July Small Farms Update

The Small Farms Update includes small farm announcements, events, job and internship opportunities, grant and loan opportunities, and latest handbooks, tools and other small farm resources. It is intended for farmers and agricultural service providers in New York and the Northeast. If have an item to be included in the update, please contact Violet Stone at vws7@cornell.edu.

Announcements

  • Sign up today! Beginning Farmer Lunchtime Learning Webinars
  • Adding Income Streams to a Small Dairy: July 26th
  • Is Your Farm Powered by Renewable Energy? Let us know!
  • Glean NY is Recruiting

Upcoming Events

  • Sponsored Events
  • Grazing Events
  • Other Featured Events

Career etc. Opportunities

  • NOFA-NY Announces Farmer-to Farmer Mentorship Program
  • Farm for rent, Hudson Valley, NY

Funding etc. Opportunities

  • USDA Rural Business Opportunity Grants- due August 6th
  • USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grants- due August 6th
  • USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program- due September 30th
  • Northeast SARE Research and Education Grants- due July 31st
  • N.Y. County Loan Program for Dairy Producers

Resources

  • 2012 Local Foods Guide is now Available
  • NYS CCE Field Crops News Blog
  • Understanding Whole-Farm Insurance for Specialized, Diversified Farms Webinar
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Gardens
  • New England Farmland Finder Website Unveiled
  • Sustainable Commercial Greenhouse Production Curriculum Available
  • Farmie Market , an Online Farmers Market, Expands Beyond NY State
  • Participatory Plant Breeding Toolkit Announced
  • Guide to Breeding Organic Vegetables Now Online
  • 2012-13 Pure Catskills Guide to Farm Fresh Products Released
Small Farms Update is intended as a resource for farmers and agricultural service providers in New York, and is provided to you by Cornell’s Small Farms Program. Our mission is to foster the sustainability of diverse, thriving small farms that contribute to food security, healthy rural communities, and the environment. Our work is made possible by a network of close partnerships among Cornell faculty and staff, Cornell Cooperative Extension educators and staff, NYS agriculture support agencies, non profit agriculture organizations and farmers.
*Please note: No endorsement is implied for products, businesses, jobs or resources listed in the Small Farms Update. Such resources are listed for informational purposes only.

