Welcome back to the Small Farms newsletter!
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Dear farmers friends,
What has become your new normal during the ‘Pause’?
Many of us are busy trying to stay on top of spring chores and preparing for the production season. You may also be feeling some anxiety or fatigue from reacting to the ever-changing COVID-19 landscape for your family and farm. It can be exhausting!
But in this moment, there is a stillness worth noting.
Planes are grounded. Cars are parked. Town centers are quiet. There is a sense of calm, even peace, where there once was busy-ness and hurry. We can hear ourselves and each other, perhaps, a little more clearly.
For me, the ‘Pause’ has brought a new focus on connecting with family and friends. My sister is teaching me to bake bread, and I am learning to play music with friends. While I could have done any of these before the pandemic, now these small things seem to bring so much more joy and meaning.
Just watching the world springing awake after the winter reminds me that this too shall pass.
I hope you are finding some stillness to reflect in the midst of all of the turbulence. There may be some things that you have found or remembered that will continue to be part of your new normal.
We send our cheers to our front line heroes in healthcare and our hearts to those of you with loved ones suffering from COVID-19.
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Be well and hang in there, we are in this together.
Wishing you good health,
Anu Rangarajan
Director of the Cornell Small Farms Program
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Small Farms Program Updates
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Resources for Building Farm Resilience During COVID-19
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Our program is working in partnership with educators, researchers and others, to continue offering ideas on how to take care of ourselves, our farms, and our local communities. These resources offer support on the various aspects of farming during a crisis. We are updating our
COVID-19 resource page as new information and resources are available.
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Using Online Marketing to Build Resilience
Many farmers have already geared up to be doing sales differently this year. Whether running a farmers market booth with new physical distancing practices, or selling products via direct delivery, you are doing the work of building resilience. One way of adapting marketing during COVID-19 is the use of
online selling platforms. We created an overview of what these platforms offer for services, costs for use and benefits.
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Financial Resources, Grants and Other Support to Build Resilience
Over the last few weeks, farms have been asked to consider many new practices and strategies to build resilience in the face of COVID-19. This takes time and money, and probably adds to the stress you are already feeling. As an essential business critical to the health and wellbeing of our communities, we all need you to thrive. Many organizations are stepping up to support farmers in these uncertain times. We put together a list of
grants, loans and legal support to help farmers through this pandemic.
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Were You Meaning to Apply to the SBA Paycheck Protection Program?
It was widely reported on April 15 that the funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) had been fully obligated. As of April 16, SBA closed the loans to new applicants. So, if you were planning to apply, but haven’t yet what does this mean for you? CCE educators offer advice in this
new factsheet.
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Featured From #CornellSmallFarms
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@juneberry.farm is nurturing aronia berry bushes, as demand is rising for immune boosting foods.
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@marshmeadow_farm showed that they might need a bigger play-set for their energetic goats.
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@twosparrowsfarm got a stamp of approval when their daughter called their weed control plan "So cool!"
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Share what’s been happening on your farm with
#CornellSmallFarms
on Instagram and we may feature your image and story in the next newsletter.
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Emergency Grant Program for Pennsylvania Food Businesses
The GIANT Company announced a $250,000 emergency grant program, in partnership with Team Pennsylvania, to support small businesses in Pennsylvania’s food supply chain impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Applications are now being accepted online from any small business involved in growing, making or processing food within the Commonwealth.
Learn more and apply by April 24.
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Schoharie County Microenterprise Grants
This grant program will assist businesses that create new jobs for low to moderate income persons and businesses owned by low to moderate income owners. Businesses that qualify are eligible to apply for grants ranging from $5,000 - $25,000. Grants are intended for small business equipment, fixtures, furniture, supplies, and raw material. To request an application, which can be forwarded to you by email, or for more information, contact Sarah Nickle at SCIDA based in Cobleskill at:
snscrpc@nycap.rr.com or 518-234-7604. Applications are due by 2 p.m. on May 18.
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Conservation Partnership Program Alternative Funding Arrangements
USDA-NRCS will invest up to $50 million in fiscal year 2020 to fund this unique, partner-led approach to addressing natural resource concerns at local, regional, and landscape scales. NRCS will execute AFAs through agreements with eligible lead partners. Lead partners will be responsible for contracting directly with eligible producers and landowners to implement conservation activities.
Learn more and apply by May 18.
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Organic Producer Relief Funds
The Bricmont Hardship Assistance Fund administered by CCOF provides direct financial assistance exclusively to organic producers who suffer financial losses due to extreme hardship. Award amounts range from $1,000 to $2,500. Certified organic operations currently in good standing that experienced documented economic hardship in the 2020 calendar year are eligible to apply.
Learn more and apply by May 25.
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Farmers Market Promotion Program Grants
This USDA Agricultural Marketing Service program funds projects that develop, coordinate, and expand direct producer-to-consumer markets. Projects help increase access to and availability of locally and regionally produced agricultural products by developing and expanding farmers markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture, agritourism activities, online sales, or other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. A 25% match is required.
Learn more and apply by May 26.
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TruFund Financial Services, Inc. Small Business Emergency Relief Fund
To support disadvantaged minority and women owned businesses, this fund offers grants up to $10,000 and no application fees on loans. Eligible applicants are business started prior to August 2019 located in New York, Northern New Jersey, Texas, Alabama and Louisiana with a demonstrated economic injury from COVID-19. Eligible uses are salaries, rental payments, operational support, and other costs.
Learn more and apply.
