Dear Friends,

Greetings from BAV in the new year! We hope you had time for rest and renewal over the holidays - time to connect with what feeds you.

Here at BAV, our farmers and food producers are always our main inspiration. They're amazing people running life-sustaining businesses. In this month's newsletter, we are privileged to highlight four exciting projects our clients are working on right now. We feel lucky to have played a role in helping these projects get off the ground - and we are learning so much from the determination, creativity, and acumen of our clients.

The first two weeks of 2026 have seen such profound turmoil and shock nationally and internationally that it feels impossible not to acknowledge that broader picture. Everything in our world is connected. Our work at BAV, like the work of our farmers and partners, is impacted tangibly and intangibly by the volatile and hate-filled politics of our era.

Yet BAV's mission is not to solve the big problems all at once - if only we could! - but to work away, day by day, at supporting our local farms and strengthening the livelihoods of our local farmers. We trust that our work helps create a thriving agricultural economy and vibrant rural community - one in which we live together as interdependent neighbors, collaborators, and friends.

Thank you for being part of this work, and for being part of the better world we are working toward together, one step at a time.

Warm regards,

Rebecca Busansky

Executive Director

Photo: Young farmer-in-training at Beavertides Farm, Falls Village, CT

WHAT'S NEW: CLIENT HIGHLIGHTS

Major step forward for Reed Farm and regional poultry

Reed Farm in Sunderland, MA, is taking a major step forward this year by transitioning their poultry processing facility to USDA inspection, expanding access to federally inspected processing for poultry farmers across the region. This milestone reflects Reed’s continued investment in compliance, quality, and capacity, while preserving the farmer-centered values that have defined their work. Looking ahead, Reed Farm is laying the groundwork to expand value-added processing, opening new market opportunities for local producers and strengthening the regional meat value chain.

–Jake Levin, BAV Local Food Systems Program Manager

Photo: Kat Chang and Peter Laznicka, Jim Gipe photo/Pivot Media

'Beetle beating' at MX Morningstar

MX Morningstar Farm - a 50-acre organic vegetable farm in Claverack, NY - is trialing novel organic pest control equipment this year. They will join a handful of innovative farms across the Northeast testing the use of mechanical "beetle beater" units as a pesticide-free way of removing Colorado potato beetles and ensuring a good potato harvest. The Colorado potato beetle has long been a challenge for potato growers, and organic potato producers in the Northeast have had a shrinking tool box to manage this pest. BAV is excited to support MX Morningstar in this project, including partnering with local researchers to quantify the effectiveness of the technology in the field. BAV will also be hosting a workshop on this project later in 2026. Minimizing risk for farmer innovation is an important part of our work, and we're grateful to be collaborating with MX Morningstar as they improve the economic and ecological outcomes of their operations.

–Ben Crockett, BAV Climate Smart Agriculture Program Manager 

Transformative infrastructure project for QTBIPOC farmers

Webatuck Valley Farm Collaborative - which includes Rock Steady Farm, WILDSEED Community Farm & Healing Village, Sweet Freedom Farm, and Catalyst Collaborative Farm - is breaking ground on an exciting infrastructure project in 2026 that will transform support for small to mid-sized QTBIPOC farmers in the Hudson Valley and beyond. With funding from the USDA AMS Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program, they're creating a first-of-its-kind food hub by renovating two barns - one with expanded cold storage and wash-pack equipment, and another with a commercial kitchen and grain mill. This shared processing infrastructure will expand the capacity of over a dozen QTBIPOC-led farms to wash, store, and process food year-round. This is an ambitious and exciting project that is investing in a more resilient future where the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC farmers across the region can enter a food system designed for their success. For those wanting to learn more or support the build, please email felicia@wildseedcommunity.org.

–Dan Carr, BAV Outreach & Technical Assistance Manager

Photo courtesy of Webatuck Valley Farm Collaborative

Expansion at Catskill Packing

Our friends at Catskill Packing in Delaware County, NY, are expanding their slaughter and cut and wrap facility in Sidney Center, adding much-needed processing capacity for livestock farmers in the Hudson Valley and beyond. They plan to transition to a USDA-inspected facility for beef, goat, and lamb later this year. BAV is supporting Catskill's plans, alongside several other agriculture and economic development organizations, as part of our multi-year efforts to support regional meat processors.

–Shannon Smith, BAV Lending & Finance Director

MARKETING AT FARMERS MARKETS:

FREE WORKSHOPS!