ANNOUNCEMENTS


Sign up today! Beginning Farmer Lunchtime Learning Webinars
The Northeast Beginning Farmer Project is pleased to announce the remaining two webinars in the Summer Lunchtime Learning Series: Alternative Farm Financing and Serving Diverse Beginning Farmer Audiences. The 1 hour webinars are for beginning farmers and service providers. The webinars are free to attend, but please register here.
**Please note the date change for the second webinar: originally scheduled for Aug 20, it will now be held on Aug 27, 12-1:30pm EST**
Land Access (part 2): Farm Financing Alternatives
Mon, July 23, 12-1pm EST
Ben Waterman, VT New Farmer Project. This is the second part of the land access webinar, and focuses on emerging financing strategies, including alternative financing for land access as well as topics covered in the new book, Guide to Financing the Community Supported Farm, such as legal/accounting considerations, promissory notes, and multi-year CSAs.
Is Your New Farmer Support Inclusive? Cultural Competency for Organizations Serving Diverse Beginning Farmer Audiences
NOTE NEW DATE: Mon. Aug 27, 12-1:30pm EST
Gail Myers, Farms to Grow Inc. (Oakland, CA) and Joanna Green and Millie Gustafson, Groundswell Center for Local Food and Farming. Do you wish your organization’s audience was more diverse, but aren’t sure how to accomplish this? Gail will present strategies for any organization wishing to ensure their programs meet the needs of ethnically and socially diverse audiences. Joanna and Millie will share their experiences working diversity into the ethic and realities of Groundswell’s new farmer programs. We really hope you will join us for this frank and open dialogue about serving *all* new farmers.
Register for either or both sessions here.
These webinars are offered for beginning farmers and service providers by the Cornell Small Farms Program through their Northeast Beginning Farmers Project, with funding support from the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. For more information, call Erica Frenay at 607-255-9911 or email ejf5@cornell.edu.
For more information about small farms, visit www.smallfarms.cornell.edu For more information about beginning farmers, visit www.nebeginningfarmers.org
Adding Income Streams to a Small Dairy: July 26th
Join Ernest and Barbara Hanselman at Delrose Farm on July 26th, 2012, to learn about adding income streams to a small dairy. This final field day in the Cornell Small Farms Program Small Dairy series will take place from 11:30 am – 2pm at 9635 Co Hwy 18, Bloomville, NY.  The Hanselmans milk 75 Registered Holsteins and Brown Swiss in the fertile valley of the Delaware River. They have been in the dairy business for over 30 years and have gradually added enterprises that diversify the farm into various income streams. They will discuss making the best use of on- farm resources and trends to create a diversity of income streams that add to farm income and farm viability. This tour has been incorporated into the 82nd Annual Delaware County Dairy Tour. No registration is necessary. Bring a picnic lunch. Milk and ice cream will be served. Contact Mariane Kiraly, 607 865 6531, mk129@cornell.edu with any questions or visit www.ccedelaware.org for more details.
Is Your Farm Powered by Renewable Energy? Let us know!
Do you use renewable energy on your farm?  Solar, wind, hydro, geo-thermal?  Or do you produce renewable energy? Biomass, pellets, vegetable oils?   Are you interested in sharing your innovations with others? Let us know!  The Cornell Small Farms Program and Northeast SARE (Sustainable Ag Research and Education) will be collaborating once again this fall to organize a series of on-farm renewable energy field days around New York. We want to showcase your sustainable energy efforts! Farmers receive a $200 stipend for hosting a 2 hour farm tour.  Field days will be scheduled for September and October.  If you’re not interested in hosting a field day, we would still like to hear from you, as we are compiling a database of farms powered by renewable energy. Please contact Violet Stone at 607-255-9227 or email vws7@cornell.edu.  Thanks!
Glean NY is Recruiting!
Glean NY encourages the donation of produce that wouldn’t otherwise be harvested or sold—food that would be culled due to cosmetic blemishes, irregular size, lack of market, etc.  Donations may be eligible for pickup at the farm, reimbursement of farmers’ harvesting costs, and tax incentives. Call the Food Bank Association of New York State at (518) 433-4505.

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UPCOMING EVENTS


Sponsored Events

July 26th, 2012. Adding Income Streams to a Small Dairy.  11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. DelRose Farm. 9635 Co Hwy 18, Bloomville, NY. The Hanselmans, owners of DElRose Farm, will discuss making the best use of on-farm resources and trends to create a diversity of income streams that add to farm income and farm viability.  For more info, contact Mariane Kiraly, 607 865 6531, mk129@cornell.edu.

