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Finding the Tractor That Fits Your Farm
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For farmers deciding whether it is time to invest in a tractor, the stakes are high. A tractor can open the door to greater efficiency and safer work, or it can become an expensive mismatch. The recent two-day Tractor Operations and Safety Workshop hosted by Cornell Small Farms led participants through the basics of tractor…
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Pig Production Cohort for NYS Veterans
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This cohort provides NYS veterans an opportunity to explore the diverse business prospects of pig production. This cohort will run from September 2025 – August 2026. From January – August 2026, you will be invited to attend various in person and virtual events, focused on specific aspects of pig production, such as farrowing, livestock infrastructure,…
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Branching Out: Veterans Grow Their Fruit Tree Knowledge
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Veterans across New York State are gaining hands-on skills in fruit tree production through a unique learning cohort developed by the Cornell Small Farms Program’s Farm Ops project. Over the past two growing seasons, the program has helped dozens of veterans grow their confidence, technical abilities, and farming networks. Farm Ops project lead Nina Saeli…
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Farmer Veterans Gain Fiber Skills
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Veteran-specific events foster community, skills, and farm business growth for farmer veterans considering regenerative fiber production solutions. New York State is home to an array of specialized animal breeds that grow amazing natural fibers, and there is growing interest from new and beginning farmers in producing fiber. Notably, the Cornell Small Farms Program’s project…
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Exchanging the Challenges of Military Service for the Challenges of Learning about Horticulture
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Tyler Evans explored what it meant to be part of the U.S. Marine Corps, and he lived with a mindset to defeat the challenges that hinder progress. After completing his service, he explored and now works with nature to challenge himself and progress to build an agricultural business. When Marine Corps veteran, Tyler Evans, left…
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Farm Ops: High Tunnel Construction Workshop for Veterans
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Farmer veteran James Turrell hosted fellow veterans on his farm for a hands-on workshop on high tunnels, sponsored by Farm Ops, highlighting their use in season extension, crop protection, and pest management. Participants learned methods for covering high tunnels with plastic while learning about site selection considerations. After lunch, Turrell led discussions on end wall…
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Farm Ops to Offer Scholarships for Trainings, Workshops and Conferences
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Our project for veterans in agriculture, Farm Ops, wants to support our NYS veterans in their agricultural pursuits and our current NYS farmer veteran’s expansion of their farm businesses. If you are a veteran interested in expanding your knowledge on small fruit production, taking a deep dive into grazing management, or increasing your knowledge on…
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Farm Ops Scholarship: Mushroom Farming 101
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Farm Ops provided four scholarships to farmer veterans to attend a hands-on mushroom cultivation event hosted by farmer veteran David DeLaMater and his wife, Mary, at their Dough Haven Farm. The event offered participants an opportunity to learn about sustainable farming practices, mushroom cultivation, and the health benefits of incorporating mushrooms into a balanced diet.…
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Farm Ops Scholarship: Learning About Livestock Guardian Dogs
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Two farmer veterans recently attended a hands-on workshop at Empty Pockets Ranch to explore the benefits and challenges of using livestock guardian dogs (LGD) on their farms. Led by veteran spouse Lori Davis, the session provided an in-depth look at whether an LGD is the right choice for protecting livestock, covering topics such as breed…
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Farm Ops’ Cohort Learning Sessions Bring Veterans Together to Talk Ag
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During the Small Farm Program’s online course season, Farm Ops, our military veteran project, provided veterans with free enrollment into select on-line courses and conducted veteran learning cohort sessions to supplement the course material. It is commonly known that military veterans are drawn towards opportunities to learn and train together, but in early 2020 when…
Farm Ops
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