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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New 'Baskets to Pallets' Educator Cohort! Apply by May 11th
The Baskets to Pallets Project is pleased to announce an opportunity for 10 agricultural educators or service providers
to join a professional development cohort with a focus on deepening personal expertise around intermediary marketing channels
and diversifying teaching modalities. Food business personnel, consultants, cooperative extension agents, farmer-educators, public service officials, non-profit educators, etc. - are all invited to apply. Learn more.
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LRFS Data Tool Webinar: USDA-ERS Food Environment Atlas
Are you looking to use data and maps to better understand and tell your story of food access & acquisition, health & well being, and socio-economic demographics in your county and region? If YES, please join Cornell's Local and Regional Food Systems project at
1pm on Tuesday, May 15 for the first in a series of webinars on local and regional food systems data tools. To learn more visit the Local and Regional Food Systems website
here.
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Cornell Small Farms Program Openings
The Cornell Small Farms Program is seeking a full-time
Beginning Farmer Project Coordinator and a part-time
Communications Specialist! The Cornell Small Farm Program (SFP) engages in research and extension projects and collaborations that support and enhance the viability of small farms in New York. In coordination with CALS Marketing and Communications, the Communications Specialist will develop all facets of communication on the mission, work, accomplishments and value of the Program, including highlighting impact of the SFP on local and state-wide communities. He or she will ensure all communications meet the highest standards of scientific accuracy, accessibility, and effectiveness for target audiences; ensure cross-programmatic integrity of messages, designs, and institutional branding. The Beginning Farmer Project Coordinator will support the SFP projects focused on beginning farmer training, their support networks, and informational resources.
Click here to learn about and apply to the Beginning Farmer Project Coordinator position, and
here to learn more about and apply to the Communications Specialist position.
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Coming soon: Silvopasture, by Steve Gabriel
In this how-to guide, ecologist and forest farmer Steve Gabriel explores the philosophy and techniques behind silvopasture - integrating trees, animals, and forage in a whole-system approach that offers a number of opportunities for livestock, farmers, and the environment. Some benefits are: Increased use of farmland, climate change resilience, increased animal comfort (and thus improved performance), more yields from the same acreage, and more. Steve Gabriel is an ecologist, educator, and a forest farmer who has lived most of his life in the Finger Lakes region of New York. He currently splits his time between working for the Cornell Small Farms Program, and developing the farm he runs with wife Elizabeth, Wellspring Forest Farm. He is also the co-author of Farming the Woods.
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Upcoming Farmland for the Next Generation Program
Based on a successful model in the
Hudson Valley, the Farmland for the Next Generation Program will enable American Farmland Trust to develop a statewide Farmland for the Next Generation Resource Center for farmland owners and farmers seeking land.
The project's goal is to evaluate existing training programs and curricula, identify gaps, create standards, leverage existing materials and create new ones to fill gaps, and to develop, deliver and disseminate a national curriculum on beginning farmer and rancher (BFR) land access training. A second goal is to build the capacity of agricultural educators and service providers working with BFRs to provide continuing education and launch a national network of technical support to sustain the project and provide ongoing support to BFRs seeking to secure agricultural land. Learn more about the project here.
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May 3, 7pm.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Jefferson County, 203 N. Hamilton St., Watertown, NY 13601
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County will be hosting an Equine Nutrition Talk on May 3. The event will feature equine nutritionist Dr. Tania Cubitt from Performance Horse Nutrition, LLC and Danielle Mosher from Poulin Grain, by which the event is sponsored. Topics are to include hay quality, feed management, and pasture management. The talk will take place at the Extension office at 7PM.
If you are interested in learning the best new techniques for horse nutrition and feed quality, this opportunity may be for you!
The event is FREE to attend but registration is requested. Click here to register online.
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Multispecies Regenerative Grazing Workshop & Farm Tour
May 5, 10am-12pm.
