Join Our Farmer Focus Group and Discuss New Approaches to Farm Labor

Do you struggle with getting all the work done on your farm? Do you have challenges attracting and retaining employees? Are you interested in working with other farmers to design solutions to labor challenges? If so, consider attending our farmer focus group, “Exploring Novel Approaches to Farm Labor,” to be held via Zoom (online), on March 18, 2021. 

We are seeking small to mid-scale diversified fruit and vegetable farmers in New York State who practice sustainable growing methods and market products directly to consumers or engage in wholesale/institutional markets.  We are particularly interested in producers who hire full-time, part-time seasonal workers, and/or family members.

Rachel Armstrong, of Farm Commons, will facilitate an engaging conversation for farm owners (3/18). The group will discuss and provide feedback on potential farm labor models and the opportunities, challenges, and interests of producers to engage with these models. Be prepared to provide your input and feedback! 


Register Now:

  • Farm Owners Focus Group: Thursday, March 18, 2021, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.

A gift card of $50 will be provided for participation.

This project is funded by a Northeast SARE Novel Approaches grant, LNE19-386R.  For questions about this project, please contact Nicole Waters (nw42@cornell.edu). As part of this project, the Cornell Small Farms Program is partnering with the New Entry program to discuss labor issues and potential solutions with farmers throughout the Northeastern U.S.

Nicole Waters

Nicole is the Beginning Farmer Project Coordinator for the Cornell Small Farms Program. Her work focuses on the human side of farming, with the day-to-day operations of the Labor Ready Project as her main priority. Trained in organizational communication, leadership, and English as a Second Language (ESL); Nicole’s work aims to foster healthy and positive working environments through professional development programs.