen cycling and soil ecology, small scale reduced tillage implementation, crop rotation practices, and cover crop utilization, among other topics. For registration information, click here.
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Farm to Market Position - New York City Watershed Region
The Watershed Agricultural Council seeks a Farm to Market Manager to implement the Farm to Market/Pure Catskills component of the Farm to Market Program (FtM), designed to enhance the economic viability of farms in the New York City Watershed Region by increasing the availability and sale of products grown in and sold from this region. Bachelor's Degree in supporting field or equivalent experience and three years of experience directly related to this field are required. For more information: http://nycwatershed.org/aw_career.html.
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AqSquared Outreach Team Leader- Washington, DC
AgSquared brings online planning, management and record keeping tools to small farms, helping farmers all over the world better manage their businesses to become more productive, profitable and sustainable. The Outreach Team Leader will spearhead outreach to the broader farming community (including both farmers and those who work and interact with them on a regular basis) to raise the level of awareness of AgSquared and to explain how AgSquared can be of help. For a list of requirements and responsibilities, visit http://www.agsquared.com/en/about/outreach-team-leader. To apply please send your r�sum� and cover letter to [email protected].
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Women Beginning Farmers
Holistic Management International is accepting applications for the 2013-2014 Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Training Program for Women. The program combines in-person and individual work, mentorship and resources for planning sustainable farms and businesses. Contact Sarah Williford at 845-264-2401 or at [email protected] for information. Application deadline is September 10.
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USDA Research Grants for Small and Mid-Size Farms - Due September 26
The USDA Small Business Innovation Research Program has funds available for research projects that promote and improve the sustainability and profitability of small and mid-size farms and ranches. Applicants are strongly encouraged to emphasize how their project would benefit the small farm community and how the results of their project would be disseminated to other small farmers. View full grant details and abstracts of previously funded projects here. Click here for application instructions. For more information, contact Charles Cleland at [email protected].
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Northeast SARE Now Accepting Applications for Farmer Grants
NE SARE Farmer Grants are for commercial producers who have an innovative idea they want to test using a field trial, on-farm demonstration, marketing initiative, or other technique. A technical advisor--often an extension agent, crop consultant, or other service professional--must also be involved. Projects should seek results other farmers can use, and all projects must have the potential to add to our knowledge about effective sustainable practices. The proposal deadline for the next round of NE SARE farmer grants is December 2, 2013 with awards announced in March. More information is available here.
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Dairy Today Available Online
Dairy Today is a trusted source of dairy information for its subscriber base of U.S. dairy producers. This publication, which is released 11 times a year, focuses on dairy trends, production, management, markets and policy for both large and medium dairy farms. Access an online version of the most recent edition of this publication here.
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Meat Suite Website helps You Find Your Farmer!
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Steuben and Tompkins Counties just announced the development of a new website that helps area residents source locally-raised meats. The new website called the Meat Suite is a searchable directory focused exclusively on local farms that are marketing meat via "freezer trade" (the sale of whole, halves, quarters of animals and bulk bundles of meat). Freezer trade sales offer a great balance of the amount of marketing labor needed and price per pound for meat sales. For more information about this website contact Kerri Bartlett, CCE-Steuben at 607-664-2311 or Matt LeRoux, CCE-Tompkins, at 607-272-2292 or visit the website at www.meatsuite.com
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Destination Farm in Transition Class Now Available
This video training series is the perfect short course of study for anyone engaged in agritourism activities and/or providing services to those who are. The series is also an excellent introduction for students in agriculture, business, and resource economics to help them learn more about today's farming community and how agritourism assists farm operators to conduct successful and profitable alternative enterprises. For a full list of available videos, click 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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