Posts by Anu Rangarajan
Dear farmers and friends, Over the last few years, the Cornell Small Farms Program has been growing in both staff and program areas. With this growth comes an invitation to also reflect on how we must to plan ahead to meet future needs. What are the emerging opportunities and challenges that our small-scale…
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Dear farmers and friends, “No one should lose their lives while shopping for food,” as stated in the media advisory we share in this issue, co-created by Food For the Spirit and other Black-led organizations in New York State to call for an end to white supremacy, white nationalism and anti-blackness. The Small Farms Program’s Equity and…
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Dear farmers and friends, Central to the mission of the Cornell Small Farms Program is that anyone who wants to operate a small farm in NYS has access to appropriate information, resources and networks to grow their farm and business. In 2006, we launched our beginning farmer training effort with our CCE colleagues. We…
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Anniversaries, whether for births, commitments or achievements, bring an opportunity to reflect on what we have learned and where we want to go next. August 4, 2021, was just such a milestone for me — 25 years ago that day I started my position at Cornell. It is so hard to believe that much time…
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Happy National Agriculture Day from all of us at the Cornell Small Farms Program! We extend our gratefulness to all who work hard to feed, fuel, and fiber us, fill our landscapes with beauty, help our farmers with seeds and supplies, and support agriculture as a viable and meaningful vocation. Your combined efforts continue to…
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Autumn brings about celebrations around the harvest and holidays. It also is an important time for our agritourism farms. These farms host activities that provide customers with a unique outdoor opportunity for farm-based entertainment and food system education, as well the ability to purchase fresh produce grown close to home. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, farmers…
Read MoreThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cornell Small Farms Program has been sending messages and guidance about building resilience to the stresses this virus has created. It has required many of us to learn new skills, adapt and change our marketing approaches quickly, and pivot our own vision of how we farm. These messages have emphasized how we are…
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Throughout this pandemic, the Cornell Small Farms Program has been sending messages and guidance about building resilience to the stresses this virus has created. It has required many of us to learn new skills, adapt and change our marketing approaches quickly, and pivot our own vision of how we farm. These messages have emphasized how…
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U-Pick is a critical direct marketing approach for many of our small farms and provides customers with a unique connection to fresh produce grown close to home. The time spent outdoors gathering one’s own produce is a chance to share in our local bounty, support our farmers, and stock up for the future. U-Pick farms…
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CARES Act’s Emergency Resources for Farm Businesses: Paycheck Protection Loan Program Funding Expanded The recent CARES Act provided additional emergency funding through Small Business Administration (SBA) for businesses who are facing losses due to COVID-19. If you are a farm business, the most important program to be aware of right now is the Paycheck Protection Loan…
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