2010 Cornell Small Farms Program Publications

As we at the Cornell Small Farms Program look back upon 2010, we are proud of how many new Small Farm resources we published this year.  In case you missed some of them, the following summarizes the 2010 publications available from our office.

Resource Guide to Direct Marketing Livestock and Poultry
The revised edition of “A Resource Guide to Direct Marketing Livestock and Poultry” helps to clarify and explain complex laws in layman terms, discussing slaughtering and processing at the custom, state, and federal levels and guiding farmers through the logistics of the various market channels. While the guide is intended for farmers, it is also helpful to buyers, restaurants, market managers, small processors, extension educators, and many others. The Guide was updated by the Cornell Small Farms Work Team on Livestock Processing Issues, with funding from the Niche Meat Processors Assistance Network (NMPAN) and the New York State Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI). The 2010 revised edition has been reviewed by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Download the 155pg Guide for free.

You may also order CDs at the cost of $3.00 each. Hard copies are available at the cost of $8.00 each.  To order, send your name, address and check made payable to Cornell University to Violet Stone, Cornell Small Farms Program. 135C Plant Science. Ithaca, NY 14853.

Guide to Farming in NY
The Guide to Farming in NY has been thoroughly expanded and reformatted into a compilation of fact sheets. It is an essential resource for new and existing farmers alike, providing answers to questions about taxes, business planning, labor law, zoning, regulations, marketing and many other topics that farmers need to know. You can download the entire Guide to Farming in NYS or contact NY Beginning Farmer Project Coordinator Erica Frenay at 607-255-9911 to request a hard copy.

Small Dairy Innovators
The new “Small Dairy Innovators, Successful Strategies for Smaller Dairy Farms” showcases thriving small dairies across New York State who are inventing strategies to improve profit, stewardship and quality of life.  From farm diversification to value-added to tighter financial management, the farms in this book share inspiring tips and ideas. Download the book here.

Small Farm Energy Innovators
As a farmer, chances are you know how to produce food and fiber. But do you know how to produce energy?  The recently published “Small Farm Energy Innovators” booklet details farmers that save energy – through radiant floor heating, coolbot airconditioners, integrated pest management – and use renewable energy – solar, wind and geothermal, grass pellets, etc, to save dollars and lessen impact on the environment.  The farms featured in the Small Farm Energy Innovators range from small-scale dairy, livestock, and fruit/vegetable operations and include examples of both grid-connected and off-the-grid systems.  Profiles detail the cost of installation, any grants or incentives available, amount of energy saved or produced, and where to go for further information.   The Small Farm Energy Innovators book is a project of the Cornell Small Farms Energy Workteam.  Download the book here.

 

Green Grass, Green Jobs: Increasing Livestock Production on Grasslands

This report published by the Cornell Small Farms Grasslands Utilization Workteam, recommends taking actions in research, education, extension, and policy to realize the potential of our grasslands as a farming resource that will spur rural economic development, grow the regional food supply, and enhance environmental outcomes for all citizens of New York State.  Download the Report here.