Grazing Events

July 17- July 19, 2012.  The Great Vermont Weeds Tour with Kathy Voth.  Times and locations to be determined. Hundreds of Northeastern livestock farmers met Kathy through her visits to VT, NY, and NH in the last year, becoming excited and hopeful about teaching their own livestock to become weed managers through her simple, quick process.  Live presentations and weed eating demonstrations, at multiple Vermont locations.  Contact Jenn Colby at jcolby@uvm.edu or 802-656-0858 or visit www.uvm.edu/pasture for more information as it becomes available.
July 19, 2012.  Grass-Based Dairy Webinar.  3:30 PM-4:45 PM.
Hear a case study of a very successful grazing business, and learn about a new apprenticeship program, and how it works.
July 24, 2012.  Renovating Soils and Swards of Dairy Pastures.  10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Jerry Dell Farm, Dryden, NY.  The focus will be on using summer annuals to renovate pasture forage and soil. Attendees will be able to view two of Jerry Dell’s pastures that Fay has planted with a selection of summer annuals.  Lunch will be provided. RSVP requested to help plan lunch – contact Sharon VanDeuson at 607-753-5078 or shv7@cornell.edu.
July 31, 2012.  Managing the Biology of a Grazing System .  10:00 AM- 3:00 PM.  Marvin Moyer Farm, Owego, NY.  Jerry Brunetti will give attendees a view of what is going on beneath the sod of a grazing farm and how to maximize the biologic potential for cycling nutrients which feed the plants.  There will also be information on how a grazing farm can use Risk Management “Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Policy” to protect their feed supply from drought.  RSVP requested to help plan lunch – contact Sharon VanDeuson at 607-753-5078 or shv7@cornell.edu.
July 31, 2012.  Hudson Mohawk RC&D Grazing Workshop.  10:00 AM- 3:00 PM.  Gaige Farms, Knox, NY.   The workshop will cover planning grazing, monitoring pasture quality, stockpiling, estimating dry matter and feeding to optimize milk production and reduce grain costs.  To register for the workshop, please contact Susan Lewis from the Albany County Soil and Water Conservation District at (518) 765-7923 or susan.lewis@ny.nacdnet.net.
August 15, 2012.  Advantages of Pasture Raised Pork.  1:00 PM-4:00 PM.  The Piggery, Trumansburg, NY.  Join Casey Oxley, farm manager for the Piggery, to discuss pasture vs. barn raised pigs and hear the advantage of pigs on pasture.  Casey will discuss how their pasture rotations work, describe their fencing techniques, and talk about the magic of pigs. Please register by calling Stephanie Backer-Bertsch at NOFA-NYat 585-271-1979 x 509, or by registering online at http://www.tinyurl.com/nofanyevents.

