Veteran Trainings in Agroforestry in 2017

January 11, 2017/Dean Koyanagi

Cornell Small Farms offer Statewide Agroforestry Trainings for Veterans in 2017

The Cornell Small Farms Program, with support from New York State and the USDA, announces three trainings in agroforestry this coming Winter and Spring to support Veterans looking to get into agricultural production.

Agroforestry includes farming practices that combine trees and forests with crop production. Three trainings will convene to focus on three of the most viable tree-crop enterprises including maple syrup, log-grown shiitake mushrooms, and silvopasture (combining livestock with trees).

Each training includes classroom instruction and site visits to farms in active production. Content will cover the technical aspects of production as well as the financial and business considerations for each venture.

These trainings are exclusively for veterans and active military personnel who are residents of New York State with an interest in selling commercial farm products (filing a Schedule F) in 2017 or 2018. Participants will be asked to complete a targeted survey at the end of the course as well as 6 months from completion, to determine the effect on their operation.

Cost: $30 per training includes lunch and all materials.
Participants are able to submit up to $100 in travel expenses for reimbursement.
Workshops will occur at the following dates & locations:

February 17 & 18, 2017
Maple Syrup Production
Uihlein Sugar Maple Research & Extension Field Station
157 Bear Cub Lane, Lake Placid, NY 12946

This course will cover the basics needed to start a sugaring operation on a range of scales, including assessing a woods for sugaring, equipment needed, tapping, processing, value-added products, and more.
Learn more about maple production here.

March 31 & April 1, 2017
Log-Grown Shiitake Mushroom Production
Cornell Cooperative Extension Chenango County
99 N Broad St, Norwich, NY 13815

This course discusses the appropriate wood species and set up for economical production of log-grown shiitake mushrooms. Participants will get hands-on experience in inoculating logs and receive budget planning tools to help them decide on the scale of their operation.

Learn more about shiitake production here.

Questions? Contact Dean Koyanagi at 607-255-9911 or drk5@cornell.edu
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Cornell Small Farms Program gratefully acknowledges support provided by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Additional support was provided through the USDA NIFA BFRDP Grant 2015-70017-22882.

Dean Koyanagi

Dean came to the Small Farms Program in 2015 to work with fellow veterans interested in agriculture. He and his wife have been farming in Ithaca for the past 10 years, and he is excited to share the experience of learning to farm with others. Dean continues to support a statewide effort to work with extension, veteran’s organizations, and our veteran farming community to support veterans in achieving their agricultural goals.
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