Year: 2017

Trading Boots: a Veteran’s Transition into Agriculture

By Tara Hammonds / April 3, 2017
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Samuel Palmer works at Cross Island Farms to gain experience for his budding new career: farmer. by Alyssa Couse Jefferson County, NY is home to two prominent ways of life: agriculture and the military.  The proximity of Fort Drum to local farms and agribusinesses creates an opportunity for the two worlds to collide.  As different…

Growers Harvest Cornell Expertise at Fruit and Vegetable Expo

By Tara Hammonds / April 3, 2017
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by R.J. Anderson For commercial fruit and vegetable growers in New York state, winter is a time of reflection, preparation, and guarded optimism. It’s also a time to hone one’s craft through continuing education and consumption of research-based analysis. A buffet of that insight drew more than 800 attendees to the 2017 Empire State Producers…

Lessons from the Land: The Cycles of Life

By Tara Hammonds / April 3, 2017
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by Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming The Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming and the Cornell Small Farms Program are teaming up to create a new column called Lessons from the Land, which captures and share the stories of and lessons learned from farmers, homesteaders and land workers around New York and the…

Register Now: Tractor Workshops: TWO LOCATIONS!

By Violet Stone / March 31, 2017
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Increasing production on the farm can often require investments in equipment to improve labor efficiency, productivity and profitability.  Are you a farmer who is interested in scaling up farm production through investment in your first tractor or upgrading to a bigger piece of equipment?  Are you a beginning or experienced farmer who wants to understand tractors…

NNY Tractor Workshop with Shane LeBrake

By Tara Hammonds / March 30, 2017

Increasing production on the farm can often require investments in equipment to improve labor efficiency, productivity and profitability.  Are you a farmer who is interested in scaling up farm production through investment in your first tractor or upgrading to a bigger piece of equipment?  Are you a beginning or experienced farmer who wants to understand tractors…

Livestock Sector: $100 for Your Thoughts?

By Carli Fraccarolli / March 21, 2017
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What investments will help grow our livestock sector? Are you faced with challenges in the production of livestock on your farm? Do these affect your ability to grow your business? Or do you work with livestock producers as an educator, researcher, service provider or veterinarian? The Cornell Small Farms Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension want to…

Cornell Experts to Convene Soil Summit

By Carli Fraccarolli / March 20, 2017
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GENEVA, NY – Soil amendments such as raw manure offer clear benefits to agricultural production, but they can also pose potential environmental and food safety risks if not handled properly. The Food Safety Modernization Act’s Produce Safety Rule outlines some requirements for using soil amendments because of the microbial risks associated with their use.  Raw…

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Your Perspective Needed at the NYS Livestock Summit

By Carli Fraccarolli / March 13, 2017
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Calling experienced livestock producers: We know you face tremendous challenges to grow your business. What are the undeveloped opportunities and how can we collectively address them? Cornell University’s Small Farms Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension are partnering to host the NYS Livestock Summit on March 30, 2017 from 1-4 pm at 8 locations throughout the…

Winter squash on beds

Reduced Tillage on Permanent Beds

By Ryan Maher / March 10, 2017
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Permanent bed systems can help small farms improve soils and reduce tillage for a diversity of crops. Learn how farmers are adopting these systems and hear research results on how tillage, mulching and tarping practices can impact your weed control, labor use, and crop productivity. Ryan Maher and Brian Caldwell – Cornell University, Mark Hutton – University…

Wanted: Aspiring Dairy Farmers, Dairy Master Graziers for NY Dairy Grazing Apprentice Program

By Carli Fraccarolli / March 7, 2017
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Cornell Small Dairy Support Specialist Fay Benson is recruiting participants for the New York edition of the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship Program, the groundbreaking, nationally-recognized apprenticeship program for the agricultural industry. Modeled after apprenticeship programs such as those for developing a highly skilled level of experience for new plumbers and electricians, the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship, or…