Other Featured Events

July 17, 2012. Sustainable Dairy Farm Management. 1:00 PM-4:00 PM.  Cottonwood Farms, LLC, Pavilion, NY. Tour the farm to see how the owners transitioned to organic production and are now incorporating technology, including tire water tanks, robotic calf feeders, and a manure separator, across their farmstead to develop a sustainable farm system.  Please register by calling Stephanie Backer-Bertsh at NOFA-NY at (585) 271-1979 ext. 209 or by registering online at http://www.tinyurl.com/nofanyevents.
July 17, 2012.  Berry Good Field Day.  6:30 PM-dark.  Cornell Orchards, 709 Dryden Road  Ithaca, NY .  Learn about small fruit varieties and growing practices. Dr. Marvin Pritts of Cornell’s Horticulture Department will lead the tour at Cornell’s small fruit research plots and answer questions on many small fruits. Samples will be available for taste-testing. Pre-registration is preferred, and space is limited. Please call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County at (607) 272-2292 for more information or to register.
July 18 and July 25, 2012. Pastured Poultry I & 7/25 Pastured Poultry II. 5:00 PM- 8:00 PM.  Kingbird Farm, Berkshire, NY.  Choosing poultry breeds, ordering chicks, brooder management, and feed basics will be discussed at length. There will also be a discussion of housing, fencing, pasture management, and health care. There will also be a demonstration on proper bird handling. To register, email info@groundswellcenter.org.
July 21, 2012.  Tomatoes: How Hepworth Farm Does It: Equipment, Manpower, Production, Techniques, Varieties, and More.  9 AM – 12 Noon.  Hepworth Farms, Milton, NY.  The field day will focus on the tomato crop, how to plant, mulch, trellis, stave off blight, etc. Hepworth Farm’s tomato production will also be presented in the larger context of Hepworth farm’s whole-living system approach to farming.  Please register by calling Stephanie Backer-Bertsch at NOFA-NY at 585-271-1979 x 509, or by registering online athttp://www.tinyurl.com/nofanyevents.
July 21, 2012.  Summer Hopyard Tour & Picnic.  2:00 PM- 6:00 PM.  Hop Meadow Farm, Union Springs, NY. There will be a hop yard tour, discussion of hop issues, including the new Farm Brewery Law (What does it mean to you?), pest management, trellis design, harvesting and processing. We’ll have virus indexed stock plants on site for sale! Register online at: http://hopmeadowfarm-es2.eventbrite.com/.
July 22, 2012.  High Mowing Organic Seeds Trials Field Walks.  3:30 PM-5:00 PM.  HMS Trial Garden in Wolcott, VT.  The day will highlight many vegetable, herb and flower varities being grown, compared and evaluated in the 4-acre HMS trials garden.  For directions and walk details please visit www.highmowingseeds.com or call (802) 472-6174 ext 132.
July 22, 2012.  Caring for the Whole Farm through Practical (and Potentially Profitable) Conservation. 2:00 PM– 4:30 PM.  Root Down Farm East Amherst, NY. Through a farm tour and discussion of conservation and sustainability challenges faced by the farmers and participants, John Whitney, District Conservationist of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, will help us understand best practices for soil health and management and teach us to recognize and implement opportunities for wildlife and pollinator habitat maintenance.  Please register by calling Stephanie Backer-Bertsch at NOFA-NY at (585) 2711979 ext. 509 or by registering online athttp://www.tinyurl.com/nofanyevents.
July 24, 2012.  Small Grains in the Rotation on a Diverse Dairy Farm.  10:00 AM- 1:00 PM.  Kimvale Farm, Falconer, NY 14733.  Join the Kimball family for a look at the challenges presented by growing 500 acres of grain crops, milking 180 cows, running a new manure composting and separation system, and growing 20 acres of Red Fife Wheat for the food grade market. Learn about the challenges of cultivation, harvest, storage, and the milling of grains for the dairy herd, where quality is top priority. Please register by calling Stephanie Backer-Bertsch at NOFA-NYat 585-271-1979 x 509, or by registering online at http://www.tinyurl.com/nofanyevents.
