Greetings!
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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 Sweet Land Farm YouTube Playlist: 400-Share Vegetable CSA Evangeline Sarat owns and operates Sweet Land Farm (http://www.sweetlandfarm.org) in Trumansburg, NY. Evangeline and crew grow vegetables and produce eggs for several hundred families year-round via Summer and Winter CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares. Visit the Small Farms Program YouTube page for instructional videos on how this farm accomplishes direct seeding, growing transplants, and more. |
Survey seeks opinions of women livestock farmers
Pennsylvania-based Green Heron Tools has received a USDA Small Business Innovation Research grant to study the tool- and equipment-related needs of women livestock farmers. To assist Green Heron in designing better tools and equipment, women who raise or care for livestock of any kind are invited to complete a brief survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/greenherontools_women_livestock_farmers. The survey will be open through September, and respondents who complete it will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Green Heron Tools gift certificate. Begun by two small-scale farmers with backgrounds in nursing and public health, Green Heron is the first company in the world to focus on scientifically designing agricultural tools and equipment that work well for women. For more information, including on the company's two prior USDA-funded projects, please visit www.greenherontools.com.
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 Weather Station Hosts Needed The New York State Mesonet Weather Observing Network is looking for people who would be willing to host a weather station at their location. The goal of this Network is to install 125 weather stations all over NYS. The data that will be collected will be used by the National Weather Service to create better forecasts and by Cornell University to improve upon their agricultural models and decision making tools. The University of Albany will pay for expenses associated with installation and maintenance and those who host these stations will have full access to the collected data as well as agricultural models and decision making tools. If you are interested, contact Dr. Jerald Brotzge at [email protected] or call 518-442-6386. If you would like to learn more about the NYS Mesonet, please visit http://nysmesonet.org. |
Late Blight Confirmed in Several NYS Counties
Late Blight is now being found in tomatoes and potatoes across the state. Counties where late blight has been confirmed are shown on this blight map. The preventive sprays on a 5-7 day interval are being recommended in areas where late blight has been found. Contact your county extension office (find contact information on the Small Farms Program "Local Contacts" page) if you suspect late blight is present so that they can confirm it. Visit the NY IPM program website for help with forecasting the likelihood of tomato diseases.
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 Pasturing Alternative Forages August 19, 10am-3pm. Cobblestone Valley Farm, 2023 Preble Road, Preble, NYNOFA-NY and Organic Valley CROPP Cooperative are excited to explore the use of alternative forages on Cobblestone Valley Farm with Paul and Maureen Knapp. Join us for a day focused on pasture management and tour the farm while learning from expert farmers Paul and Maureen Knapp. The Knapps will discuss their pasture management including what alternative forages they have found success with on their farm. Tim Darbishire, Grazing Consultant, will talk on forage options, seeding, maintaining a stand and rotations. Tour the farm and learn how to incorporate alternative forages into your pasture plan. To pre-register and pay, visit the event website or call Stephanie at 585-271-1979 ext. 509. Pre-registration is encouraged and closes at 4pm on 8/17/2015.
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Hay Making Workshop
August 20, 6:30-8:30pm. CNY Farm Supply, 3865 US Route 11, Cortland, NY
The South Central NY Ag Team and the South Central NY Dairy & Field Crops Team of Cornell Cooperative Extension are holding a Hay Making Workshop.
The workshop will focus on:
- Machinery Overview for making Dry Hay
- Proper Adjustments for Equipment
- Small Square Bales & Large Round Bales
- Acid application & calibration
- Proper Storage of Dry Hay
- Caring for your Hay Stand
Presenters include Dave & Eric Law of CNY Farm Supply, Bucky VanPelt of VanPelt Farms, and Janice Degni of the SCNY Dairy & Field Crops Team, Cornell Cooperative Extension. Sign in will start at 6pm and light refreshments will be served. To register, call Jen Atkinson at 607.753.5078 or email [email protected]. For any questions, contact Betsy Hicks at 607.753.5213 or email at [email protected].
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Oneida County Beef Program
August 21, 6pm. Good Time Farm, 9660 Loughlin Rd., Sauquoit, NY
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County will offer a learning opportunity for beef producers interested in improving their cattle handling systems. Considerations for Design and Layout of Cattle Handling Equipment will take place on Friday August 21st at Good Time Farm. Beef Cattle Extension Specialist, Dr. Mike Baker, will be our guest speaker. This event is free, and attendees are invited to join us for a summer BBQ afterwards. Please RSVP by Wednesday 8/19 to Marylynn at 315-736-3394 ext. 132.
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 Northeast Annual Buckwheat Field Day
August 26, 1pm-4pm. Hatfield Farm, 2137 Rte. 38A, Moravia, NY
Learn about commercial buckwheat grain production and meet other buckwheat growers at the Northeast Annual Buckwheat Field Day. There will be information valuable to old hands as well as new or prospective growers. We will speak about how buckwheat fits into organic field crop rotations where it has value for soil building and weed suppression. We will see how effectively it addresses the weed concerns on this farm, which are mainly foxtail and Canada thistle. We will evaluate crop progress to anticipate what the yield might be, whether plant vigor is in the desired range and how to do those evaluations on your own farm. There will be excellent opportunities for farmer-to-farmer learning. This event is free to the public. No registration required.
