Posts by Rachel Whiteheart
Consider signing up for NOFA-NY’s Mentorship Program or the Technical Consultancy Program! Beginning farmers in the program have called the advice and availability of their mentors “an invaluable help” and “a real comfort and confidence booster.” Farmers already engaging in mentorship have also joined the program, nominated by the new farmers that want to celebrate the long-standing relationships…
Read MoreAnnie’s Project, created in 2003 by Ruth Hambleton, University of Illinois Extension, embodies a risk management perspective that helps to reduce risk exposure by analyzing legal, human resource, marketing, financial, and production factors in farm business decision making. The program is directed to experienced farm women with a passion for business and an involvement in today’s farming industry. From…
Read MoreRose Belforti of Finger Lakes Dexter Creamery received a second SARE grant to make her newly perfected kefir cheese recipe spreadable. After Rose Marie Belforti’s four daughters took off for college, she was left with an empty nest and an emerging interest in raising cattle in the countryside. Rose researched breeds and finally landed…
Read MoreDate: January 24, 2014 – January 26, 2014 Location: Saratoga Hilton and City Center, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Time: 9:00 AM Friday through 1:00 PM Sunday NOFA-NY will hold their 32nd Annual Winter Conference at the end of this month. The theme for the conference—“Preserving the Past, Seeding the Future”— honors the history of the organic movement and those…
Read MoreCSP is a voluntary conservation program that encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by: Undertaking additional conservation activities; and Improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities. CSP encourages land stewards to improve their conservation performance by installing and adopting additional activities, and improving, maintaining, and managing existing activities on agricultural land and nonindustrial…
Read MoreA wide variety of loans are now available under the USDA FSA Farm Loan Program. Farm ownership, operating, and conservation loans are available under the Guaranteed Loan Program. Farm ownership, operating, emergency, and conservation loans are available under the Direct Loan Program. FSA offers two types of guarantees under the Land Contract Guarantee Program. Applicants…
Read MoreThe 2014 Maple Conference will be held at the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School in Verona, New York on Friday evening January 3rd and all day Saturday, January 4th. The conference kicks off Friday evening with trade show at 5 and sessions at 5:30 PM featuring a presentation by J. R. Sloan of Green Mountain Mainlines of Vermont on Practical…
Read More2014 NOFA-NH Resident Journeyperson Program Now Accepting Applications! In 2014, Two Mountain Farm in Andover, NH will host a NOFA-NH Journeyperson farmer or farming couple. Applicable farmers for this position fit the description of a Journeyperson, but are looking for farm land. Two Mountain Farm comes complete with basic infrastructure and equipment, and is a…
Read MoreHolistic Management has gained traction globally as a powerful tool to help farmers make good financial, ecological, and quality-of-life decisions. Holistic Financial Planningis one planning processes under the Holistic Management umbrella, and farmers use it to proactively plan for profit, while investing strategically in their farms and reducing stress. You can learn and apply this process…
Read MoreStarting this January, Scaling Up will bring together a group of 6-18 farmers with about 4 -7 years of experience who are seeking to grow their operations and plan for long-term viability. Participants convene for a series of two-day sessions hosted at the Copake Agricultural Center in Copake, NY, in which they will refine business…
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