Progress 09/01/02 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Over the past ten years, the Small Farms Program has embraced the mission to support and encourage the sustainability of healthy, thriving small farms that contribute to food security, healthy rural communities, and the environment. To this end, we have fostered small farms focused research and extension programs and collaboration among CU\staff, CCE educators, small farm advocates and farmers. On February 29th, 2012, the Cornell Small Farms Program, in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension, hosted the 3rd Small Farms Summit. The Summit was a statewide, interactive gathering in which participants evaluate emerging opportunities and prioritize investments to enhance the viability of small farms. 150 farmers, educators, policy makers and community members gathered at 5 Cooperative Extension Offices around New York to pro-vide feedback locally and across the state. For the detailed report, survey summaries and videos visit http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/projects/summit/ The Small Farms Program continued funding and facilitating statewide Small Farms mini grant projects. The projects are from focus areas identified at the 2010 Small Farms Summit: Grassland management, livestock marketing, Small Dairy, Local Market Access and Growth, and Renewable Energy. Project teams consist of a cross section of the farm sector including farmers, agriculture educators and service providers, community development groups, agricultural non-profit organizations, and community members in New York State. Five projects were supported in 2012. The Cornell Small Farm Program hosted 3 on-farm renewable energy field days. The series offered "how-to" information on incorporating solar panels, wind turbines, radiant heat, passive solar and ecological stewardship practices into your farm or homestead. During these farmer-led, inspiring tours, participants learned about how to decide what renewable energy source is right for them; grants and loans available for financing; installers that work with farmers; and other sustainable production techniques. 2012 marks our 10th season of publishing the Small Farm Quarterly magazine, which reaches more than 17,000 farm and rural households from PA to ME. Contributions from a volunteer editorial team of 15 individuals from across the farm sector and 30 additional occasional writers make up content addressing a wide range of small farm issues, from local marketing to farm energy to urban agriculture. The monthly Small Farms Update, an e-newsletter which summarizes current news, resources, grants and SFP project results, attracted an additional 2000 sign-ups in 2010 for a current total of 5000 readers. Targeted press releases help promote relevant events or resources of interest to our small farm audience. Our two sister websites, the Cornell Small Farms Program and NE Beginning Farmer Project, continue to be our primary strategy for sharing information and resources to assist NY small farms. PARTICIPANTS: Anusuya Rangarajan serves as the Principal Investigator and Project Director for this effort. She is the director for the Cornell Small Farm Program. Matthew Goldfarb serves as the Extension Associate and Co-PD for this project, and the Cornell Small Farm Program. He supports the work teams, leads the Small Dairy Team and provides research support for qualitative analysis of survey data for all efforts. Violet Stone serves as program outreach coordinator, managing editor of the Small Farm Quarterly and Small Farm Update, and leads the Small Farm Energy Work Team. Erica Frenay is Project Coordinator for the Beginning Farmer Project, leading a team of 10 collaborators. Michelle Striney is Program Assistant for the Beginning Farmer Project, and leads project K-12 education efforts. Below is a list of organizations that participate in SFP actitivies: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Numerous small farm operators, USDA-NRCS, RC&D, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, 38 beginning farmer organizations from the Northeast, USDA-Farm Services Agency, Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, Penn State University, NYC Watershed Agricultural Council, Alfred State (SUNY). Training opportunities include strategies to enhance beginning farmer support, building local markets, enhancing livestock processing opportunities, organic dairy and vegetable production, grazing, small farm energy innovations and numerous topics related to sustainable agricultural production and marketing. TARGET AUDIENCES: Small farmers Extension Educators, Cornell Faculty, USDA staff supporting small farms, Private lending organizations supporting small farms, Non profit organizations supporting small farms, Organic dairy producers, Livestock processors, Agricultural policy makers, Beginning farmers, General public, Youth PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The following is a summary of the top 5 statewide priorities for investments to enhance the viability of small farms in New York selected by an audience of over 500 survey respondents and an additional 150 farmers, agriculture service providers, policy makers and other small farm supporters present at the 