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 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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Seeking Submissions for New Column: "Lessons from the Land"
The Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming and the Cornell Small Farms Program are teaming up to create a new column called "Lessons from the Land," which will first appear in the Fall 2016 issue of the Small Farm Quarterly. "Lessons from the Land" will capture and share the stories of and lessons learned from farmers, homesteaders and land workers around New York and the Northeast.
Too often, farmers and homesteaders exist in isolation; working long hard days, both overcoming significant and unpredictable challenges and also witnessing earth's abundance. Stories are a way to connect, unite, and share ideas, information and experiences. Each issue will have a new theme. The first "Lessons from the
Land" will appear in the Fall issue, due out in early October. The topic is "Water: Woes and Triumphs" and the submission deadline is August 12. For more information, visit here.
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Heroic Food: Farm Boot Camp
Beginning Farmer Training Workshop for Veterans
August 12-14, 2016, Hudson, NY
Day One: Part 1 Sustainable Farming Overview: what you need to know to start and run a farm enterprise or business, Part 2 Farm Squad "deploys" to work on local mentor farms that need your help!
Day Two: Part 1 Introduction to Soil Health and Vegetable Production, Part 2 Farm Squad Volunteers
Day Three: High Tunnel Growing for Season Extension; Sit down and Hands-on Outfitting Your Greenhouse (ventilation, irrigation; building raised beds & seed starting tables)
The Farm Boot Camp is free (required registration by August 5th) and veterans, veteran spouses, and farm partners are welcome. For more information and to register, visit here or contact Shawn Dunne at 816.398.1801.
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Buffalo Farm-to-School Program Seeks NYS Grown Produce
Buffalo Public Schools is seeking input from New York State farmers interested in supplying some of the district's fresh produce needs for the 2016-17 school year, as part of their farm to school initiative. Responses to the request for information are due August 15th, 2016.
The goals, through this request for information, are to:
-Identify farmers that want to partner on the Farm to School initiative with Buffalo Schools;
-Identify farm products, estimated quantities and the dates farmers can provide the farm products;
-Identify items not specifically listed on the request for information, but that farmers are interested in providing.
Please note that by responding to this request, you are not legally committing yourself to provide the products listed, nor is Buffalo Schools legally committing to purchase them.
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 The Summer 2016 Small Farm Quarterly is Out Now!
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Stocker Cattle Summit
Monday, July 25th, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m
Watershed Agricultural Council, 44 West Street, Walton, NY 13856
CADE ( the Center for Agricultural Development & Entrepreneurship) has partnered with Cornell Beef Extension Specialist, Mike Baker, to host a Stocker Cattle Summit. The Summit will introduce regional grassfed and conventional beef farmers to the Stocker Cattle Initiative, which was recently awarded $627,055 from New York State Agriculture & Markets. The Initiative being led by Mike Baker through Cornell will provide Southern Tier farmers interested in raising stocker cattle with training and resources. There is no cost but registration is required. For more information and to register, see here. |
The Forest Talks: Fungi & Ethical Foraging
July 26, 2016, Lead by Olga Tzogas
The Forest Talks is a series of guides hikes in heritage forests of the Finger Lakes, 4th Tuesdays from May through October, 5:30 - 8:00pm: The forest and its inhabitants have a lot to tell us about the places we call home, and we are fortunate to have some of the most unique and species-diverse forests of the entire east coast in the Southern Tier of New York. These walks bring participants to some of the more majestic forests of the finger lakes. Local ecologists & foresters will be our guides as practice core routines of forest literacy, along with discussing how what we learn can be applied to our woodlands at home. After the hike we will gather at a nearby pub or coffee shop and continue the conversation. $20 per hike or $100 if you register for all six. Register here.
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Horse-Powered Haymaking Demonstration
August 6-7, 2016
Northland Sheep Dairy, Marathon, NY
This two-day NOFA-NY Field Days event will focus on making hay with horses. The first day is a hands-on mowing workshop. This workshop will be limited to six people, and participants will learn how to run horse drawn mowers. Basic teamster skills are required. Day two is a haymaking demonstration. We will demonstrate tools used in the production of high quality hay made with draft animal power. We will focus on second cutting hay made from grazing land.
Saturday fee $65, Sunday activities are free and open to the public, donations will be accepted. Visit here for more information and to register.
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The Basic Dairy Science and Sanitation Workshop
August 10-11, 2016, Cornell University
The Basic Dairy Science and Sanitation Workshop is tailored to dairy processing personnel and is designed to help participants understand the basic principles of dairy science and safety, as well as emphasize dairy processing establishment needs related to dairy sanitation to ensure that proper programs are conducted in their establishments.
The course consists of on-line lecture sessions that will cover basic dairy science, including composition of milk, dairy microbiology, and dairy food safety, as well as an overview of dairy regulations. Participants will also learn through on-hands on sessions the basics of cleaning and sanitizing principles, unit operations -- both raw milk production and receiving, and dairy processing, plant equipment and design, general control of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms, in depth information on cleaning and sanitizing chemicals, their properties and applications, and a discussion on CIP and COP systems and common errors seen in the industry. The course also provides hands-on sessions where both CIP and COP principles will be applied. For more information, a course agenda, and to register, visit here.
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MANY MORE EVENTS at our Statewide Events Calendar.