July 27, 2012.  Small Scale Grain Production and a Cooperative Community in the North Country.  10:00 AM- 2:00 PM Baty Farm and Stone Mills Museum, Lafargeville, NY.  Join Tim Baty for a day at his farm and a look at the unique relationship that his farm has to the Stone Mills Museum next door. Tim grows and harvests a diverse variety of small grains and will share his knowledge of small sale farm machinery and grain equipment. Please register by calling Stephanie Backer-Bertsch at NOFA-NYat 585-271-1979 x 509, or by registering online at http://www.tinyurl.com/nofanyevents.
July 29, 2012. Draft Horse Practicum. 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM.  Northland Sheep Dairy, Marathon, NY.  In this class, students will be introduced to horses by discussing what makes them tick: discussing their senses, communication, and responses to training. Students will work with loose horses (unrestrained) to demonstrate how horses relate to each other and to humans. To register, email info@groundswellcenter.org.
July 30, 2012.  Micronutrient Balancing for Increased Production and Health in Dairy Cattle.  10:00 AM- 3:30 PM.  Miller Brothers’ Farm: 554 Hoke Rd, Richfield Springs, NY 13439Learn how Miller Brothers’ farm is balancing micronutrients in their soils to increase forage and small grain quality and quantity.  Please register by calling Stephanie Backer-Bertsch at NOFA-NY at (585) 271-1979 ext 509, or by registering online athttp://www.tinyurl.com/nofanyevents.
August 1- August 4, 2012. Cornell Maple Camp. Cornell’s ArnotTeaching and Research Forest. The Cornell Maple Program is excited to announce a unique opportunity for maple producers to acquire hands- on experience to increase their production, profitability and efficiency. Participants will learn how to measure and select trees, how to evaluate, plan and install a tubing system, and how to evaluate vacuum and bucket systems for efficiency. In the sugar house participants will learn about sap storage, reverse osmosis, evaporator operations, and syrup filtering, storage and grading. Further, participants learn to understand the principles of marketing syrup and value added products.  Registration information is available by going to www.CornellMaple.info and selecting Cornell Maple Camp.
August 2, 2012 – August 5, 2012.  6th National Farm to Cafeteria Conference.  Burlington, VT.  Farm to Cafeteria began with the common goal of building strong communities, healthy individuals and resilient local farms. The conference focuses on all aspects of Farm to cafeteria work and seeks to engage a diverse group of stakeholders at all skill levels. Visit https://www.farmtoschool.org/our-work/farm-to-school-cafeteria-conference today to secure the early-bird registration rate of $290.
August 2- August 3, 2012.  Western NY Compost Facility Tour and Workshop. 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM both days. Bus tour of compost facilities in Western, NY. Thursday, August 2, 2012 will be a Compost Facility Tour (bus leaves at 9 am), and Friday, August 3, 2012 will be a Compost Production Workshop (Medium to Large Scale).
August 4, 2012.  Reaping the Rewards of Experimentation and Innovation: Diversity-Based Farm Viability.  3:00 PM-6:00 PM.  Sylvestor Manor Educational Farm, Shelter Island, NY.  Through a tour of Sylvestor Manor and discussion, you will learn the ecological, economic and sociological effects that a wide range of farming practices has had for the farm.  These methods include livestock-and-vegetable crop rotations, mass municipal mulching, low-till bed prep, succession rotation of fields, and extended-season high tunnel production.  Please register by calling Stephanie Backer-Bertsch at NOFA-NY at (585) 271-1979 ext. 509, or by registering online at http://www.tinyurl.com/nofanyevents.
August 5, 2012. The Symbiotic Farm: Managing Animals and Crops as an Agro-Ecosystem.  2:00 PM-5:00 PM.  Quarry Brook Farms, Sherburne, NY.   At this field day, we will learn how the interplay of pigs, chickens, turkeys, cattle and sheep with the hay and horticultural crops impacts a range of the farm’s vital signs, from the soil tilth to livestock parasites.  We will observe the impact that various treatments, such as pig grazing, have had on soil fertility and crop quality.  Please register by calling Stephanie Backer-Bertsch at NOFA-NY at 585-271-1979 x 509, or by registering online at http://www.tinyurl.com/nofanyevents.
