Recommended Reading: Week of July 30

Welcome to our first installment of Small Farms’ Recommended Reading! Here you’ll find a variety of articles handpicked each week by the Small Farms team.  These will include resources, educational articles, and tips — all in one location for a quick browse of news in addition to our bimonthly newsletter.

This week we’re reading about the future of fruits and vegetables: will the supermarkets of the future contain apples with colored flesh? We’ve also included a guide to producing maple syrup in the northeast, a guide to producing and marketing organic grains, and greenhouse alternatives to growing horticultural crops. Additional articles include entomological resources for pulse crop producers, and and tips to keep your flock of chickens happy and healthy this summer.


Fruit and Veggies of the Future: Greater Nutrient Content?

The future of the supermarket could be fruits and vegetables laden with vitamins and minerals. Gene editing via CRISPR-CAS9, without the addition of new genes (as done in genetically modified organisms) allows scientists to tweak genes within fruits and vegetables.For example, rather than the skin of an apple providing most of the nutritional value, a new apple could have colored flesh that contains even more nutrients. Read more.


Sweet Option to Diversify Farms

Maple syrup production is difficult to use as a standalone source of income, but farmers in the Northeast may want to consider it as an option to diversify their farm and draw in potential customers. This guide discusses basic knowledge of production, considerations, financing, and alternate sources of sugaring other than maple trees. Read more.


Potential Solution to Eastern Horticultural Struggles

Eastern producers of horticultural crops face more challenges than Western producers — pests, diseases, and cosmetic issues combine for a less marketable crop. High tunnels could provide a solution for Eastern producers to combat the pests and diseases. Read more.


How to Produce and Market Organic Grains

An increasing demand annually for organic grains, for both human and livestock consumption, has resulted in an increased market. Details such as buyer contracts and grain elevators equipped to deal with organic crops are vital to successfully market and sell organic grains. This guide explains basic steps to take if considering organic grain production. Read more.


Pulse Insect Problems?  Worry No More. 

A new resource for growers of pulse crops worldwide! The July issue of the “Annals of the Entomological Society of America” features nine articles dedicated to pulse crop pests. The knowledge is garnered from the 2017 Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Read more. 


Summertime Flock Health

Chickens are extremely sensitive to heat and can health concerns and decreases in productivity. Follow these tips to keep your flock happy, healthy, and productive this summer. Read more. 

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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