Stone Barns Center has an immediate opening for a full-time Assistant Grazier. This position reports to the Grazier (Manager) responsible for the management and operations associated with the health and welfare of all ruminant species in our intensive 100% grass-fed system. The pastures cover approximately 330 acres of grasslands. The Assistant Grazier is responsible for supporting all aspects of production associated with the Center's multispecies grazing program across all grasslands in accordance with a Conservation Action Plan. The Assistant Grazier must have experience with large ruminant animals and equipment operation and have a basic understanding of grassland and pasture ecosystems management. This individual will work within an integrated team of farmers, researchers and other experts to further the development of a resilient agro-ecological system, explore symbiotic relationships between animals, plant-base and soil ecology and contribute to farm innovation and experimentation. To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to:  jobs@stonebarnscenter.org. Learn more about this opportunity at Stone Barns Center's "opportunities" page.

A key goal in special education is to prepare students for

adulthood by providing career development and vocational training. Agricultural settings offer a rich opportunity to build such life skills. Boni-Bel Organic Farm & Country Store, just a half-mile from the Brewster campus, offers opportunities for Green Chimneys students to learn and perfect a trade of their interest.  Interns guide therapeutic/recreational activities such as maintaining a flock of organic chickens and preparing fresh eggs for sale, making gift baskets, bee-keeping, harvesting vegetables, maple sugaring, and assisting in special events such as Saturday Farm Markets. Experiential 1:1 vocational sessions guided by interns are designed to help individual students following New York State Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) standards.  Room and board are available, along with a small stipend.  Apply online here .

The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is bringing their Armed to Farm training to New Hampshire. Armed to Farm gives military veterans an opportunity to transition to a farming life. Armed to Farm combines engaging classroom sessions with farm tours and hands-on activities. Participants learn about business planning, budgeting, recordkeeping, marketing, livestock production, vegetable production, and more. Participants gain a strong foundation in the basic principles of operating a sustainable farming enterprise. In addition, Armed to Farm attendees join a nationwide network of supportive farmer-veterans and agricultural advisors. Veterans must  complete an application online by  April 27, 2018. The program is available to military veterans in the Northeast who are interested in starting a farm or who have recently begun farming (less than 10 years). Spouses and farming partners are also invited to apply.

The Supplemental and Alternative Crops Competitive (SACC) Grants Program will support the development of canola as a viable supplemental and alternative crop in the United States. The goal of the SACC program is to significantly increase crop production and/or acreage by developing and testing of superior germplasm, improving methods of planting, cultivation, and harvesting, and transferring new knowledge to producers (via Extension) as soon as practicable. Extension, education, and communication activities related to the research areas above must be addressed in the proposal. View the RFA and apply for the grant here.  Closing date for applications is April 18, 2018.

The goal of the Farm Business Management and Benchmarking Competitive Grant Program (FBMB) is to strongly support the intellectual talent and collaborative efforts to maintain the national, publicly available farm financial management database needed to meet the challenges facing the nation's agriculture and food systems. Meeting these challenges will require innovative approaches that foster multi-disciplinary projects. This means that farm management producers must be educated and prepared to work effectively across disciplines in order to work to solve agricultural and educational challenges. The FBMB program engages producers in improving the United States farm management knowledge and skills by encompassing the USDA/NIFA's food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. Further grant details, including application eligibility, can be found in the RFA. 

Applications are requested for the fiscal year 2018 Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP). LFPP's purpose is to increase domestic consumption of and access to locally and regionally produced agricultural products, and to develop new market opportunities for farm and ranch operations serving local markets, by developing, improving, expanding, and providing outreach, training, and technical assistance to, or assisting in the development, improvement, and expansion of local and regional food businesses (including those that are not direct producer-to-consumer markets) that process, distribute, aggregate, or store locally or regionally produced food products. Eligible applicants include agricultural businesses, agricultural cooperatives, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) networks, CSA associations, economic development corporations, local governments, nonprofit corporations, producer networks, producer associations, public benefit corporations, regional farmers markets authorities, and Tribal governments. View further details about this grant opportunity here. Applications are due May 7, 2018.