August 6, 2012. Small Fruit Production Basics. 1:00 PM- 4:00 PM Kestrel Perch Berry Farm, Ithaca, NY. During this workshop, we’ll explore Kestrel Perch Berry Farm’s Organic U-Pick berry model, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of different fruit types (strawberries, red and black currants, red raspberries, black raspberries, gooseberries, elderberries, and blueberries) and the unique benefits and challenges of the U-Pick model. To register, email info@groundswellcenter.org.
August 8, 2012. Building and Managing Hoophouses & Greenhouses. Sweet Land Farm. This class will cover the basics of greenhouses and hoophouses, from design and building, to managing and various uses. Pricing, planting schedules, and siting your structure will be discussed. To register, email info@groundswellcenter.org.
August 10, 2012. Perennial Biofeedstock Energy Workshop.  USDA-NRCS Big Flats Plant Materials Center. Tour the warm and cool season grass energy research and demonstration plots and the hybrid willow evaluation. There will be speakers from Cornell, Penn. State University and University of Illinois. There will be demonstrations of small pellet mill, powdered biomass burner and willow harvester.  For full agenda and registration visit: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=7ex5qzeab&oeidk=a07e60yu6551cd208cc.
August 11, 2012. New York Nut Growers Association Summer Meeting.  9:00 AM– 3:00 PM.  Columbia County Cornell Cooperative Extension office, Hudson, New York.  Presentations include selecting a site for your nut orchard, nut tree diseases, forest farming (agroforestry), nut nutrition, permaculture projects, and the use of nut crops as forage.  For more information, contact Jerry Henkin, NYNGA Vice Pres., at (914) 423 – 7458sproutnut@aol.com.
August  11 and 18, 2012. Cornell Master Beekeeper Workshops.  Dyce Lab, Ithaca. The Apprentice Level Course is a comprehensive workshop designed to build basic beekeeping skills. The course focuses on starting with bees, beekeeping equipment and construction, spring and summer management, identification and management of bee pests, and basic bee biology. Registration and more information can be found at the Master Beekeeper Program site: http://www.masterbeekeeper.org/ .
August 12, 2012.  Garden of Eve Farm Tour.  11:00 AM-1:00 PM. Garden of Eve Organic Farm and Market, Riverhead, NY.  Join Chris and Eve Kaplan-Walbrecht for a tour of their farm where they raise organic vegetables, fruits, flowers, and laying hens.  To register, email farmer@gardenofevefarm.com or call (631) 722-8777.
August 15, 2012. Raising Fiber Animals. Laughing Goat Fiber Farm. This workshop will give students a comparative understanding of different species of fiber animals (sheep, goats, alpaca, rabbits), the ins and outs of animal management, including shelter, health maintenance (including parasites and medications), breeding, and pasturing, and the steps in processing fiber. To register, email info@groundswellcenter.org.
August 16, 2012.  Multiple Approaches for Managing Diseases and Insects on Organic Farms.  4:00 PM- 7:00 PM.  Homer C. Thompson Farm, Freeville, NY.  This is an opportunity to discuss issues in organic agriculture ranging from beneficial insect habitat to reduced tillage to weed management and rotations. Meet with the researchers and farmers for an evening of demonstrations, collaboration and networking. For further information contact Betsy Leonard at (607) 423-8366, bai1@cornell.edu.
August 18, 2012.  Pre-Harvest Tour & Picnic at Braunius Hop Farm.  2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. 140 Quinlog Road, Mt. Vision.  Event will include a tour of the hop farm and a presentation from state hop specialist Steve Miller on marketing, the new Farm Brewery law, getting started with a hop farm, and a variety of production topics.  A meal will be provided as well as a tasting of New York State beers.  Register online at: http://brauniushopfarm.eventbrite.com or by calling 315.684.3001 x 100.

