Farm Ops Project to Continue Event Series for Veterans in Agriculture

February 17, 2020/Kacey Deamer

The Farm Ops project continued its series of training workshops for veterans interested in agriculture throughout 2020. The initiative offered twelve single-day focused trainings, along with opportunities for participating veterans to connect with additional regional training programs, print materials, and online resources tailored to their individual interests.

These events were free to attend and took place at the EquiCenter Farm in Mendon, NY, unless otherwise specified, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with lunch and refreshments provided.

The first quarter of trainings began on February 23 and ran through the end of April. Covering a variety of topics relevant to small-scale agricultural endeavors, each workshop featured hands-on learning experiences, paired reading materials, and access to additional resources. The workshops were open to all farmers, with no prior knowledge of the specific topics required.

Home-Scale Maple Syrup Production
Sunday, February 23
With an abundance of maple species and the necessary climatic conditions to generate robust sap flows, the region was well-suited for tree-sap harvesting and syrup production. This training introduced participants to tapping tools and equipment, sugar testing, and included a farm tour and pancake brunch. Attendees learned how to generate their own supplemental sugar source for household consumption or as an additional farm enterprise.

On-Farm Fertility Production
Saturday, March 7
This training focused on Bokashi production, a fermented organic inoculant that builds soil fertility and promotes vibrant plant growth. Participants learned how to produce Bokashi using low-cost materials and traditional farm equipment. When made properly, Bokashi can serve as a complete, stand-alone fertility solution for nearly any cropping system.

Specialized Tools for Small-Scale Intensive Production
Saturday, March 28
Small-scale intensive production—also known as micro-farming or market garden farming—emphasizes high-yield production on low acreage without requiring large capital investments. This training reviewed various tools used in this strategy, helping farmers evaluate whether efficiency gains justified their costs.

Ginseng Production in Your Woods
Saturday, April 25
This training introduced participants to the American Ginseng plant, woodland plant identification, and the steps required to establish a successful ginseng operation. Farmers learned how to recognize suitable ginseng habitat and how to begin their own production.

The Farm Ops project, launched in 2015, aims to support New York State veterans interested in agriculture. Partnering with established veteran groups, the project builds a statewide service provider network to facilitate agricultural training for veterans. Farm Ops develops educational strategies tailored to the unique needs of military veterans transitioning into agriculture and serves the 800,000 military veterans living in New York State.

Kacey Deamer

Kacey is the Communications Manager for the Cornell Small Farms Program. In this role, she manages all storytelling and outreach across the program’s website, social media, e-newsletter, magazine and more. Kacey has worked in communications and journalism for more than a decade, with a primary focus on science and sustainability.
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