The Small Farms update summarizes announcements, resources, opportunities and upcoming events relevant to small farms. Please feel free to share this information in newsletters, email lists, etc. If you would like to submit an item for an upcoming issue,
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 Farms Program
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| Small Farms Program Highlights |
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Course Starting Soon: Farm Woodlot Management (BF 150)
Woodlots are a common feature of most farms in the eastern US, and are often overlooked for the value they might bring to the landowner and to farm enterprises. During this course, we will examine the methods to assess forest resources and discuss common woodland activities such as cutting firewood, harvesting logs for mushroom cultivation, and support for wildlife and long-term forest health.
Learn more and register for the course here. The course runs Sept. 25 - Nov. 6, 2017.
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Agroforestry in Practice: a 3-day training for Service Providers
Agroforestry is the science and art of combining trees and forests with crop production.
This three-day course is designed for service providers who routinely work with landowners and farmers to implement best practices.
The training will include both classroom time as well as many outings to established agroforestry farms to see these systems in practice first hand. For more information about the course, held Oct. 17-19, click here or contact Steve Gabriel at sfg53@cornell.edu.
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Survey for Local Food Producers
The
Local Food Safety Collaborative (LFSC) has recently launched a needs assessment survey aimed at local food producers. If you are a farmer, food processor, food packer, or food aggregator, please consider taking this survey! Access the survey link in
English or in
Spanish.
Responses to this survey will help direct LFSC's resources to best enhance fundamental food safety knowledge and help small farmers and processors comply with applicable Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations.
After completing the survey, you may elect to enter your personal information to be entered in a raffle for one of 20-$100.00 gift cards.
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Barnraiser Campaign to Provide Sustainable and Organic Farmers Aid after
You can help relieve financial stress from Hurricane Harvey on Texas sustainable and organic family farmers and ranchers. A Barnraiser campaign is aiming to raise $40,000 in 26 days to support 80 sustainable and organic farmers across Texas with emergency cash of $500 each to help them with immediate expenses such as gas, groceries, and building materials. Donations to the campaign can be made through
Barnraiser.
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Building Sustainable Communities: Global Forces, Local Focus
September 28 and 29, 2017.
401 Warren Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
CaRDI's annual Community Development Institute focuses on critical pieces of the community development process, and is designed for a diverse audience of local community leaders, extension educators, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers at multiple levels. Each year the institute highlights a different theme, bringing presenters and discussants together from across New York State to share the latest research, innovative approaches, policy recommendations, and practical perspectives. For more information, including a draft agenda, registration information, and price, click here
or contact Susan Barry at st237@cornell.edu.
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Draft Animal Power Field Days
September 29 - October 1, 2017.
Cornish Fairgrounds,
294 Town House Rd, Cornish, NH 03745
The Draft Animal-Power Network is running 3 days of events at the Cornish Fairgrounds in NH from September 29th - October 1st.
The weekend's events will begin on Friday, September 29th, with 3 intensive all day workshops that offer hands-on learning with experienced teamsters. Workshop topics include "Cultivation and Tillage with Draft Animals," "Growing Your Draft Animal Power Farm" and "Forest to Frame." Friday evening will end with a square dance with the Bob Boynton Square Dance Band. On Saturday and Sunday, there will be more half day workshops, round-table discussions, music by the bonfire, obstacle courses and teamster challenges and much more! Find more info here, or contact
dapnetinfo@gmail.com
.
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Mechanical Cultivation Equipment Demonstration
October 3, 2017. 1:00-4:45pm. 371 Big Island Rd., Goshen, NY 10924
Come see the latest mechanical cultivation technology in action! A range of equipment will be showcased, including the first demonstration of a robotic cultivator in NY! Demonstrations will include: Garford Robocrop Camera Guided In-Row Weeder, Terrateck Cultitrack Equipment Carrier/Cultivating Tractor, KULT-Kress Steerable Argus Hoe and Duo, and Willsie Hydraweeder. In addition to the demonstrations, Ethan Grundberg, ENYCHP and Dr. Bryan Brown, NYS IPM will review how mechanical cultivation fits into an overall Integrated Weed Management strategy. Brown will also describe some of his research on stacking cultivation tools to increase effectiveness. Register
here or call Abby at (518) 746-2553. Contact Ethan Grundberg at
eg572@cornell.edu or (617) 455-1893 for more information.
