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June 1, 2018

The Small Farms update summarizes announcements, resources, opportunities and upcoming events relevant to small farms. Please feel free to share this information in newsletters, email lists, etc. If you would like to submit an item for an upcoming issue,  please visit our new online form. Subscribe here.  Thank you again for your interest and support of small farms in New York.   

Anu Rangarajan,  Director, Cornell Small Farms Program
Small Farms Program Highlights
Do You Serve Refugees in Agriculture? 
 
Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming and the Cornell Small Farms Program are seeking to identify organizations who are working with refugee populations engaged in agriculture in New York State. If this describes your organization, please take a minute to fill out a short questionnaire  by June 15th  describing your work. We will compile a Directory based on the responses and share back with all who provided information to increase networking and resource sharing.
Announcing the Baskets to Pallets Educator Cohort  
Thank you to all the applicants!  Over the next 2.5 years, members will have the opportunity to work closely to share knowledge and expertise, design and teach lesson plans, meet buyers, receive free coaching and 'big picture' perspectives on local food marketing trends from specialists, and trial strategies with local farmers seeking to enter intermediary markets. Click here to view the 14 members of the new Cohort. 
Announcements
barn farm landscape
Highest Ever Funding Dedicated to Protecting NY Farmland
In response to development pressures for farmers, a grant program with $38 million available has been created. Preemptive purchase rights are covered as a cost within the individual grants which is the first time that state financial assistance has been available to help with this cost. The preemptive purchase rights encourage agricultural land to remain in production and be sold to other farmers at the agricultural value of the land. Certain requirements must be met in order to be eligible for the financial assistance for preemptive purchase rights within the grant and this can be found in the " Funding Opportunities" section below within the Small Farms Update. 
Beef Producers Can Now Apply to New York State (NYS) Grown & Certified
NYS Grown & Certified promotes New York's agricultural producers and growers who adhere to food safety and environmental sustainability standards. Recently, the New York State Grown & Certified program has expanded to include beef producers. Participants must be local producers and their herd must have spent at least 2/3 of their lifetime in New York State. Producers interested in learning more about how to become NYS Grown & Certified can contact the Department of Agriculture and Markets at 518-457-7076, ext. 3 or email  NYSGrownAndCertified@agriculture.ny.gov. More information can also be found through the application to become certified  here. 
Events
Wyoming County Beekeepers - Beeyard Walk and Package Installation
June 4, 10:00 am. Nic's Bee Nook, 5884 East Road, Silver Springs, NY 14550
Join the Wyoming County Beekeepers for a beeyard walk and package installation. The event includes a hive visit, frames inspection and discussion, viewing of new splits and homemade yellow jacket traps that won't attract honeybees. The cost is $5.00 per person for non-CCE Enrollees and $3.00 per person for CCE Enrollees (there is an immediate family discount).  Contact Debra Welch with questions at 585-786-2251 x125 or e-mail 
djw275@cornell.edu Register with Lisa at 585-786-2251 x123 or   lma96@cornell.edu
Please note:  A beesuit and veil are required for this event
Accommodations for person with disabilities may be requested by contacting the CCE of Wyoming County office at (585) 786-2251 prior to the event.