Join BAV for two FREE online workshops geared to farmers who sell at farmers markets as well market managers. See details in flyers below.

➡️ January 28: Marketing Tips for Selling at a Farmers Market - register here!

➡️ February 11: Data-Driven Farmers Markets: Using POS Systems to Inform Market Practices - register here!

OUT & ABOUT

Rebecca Busansky attended Harold Grinspoon Foundation's Farmer Appreciation Party honoring and recognizing local farmers and promoting the importance of local agriculture. The event highlighted how recipients of the 2025 Local Farmer Awards have put their grants to work to strengthen their operations. The deadline for the 2026 Local Farmer Awards is January 31. This grant program for on-farm capital improvements is open to all Western Massachusetts farmers - see details below.

FARMER EVENTS & RESOURCES

Workshops/Events

JANUARY

January 21, 6-8pm

Farm Payroll 101. Online workshop for farmers who want to gain confidence in setting up and managing their own payroll systems, and to better understand wage and labor laws.

January 26, February 23 & March 23, 9:30am-3:30pm

Farm Succession School - Land for Good. Three-day winter course for senior farmers and farm partners to learn about succession planning, clarify goals and next steps, and review documents needed for a smooth transition. Registration deadline January 16. MDAR Office, West Springfield, MA. $100.

January 29, 6-7pm

Maple Sector Energy Efficiencies Webinar hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties. Get informed on equipment upgrades and recommendations for maple energy efficiency.

January 29 & 30, 1-3pm

Virtual Farm Law Primer offered by Glynwood. In this two-part webinar, attorneys will guide participants through the considerations necessary to establish and maintain a legally compliant farm business and navigate land access. 

January 30 & 31

Northeast Grazing & Livestock Conference in Manchester, NH. In-person registration ends TODAY, January 15! Organized by the New England Grazing Network, the region's largest grazing conference for practical education, real connection, and pasture-based strategies built for Northeast farms.

FEBRUARY

Thursdays, February 5 to March 5, noon-1pm

Winter Webinar Series from the Legal Food Hub. Free webinar series to inform farmers, food entrepreneurs, and food and farm organizations about important legal topics relevant to their businesses.

February 10, 10:30am-4pm

Connecticut Soil Health Symposium in Meriden, CT. Farmer-to-farmer symposium organized by American Farmland Trust and Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development Area. Learn and network with soil-health oriented livestock and vegetable farmers across southern New England. Register by February 3.

February 11, 1-2:30pm

New England Regional Milkshed Workshop - online workshop hosted by University of Vermont researchers. Participants will identify challenges and possible solutions for New England’s dairy industry.

February 18, 10am-noon (first of series)

Tri-state SARE Project Webinar Series focused on livestock carcass performance. First webinar: "Animal Physiology's Role in Carcass Performance." Offered by UConn Extension.

February 25, 3-5pm

Cash Flow Budgeting - MDAR Winter Workshop, online. Participants will be walked through the process of creating a cash flow budget using their historical financials.

February 26

Mass Farmers Markets' 2026 Farmers Market Conference at Clark University in Worcester, MA. Hear from market managers and partners about topics facing farmers markets today. Includes facilitated discussions and networking opportunities. $70 nonmembers, $55 members.

February 28

NOFA/Mass Winter Conference: Healthy Soils in Action at UMass Amherst. Exploring what makes soil thrive: from the rich microbial life underground to the human communities and cultural practices that sustain it above. Sliding scale tickets.

Grants/Resources

Sky High Farm's grant application window is open through January 20. They are offering grants to support individuals or organizations working in agriculture, food justice, and/or land sovereignty. Applications will be prioritized among those who identify as LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, AAPI, or other intersectional identities.

Local Farmer Awards from the Harold Grinspoon Foundation are open through January 31. These awards are for capital improvements on farms in Western Massachusetts. Grant amounts are up to $2,500. Past projects have focused on climate resilience, market access, farm capacity, time and labor savings, and animal health, safety, and nutrition.

National Women in Agriculture Study - survey opportunity for women involved in agriculture open through March 31. This study will explore women’s leadership and involvement across the industry, identify barriers and opportunities, and provide actionable insights to strengthen engagement and support systems.

We all have a stake in local agriculture! Farmers need our support more than ever - give today to be a part of BAV's vital work to serve farmers and strengthen our local food system.

CONNECT WITH US!

info@berkshireagventures.org | berkshireagventures.org