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NOFA-NY October Field Day
October 4, 4-7pm. Canticle Farm, 3835 S. Nine Mile Rd., Allegany, NY 14706
NOFA-NY's October Field Days begin on October 4 with
Season Extension: Stretching Tomato Season & Winter Greens
. With New York State winters, farmers are always looking at how to stretch out their high tunnel tomato season or establish a profitable crop of winter greens. Meeting the full season's nutritional demands of tomatoes under organic management is challenging. Juggling diverse succession crops and keeping the tunnel profitable year round adds an extra level of difficulty. Mark Printz of
Canticle Farm
will share his experiences. NOFA-NY and the
Cornell Vegetable Program
will discuss what they are learning through the
New York Farm Viability Institute
funded initiative, "Best Management Practices for Long Term Profitable High Tunnel Soil Fertility and Health." Learn more about the 2017 On-Farm Field Days here,
or call (585) 271-1979. R
egister
here
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Upcoming Webinar: Connecting Health Insurance and Agricultural Viability
October 10, 1:30-3:30pm.
Online.
Health, access to care and health insurance affect the vitality of agricultural enterprises and farm and ranch families, according to results from a national research project funded by the USDA. Designed for Extension, tax, loan, health and other agricultural advisors, this webinar will provide an overview of the research findings and introduce some practical tools that educators and advisors can use to help farmers and ranchers make informed decisions for their businesses and households. For more information, please email
Katlyn.Morris@uvm.edu
. Register online here.
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MANY MORE EVENTS at our Statewide Events Calendar.
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Career, Etc. Opportunities
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Incubator Opportunity - Reber Rock Farm
Reber Rock Farm in Essex, NY is looking for an independent veggie and/or flower operation to use 3-7 acres of our land in 2018. We can provide land, equipment, sales outlets and mentoring, as needed, to a new businesses to reduce some of the initial risks. In 2017, Red Legs Flowers grew flowers and vegetables on our farm and sold through the Farm Store and a CSA (https://www.reberrockfarm.com/flowers-1). Contact Nathan at (518) 573-8713 or email info@reberrockfarm.com with interest or questions. View the full project description
here.
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UMN Extension Educator Position
The Center for Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (AFNR) at University of Minnesota Extension is recruiting candidates for a full-time Extension Educator - Horticulture, Vegetable/Fruit Production position.
This Extension Educator (EE) position will provide statewide technical expertise and educational programming leadership for conventional and organic fruit and vegetable production in Minnesota. The EE will design, develop, implement and evaluate research-based educational programming on vegetable/fruit production practices including cultivar selection, season extension, and integrated pest management. The EE will work with producers who are marketing vegetables/fruit through wholesale, farmers markets, CSAs, etc. as well as growing vegetables/fruit for their own consumption. Interested applicants can learn more and apply here.
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Somali Bantu Community Association:
Farm Production Manager & Educator
Founded in 2005, the
Somali Bantu Community Association (SBCA) is a non-profit organization with a mission to assist the Somali Bantu refugee community with the transition to their new lives and home in Maine.
The
Community Farming Program
supports and assists 130 Somali Bantu farmers by offering access to land, technical assistance, culturally appropriate on-site training, and marketing. The program offers farmers the ability to grow food for their families and communities and to supplement their livelihood selling their fresh produce. The Farm Production Manager & Educator is responsible for overall farm management and stewardship of SBCA's farms in Lewiston, Auburn, and New Gloucester, while also working with the overall project team to provide training and technical assistance to program participants. Experience working with diverse populations, participatory adult education, and experience managing diversified vegetable farms are necessary prerequisites for this position. Learn more and apply here.
