Small
Farms Update is intended as a resource for farmers and agricultural service
providers in New York, and is provided to you by Cornell’s Small Farms
Program. Our mission is to foster the sustainability of diverse, thriving small
farms that contribute to food security, healthy rural communities, and the environment.
Our work is made possible by a network of close partnerships among Cornell faculty
and staff, Cornell Cooperative Extension educators and staff, NYS agriculture
support agencies, non profit agriculture organizations and farmers.
Prefer to print out the update for easier reading? Download this month's Small Farms Update in Rich Text Format (RTF).
Producers, Processors and Others: Join Livestock Processing-L
Thanks to funding from the Cornell Small Farms Program, New York now has a statewide Work Team on Livestock Processing Issues. The goal of this team for 2008 is to come up with a plan of action to improve processing infrastructures and regulations for NY livestock farmers. The LPI Work Team includes farmers, Cornell Extension faculty, NGO and agency representatives.
As a first step, team members have created a list serve, LivestockProcessing-L, for communication amongst interested livestock farmers, small scale processors, extension staff, and agency representatives in New York and bordering states. LivestockProcessing-L will serve as a forum for 1) sharing processing resources, 2) discussing barriers to effective processing and potential solutions, 3) publicizing regional efforts to improve or expand slaughter and processing facilities, and 4) sharing news and Action Alerts pertaining to livestock slaughter and small scale processing of animal products. The list is open to members of bordering states in part to find out how they deal with similar issues and situations within their respective states. If you are interested in keeping abreast of slaughter and processing issues and want a chance to share your own views, we urge you to join LivestockProcessing-L.
To join this list, contact the list moderators, Tatiana Stanton at TLS7@cornell.edu or Martha Goodsell at deerfarm6@frontiernet.net, asking to be put on the list and indicating the email address you want to send and receive list messages from. Another option is to send an email to LivestockProcessing-L-request@cornell.edu leaving the subject line blank. The body of the message should be a single word: Join. Send this message in plain text - no formatting or fonts - and remember to send it from the e-mail address where you want to receive and send messages posted to the e-list.
Carrot Project Seeks Input on Farm Financing Needs
Help address financing gaps for beginning farmers, farmers transitioning to more ecologically friendly practices, farmers looking to expand their businesses, and farmers working to maintain the viability of their farms. If you are a farmer, your response to a 10 minute confidential survey is greatly appreciated. Check it out at www.thecarrotproject.org/farmer_survey. Questions? Contact farmersurvey@thecarrotproject.org or call Dorothy at 617-666-9637.
Send in Your Ag Census Form
Attention small-scale farmers – you’ll soon have the opportunity to stand up and be counted, and help shape the future of agriculture for years to come. That opportunity will come to your mailbox in the form of the 2007 Census of Agriculture.
"Regardless of how large or small their operation is or what kinds of products they produce, New York farmers will help themselves and their communities by filling out the Census of Agriculture and returning it promptly," said Steve Ropel, Director of the New York Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
NASS will mail out Census forms on December 28, 2007 to collect data for the 2007 calendar year. Completed forms are due by February 4, 2008. Producers can return their forms by mail or, for the first time, they have the convenient option of filling out the Census online via a secure web site.
"We’re committed to making this Census the best count ever. It’s about the future of agriculture and rural communities in our state," Ropel said.
"We want farmers and ranchers to know: the Census of Agriculture is their voice, their future and their responsibility."
For more information about the 2007 Census of Agriculture, please contact the NASS New York Field Office at 800-821-1276 or visit www.agcensus.usda.gov online.
New Voices Contest Seeks Innovative Vision for Sustainable Agriculture
Win a free trip to SARE’s 20th Anniversary New American Farm Conference. Visit http://www.sare.org/2008Conference/newvoices.htm for official rules and details.
How can we advance sustainable practices and innovations to the whole of American agriculture? What if you had just five minutes to share your vision with the sustainable agriculture community?
