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Update 3/24/20: We have launched a curated resource page to support the farming community through this challenging time. Offering ideas on how we can take care of ourselves, our farms, and our local communities. Never before has our work as farmers and stewards been so important. In times like these — when uncertainty upsets the…
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Reduced tillage practices and weed suppression management are common goals of small-scale organic farmers. A lesser-known method is deep-composting, which was presented by the Reduced Tillage Project and a team of Cornell University researchers at the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) Winter Conference as a solution to weed suppression in a reduced tillage system. …
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A new species of soil bacteria, discovered by Cornell University researchers, is particularly adept at breaking down organic matter, including the carcinogenic chemicals that are released from the burning of fossil fuels. This property means it could help clean up contaminated soils, as well as serve as a key player in the soil carbon cycle. …
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Pruning vines is one of the most important tasks of a viticulturist. If done improperly, the vine can produce yields that are either too high or too low, both of which pose risks. When yields are too high, sugars are low in fruits, making them poor wine grapes; when too low, fruit sales don’t cover…
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Meet ‘Jaded’, the newest cherry tomato cultivar from Cornell Agritech! As part of a growing collection of diverse cherry tomato varieties, including the Galaxy Suite, Jaded offers growers a whole new color option: it ripens green, but maintains the sweetness of a ripe red. “When people think of sweeter types of products, green doesn’t necessarily…
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With a recent expansion of the Canandaigua VA Medical Center’s “VA Farms” project, the Bath, NY VA Medical Center, will now be a second location for the project’s offerings. Our veterans project associate, Dean Koyanagi, was interviewed by WETM18 and provided insight on farmer-veteran programs. The Canandaigua VA contracted our Farm Ops project to deliver…
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The popular held belief is that growing conditions can lead to hemp with too much THC, but a recent study by Cornell University researchers found that genetics are the ultimate factor in THC content. THC is the psychoactive chemical that can make hemp “too hot.” Hemp must stay under 0.3% THC while its relative, cannabis,…
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We are pleased to announce that our Farm Ops project will be continuing its series of training workshops for veterans interested in agriculture throughout 2020. Opportunities include twelve single-day focused trainings, as well as connecting participating veterans to additional regional training opportunities, print material, and online resources tailored to each individual’s interests. These events are…
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Though it is so prominent nation- and worldwide, corn is actually a tropical crop. As demand for food grows with a growing population, new efforts are in the works to increase the cold tolerance of this staple crop. Former research found that the enzyme Rubisco, critical for turning carbon dioxide into sugar, decreases when plants…
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The last five years have been challenging for onion growers in New York State, as a fungus has caused premature leaf death on onions in the field. More than 75% of growers in the state have been affected by Stemphylium leaf blight (SLB), an old disease which has re-emerged and become prevalent after an increase…
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