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 submit, please visit our new online form. 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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 Meet Headwater Food Hub... The Cornell Small Farms Program is pleased to unveil a new educational Farmer-Buyer video collection featuring interviews with farmers and the wholesale buyers they work with. In this introductory video, Stephan Schwartz from Headwater Food Hub (Ontario, NY) and Phil Munson from Fisher Hill Farm (Canandaigua, NY) talk about the benefits of selling to a food hub. View the video. |
 Armed to Farm Training in Central NY
The Cornell Small Farms Program and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) will conduct a week-long Armed to Farm workshop at the White Eagle Lodge in Hamilton, New York this summer from August 8th through August 12th. The program is available to military veterans at no cost in New York State who are interested in starting a farm or who have been farming for less than 10 years and who wish tolearn more skills, explore sustainable and diverse enterprises, and improve or change their farm business plans. The program includes classroom and on-farm learning through exercises, discussions, presentations, hands-on skill practice, and tours at host farms in the area. Applications are due by July 1st and can be submitted online here.
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New Cornell Food Safety Lab
The Rich's Food Safety Lab officially went into service April 28 as Cornell expands its position as a global leader in food safety. Located at 352 Stocking Hall, the Rich's Food Safety Lab is home to unique molecular biology and classical microbiology technology and processes that address food safety issues along the whole supply chain. Designed to facilitate collaborative efforts with researchers from all areas of the Department of Food Science, the lab will provide a unique environment in which to foster interdisciplinary approaches to ensuring a safe global food supply. The lab enhances Cornell's position as the global leader in using systems approaches in assuring food safety. Read more about the new lab here.
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National Small Farm Conference, Submissions Due June 30th
The 2016 National Small Farm Conference is seeking abstracts for poster papers, exhibits and success stories. The conference is to be held on September 20-22, 2016 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA. Abstracts will be accepted through June 30, 2016. Learn more about submissions at
http://www.vsu.edu/nationalsmallfarmconference/ |
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Mushroom Cultivation Workshop
June 5, 2016, 9:00am-12:00pm. Lone Birch Stables, 5668 US Route 11, Homer, NY.
Would you like to learn how to grow your own mushrooms? Learn various techniques for two different species. Learn where to place the logs and how to fruit. Get to take home a log which will produce this year and for years to come. Growing mushrooms from thinned trees and firewood tree tops is one way landowners can help feed themselves with otherwise scrap wood. Log grown mushrooms are of better quality than other commercially, sawdust grown mushrooms. Growing your own mushrooms at home is a fun 'side' project for all ages. With just a little care, you can harvest each log for up to 3-4 years. To register or for more information call Jared Popoli at (607) 591-2782 or email [email protected]. There will be a fee of $20 per person to cover costs of materials.
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On-Farm Poultry Processing Workshop
June 7, 2016, 9:00am-3:00pm. Wild Geese Farm, Rushford, NY.
Cooperative Extension of Allegany County provides the required training to meet the needs for small-scale producers by providing a workshop with hands-on training in the processing of birds and demonstration of proper technique for dressing poultry along with a review requirements for selling poultry under 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 waste water. There is a $75 fee per farm for the training, and can be paid through the online registration form.
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Path to Profitability Meeting/Webinar
June 10, 2016, 11:30am-2:30pm.
Benton Fire Hall,
932 NY-14A,
Penn Yan, NY 14527
Join Organic Valley/ CROPP Cooperative for an educational meeting featuring Dr. Larry Tranel Iowa State University Extension & Outreach Dairy Specialist. Either at the Penn Yan site or through a live webinar. During his dynamic presentation, Dr. Tranel will share strategies for ways to make a dairy profitable and financially secure and discuss low-cost parlor construction. Cornell Cooperative Extension Organic Dairy Specialist Fay Benson and Organic Valley Regional Dairy Pool staff Anne Phillips and Peter Miller will also be present to answer questions. To register for the webinar go to:
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2016 Grasstravaganza
August 4-6, 2016. Alfred State College.
The conference Healthy Soils, Healthy Animals, Healthy Farms, will feature presentations by national and local grazing and soil health experts who will cover a range of topics, interactive soil health related activities, and a trade show. The featured speaker this year is Dr. Fred Provenza. For more than 38 years, Dr. Provenza has produced groundbreaking research on livestock grazing behavior. Register online for the conference by July 2 for early bird reduced registration fees.
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MANY MORE EVENTS at our Statewide Events Calendar.