Tractor Basics: Operation and Safety
June 16, 10:00 am-2:00 pm. Groundswell Incubator Farm, 225 South Fulton St., Ithaca, NY 
Liz Pickard of Groundswell Center Incubator Farm will lead a Tractor Basics Workshop. The deadline to register is June 13th with a sliding scale of $15-25 registration fee. No one will be turned away. Register  here.
Managing Pasture and Forage Quality to Meet the Nutritional Needs of Meat and Fiber Livestock
June 20, 1:00 pm-4:00pm.  Mack Brook Farm, 312 McEachron Hill Road, Argyle, New York
Join presenters Aaron Gabriel, Hank Bignell, Ken Wise, and farm hosts Kevin Jablonski and Karen Christensen to learn the nutritional needs for quality wool and how livestock urinate away their weight gains. Admission is free, but registration is requested.  More details can be found  here! Register online  here, by phone at (518) 765-3518, or by email at cce-caahp@cornell.edu. 
New York Soil Health Summit
July 18, 2018. Time TBD. Empire State Plaza, Downtown Albany, NY.
The first New York Soil Summit, organized by the New York Soil Health project, is for farmers, researchers, agriculture service providers, government agencies, non-profits and policy-makers interested in advancing soil health efforts across the state. Topics include: local experts/grower panel, research and policies relevant to soil health, and Soil Health Roadmap breakout sessions. Registration, summit agenda, and other details will be coming soon and will be updated here. For more information at this time, contact David Wolfe ( dww5@cornell.edu) or Aaron Ristow ( ajr229@cornell.edu). More information about the project can be found here. 
MANY MORE EVENTS at our Statewide Events Calendar.
Career, Etc. Opportunities
Dairy Grazing Livestock Cow Dairy Accelerator Program
Land O'Lakes, Inc. is now accepting applications for its Dairy Accelerator program, which provides support and mentorship to dairy entrepreneurs. The company must utilize dairy as a primary ingredient but can use any aspect of dairy including but not limited to: yogurt, cheese, whey or other milk-based proteins or ingredients. It's highly encouraged that new innovations not focus on butter. Selected participants will receive a $25,000 stipend in order to attend. The accelerator program will provide mentorship and seminars including finance, brand building, manufacturing, sales, and leadership development.  The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. CDT June 29, 2018. The accelerator program runs from mid-September to mid-December 2018 and will be held in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. More information and the link to apply can be found here.
4-H Agriculture in the Classroom Educator

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County has an opening for a part-time (35 hrs per week) 4-H Youth Development Educator.   This educator is responsible to serve as a member of the 4-H Youth Development team to assist with planning, development, implementation and evaluation of the 4-H Youth Development programs. Educator will be responsible for promoting program objectives and plans in all areas of 4-H Youth Development programming with emphasis on Agriculture in the Classroom, Career Explorations, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), Life Skills and Workforce Preparation, as well as Community Service and Leadership. Individuals interested in this position should apply online. A link to the full position description and application process is available  here . The posting closes on June 12th.
carrot, vegetable, hands
Finger Lakes Eat Smart NY Garden Educator

This educator is responsible for delivery of established Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP-Ed) Community and School Garden PSE (Policy, Systems and Environment) plan with the goal of improving access to and consumption of vegetables and fruits with SNAP and SNAP eligible groups through edible gardens. This individual will be employed and supervised by Tompkins County CCE but will be located and work out of the Monroe County CCE offices for the convenience of the program. This position is part-time. Questions in advance of application should be directed to Josh Dolan, School and Community Garden Specialist, 607-272-2292 or email jd285@cornell.edu. Individuals interested in this position should apply online. A link to the full position description and application process is available  here. The posting will remain open until there is a suitable pool of candidates.
Dirt Capital Partners Farmer Advisor
Dirt Capital Partners is a for profit mission-driven investment firm, investing in farmland in lease-to-own partnerships sustainable farmers in the Northeast United States. They are seeking an experienced agricultural professional to coordinate activities in New York State. The right candidate will have experience farming AND as a lender and/or business advisor to farmers. The hire will be responsible for developing new relationships and projects with farmers, and overseeing a growing portfolio of existing projects. The NY Farmer Advisor should be based in Eastern or Central NY or willing to relocate to the region, with a preference for the Capital Region or mid-Hudson Valley. This is an opportunity to join a small, dynamic team at the cutting edge of alternative agricultural finance, providing support to farmers with ecological methods. The full job description can be found  here.
Farm to Institution New York State (FINYS) Manager
The FINYS manager will play a lead role in coordinating the FINYS intitiave and developing and implementing associated projects to increase market opportunities for farmers. FINYS is focused on three areas: advancing public policy campaigns, educating institutions about buying locally, and inspiring commitment and framing success. Learn more and apply  here.
farm, silo, barn
Full Time Assistant Farm Manager
New Pond Farm Education Center, a non-profit environmental education center and working farm, is seeking a full-time Assistant Farm Manager. The farm is 102 acres and located in West Redding, CT. Responsibilities will include: care of farm animals, buildings, and property; milking and processing milk for state licensed dairy; haying, wood splitting, and equipment maintenance; helping with programs. Qualifications necessary: strong communication skills; a degree in agriculture or related field, or prior dairy farm experience; knowledge of machine maintenance, "light carpentry and plumbing" capabilities. Benefits: competitive salary; two-bedroom apartment on site; health insurance and a retirement plan. For more details or to send your resume contact Ann Taylor: ann@newpondfarm.org.
ARE YOU HIRING? If you have a job opportunity that you would like to submit to the Small Farms Bi-Monthly Update, please write a detailed 125 word description and submit it here !
Funding
Funding Opportunities
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NE SARE) Grant 
Northeast SARE's Research and Education Grant program funds projects (with or without an applied research component) that result in gains in farmer knowledge and skills applied to make changes that lead to greater sustainability throughout the Northeast region.  Projects must explore, improve, or expand on practices or approaches that address the three tenets of sustainable agriculture: environmental quality, financial viability, and social sustainability/ quality of life issues.  Preproposals are required for Research and Education grants. The preproposal is a preliminary concept document that allows SARE reviewers to select the most promising projects to be invited to submit full proposals. The deadline for 2019 Research and Education Grant preproposals is  July 10, 2018. Learn more about the program here.
Farmland Protection Implementation Grant
tractor, field, row The Farmland Protection Implementation Grant program has individual grants of up to $2 million available to help offset the costs of conservation easement projects that protect viable agricultural land from being converted to non-agricultural use. Municipalities, counties, Soil and Water Conservation Districts and land trusts are eligible to apply. The application deadline is  August 31, 2018  and the Request for Proposals can be found  here.  All project proposals must be submitted electronically through the  New York State Grants Gateway
Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) Stakeholders Conference Scholarship Application