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Accion COVID-19 Relief Program
This program offers one-on-one support to small business owners to access publicly sourced disaster relief funds at the city, state and federal level in each of our core markets, and a COVID-19 Relief Loan to 500 small business owners who aren’t a fit for the public relief programs. This loan includes multi-month deferment on the first payment, low interest rates, and additional flexibility in lending criteria.
Learn more and apply.
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Coronavirus Financial Impact Loan
The Coronavirus Financial Impact Loan Program provides interest-free loans of $2,000-$5,000 to residents of New York City’s five boroughs, Westchester, or Long Island who are facing financial challenges caused by the Coronavirus outbreak. These loans are intended to address lost wages due to being unable to go to work, child care costs due to school closures, small business losses, canceled study abroad programs, and related medical costs.
Learn more and apply.
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Business & Career Opportunities
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EquiCenter Seeks Full-Time Farm & Greenhouse Manager
The EquiCenter is looking for a qualified applicant to manage their three-acre farm and greenhouse. This is a full-time opportunity in Honeoye Falls, NY, to manage growing operations, organizing and engaging volunteers supporting the farm, and distribution of produce donations to local food security organizations. The farm supports therapeutic horticulture programming and community engagement. For additional information about the position or to apply, contact
Katie Nuber, Director of Farming and Therapeutic Horticulture; or
Chad Van Gorder, Director of Operations.
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Headwater Food Hub Hiring Produce Manager
The produce manager will handle daily communications with growers, place orders, receive product, and assist operations and repack teams managing inventory. This is a full-time position in Ontario, NY. This is an exciting opportunity to work for a mission-driven employer.
Learn more and apply.
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Green Heron Tools, LLC., Soliciting Offers
Green Heron is the world’s first company dedicated to the scientific design of agricultural and gardening tools and equipment that are ergonomic for women. With a growing market (currently more than ⅓ of households in the U.S. grow their own vegetables, predicted to increase due to COVID-19) and assets including three registered trademarks, a recently re-designed website, and more, Green Heron is soliciting offers to acquire the company.
Learn more.
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Farmers in Otsego, Schoharie, and Delaware County Invited to WhatsGood
CCE offices are supporting farmers interested in using the online platform,
"WhatsGood Online Farmers' Market" for selling products direct to consumer with drop-off sites along US Route 20 or I-88 — such as in Schoharie, Cobleskill, Cooperstown, Oneonta, Sharon Springs, Richfield Springs, and more. The WhatsGood Online Farmers’ Market allows farmers to reach a whole new set of customers. For more information, contact: Jim Barber in Otsego County at (518) 231-3821,
jrb248@cornell.edu; or David Cox in Schoharie County at (607) 437-9794,
dgc23@cornell.edu.
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Applications Open for the 2020 Grow New York Competition
The NYS Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture at Cornell AgriTech announced that applications are now being accepted for round two of the Grow-NY competition. This initiative provides funding, mentorship, business development support, and other key resources to leading food and ag startups from across the globe. A total of $3 million in prizes will be awarded this year to seven startups.
Learn more and apply.
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USDA Seeks Peer Reviewers
USDA seeks qualified individuals to serve as peer reviewers to evaluate proposals that support socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers. The program will require approximately two to three weeks of electronically reviewing proposals and then a gathering in Atlanta, GA, to finalize reviews and scoring. USDA provides compensation and travel expenses for reviewers.
Learn more and apply by April 30.
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Growing for
Wholesale
When: Wednesday, April 22, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Details: Are you interested in marketing your farm products to restaurants, retailers, or distributors? Through examples from real producers and customers in our region, this interactive session will describe some common misconceptions, dos, and don’ts of working with wholesale customers.
Learn more and register.
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Get Seen Online: Tips For Your Food Business
When: Friday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Details: If you've ever wished your business was more online famous, this workshop is for you. This webinar will cover strategies to increase your visibility (for free or cheaply) and touch on topics like search engines, social media, business listings and other internet marketing.
Learn more and register.
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Online Spotted Lanternfly Workshop
When: Wednesday, May 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Details: This meeting will update farmers and the general public about spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) biology, preferred hosts, and some regulations in place to limit the spread.
This invasive species has the potential to cause severe economic injury to many important crops in NYS.
Learn more and register.
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Active Learning Calendar for Virtual Opportunities and Webinars
The Cornell Small Farms Program team has created this new calendar dedicated to the various webinars and other virtual learning opportunities being offered during this time of physical distancing.
Explore upcoming events.
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Additional Reading & Resources
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USDA Addresses Milk Dumping
USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is ensuring that
milk producers are not inappropriately penalized if milk must be dumped because of recent market disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, RMA is extending inspection deadlines, waiving inspection requirements and authorizing more crop insurance transactions over the phone and electronically to help producers during the crisis.
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How Does a Drive-Through Farmers Market Work?
NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Specialist Colin Mitchell describes social distancing measures his local farmers market in San Antonio, TX has made in a
new video. In the video he covers the market's online ordering system and then how the drive-through process works when he picked up his order.
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About Us
The Small Farms Newsletter is a resource for farmers and agricultural service providers in New York and beyond. The newsletter is produced by the Cornell Small Farms Program (SFP), which helps farmers get expert assistance to facilitate all phases of small farm business development. SFP is housed at Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and works collaboratively with Cornell Cooperative Extension.
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Do you have farm-related questions? Sometimes local questions are best answered by your neighborhood Cornell Cooperative Extension agent.
Find your local contact
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