August Small Farms Update

The Small Farms Update includes small farm announcements, events, job and internship opportunities, grant and loan opportunities,  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

• Serving Diverse New Farmer Audiences Webinar
• New! Guide to On-farm Poultry Slaughter
• New Library for Funding Opportunities

Upcoming Events

• Grazing Events
• Other Events
• Save the Date

Career etc. Opportunities

• NOFA-NY Position Announcement: Education Director
• Cornell Cooperative Extension- Vegetable Crops Specialist Position Opening
• Farm Manager Position in Kent, CT

Funding etc. Opportunities

• Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant Program
• Northeast SARE Partnership Grants
• Northeast SARE Sustainable Community Grants
• Organic Farming Research Foundation ‘Education & Outreach’ and ‘Research’ Grants
• Farmers Advocating for Organics Fund

Resources

• USDA Releases Agroforestry Guide for Farmers, Woodland Owners
• Spotted Wing Drosophila Fact Sheets Completed and On‐Line
•  Smart Water Use on your Farm or Ranch
• ATTRA Offers a “Ask a Sustainable Agriculture Expert” Resource
• Conservation Agriculture Documentary to Premiere Online
• New Publications for Landowners Seeking Farmers
• New Findings on Brown Marmorated Stink Bug’s Winter Hideout
• New IPM Guide for Affordable Housing

ANNOUNCEMENTS

“Are Your New Farmer Programs Inclusive? Cultural Competency for Organizations Serving Diverse New Farmer Audiences” Webinar
The Northeast Beginning Farmer Project is pleased to announce the remaining webinar in the Summer Lunchtime Learning Series: “Cultural Competency for Organizations Serving Diverse New Farmer Audiences”. The 1 hour webinar will be held on Aug 27, 12-1:30pm EST. Our guest speakers for this webinar are 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.
This webinar is 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.
New! Guide to On-farm Poultry Slaughter
Do you process less than 1000 poultry/year on your farm? Have you had difficulty getting liability insurance because your birds aren’t processed in an inspected facility? Check out the latest guide published by the Cornell Small Farms Program. Designed to complement a hands-on training in how to properly kill and prepare a poultry carcass for sale, this guide focuses on the critical points for producing a product that is safe to eat.
This 28-page guide contains sections on the 1000-bird limit exemption, where you can legally sell your birds under this exemption, labeling requirements, sanitary operating procedures and more. It includes several appendices, such as a sample flock record log and a questionnaire that your insurance company may use to assess your knowledge of safe poultry processing practices.
If you process less than 1000 birds/year on your farm, following the practices in this guide doesn’t guarantee that you’ll find an insurance company willing to provide you with liability insurance. But demonstrating to insurers your knowledge of best practices in poultry slaughter and processing may help convince them that you’re not a high-risk operation.
The Guide is available either by PDF or viewing online at the Northeast Beginning Farmers Project Website.
New Library for Funding Opportunities
The most common question we receive from new and experienced farmers at the Cornell Small Farms Program office is how to fund a farm business.  In response, we’ve compiled a set of resources on loans, grants, and incentives at https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/resources/funding. If you’re exploring how to finance your farm, be sure to check out our extensive library of funding opportunities!

