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Dear Friends,
We have exciting news! BAV has launched a brand-new, cohort-based farmer education program called the Farm Business Accelerator — and we are now accepting applications from interested farmers in our Berkshire-Taconic region.
BAV’s Farm Business Accelerator brings together two of our most powerful “farmer-tested” tools: one-on-one technical assistance (TA) for individualized support and farmer cohorts for peer learning and community building. The program will kick off on November 12, 2026, and will run until late 2028 with workshops, farm visits, and TA consultations scheduled throughout the program.
Our goal is to create a sustained, rigorous, and supportive learning experience that unfolds over the next two years — meeting farmers where they are, and helping take them where they want to go. Participating farmers will gain both a broad and deep grasp of goal-setting, long-term planning, financial record keeping, and more; the program is strongly hands-on and rooted in the practical and actionable. What we aim to “accelerate” with this program is learning, experience, confidence, and peer relationships — and, ultimately, the resilience of individual local farms and our farming community as a whole.
If you’re a farmer in Berkshire, Columbia, Dutchess, or Litchfield counties whose farm has been operating for at least three years, we encourage you to apply! Links to more details follow below.
BAV is deeply grateful to Vikki and Brian Fairbank for their generous sponsorship of this program. They share our commitment to helping local farmers thrive and building a stronger agricultural sector in our region. We also appreciate the perspectives and guidance of the Farm Business Accelerator Advisory Group, a team of six farmers and two service providers who continue to be vital in shaping the goals and content of this program. Finally, our thanks to special advisor Don Leab, whose long-term vision and enthusiasm have been invaluable.
While the Farm Business Accelerator is new, it also builds on and expands BAV’s extensive experience working with farmers across our region. We are thrilled to take this next step in supporting local farmers, and we can’t wait to see how participants learn and grow together!
Best wishes,
| | Your support for BAV makes programs like the Farm Business Accelerator and our core services to local farmers possible. Please consider making a gift today. | | Banner photo: Taking the long view from the top of Lila's Mountain Farm, Great Barrington, MA | | FARM BUSINESS ACCELERATOR: LAUNCHED! | | |
Farmers in the Berkshire-Taconic region — join BAV in building practical, farm-specific business and financial planning skills in our new cohort-based Farm Business Accelerator program. We invite you to learn more at the links below and by downloading (and sharing!) our flyer.
đźšś Program overview: Check out our webpage for full details.
đź“… Info session: Tuesday, August 25, 7-8pm over Zoom. Register here! Interested participants who are not available during that time can sign up for a recording of the session.
🧑‍🌾 Application: Apply here! Application deadline is October 15, 2026; priority deadline is September 15.
ℹ️ For more information: Read our FAQs or email Program Lead Rose Cherneff.
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Join BAV and partners for the 2nd annual Fodder: Stories from the Fields, coming soon on Sunday, September 27. Farmers across the region will take the stage to draw the audience into the fascinating, humorous, and sometimes shocking work of being a farmer in the Northeast. Storytelling maven Sheela Clary will MC. This year’s farmer storytellers include Mary and Beatrice Berle, Elizabeth Keen, Michael Mugridge, Krysia Kurz, Ashni Sunder, youth farmers, and others. Enjoy locally sourced food and social time after the stories.
What: Fodder: Stories from the Fields, 2026
When: Sunday, September 27, 3-5pm. Doors open at 2:30pm.
Where: April Hill, 62 Undermountain Road, South Egremont, MA
Tickets: $15 for general public, FREE for farmers (but you must register to save your spot). Register here!
Info: samantha@greenagers.org; 413-644-9090
The afternoon is co-produced by Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, Berkshire Grown, BRIDGE, Farmsteads for Farmers, and Greenagers.
A special thank you to Housatonic Heritage and Guido’s Fresh Marketplace for their support.
| | Photo: Farmer Amanda Freund tells a dramatic story at last year’s inaugural Fodder event | | |
As a member of the steering committee for the New England Grazing Network, BAV is excited to share the network’s 2026 Luminary Roadshow Series featuring Joshua Greene from Trees for Graziers. The series consists of three on-farm, full-day workshops located in Maine, New Hampshire, and Eastern New York. Farmers and service providers will have the chance to explore how silvopasture systems can improve livestock performance, farm resilience, and long-term profitability.
