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 as a Word document.
Beginning Farmer Online Course Starts March 19th
Aspiring, new and diversifying farmers now have the opportunity to receive farm enterprise start-up training online. The NY Beginning Farmer Project, a collaborative effort of the Cornell Small Farms Program and Cooperative Extension educators, has developed a 9-week online course. The course is designed to benefit participants from a diversity of backgrounds, from those just exploring a new idea to those seeking to diversify or expand existing farm operations.
Course Outline:
Course size is limited so call soon to reserve a spot. Cost is $200 with $50 due at registration. You will receive a Letter of Successful Course Completion that can be included in your business plan documenting your course work. To register, call Kristen at 315-788-8450 and ask to be registered for the On-Line New Farmer Training.
NYC Marketing Opportunities - Just Food Helps Rural Farmers Break Into and Develop Urban Markets.
Community Supported Agriculture in NYC: Farmers who grow a wide variety of vegetable crops deliver their harvest weekly to a NYC distribution location and get up-front payments before the growing season. Just Food trains NYC communities to handle member outreach and distribution management on behalf of the CSA farmer.
CSA in NYC Supplemental Crops: Reach out to current CSA growers to complement their shares with vegetables, fruit, flowers, dairy and meats and other products.
The City Farms – City Markets: Did you know that NYC has a thriving and growing community garden movement that is also growing food for NYC neighborhoods? Several independent markets have started through this movement, and they want to boost their supply with products from rural farmers.
Institutional Purchasing Program: Just Food has arranged wholesale markets for local farms, connecting them to soup kitchens and food pantries that have special grants and other funds to purchase local, wholesale produce.
For more information, visit http://www.justfood.org/
Farmers: Speak Up at NYS Council on Food Policy Listening Sessions
The NYS Council on Food Policy was created in May of 2007 by Governor Eliot Spitzer’s Executive Order No. 13, which recognized the need to support the State’s agricultural industry as well as to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to safe, affordable, nutritious food. The Council is planning to:
The Council has identified four key issue areas:
The Council is conducting listening sessions across the state to gather information relating to the key issue areas above. Sessions are open to the public and are an open microphone format. Anyone who wishes to participate will have a few minutes to present their opinions and must also provide their comments in written format.
Session 1 was held February 5 in Albany. Session 2 was February 14, in Syracuse. Upcoming sessions are listed below. For more information about the NYS Council on Food Policy visit www.agmkt.state.ny.us/foodpolicycouncil.html .
Session 3: April 3, 2008 , New York City
From 10am - 12 and 2pm- 4pm at Federal Office Building 90 Church Street, Lower Manhattan, Conference Rooms A & B. RSVP to Mary Ann Stockman by March 28 at 518-485-7728 or maryann.stockman@agmkt.state.ny.us.
Session 4: April 11, 2008, Binghamton
From 2 to 4pm at Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Broome County, 840 Upper Front Street in conjunction with the Regional Community Food Project. RSVP to Mary Ann Stockman by April 9 at 518-485-7728 or maryann.stockman@agmkt.state.ny.us.
Session 5: May 5, 2008, Rochester
To be Announced
Session 6: May 30, 2008, Long Island
To be Announced
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.
Whole Farm Planning Training Program
A training targeted at educators who work directly with farmers. The sessions will focus on: farm/family goal setting, farm resource delineation, on-farm decision making, farm financial planning and analysis, reading the land/environmental monitoring, grazing planning.
One set of sessions will be held in central NY and the other will be held in central New Hampshire. The sessions will take place for 3-4 days each: April/May, 2008; September/ October; February/March, 2009. Twelve participants will be accepted for each training site (NY and NH).
All expenses for the training will be paid through a Northeast SARE Professional Development Grant. Covered expenses include travel, room and board, and supplies and materials. Additionally, a program mentor will assist participants through the use of a list serve, interactive web site and other distance education methods.
Farmer-educators will receive an additional $300 per session as a stipend for their time and to help defray costs while they are away from the farm. Participants will be required to attend all three sessions and work with at least two farms between sessions to implement the knowledge and skills gained during their training. Farmer participants may use their farm as one of the two required.
For more information about the New York sessions call Phil Metzger at (607) 334-3231, Ext. 4 (Central NY RC&D). For information about the New Hampshire sessions, call Seth Wilner at (603) 863-9200 (UNH Cooperative Extension).
Swoon Kitchenbar Seeks Diversified Farm Manager – Hudson, NY
Farmer needed to start a 5-8 acre vegetable farm, eventually expanding on to the the 160 acres available. The farm would be associated with the restaurant Swoon Kitchenbar in Hudson NY and begin this Spring. Swoon will also be its main customer. We are hoping to grow 150-200 varieties of vegetables as well as 3-4 dozen varieties of herbs. The hope is to expand the farms' size every year and include small livestock within a year or two. The right person for the job will have a true passion for food & farming, knowledge of vegetable farming in the Hudson Valley, expertise in farm equipment and the ability to manage a small staff. Please email resume and cover letter to swoonkitchenbar@yahoo.com.
Small Dairy and Artisanal Cheesemaker Seeks Summer Apprentice – Lodi, NY
Cowlick farm in Lodi, NY, milks 6 jersey cows primarily on pasture. They produce 150 pounds of cheese per week, varying from camenbert, blue brie, fetta, gouda, chedder, farmers, caeraphilly, colby st paulin and brick. They are looking for a summer apprentice for approximately May 1 through Aug 30, 40 hrs/week. Compensation includes $200/week and an apartment with beach access on Seneca Lake. The job requires moderate strength and willingness to deal with retail customers. The successful applicant can expect to be trained in many aspects of cheese manufacture including but not limited to milking cows. Learn more about Cowlick Farm at http://www.winecountrycabins.com/cowlickfarm/. To apply, contact Andrew Cabot at 607-582-6611 or cowlick@empacc.net.