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Grazing Events
August 22, 2012.  Madison County Twilight Pasture Walk.  6:30 PM- 9:00 PM.  Dave Stratton Farm, 5625 Reservoir Road, Earlville.   – A comprehensive look into the many grazing strategies put in place on this 50 cow seasonal operation, including using a grazing planning chart, grazing high quality swards for energy and diversity, dealing with drought, maintaining animal health, feeding supplemental molasses and minerals, applying milk, gypsum, poultry litter, compost and other amendments to the soil and developing a gravity flow water system throughout the farm.  To register for this event or to get more information, contact Troy Bishopp, “The Grass Whisperer” at (315) 824-9849 ext. 110 or troy-bishopp@verizon.net
August 24, 2012.  Silvopasture Field Day.  10:00 AM- 4:00 PM. Black Queen Angus Farm, Green Hollow Road in Berlin. This one day course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge to evaluate, plan and implement silvopasture projects in the context of your own farm or land that you manage for others. Participants are encouraged to watch the archived webinar on silvopasturing at www.forestconnect.info prior to the course.  To register, please contact Susan Lewis at the Albany County Soil and Water Conservation District at (518) 765-7923 or susan.lewis@ny.nacdnet.net.
August 28, 2012.  Late Summer Pasture Walk and Grazing Discussion.  10:00 AM. Hagar Hill Beef Farm, 1374 Route 22B, Morrisonville, NY. – We plan to walk the pastures, view the forages and review some pasture initiatives implemented for improving forage growth in a planned rotational grazing system.  Discussion on techniques used, soil quality, species composition, weeds, economics, etc.  To register, contact CCE Clinton County at 518-561-7450 or email phh7@cornell.edu
September 7, 2012.  Grazing Workshop.  10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.  Ovinshire Farm, 511 Frog City Road, in Fort Plain. The workshop will cover breed selection for pasture-based systems, breeding on pasture, lambing on pasture, guardian animals on pasture, performance evaluation, managing your pastures, costs of pasture-based systems and parasite management on pasture. To register, please contact Susan Lewis from the Albany County Soil and Water Conservation District at (518) 765-7923 or susan.lewis@ny.nacdnet.net.
Other Events
August 16, 2012- November 15 2012.  USDA Webinar Series for the Fruit Vegetable Industry. These informative webinars are designed for fruit and vegetable growers, packers, shippers, processors, wholesalers and retailers of all sizes.  All of the webinars are free and available to anyone with Internet access.  Registration is, however, required and space is limited.  Archived webinars can be found here after they air.
August 17, 2012.  The Birds & The Bees – The Rest of the Story. 3 PM. Watkins Glen State Park, meet at Iroquois Lodge.  What do birds, bees, bats, butterflies, flies, beetles, moths have in common? These species make up a very important and necessary group of pollinators. Come join a fun and informative program on pollinators to learn about their importance and how you can help be better stewards for their survival! For more information, call (607) 387-7041 ext 115.
August 17, 2012.  From Recipe to Market Workshop (Ithaca NY). 8:30 AM-4:30 PM. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, 615 Willow Ave, Ithaca, NY.  Is your recipe ready to go to market? If your goal is to launch a specialty food business, then this program is for you. This one-day seminar will provide future food entrepreneurs with a grounding in food business basics, and knowledge of the critical issues to consider before starting a food processing business. To register or for more information, contact Carole Fisher at CCE-Tompkins: (607) 272-2292 or crf11@cornell.edu.
August 18, 2012. Tompkins County Farm City Day. 11:00 AM– 4:00 PM. Sweyolakan Farm, Ithaca, NY. Spend the day on a dairy farm – this family-oriented event features many exhibits, demonstrations and hands-on activities. Visit the milking parlor, walk through the free-stall barn and check out the milking herd, take a wagon ride and learn about the crops, talk to the many professionals who provide the support needed to manage a successful dairy operation, and explore some really big farm equipment. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Debbie Teeter at 607-272-2292 or dlt22@cornell.edu  or visit the website, http://ccetompkins.org/agriculture/events.
August 18, 2012.  Cornell Master Beekeeper Workshop.  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. For more information, visit http://www.masterbeekeeper.org/mbk/schedule.htm.
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.
August 20, 2012.   Compost, Soil Testing & Organic Fertility.  4:00 PM- 7:00 PM.  Community Farm of Simsbury, Simsbury, CT.  Join CT NOFA and UConn’s Tom Morris to learn about the value of soil tests, how to collect a representative soil sample, how to read results and how to respond with organic methods.  Learn also about how to fertilize organically while being mindful of phosphorous levels and avoiding the problem of excess phosphorous in the soil. For more information, call 203-888-5146.