Shelterbelt Farm, 200 Creamery Road, Brooktondale, NY 14817
Livestock are a powerful tool for land management: they can destroy landscapes or build soil organic matter, diversity, and productive capacity. The only difference is how they are managed. Through a combination of presentation, discussion, and hands-on participation, attendees of this 4-hr workshop will learn about the four ecosystem processes affecting any landscape several options for fencing, shelter, and water infrastructure for grazing livestock, considerations involved in grazing sheep and cows together, and more. Hands-on activities may include moving fence and/or conducting biological monitoring to observe and measure ecosystem functioning.
Register here.
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May 10, 10am-3:45pm.
Stone Barns Center, 630 Bedford Road, Pocantico Hills, NY 10591
Join Founder of Woods End Lab and the Solvita Soil Health Test, Will Brinton, as he explains the history and science behind the soil health movement, where the roots, microbes, and soil biology play just as important a role in crop and grass production as limestone and fertilizer. Dr. Brinton will dig into the science behind the soil health movement and its value to the soil health movement. We will discuss how to interpret the Woods End Soil Health Test and learn best practices for observing and measuring soil quality. Learn more and get tickets for the event
here.
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Organic Pest Management
May 12, 10am-12pm.
Groundswell's Incubator Farm, 101 Rachel Carson Drive, Ithaca, NY
Join Groundswell Center and Carlos Aguilera of Summertime Farms for a workshop on Organic Pest Management at the Groundswell Incubator Farm! This workshop will cover best practices for managing cucurbit (cucumber family), brassica (kale family), corn, tomato and pepper crop pests. We will also explore pest prevention methods for Southeast Asian crops widely grown at the Incubator Farm such as bitter melon and roselle. Sliding Scale $15-$25, no one turned away for lack of funds. Free to Groundswell Center Incubator Farmers. Language interpretation available - please contact Kate Cardona at
[email protected] to arrange at least one week prior to the workshop date.
Learn more or
register for this workshop.
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MANY MORE EVENTS at our Statewide Events Calendar.
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Career, Etc. Opportunities
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Assistant Herdsman/Assistant Grazing Manager
Springdale Farm is a fourth generation family dairy farm in Waldo, Maine. They milk 125 registered Jersey and Guernsey cows, raise beef, veal and pork for local markets and have a small creamery. They
have been rotationally grazing their dairy herd since the early 1970's and it is the cornerstone of their farm. They are looking for a motivated individual to help continue to improve and expand their grazing system and perform some general herdsman duties. Responsibilities include aiding in all aspects of rotational grazing on 125 cow dairy herd, 40 dry cows and 30 breeding age heifers. Position would ideally evolve into a management role based on the needs of the farm and strengths of the individual. Pay depends on experience. Housing available. Contact
[email protected]
for more information and to apply for the position.
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Taste-NY Market Manager - Central Valley, NY
Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County is seeking a Market Manager for a NEW Taste NY store at Woodbury Commons Premium Outlets.
This position will be responsible for the day-to-day management, organization, and coordination of all aspects of the Woodbury Commons Taste NY Program, which highlights local NY farm products, per the established Plan of Work.
This position will supervise program staff and will provide oversight for program volunteers.
This position will oversee marketing and communication initiatives in support of the Woodbury Commons Taste NY Program.
This position is responsible for assessing local system needs, trends, marketing, product sources, financial management and record keeping, and will provide support for research, evaluation and documentation of agricultural marketing and agri-tourism strategies. Starting salary $50,000 with NYS pension and health insurance benefits.
Apply online here by May 3rd.
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The Farm at Woods Hill is a hilltop farm nestled in Bath, NH between the White Mountains and the Connecticut River Valley. We are serious about pasturing our animals, and we practice management intensive grazing. We believe in raising our animals naturally and humanely. We are looking for a crewmember this year to work on the farm and to live in a private apartment on farm. We are looking to hire a motivated, interested individual starting in April or May who is serious about farming, loves animals, can work in all kinds of weather, is a good communicator, is flexible and willing to work on a variety of tasks. For more detailed information about the position and/or to apply please email
[email protected].
