January 16, 2014. 6:30 PM- 8:30 PM. Beginner Maple Producer Workshop. Cornell Cooperative Extension, 480 North Main Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424. Mr. Stephen Childs, New York State Extension Specialist in the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University; will be the presenter. The workshop will cover a variety of aspects of maple syrup production including: why make maple syrup, tree identification, tree health, tapping, sap collection and handling, boiling, energy efficiency, finishing and grading syrup, canning, marketing and regulations. This workshop is aimed at the beginning maple producer and would be useful to the homeowner looking to tap a few trees in the backyard. The fee is $10.00 per family. There will be a limited number of beginner kits for purchase at the workshop. To register or for additional information, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension at 585-394-3977 x 427 or 436 or email: [email protected] with your name, address and phone number.

February 11-13, 2014. Basic Dairy Science & Sanitation Workshop.  Cornell University Campus, Ithaca, NY. This workshop is designed to help participants understand the basic principles of dairy science and safety, as well as the needs of their dairy processing establishment with regard to dairy sanitation to help ensure that proper programs are conducted in their establishment. This course is a required Prerequisite Course for the Dairy Foods Extension Certificate Programs that are offered through Cornell University. For more information on Cornell's Dairy Foods Certificate Program and this specific event, please visit http://foodscience.cornell.edu/cals/foodsci/extension/extension-calendar.cfm.  

February 15, 2014. 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM. Regional Small Farms Conference- Farm Business Essentials. Schuyler County Human Services Complex, 323 Owego St, Montour Falls, NY. Organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension's SCNY Agricultural Team, this conference will include presentations on business opportunities, marketing, recordkeeping, and specialized sessions for livestock owners and fruit & vegetable growers. For a detailed agenda, please visit: http://scnyag.org. Advance registration is requested by February 11. The program cost is $20 per person; $30 per couple and includes lunch and morning coffee. Please register on-line at: https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/FarmingConference_244. For additional information or to register by phone or email, please contact Schuyler CCE at: 607-535-7161, or by email: [email protected].

March 14, 2014. 8:30 AM- 12:00 PM. On-Farm Poultry Processing. Wild Geese Farm, Rushford, NY. This workshop will provide hands-on experience in the processing of birds. Demonstration will cover proper technique for dressing poultry and review requirements for selling poultry under the 1000 bird exemption in NYS. Workshop participants will learn to recognize diseases of public health concern, take basic biosecurity measures, write and implement basic Standard Sanitary Operating Procedures, develop Good Manufacturing Practices and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point plans, and properly dispose of offal and wastewater. 

The Berry Patch is Seeking an Assistant Marketing Manager- Stephentown, NY

The Berry Patch is recruiting for an assistant farm marketing manager whose primary responsibilities will be to manage their on-farm store, coordinate restaurant orders, and coordinate farmer's market needs. Production work in their greenhouses and/or fields will also be included in duties during crunch times. They are looking for someone with a passion and knowledge of local farms and food; and an interest in helping customers learn how to enjoy local foods. For more information on the farm, please visit http://www.theberrypatch.net/dir.html. Send a resume, with recent employment references, and a letter telling them why you are interested in this position to Ms. Dale-Ila M. Riggs, [email protected]. 

Administrator Position Opening at Draft Animal-Power Network- Vermont

The goal of the Draft Animal-Power Network is to highlight and support ongoing efforts of people throughout the region who are educating, mentoring and building community around animal-power and renewable land use, providing opportunities for education & networking throughout the year. The administrator will be responsible for maintaining membership records, preparing monthly financial reports and yearly budget, website support, and managing registration for quarterly events, among other duties. For more information on job requirements and how to apply please visit http://nofavt.org/classifieds/administrator-draft-animal-power-network. 

College Assistance Migrant Program Grant- Due Feb 19

The purpose of this U.S. Department of Education program is to provide academic and financial support to help migrant and seasonal farmworkers and members of their immediate family complete their first year of college and continue successful postsecondary education. Institutions of higher education or private nonprofit organizations may apply. $180,000 to $425,000 grants are available per year for a period of up to 5 years. For more information: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-12-16/pdf/2013-29821.pdf.

Value-Added Producer Grants- Due Feb 24

The primary objective of the VAPG program is to help agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of bio-based value-added products. Generating new products, creating and expanding marketing opportunities, and increasing producer income are the end goals of this program. You may receive priority if you are a beginning farmer or rancher, a socially-disadvantaged farmer or rancher, a small or medium-sized farm or ranch structured as a family farm, a farmer or rancher cooperative, or are proposing a mid-tier value chain, as defined in the Program Regulation. Maximum Grant Amount: $75,000 for planning grants; $200,000 for working capital grants. For more information: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/bcp_vapg.html.

Dairy Farm Energy Efficiency Guide Available Through ATTRA

Rising energy costs and environmental concerns are causing dairy farmers to alter their management practices. Dairy farmers are analyzing their energy inputs and investing in cost-effective energy conservation and energy efficiency measures. This publication provides an overview of how dairy farms can implement efficiency improvements and energy-saving technologies that can reduce energy consumption and energy-related costs. For more information: https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=198. 

Rutgers University Introduces Agritourism Training Program

Northeast SARE and Rutgers University have convened a multistate team to develop and deliver educational programming to agricultural educators and service providers working with Northeast farmers interested in agritourism development. The training program is multi-tiered, comprising workshops, webinars, and web-based resources focused on minimizing farm safety risks, managing liability, mitigating financial risk through enterprise budgeting, and improving marketing strategies. For more information and access to the training program: http://agritourism.rutgers.edu/training/.

Farm Incubator Toolkit Now Available

The National Incubator Farm Training Initiative has compiled the knowledge and experience of dozens of farm incubator projects across the U.S. to bring you the first edition of the NIFTI Farm Incubator Toolkit. The toolkit can be accessed here: http://nesfp.org/node/216. 

New Seed Website Makes Finding Perfect Seeds for Your Farm Easy

PickACarrot.com offers an incredibly fast way to locate, compare and purchase seeds across over 25 different seed catalogs and counting. It's easy to filter by price, quantity, days to maturity, and a number of different categories. They offer a dedicated Organic section. They offer a printer friendly version for your records. To access this resource, please visit http://www.pickacarrot.com/.

Get the Latest Tax Tips For Forest Landowners!

Well-managed forests produce timber and other forest products, provide wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, aquifer and watershed protection, and other amenities.  Non-industrial private woodlands comprise approximately 60% of the nation's total forests. Providing tailored tax information is one way in which the Forest Service is working to increase forest productivity on non-industrial forest lands. For the latest tax information and tips regarding private woodlands, visit www.timbertax.org.