Posts by Tara Hammonds

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Book Review: Mycorrhizal Planet by Michael Phillips

By Tara Hammonds / January 8, 2018

One of the great mysteries of the soil are the mycorrhizal fungi, which live by forming beneficial relationships to plants. “Myco” means mushroom, and “rhizal” root, and these truly unique organisms are seen as one of the keys to healthy soil and plant communities. Until now, information to better understand the ways they work and…

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National Young Farmers Coalition

Young Farmer Survey Gives A Glimpse of the Next Generation

By Tara Hammonds / January 8, 2018

The results of a survey titled “Building a Future With Farmers II” from the National Young Farmers Coalition offers important insights to policy, education, and justice efforts needed to keep farming strong across the US. The survey, which solicited 3,517 respondents with the help of 94 partner organizations, offers a number of specific challenges young farmers face, most notably access to…

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Supporting Haudenosaunee Seed Stewardship in New York

By Tara Hammonds / January 8, 2018

For the community members of the St. Regis Mohawk/Akwesasne Tribe of northern New York, seeds are not just commodities to be planted for food, they are sacred. When their seeds disappear, so do their ceremonies, language, songs, farming practices, and connections to their ancestors. The Native American Seed Sanctuary project is an outgrowth of an existing partnership with The…

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Cornell Small Farms Program Update Winter 2018

By Tara Hammonds / January 8, 2018

Winter workshops on novel cover cropping and strip tillage practices for vegetables Attend the 2018 Empire State Producers Expo (Jan. 18 in Syracuse, NY) or the NOFA-NY Winter Conference (Jan. 19 in Saratoga Springs, NY) to learn how you can integrate cover cropping and reduced tillage practices while overcoming the residue and weed management challenges.…

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2018 Baskets to Pallets Farmer Trainings

By Tara Hammonds / December 7, 2017

Baskets to Pallets at the 2018 NOFA-NY Winter Conference – Saratoga Springs, NY January 21, 2018, 8:00-9:15am Looking to diversify sales? Food hubs, groceries, restaurants and cooperatives are seeking your products, but these ‘intermediated’ channels require different marketing strategies. This workshop will include discussion and activities to prepare direct-marketing farmers to start building successful sales…

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Improving Agriculture Labor Management – Workshop Series

By Tara Hammonds / November 16, 2017

SEE BELOW FOR UPDATED WORKSHOP DATES AND TIMES Your employees are your most valuable resource. Wages, salaries, and contract labor expenses represent more than 40 percent of the cost of production in labor intensive crops like fruits, vegetables, and nursery products. These four workshops will help you become better at managing your farm’s employees. The…

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NY Veterans in Agriculture Conference 2017

By Tara Hammonds / October 6, 2017

The Cornell Small Farms Program and the New York Farmer Veteran Coalition, Inc, will be hosting a celebration of our state’s farmer veterans on Nov 29th, 2019. The conference is scheduled to take place from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm in Syracuse, with a networking reception afterwards from 4:30 to 6 pm. At this conference, participants will have…

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Spotlight: Minority Landowner Magazine

By Tara Hammonds / October 2, 2017

Minority Landowner Magazine is a national publication that highlights the stories of minority, limited resource, and social disadvantaged farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. The mission of the magazine is to support landowners to improve productivity, increase profitability, and maintain ownership of their land. The magazine was founded in 2005 by Victor Harris, a forester with…

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John May Farm Safety Fund Eligibility Requirements Expanded to Help More Farms

By Tara Hammonds / October 2, 2017

What is new? We have expanded our eligibility criteria to now include New York State dairy farms with up to 699 mature dairy cattle, as well as increasing the annual gross cash income to $349,999 for all farms. About the program: As the first program of its kind in New York State, this cost sharing…

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Registration Is Now Open for 2017-2018 Online Small Farm Courses

By Tara Hammonds / August 22, 2017

Registration has been opened for the 2017-2018 season of Small Farm Online Courses, helping to build the technical and business skills of farmers. Expert farmers and extension educators guide students through the latest research-based information to help improve efficiency and increase profit on small farms. Students connect with other farmers, work on farm plans, and gain practical…

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