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Small Farm for Sale - Livonia, NY
Farm in Livonia for sale to someone who will appreciate the property and continue agribusiness there. Location includes great schools, a 4 bedroom farmhouse, barns with water and electric, new roofs, a garage, a drip system for CSA, a stable and paddock, fruit trees and berries, a compost system, and so much more. Please contact Jay at 585-243-5570 if you are interested or have questions.
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Job Opportunity - Suffolk County Agronomist
Suffolk County is seeking an agricultural specialist for the title of Agronomist in the Soil and Water Conservation District. An employee in this title performs technical work and studies for the Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District in order to ensure the long-term viability of the area's prime agricultural soils. The incumbent develops and certifies integrated pest management plans and nutrient management plans for Suffolk County agricultural producers. The incumbent will also provide training to District staff on the preparation of nutrient management plans for implementation at farms throughout Suffolk County. For more information about this position, and eligibility requirements, please visit the
Suffolk County Civil Service page.
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Agricultural Stewardship Association Ag Coordinator Intern
Agricultural Stewardship Association (ASA) is pleased to offer one paid summer internship opportunity to provide support with coordinating various agricultural initiatives. The intern will spend the majority of his or her time working at ASA's office located in Greenwich, NY as well as attending programs in Washington and Rensselaer counties and field checking farm data in Washington County. The Ag Coordinator Intern position is designed for an undergraduate student to provide hands-on experience in coordinating, researching and implementing aspects of the Washington County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan as well as to provide general assistance in a fast-paced nonprofit environment. The position is ideal for a student interested in agriculture, agricultural economic development, planning and land trusts. For a complete internship description, please visit ASA's website
. If you would like to apply for the internship, please submit a resume and cover letter to Renee Bouplon, Associate Director, at [email protected]. Resumes and cover letters must be received by April 30, 2018 for consideration. A select group of candidates will be interviewed in late April and early May either in person or by phone.
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Cornell University Summer 2018 Internship Opportunity: Small-Scale Beef Production
The objective of this internship is the development of a plan to
rejuvenate a former dairy farm in Sidney, NY (Delaware County) into a working beef operation. Tasks include the creation of a business plan - production, marketing, and finance, selection of beef enterprise best suited to resource, and infrastructure - water, fence, buildings, handling facilities. Eligible applicants are S
ophomores, Juniors, or Seniors. Preference given to students with background in animal science, forage management, business management.
$5,000 for 8 weeks of the summer and $500 towards operating expenses.
Housing a
vailable in area while on location.
For more information, contact
Dr. Mike Baker at
[email protected], or
Dr. Anu Rangarajan at
[email protected].
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ASA Ag Coordinator Internship
Agricultural Stewardship Association (ASA) is pleased to offer one paid summer internship opportunity to provide support with coordinating various agricultural initiatives. The intern will spend the majority of his or her time working at ASA's office located in Greenwich, NY as well as attending programs in Washington and Rensselaer counties and field checking farm data in Washington County.
The ag coordinator intern position is designed for an undergraduate student to provide hands-on experience in coordinating, researching and implementing aspects of the Washington County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan as well as to provide general assistance in a fast-paced nonprofit environment. The position is ideal for a student interested in agriculture, agricultural economic development, planning and land trusts. Click here for a complete internship description.
If you would like to apply for the internship, please submit a resume and cover letter to Renee Bouplon, Associate Director, at [email protected]. Resumes and cover letters must be received by April 30, 2018 for consideration. A select group of candidates will be interviewed in late April and early May either in person or by phone.
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NOFA-NY Dairy Certification Coordinator Assistant
NOFA-NY Certified Organic, LLC is a non-profit, USDA-accredited organic certification agency, whose primary purpose is to provide high integrity organic certification to over 1000 organic farmers and processors throughout New York State and surrounding areas.
