April 17, 2019
Welcome back to the Cornell Small Farms newsletter!
This week, I travel to New York City with Cornell colleagues to explore opportunities and challenges of small farms in urban areas. While many of you may have referenced our "Guide to Farming in NY," please check out our companion "Guide to Urban Farming in NY." Here, you will find tip sheets on unique issues faced by those who farm in an urban landscape.

Commercial urban farming has many faces; it may be soil-based, on roof tops, in greenhouses or in enclosed buildings. It might be done by a family, a group of farmers, a private company or a nonprofit. Like any small farm, these businesses leverage their unique location and resources to support their goals.

In NYC, we have two Cornell Cooperative Extension urban agriculture educators, Yolanda Gonzalez and Sam Anderson, who support commercial farms as well as those aspiring to scale-up sales. The Small Farms Program also partners with numerous other organizations in NYC, such as GrowNYC’s FarmRoots program, Farm School NYC, Just Food, Agritecture, and AgTechX. We collectively work to strengthen viability of many small farms in the city as well as connect them to other farms upstate.

Interested in learning more about urban agriculture? You can send us a note at smallfarmsprogram@cornell.edu or connect with us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

Until next time, 

Anu Rangarajan
Director of the Cornell Small Farms Program
Small Farms Program Updates
Small Farms Quarterly Magazine: Spring 2019
The Cornell Small Farms Program is pleased to announce the arrival of the Spring 2019 edition of the Small Farms Quarterly. SFQ is a magazine for farmers and farm families across the Northeast who value the quality of life that smaller farms provide.

In this issue, we feature stories about producing specialty mushrooms, color-coded sheep tracking, how to avoid "golden-goose" forestry, FAQs on agritourism, and more.

Read the Spring 2019 Quarterly online now.
Up Next in Our Events Series for Veterans in Agriculture

Farm OPS, a project of the Cornell Small Farms Program, is providing series of training workshops throughout 2019 for veterans interested in agriculture. These events will be held at EquiCenter Farm in Honeoye Falls, NY.
Tuesday, April 30 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Soil can be a strong partner to a successful farming operation if we learn how it works and understand its potential. Through demonstrations with equipment contained in the NY Soil Health Trailer and in field or pasture soil pits, this course will provide the participants with a focused perspective on soil and its relation to their farms impact on the environment. Learn more and register.
Tuesday, May 7 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Tarps are a low-cost tool for small-scale vegetable farms to prepare beds for planting and suppress weeds with less tillage. Come to share your own experience, talk about how tarps are impacting weeds, labor and soils, and dig into a field demonstration to discuss the best ways to be successful on your farm. Learn more and register.
Tuesday, June 11 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The second part of the mushroom course offerings, this course will provide practical instruction for designing and building controlled atmosphere mushroom production spaces. Learn the basic techniques and equipment required to start producing mushrooms on a small scale commercially. Learn more and register.
Featured From #CornellSmallFarms
@thefirecreekfarms18's calf's internal monologue: "Really mom! In front of my friends? You're embarrassing me!"
@hiyfarm shared being out in the fields and getting their hands in the fiber thanks to decent weather.
@farmerandbaker shared the arrival of their 200 new employees of the egg laying department.
Share what’s been happening on your farm with #CornellSmallFarms on Instagram and we may feature your image and story in the next newsletter.
Funding Opportunities
USDA Opens Applications for Conservation Stewardship Program

The USDA’s Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is the nation’s largest working lands program. CSP helps farmers and ranchers improve their profitability and sustainability by protecting and enhancing soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat. Producers are now invited to submit initial FY 2019 applications. Learn more and apply by May 10.
vegetables, produce, carrots, onions, garlic
USDA Offers Grant for Integrated Ag and Food Initiative 

Land grant and higher education institutions are invited to apply for USDA funding to develop an agriculture and food research program. This large grant is focused on creating widespread and lasting change to the food system with an emphasis on sustainable, accessible and nutritious food production. Learn more and submit letters of intent by June 4.
Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Applications Open

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) provides grants to organizations for education, mentoring, and technical assistance initiatives for beginning farmers or ranchers. Collaborative state, tribal, local, or regionally-based network or partnership of qualified public and/or private entities can now apply for funding. There is a 25% match under this program. Learn more and apply by May 16.
Business & Career Opportunities
GAP Assistance Available for NYS Producers