August 20, 2012. Hudson Valley Farmers Forum.  4:00 PM- 6:00 PM.  Columbia-Greene Community College, Student Dining Hall, Main Bldg.  There will be a panel of local government officials that will welcome public comments/questions about agriculture in the Hudson River Valley.
August 21, 2012. Lake Erie Women in Agriculture (LEWA) Meeting. 6:30 PM-8:00 PM.  CLEREL (Grape Extension Lab), Portland, NY. Join us for our next LEWA meeting to discuss managing your employees, a topic identified as being of interest in our surveying. RSVP by August 20^th to Ginny- vec22@cornell.edu, (716) 664-9502 x 202 or Jodi- jec53@cornell.edu, (716) 792-2800 x 204.
August 21, 2012.  No-Till Tour & Demonstration.  11:00 AM– 2:30 PM.   Angel Rose Dairy, Bainbridge, NY.  Whether you currently no-till and are looking to pick up a few pointers to do a better job or are new to no-till and wonder if it is for you, participating in this tour and demonstration will be time well spent. For more information, visit https://cals.cornell.edu/field-crops.
August 22, 2012.  The 2012 Northeast Buckwheat Field Day.  1:00 PM- 3:30 PM. 1045 Trumbull’s Corners Rd., Newfield, NY. Thomas Björkman, Cornell horticulture professor and buckwheat specialist, will join farmer Thor Oeschner for the 18th annual Northeast Buckwheat Field Day.  Björkman will lead discussions on where buckwheat is most valuable in the rotation, how to double crop after wheat when the harvest is early, and fine tuning production practices. The field day will emphasize getting to know the crop better, for both beginning and experienced growers.  Pre-registration is not required. This educational event is sponsored by Cornell University and NOFA-NY. For more information, call 315-787-2218 or visit www.hort.cornell.edu/bjorkman/lab/buck/fieldday12.php.
August 23, 2012– December 6, 2012. Maple Marketing Webinar Series.  7:00 PM.  Webinars are presented on the first Thursday evening of the month at 7PM.  These webinars are designed to help you design your retail, wholesale, bulk or other marketing strategy.  No registration is required. For information on webinar connection details and archived past webinars visit www.cornellmaple.com.
August 24, 2012.  Sweetwater Energy Field Day.  2:00 PM- 4:00 PM.  Panek Farms 14004 W. County House Rd. Albion, NY.  Sweetwater Energy, a company based in Rochester, NY that has developed a process for converting the cellulose in plant material into industrial sugars to produce a variety of products, including advanced biofuels, bioplastics and biochemicals, has contracted with Western New York farmers to produce energy sorghum for their conversion process. This field day will showcase the potential of energy sorghum as a biomass crop.  For more information, call Chuck Kyle at 315-391-8949 or email: chuck@catoanalytics.com..
August 24, 2012.  Growing a Honey Business.  10:00 AM- 4:00 PM.  Cornell Cooperative Extension, Delaware County.  Three expert beekeepers will speak about their honey experiences and give tips on what it takes to grow a successful honey business.
August 26, 2012.  Seed Saving.  1:00 PM- 4:00 PM.  Comstock, Ferre & Co. 263 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT.  Learn the basics of seed saving: hybrid vs. open pollination, heirloom seeds, annual vs. biennial, self fertile v. needing to cross pollinate, ways plants pollinate, and the seeds that are easiest to save.  Learn techniques for growing crops that need isolation, and about commercial seed production. For more information and registration visit: https://ctnofa.org/events/ or call 203-888-5146.
August 28, 2012. Organic Research and Extension Center Tour. 4:30 PM. Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center, Riverhead, NY.  Learn about the latest in organic farming research through a tour of a 2-acre organic block and viewing research trials of organic solutions for plant sustainability. Cornell University’s Plant Pathologist, Meg McGrath, and Vegetable Specialist, Sandy Menasha, will provide a tour and showcase research trials for a late blight resistant tomato, a disease resistant melon, biopesticide evaluations, and a trial evaluating cultural practices for tillage radish cover crop. For more information, visit http://www.nofany.org/events/field-days/organic-research-and-extension-center-tour.
August 29, 2012.  Perennial Plant Propagation. Daring Drake Farm, Interlaken, NY.  Students will gain basic understanding of the various techniques used in perennial plant propagation. Techniques, tools, facilities and timing will all be covered. The class will place an emphasis on clonally propagated fruit crops grown in New York State including the proper timing of propagation, clonal techniques specific to each species, proper after care and managing a small farm nursery. Each participant will practice grafting a fruit tree in the field from start to finish. Contact info@groundswellcenter.org for more information.
