Posts by Kelsie Raucher

Kelsie is from southwest Missouri and grew up on a 150-acre farm helping her family buy and sell horses and cattle. She credits FFA for finding her passion for agriculture and food issues and desiring a career as an “agvocate.” Since coming to Cornell, she has gained interest in local production, global food issues, and environmental impacts of and on agriculture. She joined the Cornell Small Farms Program in May of 2018 and is excited to gain experience to complement coursework in the Agricultural Sciences major and Communication major.
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In the News: Deep Dive into Compost

By Kelsie Raucher / March 13, 2020

Reduced tillage practices and weed suppression management are common goals of small-scale organic farmers.   A lesser-known method is deep-composting, which was presented by the Reduced Tillage Project and a team of Cornell University researchers at the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Winter Conference as a solution to weed suppression in a reduced tillage system. …

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In the News: Koyanagi Describes Farm Ops Partnerships, Support Across NYS

By Kelsie Raucher / March 2, 2020

With a recent expansion of the Canandaigua VA Medical Center’s “VA Farms” project, the Bath, NY VA Medical Center, will now be a second location for the project’s offerings. Our veterans project associate, Dean Koyanagi, was interviewed by WETM18 and provided insight on farmer-veteran programs.  The Canandaigua VA contracted our Farm Ops project to deliver…

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Hot Hemp? It’s Likely the Genetics

By Kelsie Raucher / February 26, 2020

The popular held belief is that growing conditions can lead to hemp with too much THC, but a recent study by Cornell University researchers found that  genetics are the ultimate factor in THC content. THC is the psychoactive chemical that can make hemp “too hot.” Hemp must stay under 0.3% THC while its relative, cannabis,…

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Creating Corn to Survive the Cold Spells

By Kelsie Raucher / February 12, 2020

Though it is so prominent nation- and worldwide, corn is actually a tropical crop. As demand for food grows with a growing population, new efforts are in the works to increase the cold tolerance of this staple crop. Former research found that the enzyme Rubisco, critical for turning carbon dioxide into sugar, decreases when plants…

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Extension and Growers Collaborate to Fight Leaf Blight

By Kelsie Raucher / February 6, 2020

The last five years have been challenging for onion growers in New York State, as a fungus has caused premature leaf death on onions in the field. More than 75% of growers in the state have been affected by Stemphylium leaf blight (SLB), an old disease which has re-emerged and become prevalent after an increase…

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Where to Connect with the Small Farms Team this Winter

By Kelsie Raucher / January 14, 2020

Winter is traditionally a season filled with farmer and association conferences, and this year is no different. Our team will be traveling around New York State, and beyond, to share information with farmers and other farming organizations. Check out where our team will be for a chance to learn and connect!  Join Workshops on Soil…

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Winter Ready? CCE Podcast Shares Tips to Weatherize Your Home

By Kelsie Raucher / January 8, 2020

Snowstorms and frigid temperatures make winter preparation in the Northeast a serious undertaking.  Cornell Cornell Cooperative Extension’s (CCE) podcast Extension Out Loud hosted a “Winter Readiness Round Table” with extension energy experts across New York State to offer tips on winter preparedness and programs to ease the financial burden of weatherizing your farm or home. …

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In the News: Our Comms Specialist Talks Farmer Succession with New York Times

By Kelsie Raucher / December 13, 2019

Farms all over the country are closing their operations having not found a successor for their farm business. New York is not immune to the challenge, nor are multi-generation family farms. With an aging population of farmers, over 1.8 million acres of farmland in New York State are owned by people over the age of…

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In the News: Farm Ops Featured in Veteran’s Day Podcast

By Kelsie Raucher / November 15, 2019

In honor of Veteran’s Day, Cornell Cooperative Extension’s (CCE) podcast Extension Out Loud sat down with our own Dean Koyanagi to discuss the myriad programs and resources available to veterans interested in agriculture. A Marine Corps Veteran himself, Koyanagi joined the Cornell Small Farms Program to lead the Farm Ops project and support fellow veterans. …

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In the News: Our Director Talks Crowdfunding for Small Farms

By Kelsie Raucher / October 23, 2019

You’ve heard of crowdfunding, but have you heard of crowdfarming?  The sheer amount of capital needed to purchase and operate a farm can be a limiting factor for farmers of all sizes. Small farms are especially at a disadvantage for funding as they are usually unable to access the subsidized loans provided by the U.S.…

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