USDA’s Risk Management Agency and Agricultural Marketing Service have partnered in an effort to increase market access and reduce the risks fruit and vegetable producers face by helping them pay for buyer-required food safety certifications. Under the program, USDA will cover the costs of voluntary USDA Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Harmonized GAP Plus+ audits. This initiative is aimed to help horticultural producers reduce market barriers.  Learn more and apply.
CCE Tompkins Has Two Ag Educator Positions Open

The Agriculture Issue Leader supervises a team of ag and horticulture educators and is responsible for program priority setting and planning, management of program funds, and is responsible for grant writing. The Community Ag Educator position is focused on working with the County’s Agriculture & Farmland Protection Board (AFPB), in areas such as: town land use plans and their impact on agriculture, ag awareness education, buy local promotion, future farmers and estate planning.  Learn more and apply.
NE SARE Seeks Applications to Lead Professional Development Program

The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is seeking applications to lead its Professional Development Program (PDP). The Coordinator of the program serves as part of Northeast SARE’s leadership team and manages the region’s PDP competitive grant program as well as state SARE programs offered at every Land Grant institution. Applications are welcome from interested individuals who are currently working at and/or with a commitment from an institution or organization located within the Northeast region able to house the PDP. Learn more and apply by May 31.  
American Farmland Trust Hiring for Regional Management Position

The American Farmland Trust (AFT) is seeking to hire a manager for the Regional Farmland for a New Generation Program. This position is responsible for extending AFT’s mission in New York and New Jersey by helping farmers stay on the land. This mid-level professional position is located in Saratoga Springs, NY. Learn more and apply.
Mark Your Calendars
Check our statewide calendar for events near you. 
Using Social Media to Market Your Product

When: Tuesday, April 23, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Where: Oriskany, NY

Details: Learn about using social media as a marketing tool with Emma Andrews from American Dairy Association, and Johanna Bossard, Ag Education Teacher and FFA Advisor at Hamilton Central School. Free to attend. Register.
Controlled Environment Agriculture Conference

When: Friday, April 26, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Where: Geneva, NY

Details: Hear from industry experts and leading academics on incorporating various technologies to extend the growing season.
Cost is $45 and includes food and handouts; pre-registration is required by April 22. Register.
Farmer-Focused Webinars on Wholesale 

When: Monday, April 29, from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Online

Details: The first in a series of free webinars sponsored by the NYS Farm Viability Institute will focus on crop-costing tools. Additional topics include profit assessment and finding buyers. The webinars are free to join. Register
Uprooting Racism in the Food System Training

Soul Fire Farm is hosting a theory and action workshop for environmental and food justice leaders to uproot systemic racism in our organizations and society. Delve deep into the history and structural realities of racial injustice and develop an understanding of the movement strategies of frontlines communities struggling for food sovereignty. The one-day intensive workshop will be held at Soul Fire Farm in Petersburg, NY, on May 14. Cost is on a sliding scale. Learn more and register.
Additional Reading & Resources
New Report on Red Meat Harvest Plants

The red meat harvest and processing industry in New York and New England was researched, including interviews and surveys. Key findings of the research report relate to labor, cooler space, funding for expansion and impact of seasonal production patterns.
Extension Out Loud Podcast Highlights Maple, Urban Ag

Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Katie Baildon and Paul Treadwell highlight the impact that CCE has on the daily lives of New Yorkers through engaging interviews with researchers, educators, and practitioners. Recent episodes include innovations in NYS maple, growing urban agriculture in New York City, and 4-H Summer Camps.
Pest Management for Low Tunnel Strawberries

Cornell AgriTech has been working on a research project looking at strawberry pests in controlled environment systems. Some pest pressures are higher in controlled systems than in traditional uncovered ones according to the preliminary report shared in the NYS Berry Growers Association newsletter.
USDA Launches New Farmers.gov Features
Two new features on the USDA's farmers.gov will help customers manage their farm loans and navigate the application process for H-2A visas. The website's authenticated portal allows customers to apply for programs, process transactions and manage accounts.
SFP Small Farms Program Logo
About Us

The Cornell Small Farms newsletter is a resource for farmers and agricultural service providers in New York and beyond. The Cornell Small Farms Program (SFP) envisions 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 program is a joint effort of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Stay Connected
Are you just starting to farm? We have extensive resources available in the "Plan Your Farm" section of our website. Do you have farm-related questions? Sometimes local questions are best answered by your neighborhood Cornell Cooperative Extension agent. Check our county-by-county listing for your small farm agents.

If you have a story idea, event, or announcement for an upcoming newsletter, you can always submit to us through our   online form .