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Career, Etc. Opportunities
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NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC in Binghamton NY is Hiring
NOFA-NY is hiring a Certification Coordinator Assistant and a Certification Specialist for it's Binghamton, NY office. The Certification Coordinator Assistant will provide administrative support to the Certification Coordinators to ensure the timely intake and flow of certification applications through the entire certification process. Certification Specialists ensure organic plan information and inputs to determine compliance with the National Organic Standards. The ideal candidate will have a college degree in a related area, or equivalent by training or experience, and knowledge of organic farming and certification. We require excellent communication skills, verbal and written; strong computer skills; and the ability to do detail-oriented work in a fast paced environment. Training will be provided. Interested and qualified candidates are invited to email a resume and letter of interest to: [email protected]. |
Finger Lakes Farmstead Cheese Company Summer Jobs Available
Finger Lakes Farmstead Cheese Company is offering a work trade for summer room-and-board. Come out and spend the summer in the country! Available: two (private) rooms in the farmhouse and/or camping space. 14 miles from Ithaca or Watkins Glen. Many possible jobs including landscape or property maintenance work, gardening, website/social media updates, almost anything that helps keep up the property and move the business forward will count. Must be comfortable with dogs and cats. Rooms available on or about July 1, but camping space is available immediately. If interested, message through Facebook (Finger Lakes Farmstead Cheese) or email [email protected] with subject line "Work Trade." Possibility of extending arrangement past the summer months.
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Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District - Conservation Aide
As a Conservation Aide you'll gain new skills and experience in a professional office and field setting for a 3 month time period with potential for advancement into permanent position. You will learn principles and practices of natural resources conservation on private and public lands by assisting Conservation District Staff, and work with a variety of people including the agricultural community, schools, local governments and private landowners. This position is under the direct supervision of the Soil and Water Conservation District Manager. To apply, send a resume and cover letter to Amanda Barber (100 Grange Place, Room 202. Cortland, NY 13045). Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
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Young Farmers and Ranchers Award Applications
The New York Farm Bureau State Young Farmers & Ranchers Program is excited to announce the 2016 Young Farmers & Ranchers Awards: Achievement and Excellence in Agriculture. These competitive events allow young farmers to be recognized for their involvement, achievement & leadership in agriculture, Farm Bureau, and their community as well as their understanding of agricultural issues. Young Farmers applying for the Achievement Award or the Excellence in Agriculture Award must submit their applications to NYFB by August 15, 2016. These contests are for farmers who are 18-35 years old as of 1/31/17. Make sure to review the eligibility requirements and application details before applying.
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NE SARE Funding Oppotunities - Preproposals Due
The deadline to submit a preproposal for either a Northeast SARE Research and Education grant or a Professional Development grant is June 23, 2016. The Professional Development program funds outcome-based projects that train Cooperative Extension educators and other agricultural service providers in sustainable techniques and concepts. Research and Education Grant Projects must explore and improve on sustainable practices in agriculture or seek wider adoption or mainstreaming of sustainable practices. A preproposal is a brief concept document that describes project content, outcomes, and milestones. Only applicants with an approved preproposal can progress to a full proposal, due in the fall.
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AFRI Food Safety Challenge Area
This U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Challenge Area promotes and enhances the scientific discipline of food safety, with an overall aim of protecting consumers from microbial and chemical contaminants that may occur during all stages of the food chain, from production to consumption. There is an amount of $1,200,000 over a period of up to 4 years. Proposals are due August 3, 2016. More information, along with the request for applications, can be found here.
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 USDA Value-Added Grants
The US Department of Agriculture is making up to $44 million available to farmers, ranchers and businesses to develop new bio-based products and expand markets through the Value-Added Producer Grant program. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. The deadline to submit paper applications is July 1, 2016, and electronic applications submitted through are due June 24, 2016. Find more information and register here. |
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Refugee Agricultural Partnership Program Grants
This U.S. Department of Health and Human Services program seeks to implement strategies that encourage the development of agricultural and food systems related services that will improve the livelihoods, physically and economically, of refugee families. These strategies work to provide sustainable or supplemental income, improved access to healthy foods and better nutrition, psychosocial development, and enhanced integration into communities by refugee families. The grant has $50,000 to $100,000 available per year for a period of 3 years. Applications are due July 6, 2016 and can be found here.
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Farm Credit East 2015 Dairy Summary 
The 2015 Northeast Dairy Farm Summary is now available. The Northeast Dairy Farm Summary, completed by Farm Credit East, looks at economic data from dairy farms from across the Northeast. The 2015 summary included 487 participants. Changes in cash flow, productivity, and profitability from year to year are discussed, among other things. To read the report online to request a hard copy, visit the Farm Credit East website.
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ATTRA Managed Grazing Tutorial
A new online tutorial, "Managed Grazing Tutorial," by the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) goes in-depth into how changing the way grazing animals are managed can improve both the condition of your land and your bottom line. The lessons are taught by NCAT specialists who also are livestock producers with years of experience managing their own pastures. Their detailed presentations along with real-world examples and links to other resources will help producers both refine and build managed grazing systems regardless of their experience. You can find the tutorial for free at the NCAT website.
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Cornell App for Predicting Hay Harvest Date
Cornell University has developed a new web-based app that helps time first-cut harvest by estimating the NDF (neutral detergent fiber) content of alfalfa-grass mixtures. The app works on a computer or smartphone. Though targeted for dairy, delaying the predicted date by a few weeks should increase yield and produce a nutrient quality suitable for beef cows. If you are finishing cattle on forage, this tool will help to predict best time to make baleage for wintering calves. For details, 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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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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