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 Wild Hill Farm Hiring Farmhands for 2018 season (& this fall too!) -
Wild Hill Farm is a 200-member CSA farm growing pesticide-free vegetables in the greater
Rochester, NY area. We are seeking part-time or full-time help immediately, now until
November. We are also hiring 3 full-time farm workers for next year, April 1 - Nov 1. Farm
experience not necessary, just willingness to learn and work hard. We are a fun crew! W
ork is diverse and includes all aspects of raising 40+ different types of crops for our CSA. Che
ck out the website for details or email erin@wildhillfarm.com with any questions.
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New Entry Sustainable Farming Project - Farmer Training Program Manager
New Entry Sustainable Farming Project's provides critical training, career development, and economic opportunity to new farmers. They are seeking an individual who is excited to lead their farmer training team to build programs that will guide beginning farmers from "dreaming about farming" to actualizing their plans and following an agricultural career pathway to become economically viable farmers in New England. The
Farmer Training Program Manager will provide year-round technical assistance, mentoring and training to small-scale direct market beginning farmers, and serve as the point person for all management responsibilities for the Farmer Training Team. This person will conduct intake and case management/technical assistance for participants in New Entry programs and services and will manage the statewide
Beginning Farmer Network of Massachusetts.
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Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District - Water Quality Specialist and Natural Resource Conservationist
Join the talented team of professionals at
Cortland County SWCD dedicated to conserving our natural resources through voluntary programs and technical assistance to landowners, businesses and municipalities.
They are seeking applicants for two full-time permanent positions -
Natural Resource Conservationist
(Certified Planner preferred) or
Water Quality Specialist
(Licensed Professional Engineer preferred).
Please visit their
website
or call Cortland County SWCD at (607) 756-5991
for information.
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ARE YOU HIRING? If you have a job opportunity that you would like to submit to the Small Farms Bi-Monthly Update, please write a detailed 125 word description and submit it
here
!
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Northern NY Agricultural Development Program Small Grants
The Northern NY Agricultural Development Program small grants program for 2017-2018 will support projects that focus on research, education, and technical assistance in support of the agricultural production sectors in the six-county NNY Region (Lewis, Jefferson, St.Lawrence, Franklin, Clinton, and Essex Counties). Eligible projects must focus their activities at the Cornell E.V. Baker Research Farm in Willsboro, the W.H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute in Chazy, other agriculture research farm facilities and/or other operating farms across the NNY region. Each project must contain research as well as education and/or technical assistance components.
Proposals must be submitted on or before October 23, 2017. Read the request for proposals and click here for the application form, research ideas, and more.
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Value Added Producer Grants
USDA is accepting applications for the
Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. The VAPG program helps agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the processing and/or marketing of new products. The goals of this program are to generate new products, create and expand marketing opportunities, and increase producer income. Independent producers, agricultural producer groups, farmer- or rancher-cooperatives, and majority-controlled producer-based business ventures are eligible to apply for 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.
Apply online here or apply by paper mail by January 24th, 2018.
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Tools for Assessing Economic Impact: A Primer for Food System Practitioners
This guide summarizes tools that food systems practitioners can use to assess economic growth. It explores both standard commercial models and alternative, community-based approaches. Examples of studies that use each approach are included. The primer, which also contains definitions of applicable terms and several model studies, concludes with considerations for future studies. Access the guide here. A webinar on this topic will be offered on September 19, 2017.
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Harvest Gains from Intercropping
This publication explains how home gardeners and small-scale farmers can increase their properties' productivity by intercropping-growing two or more crops together on the same plot-using species that perform specific functions to benefit their companion crop.
The study, conducted at the Texas A&M University Horticulture Farm, tested five different intercropping strategies. Arrangements with three or four species consistently had a higher yield per land-area unit than crops grown singly. The intercropping also allowed reduced utilization of herbicide and fertilizer inputs. Read the publication, Harvest Gains from Intercropping, or read the press release.
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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 resources available in the "
Plan Your Farm" section of our 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. We envision a future where diverse and vibrant urban and rural farms build human capacity, revitalize communities, supply regional food systems, and foster ecological resilience in a changing world. 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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