The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets invites your business to participate in the New York State Grown & Certified program, a strategic initiative to promote agricultural products from our state. This new program evolved from the Pride of New York Program, but unlike Pride, this program focuses solely on agricultural products and strives to connect consumers to growers, emphasizing the importance of farm products to the NY economy. Now in its second year, the program represents 1,524 farms covering 51,500 acres and has partnered with 10 major retailers. The New York State Grown & Certified program goes beyond other State marketing programs, by addressing consumer concerns about food safety and environmentally stewardship. This marketing advantage is backed up by the requirement that nurseries and greenhouses participate in NYS Soil and Water's Agricultural Environmental Management Program. There is no cost to participate. More information is available online here.   Apply to become New York State Grown & Certified here.

At 186 years old, the NYS Agricultural Society has a long history of sharing stories about individuals and businesses who have lifted the state's ag and food industry to new heights in terms of environmental stewardship, animal husbandry, cropping efficiency, farm safety and the production of quality, safe foodstuffs. The major platform to honor these leaders and share their success stories is the Society's Annual Meeting & Forum conducted in January, where award winners in eight categories are announced. Categories include farm safety, agricultural promotion, journalism, next generation farmers, business of the year, distinguished service, and century and bicentennial farms. Through this unique type of recognition and sharing, the NYS Ag Society strives to build better understanding and positive working relationships with audiences living off the farm including neighbors, consumers, and government leaders. Until September 1, 2018, the NYS Ag Society will be collecting 2019 award applications on their website under the "Recognition Programs" tab. Additional information about each of the recognition programs is also available online.

May 17, 12-1pm. Online.

Recent outbreaks of the avian flu have emphasized the need for biosecurity on farms to ensure the health of poultry flocks around the country. In this webinar, National Center for Appropriate Technology Poultry Specialist Kevin Ellis will let you know proactive steps you can take to increase biosecurity on your farm by planning ahead of your chicks' arrival and through day-to-day management. Topics to be covered in this webinar include biosecurity, setting goals, flock sourcing, equipment, housing designs, and poultry health. There will be time during the webinar for participants to pose questions to Kevin, and the webinar will be recorded and posted on the NCAT Southwest Regional Facebook page and the ATTRA website. The webinar is free, and you can register by clicking  here.

Join Stone Barns Farm Director Jack Algiere and Nexus Vice President of Sales and Northeast lead Jeff Warshchauer as they dive into soil-based greenhouse design during this full-day immersion course. It will begin by understanding your management goals and practices as farmers to optimize your costs during the greenhouse design phase. We will then discuss how to work with greenhouse designers, like Nexus, and what is involved during the greenhouse construction process so you can design efficient environmental controls that program ventilation equipment, water, and heating systems. What techniques are used during the construction and operating phases to maximize soil health and productivity? What are examples of companies and vendors that help with greenhouse design? Lastly, what per square foot capital cost can you expect and how do you optimize your management practices to payback this investment? All of these questions and more will be discussed during the course as we introduce the value of permanent, soil-based greenhouse designs to the community of beginning farmers.

June 16, 3-5pm. Pierstown Grange, 137 Wedderspoon Hollow Road, Cooperstown, NY

The Community Horticulture Resource Educator develops and delivers an education program focused on  community horticulture, recycling/composting, school garden network, and invasive species management.  Also includes the planning, management, and operations of the Master Gardener Volunteer Program, which  involves volunteer recruitment, training and oversight. The Community Horticulture Resource Educator  will analyze and identify educational needs and provide development, delivery, evaluation, direction,  management and coordination of educational efforts. The Community Horticulture Resource Educator will  oversee the Horticulture Diagnostic Lab and volunteers. All candidates must apply online here. Deadline for applying is May 21, 2018 or until the position is filled. Starting salary is $57,416.00 annually.

Family owned and operated CNY livestock farm that direct markets in NYC seeks a motivated, hard working person with the skills and experience to make hay and care for cattle and pigs. Duties include operating farm equipment, feeding, animal health, pasture rotation, and maintaining barns, fences and machinery.  Opportunity for: additional responsibilities managing herd health, breeding records, meat supply chain and future livestock ownership. Minimum requirement: Work experience, HS diploma, capable of physical activity for long periods without getting tired or out of breath and able to lift 75 pounds. Ideal candidate will have two years farm experience, 2 or 4 year ag related degree, with spreadsheet and word processing competency. Competitive salary, housing and benefits BOE. Read the full job description and apply here.

Part-time farm position available on a well-established, diverse, certified organic livestock and crop farm 30 minutes from Ithaca. Help needed with manual farm labor two days/per week throughout the growing season.  Tasks include screening compost, hand weeding and hoeing, loading and stacking hay, and other farm tasks as needed. $10-15/hour depending on skills and experience. Contact Michael or Karma Glos at (607) 657-2860 or kingbirdfarm@gmail.com  for more information. Read the full job description here. Apply by sending a letter of interest and a resume (or other documentation of your experience) to kingbirdfarm@gmail.com.

Applications to the FY 2018 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Sustainable Agricultural Systems must focus on approaches that promote transformational changes in the U.S. food and agriculture system within the next 25 years. NIFA seeks creative and visionary applications that take a systems approach, and that will significantly improve the supply of abundant, affordable, safe, nutritious, and accessible food, while providing sustainable opportunities for expansion of the bioeconomy through novel animal, crop, and forest products and supporting technologies. These approaches must demonstrate current and future social, behavioral, economic, health, and environmental impacts. Additionally, the outcomes of the work being proposed must result in societal benefits, including promotion of rural prosperity and enhancement of quality of life for those involved in food and agricultural value chains from production to utilization and consumption. See the Request for Applications for further details and eligibility requirements. Apply for the grant here. Letters of intent are due June 27, and closing date for applications is October 10.

The Food Safety Outreach Program will complement and expand the national infrastructure of the National Food Safety Training, Education, Extension, Outreach, and Technical Assistance Competitive Grants Program. The Food Safety Outreach Program will build upon that national infrastructure, with a sustained focus on delivery of customized training to members of the target audiences. Awardees will develop and implement food safety training, education, extension, outreach and technical assistance projects that address the needs of owners and operators of small to mid-sized farms, beginning farmers, socially-disadvantaged farmers, small processors, or small fresh fruit and vegetable merchant wholesalers. Grant applications will be solicited directly from those in local communities to include those from community-based organizations, non-governmental organizations, food hubs, farm cooperatives, extension, and other local groups. View the RFA and apply for the grant here  by June 7.

The " Delivering community benefit: Healthy food playbook" is a suite of resources to support hospital community benefit professionals and community partners in developing community health interventions that promote healthy food access and healthier food environments. If a facility has identified obesity, food access, or diet-related health conditions among the priority health needs in its community health needs assessment (CHNA), then initiatives to promote healthy food access and increased consumption of fruits and vegetables can be important components of an implementation strategy to address these needs. The playbook has several sections with resources to support different stages of the community benefit or community health planning process. Each resource provides examples and links to learn more. These resources will inspire and strengthen your efforts to promote healthy and vibrant communities with healthy, sustainable, and equitable community food systems.

From coast to coast, a diverse community of farmers, ranchers, scientists and educators is working to shape a sustainable future for our food system. Listen to the new Our Farms, Our Future podcast series and join this community for intimate conversations about the state of agriculture, how we got here and where we're headed. Episode 1 features Missouri farmers and neighbors Emily Wright and Dan Kuebler. They talk about what motivates them to be farmers and to build resilient farming systems, how local food systems can foster community, and the ways that beginning farmers can succeed. Listen to Episodes 1 and 2 now.