Don’t Forget to Apply by 10/31 for the Cost-Share Program!
Are you transitioning to organic? The USDA Organic Certification Cost Share Programs (OCCSP) provides organic producers and handlers with financial assistance to reduce the cost of organic certification. The programs reimburse producers and handlers for a portion of their paid certification costs. Once certified, organic producers and handlers are eligible to receive reimbursement for up … Read More
What Wild Bees Need
What wild bees need A new national assessment estimates that wild bees declined in 23 percent of the contiguous United States between 2008 and 2013. The team of Project ICPresearchers, led by Insu Koh at the University of Vermont, found that the decline was generally associated with conversion of natural habitats to row crops. Areas … Read More
Farming the Forest
June 23-25th, 2017 at 10:00am to 4:00pm at Wellspring Forest Farm & School, 6164 Deer Run Ln, Trumansburg, NY 14886 Discover the possibilities of growing a range of food and medicine in marginal woodlands, hedgerows, and wet places. Explore growing edible mushrooms, elderberry, perennial vegetables, berries, and nuts in temperate woodlands on both a homestead and farm scale. … Read More
When Livestock Eat Weeds You Have 43% More Forage*
By Kathy Voth See more at: http://onpasture.com/2017/06/19/when-cows-eat-weeds-you-have-43-more-forage/#sthash.m7gg0tes.dpuf It’s that time of year when I remind you that you can teach your ruminant livestock to eat your weeds so that you have as much as 43% more forage, and you don’t have to worry about herbicide. Training a group of 50 animals to eat weeds takes just … Read More
Looking to Start Raising and Hatching Chicks?
Looking to start raising and hatching chicks? Join Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County (CCEUC) educators and local professionals for a class on hatching chickens. Find more information and register here.
Announcing the Application Cutoff Dates for the Upper Susquehanna Agricultural BMP Implementation Program
Are you an agricultural producer interested in implementing practices to treat the runoff from barnyards and bunk silos, implementing milkhouse waste systems, or helping store and manage manure? Interested in protecting the Susquehanna River? You can access funding through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The Upper Susquehanna Coalition administered by the Tioga County Soil and Water … Read More
Calling All Military Veterans: Learn About Pasture Fencing with the Grass Whisperer
If you’re interested in pursuing a livestock enterprise, a good fence is an essential tool to manage animals on the land. Join John Slifka (Army) of Three Sisters Farm at (Rome) as he teams up with Sons of the American Legion member, grass farmer, conservation professional and former fence contractor, Troy Bishopp, to show others … Read More
Growing Farmers With Internships and Apprenticeships Part 1
By Alex McKiernan I’d be willing to bet that the vast majority of direct-market farmers started as interns or apprentices on someone else’s farm. When you think about mainstream production agriculture, I think you’ll find the same thing, except that those folks likely “apprenticed” with their parent, grandparent, or other relative. For farmers, apprentices and … Read More
Berry for Your Thoughts: Contest Seeks Name for Grape
By Jennifer Savran Kelly Big on flavor, aroma and size, Cornell’s newest grape lacks one defining feature: a name. Grape breeder Bruce Reisch ’76 spent years developing the grape, and now he’s offering the public the chance to name it. Currently dubbed NY98.0228.02, the grape is a seedless, flavorful berry with the attractive blue … Read More
Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund Announces $200,000 in New Awards
Established in 2011, the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund provides direct assistance to veterans who are in the early stages of their farming operations. With awards rangin from $1,000 to $5,000, purchases are made to third-parties on behalf of the veteran for critical items such as breeding livestock, used tractors, greenhouses, irrigation systems and more. This … Read More