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Career, Etc. Opportunities
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 Farm & Food Business Incubator Seeks Agricultural Entrepreneurs
CADE (the Center for Agricultural Development & Entrepreneurship) and SUNY Cobleskill are currently seeking participants for the Farm & Food Business Incubator, which provides business training and value-added product development facilities for new and expanding farm and food entrepreneurs. Whether looking to establish or expand, the Incubator provides access to invaluable services and resources through educational programming with local and national experts; access to customized support and mentoring; and for value-added producers, the ability to process without on-farm infrastructure. By entering the Incubator, participants are fast-tracked into services and support designed to grow the strength and sustainability of our farm and food community. Those interested should visit www.cadefarms.org/ffbi to learn more about the services and to complete an application.
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Executive Director: Endless Mountains Resource Conservation & Development Council
The Endless Mountains Resource Conservation & Development Council (EMRC&D) has an exciting new career opportunity for a high energy individual with conservation vision to lead our six county RC&D council into greener pastures of balancing high conservation and development. The EMRC&D Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose primary role is to promote and undertake projects that: (1) protect soil, water, forest, and agricultural resources and (2) improve the quality of life and social conditions in the mission areas of agriculture, energy and watersheds within Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, and Wyoming counties. The successful candidate will manage both the long-term and day-to-day operations of the organization through establishing and carrying out a 5-year strategic plan with the help of a part-time administrative coordinator and council board. No longer being funded through the USDA, a key function of the Executive Director is to solicit and secure funding to sustain annual administrative budgetary requirements. This will be accomplished through fund raising events, solicitation of sponsorships, securing unrestricted contributions, grants, donations, and developing a membership base.
For more information and a position description, see here
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Friends Meeting School Seeks Farmer
Friends Meeting School is a small Quaker school located in Ijamsville, Maryland. We are seeking a farmer who shares a commitment to diversity, social justice, and stewardship to farm up to 30 acres for a minimal yearly lease. We have a contribution of equipment from a local farmer.
In exchange, we are asking the farmer to help create and maintain a 1/2 to 3/4 acre mini-farm to be used as an outdoor classroom that would serve all grades.
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ProFarmer Program Applications Now Available
The ProFarmer Program is a multi-year, residential training program in Hurley, NY, for those with farming experience who aspire to obtain professional farm management positions or own and operate their own farm enterprises in the Hudson Valley. ProFarmer trainees are full-time, year-round employees of the Farm Hub and are offered the option of on-farm housing. We will select five candidates to join the program which begins in March 2017. This is a full-time salaried position, including full benefits, with an annual salary in the low $30,000 range. The deadline for applications is
September 9th, 2016. For more information or an application, please visit
here or contact our Education Program Manager, Sara Katz, [email protected].
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AT&T Small Business Grant
AT&T is looking for innovative ideas from individuals, small businesses, start-ups, think tanks, anyone with a great plan or idea. Package your idea into a concise two-minute video, submit it before the end of the year, and you will have a chance at a $1,000 grant. To enter
 to win you must do the following: -Submit your entry before September 15, 2016. -Create a 2 minute video pitching your business or idea. -Winner will be announced on October 1st. Visit here for eligibility and to apply.
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Funding to Address Climate Change Impact on US Agriculture
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the availability of $8.4 million in available funding to study and develop new approaches for the agriculture sector to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. The funding is available through NIFA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), which is authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. Applicants for fiscal year 2016 should focus on how land-use affects and is affected by climate change. Applications are due November 17 for climate and land use projects. Climate masters outreach and extension applications are due September 14. See the request for applications for more information. |
Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the availability of $8.4 million in competitive grants to support the work of partner organizations that provide training, outreach and technical assistance for socially disadvantaged, Tribal and Veteran farmers and ranchers. The goal of this program is to assist underserved farmers and ranchers own and operate farms or ranches. USDA's Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program, also known as the 2501 Program, is administered by the Office of Advocacy and Outreach (OAO). Applications are due by July 29, 2016. More information can be found here.
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Webinar: Residue and Tillage Management in Organic Farming Systems
August 2, 2016 3:00pm
Join this webinar to learn about challenges and opportunities in implementing tillage and residue management practices on organic farms. Decreasing tillage and maximizing plant residue are important practices to improve the health of soil and reduce erosion. In many organic farming systems these practices can be challenging to implement due to the use of tillage for weed control. However, there are several opportunities to better manage tillage and plant residues. Join this webinar for a discussion of these challenges and opportunities in the context of organic farms in eastern states. Contact Ben Bowell, Organic Specialist, for more information about this webinar. To join the webinar, see here. For more information contact Ben Bowell at [email protected].
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National Small Farm Conference Scholarships Available
If the cost of attending the 7th National Small Farm Conference in Virginia Beach September 20-22 is holding back you or someone you know from attending, there's now help. A limited number of scholarships are available to employees of non-government organizations that directly assist limited-resource, socially-disadvantaged or military veteran producers and ranchers. The program provides financial assistance to up to five employees of one organization. Financial assistance includes a 50% discount on conference registration through August 5, for a total scholarship award of $175 per person. Priority will be given to those:
-Whose participation will enhance their work in their own communities
-Who are able to transfer the skills and knowledge acquired at this conference to others who can directly assist limited resource, socially-disadvantaged or military veteran producers and ranchers
-Whose abstracts or presentation have been selected but who would otherwise be unable to attend
Visit here for more information and here to apply.
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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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