The Eastern New York workshop, held at Breadtree Farms in Salem, NY, is closest to BAV’s service area. This workshop is being offered on Friday, September 4, from 10am to 3pm. Click here for details and to register!
| | FARMERS MARKET WEEK: AUGUST 2-8 | |
Do you know? August 2-8, 2026, is National Farmers Market Week! This celebration of farmers markets highlights the vital role they play in our local food systems. Here in BAV’s service area, farmers markets are key local food access points, community gathering spaces, and sales channels for farmers. As the summer season reaches its peak and outdoor markets are buzzing, you can support your local farmers — and join the fun — by making sure you stop by and pick up the latest fresh and local produce, dairy, meats, and more!
Looking for a nearby market? Find one here:
Berkshire County | Litchfield County | Columbia and Dutchess counties
BAV is proud to support SNAP matching at 10 Berkshire-area farmers markets through our Market Match Fund. Click here to learn more about this vital food access program.
| | BAV staff and Board have taken part in a variety of regional events and gatherings this summer. One highlight was our “Beetle Beating” workshop at MX Morningstar Farm to demonstrate how this innovative pest management technology for organic operations works against the Colorado potato beetle in the field! | | Lila's Mountain Farm Tour photo by Don Perdue | | FARMER EVENTS & RESOURCES | | |
Workshops and Events
Thursday, August 20, 11am-2pm
Berkshire County Farm Bureau Summer Picnic & Potluck. High Lawn Farm, Lee, MA. Free; public welcome. RSVP by August 14 to Missy Leab.
Sunday, August 23, 1-5pm
Open House at Ioka Valley Farm. Celebrate the 90th Year of the Leab Family farming at Ioka. Farm tours, refreshments, and more. Free. RSVP by August 17 to Missy Leab.
Thursday, August 27, 7-8:15pm (online)
Ask Us Anything: Preparing Your Soil Health for 2027. Webinar presented by UConn and partners featuring soil health experts answering participants’ questions.
Monday, August 31, 4-6pm
Food Safety Farm Tour at Red Shirt Farm. Presented by Berkshire Grown. $30. Dinner to follow tour.
Friday, September 4, 10am-3pm
New England Grazing Network’s 2026 Luminary Roadshow comes to Salem, NY. See previous section for more details.
Wednesday, September 16, 6:30-7:30pm (online)
Soil Health in Organic Systems, monthly soil health call with NOFA/Mass focused on on-farm processes and practices.
Various dates through October
NY Soil Health Field Days. 15+ field days across NY state featuring farmer-led tours and hands-on demos. Find upcoming dates and locations and registration details here.
Friday-Saturday, November 5-6
New York State Agritourism Conference. Presented by Cornell Cooperative Extension to help farms build and strengthen successful visitor experiences. Held in Geneva, NY; $125 for both days.
Friday, November 20, 12-3pm
Growing Homes 2026 Convening: Laying the Groundwork for Farmer Housing. A discussion for stakeholders in agriculture, housing, and land conservation. Poughkeepsie, NY. Free.
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Resources for Weather-Related Losses
Massachusetts - Disaster Relief Funds for 2023 and 2024 Losses
NOW OPEN: The Natural Disaster Recovery II (NDRII) Program for Agriculture provides financial assistance to aid MA agricultural operations that suffered weather-related losses in 2023 and 2024 to rebuild and recover. Crop, infrastructure, timber, and other losses totaling more than $2,500 may be eligible. Applications are open until September 30.
Connecticut - Disaster Relief Funds for 2023 and 2024 Losses
OPENING SOON: CT Farm Recovery & Support Block Grant Program was recently announced to assist agricultural producers impacted by eligible weather events in 2023 and 2024. Provides financial assistance to help CT farms recover from documented losses and restore operations. Application portal is still being finalized. First round applications anticipated fall of 2026, with payments in late fall 2026.
New York - Disaster Damage Portal for 2026 Losses
NOW OPEN: New York State Disaster Damage Portal for reporting agricultural damages related to extreme weather. Now gathering information for frost and freeze events from 4/19/26 through 4/21/26. Note that Columbia and Dutchess counties are among the NY counties eligible for emergency farm loans through the FSA for these frost and freeze events.
| | Your gift to BAV supports local farmers, expands local food access, and creates a more vibrant and viable local food system. During a time of challenge and change in our world, thank you for making a difference! | | | | |