August 28, 2012. Growing for Future Sowing: Saving Quality Seed from Your Farm’s Fields.  3:30 PM-6:00 PM. Hudson Valley Seed Library, Accord, NY.  A tour of the Hudson Valley Seed Library’s seed production farm will provide examples of the isolation and pollination techniques used to maintain pure seed varieties. Our discussion will cover distancing, timing of successions, caging and hand-pollinating. 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.
August 30, 2012.  2012 Carcass Management Workshop. East Earl, PA. The Northeast SARE Carcass Management team will lead a series of activities to develop skills for producers and agricultural service providers in sustainable best management practices for routine farm mortalities or slaughterhouse residuals. Register at: http://umaine.edu/knox-lincoln/blog/2012/07/27/carcass-management-workshop/ For more information, contact Lauri Wellin at 607-255-1187, http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu,https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/cwmi/, or lew4@cornell.edu.
August 31, 2012.  Cornell’s Small Fruit Open House.  12:45 PM- 4:15 PM.  Cornell Orchards & East Ithaca Farm. The open house will begin at Cornell Orchards on Route 366.  Dr. Marvin Pritts will introduce a new low tunnel strawberry production system and discuss ongoing research in high tunnel black raspberries and blackberries. Dr. Courtney Weber, Small fruits breeder, Extension specialist Cathy Heidenreich and Extension educator Jim Ochterski will be on hand to present information and answer questions on new small fruit crops and production practices. Please register by phone or e-mail by contacting Cathy Heidenreich, mcm4@cornell.edu, 315-787-2367.
September 1, 2012. Neversink Farm Annual Barn Dinner. Neversink Farm, Claryville Road Claryville, NY. We will be dining in the hundred year old pole barn enjoying a multiple course evening dinner. Patrick will be sourcing produce from local Catskill farms. Visit http://www.neversinkfarm.com/The_Events.php for more information.
September 5, 2012. High Mowing Organic Seeds Trials Field Walks. 4:00 PM- 6:00 PM. HMS Trial Garden in Wolcott, VT.  Join High Mowing Seeds for a walk focusing on seed variety selection for disease resistance. For directions and walk details please visit www.highmowingseeds.com or call (802) 472-6174 ext 132.
September 6, 2012. Building a Sustainable Food System with Local Grain Processing. 1:00 PM-3:30 PM. Wild Hive Farm, Store & Café Bakery, Clinton Corners, NY.  Local organic grain production is an important step in creating a more sustainable food system. Join Don Lewis for a tour of Wild Hive Farm Community Grain Project and a look at how local milling plays an important role. Don will provide an overview of how Wild Hive sources and processes grain, including evaluating wheat, cleaning grain, the milling process, and packaging flour. Please register by calling Stephanie Backer-Bertsch at NOFA-NYat 585-271-1979 x 509, or by registering online athttp://www.tinyurl.com/nofanyevents.
September 8, 2012.  Commercial Organic Greenhouse Tour.  3:00 PM. Marion Gardens, 540 Rocky Point Rd, East Marion, NY.  Tour a commercial organic greenhouse operation, and see how organic plants are grown behind the scenes. Learn how to take advantage of the season to prolong your harvest or plant fresh and tour this 28,000 square foot commercial organic greenhouse. Pre-register by calling (631) 477-1210.
September 9, 2012 – October 14, 2012.  Backyard Biodynamics Holistic Gardening on Two Acres or Less Workshop Series. 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM.  Hawthorne Valley Farm Learning Center, Ghent, NY. This series of workshops offers a way for home gardeners and professional, small-scale farming practitioners to become acquainted with the methods and practices of Biodynamic agriculture. For more information or to register: caroline@hawthornevalleyfarm.org • 518-672-7500 x 232
September 9, 2012.  Celebrating the Bounty of the North Fork!  10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Charnews Farm, Southold, NY. Foodie Tour 6 offers an opportunity to meet the extraordinary people who have dedicated their lives to producing local foods that make North Fork so special. Enjoy the unique opportunity to visit behind the scenes. The Foodie Tour is a self-guided exploration of local artisans who produce distinctive foods and practice methods of sustainable agriculture helping to preserve our world. Get tickets online at www.northforkreformsynagogue.org.
September 10, 2012.  Goat Dairying from Square One.  10:00 AM- 4:00 PM. Acorn Hill farm, Walker Valley, NY. Farmer Joyce Henion will explain necessary steps in preparing for and acquiring your dairy goats and then dicuss the care, terrain, housing and milking infrastructure this small herd of goats requires.  We will learn how Acorn Hill built and runs its on-farm licensed cheese-making facility. Challenges and benefits of raising dairy goats organically will be covered.  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.
September 12, 2012. Variety Walk through Slack Hollow Farm with High Mowing Seeds. 5:00 PM-7:00 PM.  Slack Hollow Farm: 177 Gilchrist Rd, Argyle, NY 12809-9730. Includes a tour of Slack Hollow Farm and discussion of the attributes of different vegetable.  The walk will focus on different varieties of carrots, mesclun greens, lettuce, broccoli and winter squash. Participants will also learn about Slack Hollow Farm’s winter crop production and winter marketing strategies. 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.
