Updates from the CCE Ag Team

Team Updates - February 22, 2022

Winter continues here in Tompkins!

Large temperature swings can lead to unique challenges. The local facebook group, Farmer 2 Farmer Discussion Group- Ithaca Area, is a great way to keep in touch with each other to share knowledge and equipment. Please reach out to each other and to us if you need support to keep animals and people safe during this season.

We look forward to bringing back farmer 2 farmer coffee hours. If you have not yet done so, please complete this brief interest survey to help us plan Farmer 2 Farmer gatherings. We look forward to seeing many of you soon.

~ The Ag and Food Systems Team at CCE Tompkins

Visit our website to view our staff list

Announcements

Reminder: Ag Assessments Due Soon

Tompkins County Agricultural Assessments are due April 1st. Find the form here.

Surrounding counties are often March 1st. Please check with your local county assessment office.

For Tompkins Soil and Water, reach out to Paul Gier. Assessment questions? Email assessment@tompkins-co.org

Support Agroforestry in NY with a Brief Survey

CCE of Columbia and Greene County announces an agroforestry extension program along with tools and resources to help farmers and land stewards combine production and conservation utilizing trees and forests. In an effort to improve research and education efforts, the team has developed a New York State Agroforestry Awareness and Adoption Survey. This survey is for anyone working with lands in New York State who is interested in agroforestry in any capacity.

Take the Agroforestry Survey

Ithaca Famers Market Seeking New ED

IFM is now hiring a new Executive Director and a Food Equity Project Assistant. Please spread the word!

Groundswell Seeking New ED

Groundswell continues to seek applications for its Executive Director position. Please spread the word!

Upcoming Events

Introduction to Tree Fruit Production

Wed, Feb. 2 3, 6:30-8:30 PM for 6 weeks

Beginner's course on orchard management through the Cornell Small Farms program. This course is intended for folks that are looking to start a small retail orchard, established growers of other crops looking to diversify into tree fruit, or a high level hobbyist.

The course runs for 6 weeks on Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30 PM. It starts on Feb 23 and runs through March 30. Taught by Mike Basedow and Janet van Zoeren. Cost is $199-299 sliding scale.

Leasing Your Land for Solar Energy Development

February 23rd at 12:00 PM on Zoom

The webinar, 2nd in a series of 4, will give participants an overview that prepares them to discuss leasing issues with developers and with the attorneys who would preferably advise landowners on specific leasing language before a lease is negotiated or signed. Hosted by Penn State.

Smart Solar Siting on Farmland: Achieving Climate Goals While Strengthening the Future of Farming in New York

Thursday, March 3rd from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Zoom

In 2019, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) became law, setting ambitious renewable energy mandates for New York State, including 100% emissions free electricity by 2040, to address climate change. In this webinar, Samantha Levy, Mikaela Ruiz-Ramón, and Ethan Winter will share findings from American Farmland Trust’s new report which lays out a smart solar siting framework along with recommendations to avoid, minimize, and mitigate the impacts of solar development on New York’s most productive farmland and farm communities.

A Land Use training certificate will be offered to interested attendees after the webinar.

Contact Info: Mikaela Ruiz-Ramón (mruiz-ramon@farmland.org)

Exploring the Small Farm Dream

March 7,14, 21, 28

6:30-9:00pm on Zoom

If you considering launching a small farm enterprise, but are not sure where to start, this 4-session series will give you the tools to start making choices to determine if farming is right for you. Learn more here. Fee $75. Any questions can be directed to Laura Biasillo, l w257@cornell.edu.

Farm Food Safety Training

Wednesday, March 23, 8:30 AM- 4:30 PM on Zoom

This workshop hosted by the Cornell Vegetable Program, the Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Team, and Cornell Cooperative Extension Broome County will cover the principles and practices of farm food safety for fresh produce farmers. Whether a buyer is asking for you to have a GAPs audit/certification or you just want to learn about improving food safety practices, this workshop is for you. Topics are broken down into sections covering assessing situations where risk of microbial contamination could and would be a problem. These include land use, appraising adjacent land issues, handling manure/compost, wildlife and domestic animals, water sources/quality, pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest operations, wash/pack procedures, facility hygiene and sanitation, and worker training.

COST AND REGISTRATION: $25 per farm. Register online by Monday, March 21. The workshop Zoom link will be in your registration confirmation email. For more information, email Robert Hadad or call him at 585-739-4065.

In the News

New NY Nut Growing and Processing Initiative launched by CCE Tompkins

A new two-year project, “Facilitating the Adoption of Silvopasture and Alley Cropping Production of Nut Crops in New York State,” aims to establish a viable nut growing and processing center in the Finger Lakes.