SARE is proud to announce its New Voices contest, which will give “New Voices” in agriculture the opportunity to share their ideas with the leaders of the sustainableagriculture community at SARE’s 20th Anniversary New American Farm Conference, to be held March 25-27, 2008 in Kansas City, Missouri. SARE seeks written, audio, and/or video submissions that articulate emerging perspectives and illustrate an inspirational and pioneering vision for the advancement of sustainable agriculture over the next 20 years. The winning entry will be presented at the closing plenary session of the conference. Top finalists will also be invited to participate in leadership sessions at the conference at SARE’s expense.
We particularly encourage submissions from: farmers or ranchers, emerging leaders in the field of advocacy, education or research, beginning farmers and ranchers, students, minorities and other under-represented audiences.
Share your roadmap to a new, sustainable American agriculture. Enter SARE’s New Voices Contest today! Deadline is December 7, 2007
Click here for our Calender
We are highlighting these events because of the importance of grazing to our dairy and livestock audience. Please see the Graze NY Website for a complete listing of pasture walks and grazing workshops.
Other
Featured Events - www.nyfarms.info/calendar.html
A sampling of regional/statewide events that may be of interest to small farmers. Details on the following events and many more can be found in the NY Farms! Calendar of Agricultural Events.
3 Conservationist Positions, Cortland County SWCD
Cortland County Soil and Water Conservation District is seeking enthusiastic, self-motivated, professional employees to provide assistance to landowners, organizations, and units of government related to the planning and establishment of natural resource conservation and agricultural best management practices.
The Cortland County SWCD is offering 3 permanent full time positions: Conservation Assistant; Natural Resource Conservationist; Natural Resource Conservationist 1. SWCD offers an excellent career opportunity with a chance to help people and make a difference in the community and the environment.
Significant formal and on-the-job training opportunities provided. Position placement and title will be dependent on applicant qualifications and experience. Civil Service appointment is required. Civil Service transfer may be possible.
For more information, e-mail Amanda.Barber@ny.nacdnet.net or call 753-0851
Organic Farm Coordinator, Cornell University
We are looking for a part-time, (20 hours/week) dynamic Organic Farm Coordinator to coordinate, facilitate and help implement research and teaching at the Freeville Organic Farm, Dilmun Hill and other organic sites ensuring that such activities conform to National Organic Standards. Specifically, the Organic Farm Coordinator will work under the supervision of the Director of Operations of the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station to advance CALS’ land-grant mission.
Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, a closely-related field, or the equivalent; at least 2 years of farming experience. (Will consider equivalent combinations of education and experience)
Preferred Qualifications: M.S. in Horticulture or closely related field. Please apply on-line at http://www.ohr.cornell.edu/jobs/) by Friday, December 7, 2007.
SARE Farmer Grants – Due December 18
The goal of the SARE Farmer Grant Program is to develop, refine, and demonstrate new sustainable techniques and to explore innovative ideas developed by farmers across the region. Information gained from these farm-based projects may be used to redirect research priorities.
To apply, you must be a farmer in the Northeast SARE region. You need not be farming full time, but your operation should have an established crop or animal product that you sell on a regular basis. Nonprofit farms may apply, but the primary activity of the farm must be to produce and sell food under the kinds of economic constraints that affect commercial growers. Many community-supported farms qualify, but farms where the primary mission is educational normally do not.
A useful guide to developing a Farmer application, with examples and explanations of what makes a strong proposal, is our 44-page booklet: How to Write a SARE Farmer Grant Application. We also have a checklist for farmer grant technical advisors and a tip sheet specifically for extension agents.
To learn more about past Farmer projects, you may view the national project database. This database allows you to sort by grant type, region, interest area, and a variety of other criteria. A useful bulletin on farm-based research is How to Conduct Research on your Farm or Ranch. To request printed materials and general background about SARE, call 802-656-0471 or send e-mail to nesare@uvm.edu.
2008 Farmer Grant applications have a postmark deadline of December 18, 2007. Fax and e-mail applications are not acceptable.
Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Competitive Grants Program http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/rfas/outreach.htmlCSREES anticipates the availability of grant funds and requests applications for the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Competitive Grants Program (OASDFR). This program provides outreach and technical assistance to encourage and assist socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers to own and operate farms and ranches and to participate equitably in agriculture programs. Contingent on Congressional action, CSREES anticipates that approximately $5.9 million will be available in Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 to support this program. The funding limit is up to $100,000 per year for a maximum project period of three years. Proposals are due December 14, 2007.
Cornell Dairy Profit Monitor
The Cornell Dairy Profit Monitor, available at www.dairyprofit.cornell.edu, is a great tool for any dairy farm whether grazing, large, small, organic, or any combination of the above. One of its advantages is that it allows you to enter financial information on a monthly basis, rather than at the end of the year. It can help you track the financial impact of decisions or changes you make in your business on a regular basis. You can also see how your business compares to farms of similar sizes or management systems. And if you are a grazing dairy, it can help obtain better financial information on grazing farms, especially if you use the information at year end to fill out the Cornell Dairy Farm Business Summary. We frequently hear that there's not enough good information available - so here's your chance to help improve the situation!
New Dairy Cattle eXtension Website
America’s dairy industry producers, professionals and consumers now have a new Internet-based information and education tool at their fingertips. The new dairy cattle website, http://www.extension.org/dairy_cattle , was launched at the World Dairy Expo October 2-6, in Madison, Wisconsin.
DAIReXNET was developed through the collaboration of dairy cattle specialists throughout the United States. The experts came together to form a national, Cooperative Extension-driven, web-based community focused on designing a national resource on dairy cattle production. Dairy cattle specialists at the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture are leading the effort through the eXtension Initiative and in collaboration with professionals at Penn State University, the University of Maryland, the University of Illinois, the University of Idaho, the University of Georgia and North Carolina State University.
Long known for its innovative use of technology, the dairy industry’s newest effort integrates the expertise of land-grant university researchers and specialists with the Internet’s instant accessibility, allowing dairy producers and others to access the latest, most up-to-date information. The site includes information on many aspects of dairy production and is dedicated to meeting the educational and decision-making needs of people in all facets of the dairy industry.
The eXtension Dairy Cattle Web site features a frequently asked questions section that allows users to submit queries on various aspects of dairy cattle production. If an answer is not already available, the user’s question is directed to dairy specialists who will research and answer the question.
DAIReXNET will also allow users to gain access to current, in-depth, peer reviewed articles as well as state and regional dairy newsletters, news releases and highlighted stories from around the country, and a list of current events at the local, state, regional and national levels.
This article is adapted from the Sept. 12, 2007 edition of College of Agriculture News, University of Kentucky.
In this section we highlight the Small Farms Program's activities, including projects we coordinate and those we have funded through Innovative Small Farm Education grants to Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) educators.
Organic Dairy Initiative Launches New Website and Project 36
Not all codes are secret, and the Organic Dairy Initiative is working to make sure the one on your carton of milk is demystified. Visit the Organic Dairy Initiative’s new website and you will find the beginnings of a new consumer education project known as Project 36. Project 36 helps consumers to locate milk processed in New York State on store shelves. The "36" refers to the first two digits of a code stamped on each milk carton that traces the milk to a New York processor. New York plants process mostly New York milk in addition to some milk from neighboring states depending on the plant’s location. Other states processing codes can be found at: www.organic.cornell.edu/organicdairy/ConsumerEd.html
If you would like to join the Project 36 education effort, outreach materials are available for downloading at the website.
To learn more about organic dairy consumer education and find the latest in organic dairy news, resources, FAQ's and field crop production information, visit the new website: www.organic.cornell.edu/organicdairy/Initiative.html
The Organic Dairy Initiative is funded by the New York Farm Viability Institute and supported by the Cornell Small Farms Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension. Contact Fay Benson, Cornell Cooperative Extension - Cortland County, (607) 753-5213 or afb3@cornell.edu.
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