September 13, 2012.  Pollinator Conservation Course.  9:30 AM- 3:30 PM.  USDA NRCS Big Flats Plant Materials Center, Corning New York.  This full day training will provide you with the latest science-based approaches to reversing the trend of pollinator declines, and will equip you with the recipes necessary to protect and manage habitat for these important insects. For more information and to register, visit http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e673ii3n5823f4a1&llr=tnjebhdab.
September 16, 2012.  Transitioning to Organic: Red Jacket Orchards’ Approach.  9:00 AM – 12:00 PM.  Red Jacket Orchard’s retail store, Geneva, NY.  Mike Biltonen will discuss exploring and experimenting with a variety of holistic, biodynamic, and innovative organic techniques to get to where they want to go. Attendees will get a firsthand look at the organic production techniques that Red Jacket is testing on a variety of stone fruit (apricots, sweet cherries, and plums) before potentially transitioning larger plantings to organic. 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.
September 17, 2012.  A Good Crop of Beans: Getting the Most from a Small-to-Medium-Scale Dry Bean Planting.  4:00 PM- 6:00 PM.  Cayuga Pure Organics, Brooktondale, NY.  Learn to confidently and consistently grow New York’s next big locally-sourced crop: organic dry beans.  Cayuga Pure Organic’s farmers will explain growing methods, variety selection, and equipment needs, as well as post-harvest cleaning, drying and storage to ensure a high-quality organic bean product. 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.
September 18, 2012- November 15, 2012.  Dairy Skills Training Online Course Series.  Two upcoming learning modules will be posted during the next few months, one on ‘Hoof Health and Lameness’ and another on ‘The Use and Evaluation of DHIA Records’.  For more information, or to register, visit http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/wyoming/dairyinstitute/ or email wcdi@cornell.edu.
September 19, 2012. Management-intensive Grazing Course.  10:00 AM-4:00 PM.  Herondale Farm, Ancramdale, NY.  This workshop will include classroom time and field observations in Herondale’s pastures. Please email info@herondalefarm.com to sign up.
September 20, 2012. Beyond Apples: Alternative Fruits for Sustainable Harvest/Organic Growing from Small Farms and Home Landscapes.  9:00 AM-12:00 PM.  Lee Reich’s “Farmden”, New Paltz, NY.  Learn about the wide spectrum of fruits that can be grown sustainably with little or no input needed for pest control or pruning in USDA Hardiness Zone 5 (low temps of -20° F). Participants will also learn about uncommon fruits that have commercial potential for small farms because they are easy to grow organically and have unique flavors to appeal in niche and general markets.  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.
September 22, 2012.  Transitioning to Organic and High Tunnel Operations.  9:00 AM-12:00 PM. Grindstone Farm, Pulaski, NY.  Join Dick de Graff of Grindstone Farm as he discusses the challenges and opportunities facing organic growers today. Dick will lead us through Grindstone’s transitioning process and the farm’s organic production and marketing strategies.  Please register by calling Stephanie Backer-Bertsch at NOFA-NYat 585-271-1979 x 509, or by registering online athttp://www.tinyurl.com/nofanyevents.
Save the Date
October 20, 2012- October 21, 2012.  Farm Hack Ithaca.  Ithaca, NY.  Topics covered will include grain production and small-scale processing, on-farm innovations from Ithaca area farmers.  There will also be a demo build of Scrap Laundry Greens Spinner and CoolBot Cooler.  For more information, or to register, visit http://www.youngfarmers.org/practical/farm-hack/events/ithaca/.
October 16, 2012. Taking Stock: Evaluating Your Resources and Choosing an Enterprise Webinar Series. This five-week an online course series for new and aspiring farmers seeking guidance in the development of a farm enterprise begins on Oct. 16.  For more information and to register, visit http://hort.cals.cornell.edu/news-events/beginning_farmer_payment.cfm, www.nybeginningfarmers.org/, or contact ejf5@cornell.edu.
October 16, 2012- October 17, 2012.  Growing Health 2012, Cultivating Common Ground: Farms, Food & Health. Riverwalk Hotel in downtown Binghamton, NY. Participants will focus on four critical issues which impact the effectiveness of accessing NYS food products to maximize nutrition and health.  Register online atgrowinghealth.rhnscny.org or call 888-603-5973. Space is limited.
November 15, 2012. Harvesting Opportunities Conference. Hotel Albany, Albany, NY.  This conference will bring together farmers, public officials, land trusts and local food and public health leaders to take a serious look at the potential to grow New York’s economy by strengthening connections between farmers and local consumers and protecting our state’s irreplaceable farmland.  For more details go to:  www.farmland.org/newyork.