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CAREER, ETC. OPPORTUNITIES


NOFA-NY Announces Farmer-to Farmer Mentorship Program
Through an exciting partnership with Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, new and experienced farmers can also engage in short-term technically-focused relationships as part of the Technical Consultancy Program. With the Technical Consultancy Program, beginning farmers will have access to a roster of experienced farmers, listed by areas of expertise, and can contact those farmers for short-term assistance. Find out more and get involved today at www.nofany.org/technicalconsultancy.
Farm for rent, Hudson Valley, NY
The farm as a whole also includes 185 acres of grazing pasture, 40 acres of unfenced hay fields, more rough pasture, and over 200 acres of woods some adjacent to pasture. There are two houses on the farm, a hay and storage barn we are rebuilding, another old hay and storage barn with a few stanchions and stalls on its ground floor, a machine shop, a work shop, a couple small sheds and a building that has been used as a chicken coop, all of which are available for leasing. The farm is within an hour and a half of New York City and close to many large suburban centers.  A lease or some sort of lease and partnership would be considered.  The farmer/entrepreneur should have some years of experience as a production farmer and a business plan with attention to marketing. Further questions can be directed to Charles Gerard at charles@chcgerard.com or to Alison G. Potter at the farm (973) 764-0923.

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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES


USDA Rural Business Opportunity Grants
USDA’s Rural Business Opportunity Grants program promotes sustainable economic development in rural communities with exceptional needs. Public bodies, nonprofit corporations, Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, and rural cooperatives are eligible to apply for up to $50,000.
Application deadline is August 6, 2012. Visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_RBOG.html for more information.
USDA Rural Cooperative Development Grants
USDA’s Rural Cooperative Development Grants program assists individuals or entities in the startup, expansion, or operational improvement of rural cooperatives and other business entities. Grants are awarded to nonprofit corporations or institutions of higher education to operate Rural Cooperative Development Centers that in turn provide technical assistance to individuals and entities. Application deadline is August 6, 2012. Visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/BCP_RCDG.html for more information.
Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program
USDA is seeking applications for loans and grants to help rural businesses create jobs and spur economic development under the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program. Eligible recipients are USDA rural utilities program borrowers. Those recipients pass the funds to local organizations. The maximum amount of funding for any one project is $300,000 for grants. The deadline for submitting applications is the last business day of each month through September 30, 2012. Visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/rural-economic-development-loan-grant-program for more information.
Northeast SARE Research and Education Grants
The SARE Research and Education program funds outcome-based projects offering research, education, and demonstration projects that benefit farmers and explore new sustainable farm practices. Projects should be directed toward research results that will translate quickly into farmer benefit, and farmers, extension staff, and other stakeholders should be involved in planning project content.  Deadline for preproposals is July 31, 2012. Visit http://www.nesare.org/Grants/Get-a-Grant/Research-and-Education-Grant for more information.
N.Y. County Loan Program for Dairy Producers
Dairy farmers in Chenango County, N.Y., have a new source of funding available, thanks to local economic development officials and Greek yogurt manufacturer Chobani.   The loan program could open doors for many Chenango County dairy farmers enabling them to help purchase new equipment, expand their herds, and invest in new properties. The total loan amount will start at $250,000 but it could go higher than that, depending on demand.Those interested in applying for the loan fund can contact Development Chenango at (607) 334-5532.

