The Next Generation of Small Farmers
4H teens learn about the hard work and creativity needed to run a successful small farm during Career Exploration Days on the Cornell University Campus. Each summer, 4H teens across New York visit the Cornell University campus to explore academic fields and career exploration, develop leadership skills, and get hands-on experience in a college setting.…
Read MoreHappy Cows, Healthy Fish
Gordon Waite, a man with a friendly demeanor and steady smile, manages twenty Herefords on his 67-acre farm situated in Granville, Vermont. Gordon cannot picture himself doing anything besides farming. “I love farming, and I love my animals,” Gordon proudly announced, an honest statement he demonstrated by calling each of his cows from a distance…
Read MoreMighty Food Farm: Abundance in the Pownal Valley
The Pownal Valley nests squarely in the southeast corner of Vermont, bordering New York and Massachusetts. Highway 346 weaves through the historic town center past a small library and church, and follows the Hoosic River north. Animal-focused agriculture dominates here; milk, beef, and hay production have sculpted a rolling green landscape in this border town…
Read MoreMarketing Help for Sheep & Goat Farmers
SheepGoatMarketing.info originated in the late 1990s. It grew out of the Northeast Sheep & Goat Marketing Project at Cornell University which received a grant from USDA with the goal of improving producer access to equitable markets while building regional capacity to supply the growing consumer demand for high quality lamb and goat meat. The emphasis…
Read MoreDairy Delight
Our Fall photo essay comes to us from Jasper Hill Farm in Greensboro, Vermont. Brothers Andy and Mateo Kehler began farming and making cheese in 2003 with a goal of creating a model to be replicated by other farmers in Vermont who wished to diversify their quickly disappearing farms into more workable options. They wanted…
Read MoreTaking Agritourism as High as a Hot Air Balloon
Donna Quadri developed a comprehensive agritourism plan to help vineyard owners and businesses enhance tourist experiences Welcome to the Northeast SARE Spotlight! SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) offers grants to farmers, educators, universities and communities that are working to make agriculture more sustainable – economically, environmentally, and socially. Learn about whether a SARE grant…
Read MoreNew Farm, Old Farmland
Columbia County, NY has a vibrant farm history – the farmland at Sparrowbush Farm in Hudson, NY has been farmed since 1853. Generations of farmers have grown crops and fruit on the farm’s rich, fertile soil. While Sparrowbush Farm is continuing the farming legacy, the farmer, Ashley Loehr, isn’t part of the Palatine and Tinklepaugh…
Read MoreHolistic Training Helps Women Farmers Thrive
There’s a group of women famers in the Northeast that are turning their farms around and making an impact in their communities. They’ve been able to accomplish it as a result of participating in a unique training program managed by Holistic Management International (HMI) and partially funded by the USDA National Institute for Food &…
Read MoreLoan Opportunities for New Farmers
Farm Credit East offers multiple programs to support young, beginning and next generation farmers The long range strength and soundness of the future of agriculture in the Northeast is dependent on individuals entering the industry. As with any industry, starting a new business comes with challenges. Farms require capital for upfront expenses, such as land,…
Read MoreFaces of our Food System: Red Rabbit
For the fourth profile in a series highlighting distributors of New York State farm-grown products, I spoke to Rhys Powell. Rhys is the Founder and President of Red Rabbit, located in New York City. Red Rabbit was founded in 2005 “to fix the school food system”. According to their website, they do this in…
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