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CAREER, ETC. OPPORTUNITIES

NOFA-NY Position Announcement: Education Director
NOFA-NY is seeking an full-time Education Director to work with the Executive Director and Education Team to lead the organization’s farmer, gardener, and small business educational initiatives, including the Winter Conference, Organic Dairy & Field Crop Conference, on-farm field day series, intensive workshops, and general technical assistance. The position requires an individual with at least a Bachelor’s degree, a background in and/or experience in organic farming, event planning experience, and staff management. Position open until filled. Please see https://nofany.org/about-us/careers/ for more details.
Cornell Cooperative Extension- Vegetable Crops Specialist Position Opening
The Cornell Vegetable Program seeks a highly qualified candidate to provide educational programming and research in fresh market vegetable production. The Extension Educator will work as part of a Cornell Cooperative Extension team, which serves commercial vegetable growers throughout a 12-county region in Central and Western, New York State. This is a new, full-time position based on expansion of the team. This position is based in far western New York. More information about the Cornell Vegetable Program can be found at http://cvp.cce.cornell.edu.  For the full posting and more application information, visit
https://cornellu.taleo.net/careersection/jobdetail.ftl?job=285269&lang=en&sns_id=mailto#.UARw_IvcBgQ.mailto
Farm Manager Position in Kent, CT
AppleSeed Permaculture, LLC is looking for two farm owners/managers to develop a diversified permaculture farm in western Connecticut. In collaboration with land owners, the farm managers are expected to develop a diversified permaculture farm on 200+ acres of fields, forests, and streams. Potential ecological / organic enterprises include mixed-fruit orchards, annual vegetable production, small livestock, and agroforestry (firewood, timber, syruping, silvopasture). This position, along with several others, is listed by AppleSeed Land Managers.  For more information, visit www.appleseedpermaculture.com/appleseed-land-managers.

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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

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 Partnership Grants
Northeast SARE’s Partnership Grant program supports agricultural service providers who work directly with farmers to do on-farm demonstrations, research, marketing, and other projects that will add to understanding of sustainable agriculture. Partnership Grants are capped at $15,000.
The deadline for applications is November 1, 2012. For more information, visit http://www.nesare.org/Grants/Get-a-Grant/Partnership-Grant.
Northeast SARE Sustainable Community Grants
Sustainable Community Grants make a direct connection between community revitalization and farming. Projects must address specific key issues such as farm finance, marketing, land use, water use, enterprise development, value-added product development, or other delineated topic areas. To apply, you must be affiliated with Cooperative Extension, a municipality, a state department of agriculture, a college or university, a community organization, or other institutional entity.
The deadline for applications is November 15, 2012.  For more information, visit http://www.nesare.org/Grants/Get-a-Grant/Sustainable-Community-Grant.
Organic Farming Research Foundation ‘Education & Outreach’ and ‘Research’ Grants
Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) is offering two different grant opportunities for farmers, ranchers, researchers, and Extension personnel.  Their ‘Education & Outreach’ grants are intended to fund development of educational activities and resources on certified organic production.  Their ‘Research’ grants offer funding for research in organic crop breeding and seed quality thanks to a partnership with Seed Matters.  The deadline for the next granting cycle for both of these grants is November 19, 2012. For more information, visit http://ofrf.org/proposal-information-education-outreach-projects.
Farmers Advocating for Organics Fund
Farmers Advocating for Organics Farmer Committee accepts proposals from individuals and organizations seeking funding for particular projects or programs dedicated to furthering organic education, organic farming or product research, and organic advocacy.  Small grant requests (under $5,000) may be submitted at any time and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Deadlines for full grant proposals are February 1 and September 1 every year. For more information, visit http://www.organicvalley.coop/about-us/donations/fafo-fund/.