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RESOURCES


 2012 Local Foods Guide is now Available
The South Central Agriculture Team for CCE is pleased to announce that the “2012 Guide to Foods Produced in the Southern Tier & Finger Lakes” is now in print. This free 32-page guide lists producers of dairy, meat, poultry and eggs; farm markets and roadside stands; honey and maple producers; u-pick farms; specialty foods; and community supported agriculture (CSA) farms in S. Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, S. Seneca, Tioga and Tompkins Counties. Also included are features on ‘Reasons to Buy Local’, ‘U-Pick Tips for Choosing Produce’, ‘Home Canning Questions’ and a grid of farmers’ markets in the Southern Tier, their locations and hours of operation. Consumers can find the Guide online in PDF form at www.ccetompkins.org/localfood.
NYS CCE Field Crops News Blog
Are you looking for a way to stay up to date on field crops information in New York State? Cornell University campus faculty and staff in collaboration with CCE field crops county extension agents have developed a news blog on current field crops information in NYS which can be accessed at https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/ccefieldcropnews/. Blog postings will include announcements about emerging pest and disease issues, news articles, seasonally relevant extension articles and programming opportunities related to field crops in NYS including a weekly weather outlook, county scouting reports, county based research information and the NYS IPM Weekly Pest Report. An email subscription to the blog is also available and can be found on the home page of the blog. For more information about the blog, please contact Mary McKellar mem40@cornell.edu.
Understanding Whole-Farm Insurance for Specialized, Diversified Farms Webinar
The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) offered an hour-long webinar explaining Adjusted Gross Revenue Lite (AGR-Lite)— a unique, federally subsidized crop-insurance product that holds great promise to serve the needs of smaller, diverse, specialty crop, organic, and direct-market farmers.  An archived version of this webinar can now be accessed online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6Z4YOuby_4.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Gardens
This program, run by the Department of Agriculture, allows citizens eligible for food stamps to use their food stamp funds to purchase plants and seeds to grow food in addition to groceries.  This program is meant to help people with lower incomes pay for nutritious food in order to encourage better health throughout America.  SNAP does not pay for all the food that a person or a family needs each month, just some of it.  For more information, please visit http://www.snapgardens.org/.
New England Farmland Finder Website Unveiled
New England Farmland Finder website is a free, simple, up-to-date farm property clearinghouse that helps farmers and landowners find each other. Landowners, farm seekers, and real estate agents are encouraged to visit the site to post or search for farm properties and to check out the resources. The website is part of a region-wide USDA-funded project on farmland access directed by Land For Good. Visit http://newenglandfarmlandfinder.org/ to access this website.
Sustainable Commercial Greenhouse Production Curriculum Available
Through a Western SARE grant, Steven Newman at Colorado State University has developed Small Scale Commercial Greenhouse Production, a blended course designed for county extension agents and new greenhouse professionals. The topics covered by the course include greenhouse design and construction, production, and pest and disease control.  Access the publication at http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Courses-and-Curricula/Sustainable-Commercial-Greenhouse-Production-Curriculum.
Farmie Market , an Online Farmers Market, Expands Beyond NY State
This relatively new online farmers market allows consumers to utilize online shopping to purchase  fresh produce.  Farmers interested in selling through this website e-mail Gordon each week with what they have available for sale. Then it’s one stop shopping online for the customer with the goods delivered right to their front door.
Participatory Plant Breeding Toolkit Announced
Organic Seed Alliance (OSA) recently announced the release of the nation’s first Participatory Plant Breeding Toolkit. The new publication supports participatory plant breeding (PPB) projects that aim to increase the availability and quality of organic seed.  The toolkit includes a background on the theory and practice of PPB, case studies of successful projects, and worksheets to facilitate project planning and execution.  This publication is available for free download at http://www.seedalliance.org/Publications/.
Course Materials for “Choosing Your Markets” Available Online
Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group has posted the course materials from their “Choosing Your Markets” course at http://www.ssawg.org/about-thiscourse/. Learn benefits, challenges, and resources needed for marketing through farmers markets, CSAs, on-farm markets, Internet marketing, and direct sales to restaurants and grocers. The course is intended especially for small- and mid-scale farmers striving to become more sustainable.
Guide to Breeding Organic Vegetables Now Online
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York has released Breeding Organic Vegetables: A step-by-step guide for growers, available online as a PDF. In addition to explaining basic plant breeding theory and methods, the authors cover all the necessary steps in a breeding project, from deciding on a breeding goal and finding suitable germplasm to performing selections and evaluations.  Visit https://nofany.org/product-category/books/ to view the PDF.
2012-13 Pure Catskills Guide to Farm Fresh Products Released
Wondering where you can find local food in the Catskills and New York City watershed? Now in its tenth year, the Pure Catskills Buy Local campaign delivers its annual Guide to Farm Fresh Products to connect consumers with regional food and farm businesses. From cheese, milk, meats and vegetables, to fiber, soaps and herbal remedies, if it’s made in the Catskills, you can probably find it in the Pure Catskills Guide to Farm Fresh Products.

Avatar of Rachel Whiteheart

Rachel Whiteheart

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4 Comments

  1. Avatar of Rachel Firak, Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming Rachel Firak, Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming on July 18, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    Thanks for including Groundswell’s events in the Small Farms update! I wanted to tell all interested participants that all of our workshops are in the Ithaca area. Feel free to visit our website for class locations.

  2. Avatar of Sara Sara on July 22, 2012 at 5:58 pm

    Thank you so much for the pdf on “breeding organic veggies.” The pesticides are getting to be too much in all the produce.

  3. Avatar of Dominik Accountancy Dominik Accountancy on August 8, 2013 at 11:29 am

    lucky i jumped on this site,that would be a great experience learning new ideas of how to build a farm and sustain it and to take good care of it.Looking forward to the upcoming events.

  4. Avatar of aiko greenman aiko greenman on July 24, 2016 at 8:18 am

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