The 2018 Farmer Veteran Stakeholders Conference will be held on Nov 14-17, 2018 in Kansas City, MO.  Farmer veterans who would like to attend this year's Stakeholders Conference may now apply for a scholarship for travel and lodging. Applications must be submitted no later than  Saturday, September 1 . I ndividual scholarships may be awarded to FVC Veteran Members only. The number and value of individual awards will be based on available funding. NY Based Farmer Veteran Service Providers who need assistance in attending the conference can email Dean at drk5@cornell.edu. Apply now.
Latest Resources
Farmland, Farm Employment, and Training Program Locator for Veterans

ATTRA's new national database aims to be a one-stop shop for information related to military veterans in agriculture. Farmers who want to employ veterans can list jobs, landowners who want to help veterans get started farming can list farmland available to veterans, organizations can list agriculture training programs for veterans, and veterans who are already farming can list their farms. View the map here to see listings in your area.
Integrated Pest Management Tip Sheet Helps Keep Gophers Under Control

Gophers are more than simple nuisances. The burrowing rodents that can cause significant damage on agricultural operations. "Gophers: Vertebrate IPM Tip Sheet" by NCAT Agriculture Specialist Martin Guerena briefly discusses management options, including habitat modification, exclusion, repellents, predators, traps, baiting, and crop rotation. It also shows how to identify gopher mounds and offers an extensive list of resources. Access the tip sheet online here.
How to Use Social Media for Your Farm Business
This interactive workbook is designed to provide business benefits with the small farmer in mind. The workbook focuses on creating and using dominate social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. The workbook is designed for all skill levels, to help make the most of social media marketing, without making the task too difficult, and in turn offers farm benefits through sales, interest, new and repeat customers. Check out  How to Use Social Media for Your Farm Business  online for free.
Cultivating Climate Resilience on Farms and Ranches
A new publication from Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE) highlights strategies to manage climate risk within a farm or ranch operation and focuses on holistic solutions to improve resiliency. A free copy of this publication can be downloaded or printed at this link or by calling (301) 779-1007. This resource is also available to educators in quantity for use in educational workshops, classes, or tours. 

Get Connected!
Need personal help?
Sometimes local questions are best answered by your neighborhood Cornell Cooperative Extension agent. Check out our county-by-county listing of small farm agents here. You can also get to know our Cornell Small Farms Program  staff, or contact us. Just starting to farm? We have an extensive resources available in the " Plan Your Farm" section of our website.
About
SFP Small Farms Program Logo
The Small Farms Update is intended as a resource for farmers and agricultural service providers in New York and the Northeast, and is provided to you by Cornell Small Farms Program. We envision a future where diverse and vibrant urban and rural farms build human capacity, revitalize communities, supply regional food systems, and foster ecological resilience in a changing world. The Cornell Small Farm Program is a joint effort of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Cornell Cooperative Extension.