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RESOURCES

USDA Releases Agroforestry Guide for Farmers, Woodland Owners
The USDA recently released a first-of-its-kind practical agroforestry handbook that contains information to help establish, manage and market agroforestry projects that are profitable and sustainable over time. The handbook, Profitable Farms and Woodlands, is written for underserved and limited resource farmers and woodland owners living in the Southeast and includes five main agroforestry practices: alley cropping, forest farming, riparian buffer strips, silvopasture and windbreaks.  The guide can be accessed at https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/assets/documents/morepublications/profitable_farms.pdf.
Spotted Wing Drosophila Fact Sheets On‐Line
This set of 4 full‐color factsheets on spotted wing drosophila (SWD), now available on‐line, was written with northeastern U.S. growers of the most susceptible crops (raspberries, blackberries, day‐neutral strawberries, and cherries) in mind.  The fact sheets focus on helping farmer identify, monitor, and manage this pest that has recently become a threat in the northeast.  To access these fact sheets, visit https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-wing-drosophila-part-1-overview-and-identification.
 Smart Water Use on your Farm or Ranch
Smart Water Use on Your Farm or Ranch, initially publiched by SARE in 2006, spotlights innovative, SARE-funded research into a range of conservation options including soil management, such as using compost, conservation tillage and cover crops; plant management, featuring crop rotation, water-conserving plants and rangeland drought mitigation; and water management strategies such as low-volume irrigation and water recycling. To order online or view the online version of this publication, visit http://www.sare.org/Learning-Center/Bulletins/National-SARE-Bulletins/Smart-Water-Use-on-Your-Farm-or-Ranch?utm_source=Smart+Water+Use+on+Your+Farm+or+Ranch&utm_campaign=Smart+Water+Use&utm_medium=email.
ATTRA Offers a “Ask a Sustainable Agriculture Expert” Resource
You can now submit any sustainable agriculture related questions that you have to an agriculture expert by using ATTRA’s new online service.  Visit https://attra.ncat.org/ask.php for more information and to access the online form.
Conservation Agriculture Documentary to Premiere Online
Conservation Agriculture Systems Innovation (CASI) produced a six-part documentary with six- to ten-minute episodes that review the core principles and practices associated with conservation agriculture systems and provide examples of successful local adoption. The series premieres August 6 on the CASI website with a segment that lays out the theoretical principles and the scientific basis for conservation agriculture. Additional segments will be released each Monday. For more information, or to access the past episodes, visit http://casi.ucanr.edu/.
New Publications for Landowners Seeking Farmers
The Land Access Project is please to announce four new publications help landowners make land available for farming. Two full-service guides and two shorter pamphlets target private, municipal and institutional landowners. They focus on helping “non-farming” owners and managers of agricultural properties bring their land into productive agricultural uses. All four publications can be found at http://www.landforgood.org/.
New Findings on Brown Marmorated Stink Bug’s Winter Hideout
Researchers believe they have identified where brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) gathers in natural landscapes during winter, and their findings could help farmers manage this invasive insect. To read the full article, visit http://www.northeastipm.org/about-us/publications/ipm-insights/researchers-discover-the-brown-marmorated-stink-bug-winter-hideout/.
New IPM Guide for Affordable Housing
Integrated Pest Management: A Guide for Affordable Housing is a new resource from the Northeastern IPM Center that will help affordable housing managers, owners, and agents use integrated pest management (IPM) to contend with a variety of urban pests in their facilities. It will also serve as a useful tool for anyone seeking to integrate IPM practices into a residential pest management strategy. The complete guide and additional resources are available at StopPests.org/Guide.