The Small Farms 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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 On-Farm Poultry Slaughter Guidelines
Do you process less than 1000 poultry/year on your farm? Have you had difficulty getting liability insurance because your birds aren't processed in an inspected facility? This guide is designed to complement a hands-on training in how to properly kill and prepare a poultry carcass for sale. The goal is to provide recommendations to producers on how to process under clean and sanitary conditions, and for the operation itself not to result in environmental harm. View the Guide Online
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Small Farms Banner Photo Contest
 Do you like to photograph your farm? The Small Farms Program is designing a new display banner to show off at conferences and events, and we would love to feature YOU! If your photo is selected to be featured on the banner, your farm name and photo credits will be displayed, too. The catch? The banner is 7 feet tall by 2.5 feet wide, so your photo needs to be large. Photos between 3MB and 6 MB in size are ideal. Please send your submission(s) to Violet Stone at [email protected] and be sure to include your farm name, location and the photographer name (if known). Deadline for entries is Sunday, November 9th.
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Survey for New Ag and Food Law Consortium
A group of universities is partnering in a new Agricultural and Food Law Consortium that will research regional and national agricultural law issues. The consortium, led by the National Agricultural Law Center, is collecting information about stakeholders' needs through an online survey that will help define the consortium's long-term research and information agenda. View more information about the consortium and the survey at http://nationalaglawcenter.org/consortium/.
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November 12, 2014. 10:30 am - 12:00 pm. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Pollinators Webinar. The Northeastern IPM Center will host a discussion on the topic of pollinators in a live-streamed web event. The discussion is entitled, "Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Pollinators: What is the appropriate role for IPM on the issue of pollinators?" The Northeastern IPM Center has invited four speakers from the USDA Agricultural Research Service, the Natural Resources Defense Council, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and the US Environmental Protection Agency to provide an update on current issues surrounding pollinator health. Panelists will share facts about pollinators and pollinator decline, and give some thought to the role that the integrated pest management community, as well as scientific experts, public officials, and citizens, should take to address it. To register, visit https://cornell.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_d4lmVVJtZ4ebxgp.
November 14, 2014. 9:15am to 3:30pm. Cover Crop and Soil Health Workshop and Tour. Big Flats Community Center at 476 Maple St, Big Blats NY 14814. This is a workshop to learn about the management and establishment of cover crops for soil health, nutrient management and water quality concerns. There will be speakers from Cornell University, Penn. State University, Consultants and Farmers. More information and to register
 November 15, 2014. 9 am - 5 pm. Farmers' Museum Conference on Food and Farming. 5775 State Highway 80, Cooperstown, NY. A Celebration of Our Agricultural Community is a conference on food and farming at The Farmers' Museum in Cooperstown which will inform and inspire farmers and the public, unifying and driving the agricultural economy in Central New York. The conference's keynote speaker is Richard Ball, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Other speakers will focus on food systems, the impact of farming on our communities and economies, and pasture management. Find more information about this free conference at http://www.farmersmuseum.org/food-farm.
December 6, 2014. 8:00am to 5:00pm. Cornell Hops Conference. Morrisville State College in Morrisville, NY. This is a great educational & networking opportunity to meet with brewers, educators, growers, and prospective growers. The conference will contain one full day session of hop-related topics and there will be two additional separate tracks: A) Growing hops for beginners and B) Brewing. During the conference there will be a hops evaluation and sale. Find more information here and register here.
Regional Calf Training Workshops. Cornell Cooperative Extension associations of Northern New York are partnering with the Cornell PRO-DAIRY Program and the Wyoming Dairy Institute to offer a series of regional calf training workshops for herdspersons, calf managers, calf feeders and anyone who wants to gain skills and knowledge on calf health, assessment and feeding. The workshops will be offered with speakers on-site and by video conference 6:30pm-9:00pm on October 28, October 30, November 4 and November 6 at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County Extension Learning Farm in Canton. The cost for the series of four workshops is $50 per person; those interested in attending can register with CCE Lawrence at 315-379-9192 or pay at the door. Find more information at http://www.ccenny.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/NNYRAICalfMgmtPR.pdf/.
MANY MORE EVENTS at our Statewide Events Calendar.
