2007-2008 Grants Projects
2006-2007 Grants Projects
2005-2006 Grants Projects
2004-2005 Grants Projects
2003-2004 Grants Projects
2002-2003 Grants Projects
2001-2002 Grants Projects
2000-2001 Grants Projects
Other Grant Opportunities
The Cornell Small Farms Program is pleased to announce its 2007-8 grant awards for innovative small farm education. These grants are made available to Cornell Cooperative Extension educators with creative program ideas that specifically target local small farm businesses and the families who live and work on these farms.
This year we received twenty proposals seeking a total of $83,715. Two teams from the Cornell Small Farm Task Group (including five small farm operators) reviewed the proposals. Eleven projects were funded for a total of $30,000. Since 2000, 97 projects have been funded for a total of $224,000. Funds for this program are provided by Helene Dillard, the Associate Dean for Extension at Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Three of the funded projects are new statewide “Work Teams” organized specifically in response to priorities identified by participants at the 2006 Small Farms Summit last November. Eight other projects were also funded this year. For more information on a specific project or Work team contact the project leader listed below
Cornell Small Farms Work Team on Grasslands Utilization
Fay Benson, CCE - Cortland County
afb3@cornell.edu
607-753-5213
Will identify and advocate for needed communication, education, research and policy initiatives to allow for the production and marketing of livestock products which utilize New York’s grasslands in a fashion which is financially, environmentally, and socially sustainable.
Cornell Small Farms Work Team on Local Markets
Andy Turner, CCE - Greene County
ast4@cornell.edu
518-622-9820x35
Will bring together agencies and organizations which are already working to strengthen producer-consumer connections, in order to: 1) increase awareness of each other; 2) facilitate shared learning and collaboration; 3) identify opportunities for and challenges to creating local/regional food marketing innovations; and 4) develop a strategic plan for enhancing these connections and, in turn, strengthening NY small farms and communities.
Cornell Small Farms Work Team on Livestock Processing
tatiana Stanton
tls7@cornell.edu
607-254-6024
Will work to: 1) improve communication and understanding among stakeholders within NY's small-scale livestock processing industries; 2) publicize processing resources and put together additional resource lists as needed; 3) identify current regulatory challenges and opportunities and plan a course of action.
Chenango County Small Farming Careers
Janet Pfromm
jlp27@cornell.edu
607-334-5841x12
Project will serve as a career exploration program, on a local level, to allow teenage 4-H members the opportunity to explore all aspects of a particular type of small farm business by working directly with farmers and other mentors.
Cayuga County Farmer Discussion Groups - Year 2
Christina Selvek
cjs268@cornell.edu
315-255-1183
Project will support the continuation of three discussion groups (Grazing, Local Foods/Local Markets, and Beef groups) to exchange ideas and information about innovative marketing, husbandry and business management methods.
Broome County Farmer-to-Farmer Discussion Groups
Laura Biasillo
lw257@cornell.edu
607-723-5951
Project will establish up to three Farmer-to-Farmer discussion groups on: Value-Added Processing for Dairy Producers (sheep, goats and cattle); Grass-fed Meats; and/or Diversification of an On-Farm Enterprise.
Chautauqua County Small Dairy Farm Manager Discussion Groups -Year 2
David Munsee,
dm276@cornell.edu, 716-664-9502x202
Lisa Kempisty, ljk4@cornell.edu, 716-664-9502x203
Project will continue to provide an informal educational opportunity for farm owners and family members of small sized dairy farms to meet and share experiences.
How-to Guide to Produce a Local Food/Wine/Fiber Festival
Monika Roth
mr55@cornell.edu
607-272-2292
Project will produce a detailed “how-to” guide including tips and personal experience on the development, management and implementation of a local agricultural/culinary tourism festival highlighting small producers.
Fulton-Montgomery Counties Direct Marketers Group
Marilyn Smith
mjs225@cornell.edu
518-762-3909x106
Project will establish a network of small farm operators/producers who are interested in sharing ideas and learning skills for success at farmers' markets and ag events such as the Mohawk Valley Spring & Winter Markets and Sundae on the Farm.
NY Horse Farm Managers Association
Fiona Farrell
fsf2@cornell.edu
518-885-8998x232
Project will grow an association for horse farmer owners and managers; a support, mentoring and education network that previously has been lacking in NYS.
Seneca County Grazing Discussion Group
Mike Dennis
mgd3@cornell.edu
315-539-9251
Project will bring together farmers with similar management strategies, i.e. grazing, to share information via the discussion group setting.