Small Farms Quarterly
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Sunlight is a precious resource in Central New York and a new collaboration between farmers and Cornell is looking at ways to harness it using technology that truly puts the soft in software: sheep. As industrial-sized solar installations pop up throughout New York state, residents fear the loss of agricultural land. Lexie Hain ’99 has…
Read MoreThis is the second in a series of articles on how farmers can include pasture raised turkeys in their operation. In this installment in our series on turkeys, I’ll cover the brooding phase. Brooding refers to the early period when turkey poults (yes, they are called poults, not chicks) need extra care and attention. As…
Read MoreA program from Cornell Garden Based Learning, administered through local Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations, Seed to Supper is focused on growing food for home use. Over 2.9 million New Yorkers across the state — a third of whom are children — rely on food assistance programs. Even temporary food insecurity can be discouraging and disempowering for…
Read MoreNews from the Cornell Small Farms Program, Winter 2022 From Farm Business Planning to Production Strategies, Learn with Us in the New Year Our online course season is almost halfway through, and now’s the time to register for our upcoming block three courses which begin in January. This block of courses includes our new offering…
Read MoreGov. Kathy Hochul named several Cornellians to help conduct research and then suggest how the state can best prepare for climate change and adapt for the future. To explore how the warming environment will affect New York’s communities, ecosystems and economy, Gov. Kathy Hochul named several Cornellians to the state’s Climate Impacts Assessment project. The group will…
Read MoreIs docking sheep tails always necessary? Docking a sheep’s tail is the common practice of shortening the length of the tail. For practical reasons it is done to avoid fly strike and to reduce fecal soiling. Fly strike occurs when blow flies lay their eggs in soiled and wet wool, mostly around a soiled and…
Read MoreWhen raising prices, there are many factors to consider including local market, population, and economic conditions and seasonality in demand. By Matthew LeRoux, with Todd Schmit and John Rogers Over the summer, we observed prices from 6 Ithaca grocery stores and 17 farms around NY. Farm prices are from farmers markets and farm-owned farm stores…
Read MoreIn part seven of our “What’s Your Beef?” series on raising cattle on small farms, we discuss how you must be vigilant about safety when working with cattle. This is the seventh article in our “What’s Your Beef” series on beef cattle management and focuses on safety considerations when working with beef cattle. The six…
Read MoreThe guide identifies the best tactics and timing for how to outsmart 63 particularly pernicious weed species, while reducing labor and ensuring weed competition doesn’t reduce yields. Cornell and USDA scientists have produced the definitive guide to understanding agricultural weeds and how to manage them efficiently, effectively and ecologically. The 416-page book, “Manage Weeds on Your…
Read MoreAs the Winter season approaches, we are sharing information on existing and upcoming programs and we welcome the opportunity for collaboration and adaptation to all NYS growers, producers, and service providers. By Nicole Waters, Alejandro Calixto, and Mario Miranda Sazo Puede leer este artículo en español aquí. What Mario Miranda Sazo began in 2015 as…
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