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Career, Etc. Opportunities
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Dairy/Livestock Resource Educator - Delaware County
Primary responsibilities will include program development related to dairy and livestock management, evaluation and direction of project areas, including herd health management and pathogen management for the agricultural community of the New York City Catskill/Delaware Watershed Region. Develop and deliver quality dairy and livestock education programs and encourage the application of research-generated knowledge and leadership techniques. Master's Degree in Dairy and/or Animal Science required. Job located at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County, Hamden, NY. Benefits available. Salary commensurate with qualifications. Applications on-line at https://cornellu.taleo.net/careersection/10163/jobdetail.ftl?lang-en&job=25814. Applications accepted through November 14, 2014.
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Stone Barns Farm Apprenticeships - Pocantico Hills, NY
The Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, located 25 miles north of Manhattan, is now accepting applications for their Livestock, Field, Flower & Herb, and Greenhouse Apprenticeships. Farm apprentices are given real responsibilities and gain practical knowledge of everything it takes to run a farm. Stone Barns Center's apprenticeship program provides an opportunity for individuals with a dedication to sustainable food production to gain in-depth farm experience and training. This program has been developed to offer a full-time, comprehensive view of our intensive operation. To learn more, visit the Virtual Grange: http://www.virtualgrange.org/learn/apprenticeships/.
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Native Agriculture and Food Systems Scholarship Program -Due Nov. 17th
The Native Agriculture and Food Systems Scholarship Program from First Nations Development Institute will award six $1,000 scholarships annually to Native American college students majoring in agriculture and agriculture-related fields. Click here for more information.
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Environmental Quality Incentives Program- Due Nov. 21The NRCS' Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) offers financial assistance for practices which address soil erosion, water quality and habitat degradation. Practices implemented through EQIP include strip cropping, grassed waterways and manure storage facilities. Focus areas within the EQIP program include soil health, livestock waste, habitat, forestry and grazing. More information about applying
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Request for Sheep and Goat Proposals -Due Nov. 22
The National Sheep Industry Improvement Center is accepting proposals designed to improve the U.S. sheep and goat industries. The Center has budgeted up to $100,000 for grants that will support projects on new technologies or knowledge that will improve the efficiency, profitability, and quality of the sheep or goat industry, and provide seed money for the production and commercialization of new and innovative processes. In addition, the Center is offering up to $300,000 for grants to strengthen and enhance the production and marketing of sheep products in the United States through the improvement of infrastructure, business and resource development, and the development of innovative approaches to solve long-term needs. Visit http://www.nsiic.org/ for more information.
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Cedar Tree Foundation
The Cedar Tree Foundation is a small family fund whose grant making focuses on sustainable agriculture, environmental education, and environmental health. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, but welcomes letters of inquiry for U.S.-based work from nonprofit organizations working within its program areas. Letters of inquiry are accepted at any time. Visit their website, http://www.cedartreefound.org/, for more information |
 USDA Climate Hubs Website Introduced
The new USDA Climate Hubs website provides a portal for farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, and others to find information to help cope with the challenges and stressors caused by a changing climate. The site includes pages specific to each of the seven Climate Hub Regions, with resources related to drought, fire risks, pests and diseases, climate variability, and heat stress. Visit the portal at http://climatehubs.oce.usda.gov/.
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Tools for Small and Mid-Sized Livestock and Poultry Producers
The USDA has released the guide "Tools for Small and Mid-Sized Livestock and Poultry Producers." Explore USDA programs that can support opportunities in small and midsized livestock and poultry, see examples of how these programs are being used, explore additional research and tools, find partners, and ask questions at your local USDA service center. View the toolkit here.
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ATTRA Publication Focuses on Climate and Orchards
The National Center for Appropriate Technology has released a new climate change resource. "Climate Change and Perennial Fruit and Nut Production: Investing in Resilience in Uncertain Times" explores climate-related challenges to perennial fruit and nut production, including drought, frost, flooding, and extreme weather events. It discusses steps growers can take to build resilience into their farming operations through diversification, water stewardship, and soil building. The guide is available to download for free on the ATTRA webpage at https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=478.
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Food System Policy Database Released
The School of Architecture and Planning at the University at Buffalo has released a new Growing Food Connections Policy Database that will assist local governments as they work to broaden access to healthy food and help sustain local farms and food producers. The online database features more than 100 innovative policies that address issues including public investment in food systems, farmland protection, local food procurement, and food policy council resolutions. Click here to view the database.
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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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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.
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