Posts by Kelsie Raucher
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. …
Read MoreWith 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…
Read MoreThe 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,…
Read MoreThough 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…
Read MoreThe 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…
Read MoreWinter 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…
Read MoreSnowstorms 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. …
Read MoreFarms 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…
Read MoreIn 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. …
Read MoreYou’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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