High Tunnel Research Increases Profits for NY Growers
According to the latest Census of Agriculture, there are nearly 8000 U.S. farms growing tomatoes in protected settings including greenhouses or high tunnels with a total value of $419 million. How does New York rank? #2 in the U.S. for number of farms growing in protected settings with a total of 489 farms #3 in…
Read MoreAccessing Federal, State and Local Disaster Resources
How you can start planning now for assistance to stay in business during the COVID-19 pandemic and recover afterwards. Based on my experience with previous federal and state disasters, you are more likely to be able to access these resources if you have kept good records. I spoke to Sam Kandel, our local Small Business…
Read MoreWhat You Don’t Say When Working with Contractors
When you’re hiring contractors for a farm infrastructure project, what you don’t say is just as important, if not more so, as what you do say. It‘s inevitable, at some point in time you‘re going to have to hire a contractor to carry out a project or simply to complete a portion of it. Remember,…
Read MoreThe Benefit of Markets for Managing Low-Grade Trees
Low-grade trees may be aesthetically attractive and have other than economic benefits. Considerable attention is given to high-value trees, particularly how to grow them and their value when harvested. The harvest of just the high-value trees from a woodland is known as high-grade harvesting, selective cutting, or simply “high-grading.” This unsustainable practice has also been discussed because it diminishes the ecological and financial value of a woodlot. In…
Read MoreTracing Broccoli: The Journey from Seed to Table
This green plant is a window into better understanding food production and distribution at the Hudson Valley Farm Hub. In the spring of 2019, the Hudson Valley Farm Hub began following several trays of broccoli on camera as a window into the process of growing vegetables — from production to distribution. While production is a process that can be broken…
Read MoreNews from the Cornell Small Farms Program, Spring 2020
Farm Ops Project to Continue Event Series for Veterans in Agriculture 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. These single-day focused trainings will be covering a variety of topics relevant to small-scale agricultural endeavors, and each workshop consists of hands-on…
Read MoreVeterans’ Reflections: Following Nature’s Lead
Through trial and error, this farmer veteran is learning to harness the power of nature. So there I was (as every great story begins) … signing the closing paperwork to repurchase the house that I grew up in, which my dad had sold prior to leaving for the Army. Coming back to Kennedy, NY, from our nation’s capital was a great feeling after serving 4…
Read MoreCornell Support for NY Farmworkers Wins National Recognition
Cornell has worked to support farmworkers since 1966, and today engages with more than 1,200 farmworkers in the state each year, through farm workshops; family preparedness clinics in schools, churches and day care centers; and mobile consulates. Cornell has received a national award for its support of farmworkers across New York state. The honor recognizes a variety of programs…
Read MoreIndependent Farmers Explore Seaweed for a Marine Based Economy
There are now opportunities for entrepreneurially-minded people to enter the seaweed farming business and have a chance to succeed. The article is part two of a two-part series on ocean aquaculture. In part one, we learned about Bren Smith’s system of regenerative, multispecies ocean farming with sugar kelp and shellfish. Here, Todd Jagoutz, co-founder of Sea…
Read MoreBasic Recommendations for Farmers Related to Coronavirus & COVID-19
The current COVID-19 pandemic is a common concern and many are wondering what they can and should do. The information here is intended to help guide the farming community. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus (“the novel coronavirus”). Symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, and may appear 2-14 days after…
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