Value-Added Producer Grant
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm
USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service is seeking applications for the Value-Added Producer's Grant (VAPG) program. Approximately $18.4 million is available through the program this year for grants to assist independent producers, agriculture producer groups, farmer and rancher-owned cooperatives, and majority controlled producer-based business ventures with the production, processing and marketing of value-added agricultural products. Value added products include those created through a change in physical state, through differentiated production or marketing, or physical segregation. Both working capital grants of up to $300,000 and planning grants not exceeding $100,000 are available through the program, with documentation of either cash or in-kind matching funds required. All potential applicants are strongly urged to contact their Rural Development State Office to discuss their projects and make inquiries concerning the application process. Proposals are due March 31, 2008.
Farmers' Market Promotion Program
www.ams.usda.gov/fmpp
The USDA Farmers' Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grants are targeted to help
improve and expand domestic farmers' markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities. Approximately $1 million is allocated for Fiscal Year 2008 for the FMPP, with the requirement that the maximum amount awarded for any one proposal cannot exceed $75,000. Entities eligible to apply include agricultural cooperatives, local governments, nonprofit corporations, public health corporations, economic development corporations, regional farmers' market authorities and Tribal
government. Proposals are due March 24, 2008.
Small Minority Producer Grant Program
www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/smpg/smpg.htm
The Small Minority Agriculture Producer grants are made to Cooperatives or
Associations of Cooperatives whose primary focus is to provide assistance to small, minority agriculture producers and whose governing board and/or membership is comprised of at least 75 percent minority. The primary objective of this grant program is to provide technical assistance to small, minority agriculture producers. Eight awards of up to $175,000 are expected to be made under this program. Proposals are due April 8, 2008.
Small Farm Energy PrimerThe 60-page Small Farm Energy Primer, originally published in 1980, is now available in electronic form. A spokesperson for the New England Small Farm Institute says, "The Primer is still the best information out there for small farmers." You can download it at: www.cfra.org/pdf/Small-Farm-Energy-Primer.pdf
Database Offers Resources on Community, Food and AgriculturePhilip H. Howard, an assistant professor in Michigan State University's Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies, has compiled and is making available a searchable online bibliography of 226 books and films related to community, food, and agriculture. This database focuses on recent, introductory, nonfiction works. Books are listed with ISBN numbers, while film listings include links to the producer. Visit the library at: www.msu.edu/%7Ehowardp/booksfilms.html
Presentations from Food Safety Conference Available
http://ccof.org/foodsafetyconference.php
Presentations from the Food Safety for Organic Production and Handling of Fresh Produce Conference are available on-line. Growers, industry and research professionals collaborated to create a two-day course on the topic, with content customized specifically to address the needs and concerns of organic growers and handlers. Attendees learned about: pre- and post-harvest best management practices for food safety in fresh organic production; water, wildlife, workers and amendments; post-harvest plant pathology and factors that influence food safety; state and federal regulations impacting organic growers and handlers; and more. PowerPoint presentations from the conference can be viewed and downloaded from the web site.
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.
Exploring the Small Farm Dream Course Draws Highest Attendance
Record enrollment in Cornell’s 2008 Exploring the Small Farm Dream class indicates student interest in small-scale farming is growing. Now in its third year, a roster of 29 students distinguishes the course with the highest enrollment of any class offered through Cornell’s horticulture department. The course is taught by Joanna Green, Extension Associate with the Small Farms Program and teaching assistant Melissa Madden, who works as Cornell University’s Organic Farm Coordinator.
The main goals of the class are to provide students with knowledge of diverse opportunities for starting up a small farm business in the Northeast; a realistic appreciation of the challenges and risks involved in beginning to farm; and familiarity with the many resources available to beginning farmers, including training opportunities. Attendees are encouraged to tap in to the resources available from the Small Farms Program, including the seasonal publication, Small Farm Quarterly and the newly revised “Guide to Beginning Farmers” published through the Beginning Farmer Project.
Weekly guest speakers include some of New York State’s most outstanding small farm entrepreneurs, including Karma Glos from Kingbird Farm in Berkshire, who recently shared with students her systems for raising organic eggs, meats, produce, and value-added items produced with power from her Belgian and Haflinger draft horses.
Other small farm superstars on the teaching line-up include Jim Hayes of Sapbush Hollow Farm in Warnerville, John and Jen Bokaer-Smith of West Haven Farm in Ithaca, Fay Benson of the NY Organic Dairy Initiative, Monika Roth of Tompkins County Cooperative Extension and Mike Baker, NYS Extension Beef Specialist. At the class’s conclusion, students will have gained insight into many different kinds of enterprises and marketing strategies, from CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) to grass fed meats, U-pick strawberries to small dairy opportunities and agro-forestry.
Although an introductory survey course, Exploring the Small Farm Dream directs students toward plenty of opportunities to continue their learning. Be it on-farm internships, on-line beginning farmer courses, or workshops offered through extension agents, the Small Farms Program will continue to support these fledgling farmers with the resources they need as they transition out of the classroom and onto the land.
For additional ag-related news and events by email:
Agricultural community and economic development news and events: Community Food
and Agriculture Program, hmm1@cornell.edu
Consumer and public education news and events: NY Farms! News To Share, nyfarms@nyfarms.info
Eastern NY, MA and VT news and events: Regional Farm and Food Project, billie@farmandfood.org
Policy-related news and alerts: National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture,
campaign@sustainableagriculture.net
