Posts by Tara Hammonds

Winter Farm Insurance

By Tara Hammonds / January 11, 2016

by Reuben Dourte As temperatures plummet across the country, new challenges and opportunities arise for the agricultural industry.  While crop farmers may be looking to lock in seed and fertilizer prices, dairymen are utilizing the high value feed they put away in the prior fall months.  At the same time, farm mechanics may be working…

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no till beds

No Till, Permanent Beds for Organic Vegetables

By Tara Hammonds / January 11, 2016

by Brian Caldwell & Ryan Maher Four Winds Farm mulches with compost to suppress weeds and improve their soil. Jay and Polly Armour bought a rundown farm in 1988, with the idea of growing organic vegetables for sale.  Their first production garden was an old horse paddock, which had been trodden down for many years. …

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Heat Up Sales with the Freezer Trade

By Tara Hammonds / January 11, 2016

The Finger Lakes Meat Project expands the freezer trade to promote food affordability and farm viability. by Susannah Spero The Finger Lakes Meat Project works to expand livestock farms’ meat sales through the freezer trade. We are a project of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, and we collaborate with farms, consumers, local businesses, and…

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Stand Out in Your Field: Marketing for Farmers

By Tara Hammonds / January 11, 2016

by Alice Varon Farmers often feel that they are too busy running the farm to invest time developing a marketing plan. But with all the compelling images and stories that come with life on a farm, they have enormous marketing assets right at their fingertips! In our culture of information overload and short attention spans,…

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Growing Pains and Profitability

By Tara Hammonds / January 11, 2016

Beginning farmer profit teams help farmers in New York State make critical decisions. by Matthew Weiss Farms at a Crossroads Over the years we’ve learned that farmers can experience serious growing pains during the “adolescence” of their farm careers. Many new farmers persevere through the first few years of business on little more than blood, sweat,…

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Sheep Pasture: Orchard Grass

By Tara Hammonds / January 11, 2016

by Ulf Kintzel I have been writing articles about sheep farming for a few years now and the feedback I receive often triggers new ideas for new articles. This article is such example. A frequently asked question is what kind of pasture mix I recommend. My standard answer is that I don’t recommend any pasture…

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Youth Loans for Weeks

By Tara Hammonds / January 11, 2016

The Weeks children support the family farm with USDA Farm Service Agency Youth Loan projects amidst tragedy. written by Devon Kenny, edited by John Flocke The Weeks farm is a typical upstate NY family run farm.  There’s mom Dawn riding herd over daughter’s Sarah (22) and Carrie (15) and sons Jeffrey (17) and Samuel (11). …

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Logs to Lumber – Wise Use of a Renewable Resources

By Tara Hammonds / January 11, 2016

by Peter Smallidge A common feature of managed woods, and an aspect that has made them popular among farmers, woodlot owners and maple producers is the potential to harvest logs and produce boards.  Managing your woods for lumber involves consideration of the logs for lumber, but also cultivating the woods to ensure future productivity and…

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Learn about Farm Scale Commercials Mushroom Production

By Tara Hammonds / January 7, 2016

Farm Scale Mushroom Cultivation (BF 150) Growing Shiitake and Other Mushrooms for Fun and Profit an online course through the Northeast Beginning Farmer Project Tues. February 23 – March 29, 2016, with webinars held each Tuesday evening from 6:30-8:00pm. http://www.nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/all-courses/woodland-mushroom-cultivation-bf-150/ Mushrooms are an emerging niche crop with many benefits, including improving farmer stewardship of forested…

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Pursue your Passion for Vegetables with Veggie Farming, Part 2

By Tara Hammonds / January 4, 2016

Veggie Farming, Part 2 (BF 121) From Season-Long Care to Harvest an online course through the Northeast Beginning Farmer Project Wed. February 24 – March 23, 2016, with webinars every Wednesday evening from 7:00-8:30pm. http://www.nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/all-courses/bf-121-veggie-farming-part-2/ This course will take you from transplanting to harvest, including information on in-season fertility; integrated pest management including pest ID…

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