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Demystifying Organic Certification for New Farmers
August 31, 3pm-6pm. Ironwood Farm, 103 County Route 9, Ghent, NY
Join NOFA-NY and the farmers Jenny, Lauren and Aliyah of Ironwood Farm for a day of learning about organic certification as it applies to beginning farmers. They will cover all of their variables in the first year - from getting a Carrot Project loan, keeping good records of invoices on QuickBooks to help with the NOFA harvest logs, looking for land that could be certified immediately, what it meant to them to be certified, both philosophically and from a business perspective. NOFA-NY Certified Organic LLC will also guide you through the certification process including what to expect and certification costs. Enjoy a farm tour where we will walk and talk about all aspects of land certification. To pre-register and pay, visit the event website or call Stephanie at 585-271-1979 ext. 509. Pre-registration is encouraged and closes at 4pm on 8/28/15.
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MANY MORE EVENTS at our Statewide Events Calendar.
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Career, Etc. Opportunities
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 Pioneer Valley Grows: Network Coordinator Position The PVGrows Network Coordinator is responsible for strengthening the PVGrows network, including managing membership outreach and networking, collaboration with the PVGrows Investment Fund, fundraising, and planning the annual Forum or other networking and educational events. The Network Coordinator works closely with an active Steering Committee. This is a part-time consulting position, approximately 12 hours/week. Please send cover letter and resume to Jennifer Williams ([email protected]). Writing samples and references may be requested. Review begins 8/10/15, position open until filled. |
4-H Education Center Coordinator, Association Community Educator
Broome County CCE
The primary role of this position is 4-H program coordination and youth development program delivery through the 4-H Education Center at Finch Hollow. This position will serve as an educational resource specialist, provide program delivery and and input toward subject matter content, program development, program evaluation, grants/contracts, and marketing. This is a p art time benefits eligible position (25 hours/week). For more information visit https://cornellu.taleo.net/careersection/10163/jobdetail.ftl?job=29037. Application deadline is August 24th.
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4-H Youth Development/ Education Center Educator, Program Educator II
Broome County CCE
Responsible for providing program education for the planning, implementation and evaluation of the 4-H Youth Development Nature Program and other 4-H related programming based on funding and program needs. This is a p art time benefits eligible position (22.5 hrs/week). For more information visit https://cornellu.taleo.net/careersection/10163/jobdetail.ftl?job=29038. Application deadline is August 24th.
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 Student Engagement Coordinator - Senior Resource Educator
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
Provide leadership for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County (CCETC) for university student engagement with CCETC programming, including educational program development, delivery, and evaluation of effective student engagement, with the goal to provide students with rich internship experiences. More information available at http://ccetompkins.org/jobs. This is a part time position (30 hours) with full benefits. Application deadline is August 27. |
Downstate Agricultural Literacy Academy
Teachers from across New York State are invited to join New York Agriculture in the Classroom for their Downstate Regional Agricultural Literacy Academy August 26-27. Spend two days exploring hands-on lessons, farms, and local food systems and leave with over $200 worth of curriculum, books, resources, and kits. Seven scholarships will be awarded to educators who attend the Downstate Agricultural Literacy Academy. The scholarship application is due on August 18 and registration for the event closes on August 21.
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 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 2015 The United States EPA is soliciting applications for approximately $3 million in grants and/or cooperative agreements to reduce agricultural nonpoint source pollution to the Great Lakes. Projects must implement agricultural best management practices or management measures from watershed-based plans. For more information or to apply, visit the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative page on the EPA's website. Applications are due September 28, 2015. |
Northeast SARE Partnership Grants
The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program seeks proposals from agricultural agencies, organizations, businesses, or local governments working directly with farmers. The purpose of the Partnership Grant program is to support agricultural service providers who work directly with farmers to do on-farm demonstrations, research, marketing, and other projects that will add to our understanding of sustainable agriculture. Visit NESARE's Partnership Grants page for more information. Applications are due October 6, 2015.
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 Are food hubs able to support themselves with their operations? What management decisions make the most financial difference? This 2015 report, coordinated by the NGFN Food Hub Collaboration presents a set of financial and operational performance benchmarks to measure and analyze food hubs. For more information and to read the report, visit the resources page on the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG)'s website. |
Farming Is Public Service: A Case for Adding Farmers to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
This survey, conducted by the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) in 2015, show that student loan debt is one of the key barriers preventing more would-be farmers and ranchers from entering agriculture. The report, F arming Is Public Service: A Case for Adding Farmers to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, found that 30% of survey respondents delayed or declined to enter agriculture because of their student loans, while an additional 48% said student loans prevented them from growing their business or obtaining credit to invest in their farm. Read more at nesawg.org.
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 The Profit Potential of Certified Organic Field Crop Production This study uses data from targeted surveys of organic corn, wheat, and soybean production in an observational analysis of cost-of-production differences between conventional and organic crop production systems. Findings of this research suggest that significant economic returns are possible from organic crop production, mainly due to organic price premiums. To read the report, visit the USDA Economic Research Service's website. |
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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