Forestry & Agroforestry

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Earth Day: A Celebration and a Call to Action

By Connor Youngerman / April 21, 2024

The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago; the second-best time to plant a tree is now. This idea captures the essence of Earth Day – both a celebration of our planet and a call to action for a resilient and sustainable future. As we commemorate Earth Day this year, it’s also…

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Our Team Is Growing: Now Hiring Agroforestry Specialist

By Erica Frenay / September 18, 2023

The Cornell Small Farms Program team is continuing to grow, and we are hiring! We are excited to share that the application is now open for our newest team member, Agroforestry Extension Support Specialist. Our dynamic team is working to help diverse small farms thrive and to make farming more equitable. For this position, we’re…

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Agroforestry Webinar Series to Discuss Stewardship, Support Resources, and More

By Steve Gabriel / April 6, 2022

Our Agroforestry project and the Cornell Cooperative Extension Agroforestry Program Work Team is again hosting a series of webinars this year, beginning in April. These webinars will feature expert speakers, highlighting the latest information and materials available.   Agroforestry describes a wide range of practices that integrate trees, forests, and agricultural production. These systems preserve…

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Brush saws can be used to clear subcanopy trees and shrubs.

Clearing a Woodland Understory

By Peter Smallidge / April 5, 2021

Question:  I was visiting a friend’s woodlot last fall. They had logged much of the ash due to Emerald Ash borer and expanded those openings into patches to allow for replanting with walnut. The understory was mostly buckthorn, ironwood, hornbeam and other scrubby species. They cleared the understory, in anticipation of planting, by either scraping…

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Features of Trees Useful for Identification

By Peter Smallidge / January 11, 2021

Learning to identify the trees on your property will help you enjoy and better manage your land.  Woodland owners who learn how to identify the trees and other vegetation on their property are better able to enjoy their land, and will make more informed decisions about their management actions. The terminology associated with dendrology, the study of trees, can be…

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Study Measures Maple Syrup Production in a Changing Climate

By Anna Birn / October 8, 2019

A changing climate is expected to change the seasonality of crops, largely affecting farmers’ production patterns and yearly cycles. This impact on crops also includes maple syrup production, according to a new study from Dartmouth College. Maple syrup production is especially dependent on temperature, and even in the best conditions has a very short seasonal…

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Managing Woodlands to Improve Wildlife Habitat

By Peter Smallidge / October 7, 2019

Manipulations of the trees can create new and varied habitats for wildlife. Most landowners own their land for a variety of reasons, though at any point in time one objective might be of more interest than other objectives. For many woodland owners, they are interested in seeing more wildlife, whether as birds or game species,…

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oyster mushrooms

Specialty Mushroom Project Expands to Serve Diverse Urban and Rural Growers

By Steve Gabriel / October 7, 2019

Interest in specialty mushrooms (defined as any non-button variety) from both farmers and consumers is growing rapidly, with demand increasing by 4% annually in the U.S. Given the flexible scale of production systems, mushrooms are well positioned for production by a diverse range of small and mid-sized farmers in urban and rural settings. With funding…

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Maple and Birch Tapping Research Responds to Variable Climate

By Kacey Deamer / December 12, 2018

The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has posted a research update with data to help maple and birch syrup producers respond to variable climate conditions. “Maple, and now birch, syrup producers are on the front lines of dealing with the effects of climate change and the variations that have increased the unpredictability of when…

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Edible Weeds from Farm to Market: Farmer Survey Responses Needed

By Kelsie Raucher / December 10, 2018

Edible Weeds from Farm to Market is a Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) funded project of CCE Columbia and Greene Counties Agroforestry Research Center. The project is researching the use and marketability of edible weeds as supplemental farm crops. A free resource guide will be developed for farmers on how (and why) to add…

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