They have an immediate opening for a full-time Dairy Certification Coordinator Assistant working in their Binghamton, NY office. Annual salary up to $30,000 depending on experience along with annual pay increases. Benefits include healthcare, dental and 403(b) as well as generous paid holidays/vacation time. Be a part of a growing company working with a dedicated and fun team that supports local organic food and farming. Interested and qualified candidates are invited to email a resume and letter of interest to
[email protected]
.
Click here
for further details about this position.
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Certificate in Applied Agroecology Program (CAAP): Farm Locally, Connect Globally
The Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agricultural (MESA) is proud to offer the
Certificate in Applied Agroecology Program (CAAP), completely online! The Certificate in Applied Agroecology is open-sourced, community based, with
contributions from experts in the field, and builds both your technical knowledge and your theoretical framework of the socio-political aspects of farming. Drawing on agroecology's traditional, ancestral roots in the Global South, this course will support you in gaining the technical and theoretical toolkit needed to face an increasingly globalized and threatened food system.
Sign up now for the start date that works for you and be part of one of the 2018 global cohorts of farmers, thinkers and doers! Interested? Contact Katie at
[email protected] and/or
click here for course details.
Click here if you are a farmer or farm intern.
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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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Farmers Market Promotion Program
The purpose of the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) 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, domestic farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agritourism activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will competitively award grants to eligible applicants for projects that meet the purpose of this grant program. For further details about this program, including eligibility, visit the program
website.
The 2018 FMPP application period closes on Monday, May 7, 2018, at 11:59pm ET.
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Tribal Extension Grant Program
The Tribal College Extension grant program allows the 1994 Land-Grants to create extension offices for their reservation communities. Each extension office works with reservation communities to build programs that target local needs. The result is a diversified and targeted outreach. Reservation youth participate in fun activities in a safe environment. Farmers and ranchers gain science-based insights to improve their productivity. Financial literacy training enhances rural reservation economies. The 1994 Land-Grants also provide culture-centered family activities to restore Native languages, traditions and agriculture. Within this grant program are two types of funds: Capacity grants and Special Emphasis. Capacity grants fund an entire Extension office which can have many mission areas and clients. Special Emphasis are targeted, short-term pilot projects that allow Extension educators to explore new ways to better serve their community. Apply for the grant and view the RFA
here.
Closing date for applications is June 6, 2018.
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Food Systems Finance Resource Center
The CDFA Food Systems Finance Resource Center outlines development finance tools that can be used to support local food systems, such as bonds, tax increment finance, tax credits, special assessment districts, revolving loan funds and others. Traditional development finance tools provide access to capital for establishing food industry participants, supporting local farming, investing in the food delivery infrastructure, financing food scarcity challenges, and starting small food businesses. A variety of innovative approaches and creative programs have been employed by development finance agencies to support food systems financing, which can be accessed in the resources provided on the
Food Systems Finance Resource Center website
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Running a Food Hub: Learning from Food Hub Closures
The goal of this study is to examine factors that have led food hubs to close their doors. Many studies have been conducted on successful food hubs, but USDA hopes to fill a knowledge gap by using national data and case studies to draw general lessons from food hub failures. By identifying lessons learned from these cases, the authors of this study hope this information will assist new and existing food hubs overcome barriers to success.
Access the publication online here.
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Perennial Fruit: New, Unusual, and Unique Crops for Northern Climates
Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture has released a new publication,
Perennial Fruit: New, Unusual, and Unique Crops for Northern Climates. The publication discusses both older, forgotten fruits suitable for northern climates (
USDA hardiness zones 3 and 4) and new varieties of emerging crops being developed for cold-hardiness. Fruits covered include aronia, currants, elderberries, goji berries, seaberries, honeyberries, and lesser-known crops.
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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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