2012 NY Small Farms Summit. Develop FOOD DISTRIBUTION STRATEGIES (e.g. collaborative marketing, product pooling and trucking, food hubs) to expand small farm access to local and regional markets Researchers, Extension and Economic developers need to identify bottlenecks in local and regional food purchasing and distribution, and create and evaluate strategies that increase farmer/distributor/ customer connections. Extension needs to provide support and education for new distributor businesses and farmer networks to increase the likelihood of long-term success. DOCUMENT ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SMALL FARMS on their communities to increase investment in and support of small farms Researchers, Farmers, and Extension need to collaborate with local communities in developing methodologies and measurements of small farm economic impact to inform future investment decisions at the county, regional and state levels. Develop new and/or expand existing LIVESTOCK PROCESSING FACILITIES Technical schools, Colleges, and Extension need to offer a variety of educational programs on how to open and manage small-scale slaughter & processing facilities and how producers and processors can work more effectively together. Rules/regulations for small producers/processors need to be clarified, streamlined, consistent and scaled appropriately to serve the growing local meat industry. Identify ALTERNATIVE FINANCING STRATEGIES accessible to small farms Extension needs to collaborate with agricultural funders and banks to provide educational programs, materials and guidance to assist small farmers in navigating sources for traditional loans such as banks, FSA, USDA and non-traditional sources such as community investment funds (ie, slow food) and venture capitalists. Advocate for GREATER INVESTMENT IN SMALL FARM SERVICES (i.e. research, extension and education) Researchers and Extension need to develop new techniques for more efficient small-scale production and marketing. Cornell should take a leading role in research and education on rebuilding the local food economy and economic issues that impact agriculture and distribution. Farmers are losing access to critical information because of defunding extension services. Increasing funding for Extension will bring back critical services and result in increased farmer viability. The Cornell Small Farm Program on-farm renewable energy field days hosted 98 participants. The series offered "how-to" information on incorporating solar panels, wind turbines, radiant heat, passive solar and ecological stewardship practices into your farm or homestead All are using sustainable energy. Solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wind turbines, radiant heat, and a variety of other ecological production techniques are empowering these farms to stabilize their energy bills into the future and conserve resources for the next generation.
Publications
- Anu Rangarajan and Violet Stone, Small Farm Quarterly Magazine,Country Folks Publications. Violet Stone Farms Monthly E-Newsletter, Cornell Small Farms Program. Erica Frenay, Lynn Bliven, tatian Stanton New York State: On Farm Poultry Slaughter Guidelines: Food Safetly and Best Management Practices for Farmers Processing less than 1000 birds per year. Cornell Small Farms Program. Anu Rangarajan, Violet Stone, Matthew Goldfarb, Erica Frenay, Michelle Podolec. 2012
- Priorities for Investment and Action to Enhance Viability of New York's Small Farms. Cornell Small Farms Program December 2012
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The mission of the Small Farms Program is to support and encourage the sustainability of healthy, thriving small farms that contribute to food security, healthy rural communities, and the environment, with detail at www.smallfarms.cornell.edu. To this end, we have fostered small farms focused research, extension programs, networking and collaboration across NYS. As part of our strategic planning, we hosted NY Small Farm Summits in 2006, 2007, and 2010, which engaged stakeholders across NYS. At these summits, five priority areas to enhance small farm viability were identified. We provide small grants to each of these teams (Small Farm Energy, Local Markets (2 teams), Small Dairy and Livestock Processing) to address the summit priorities. The teams produced a series of on farm workshops, on-line and printed resources and video training that were hosted and disseminated through county extension offices, at conferences and through our website. The NY Beginning Farmer Project secured USDA funding for its regional activities (fifth work team). The Northeast Beginning Farmer Project unveiled a new website with expanded tools and a wealth of new resources. http://nebeginningfarmers.org The new site features a growing selection of video footage capturing experienced farmers and their successful production techniques in action. Included in the library are video interviews with farmers sharing advice on profitability, choosing an enterprise, evaluating land, and much more. The New Farmer Hub helps farmers draft a pre-business plan with the help of tutorials and interactive worksheets. Users can search our map to locate service providers offering customized one-on-one support. In 2011 we have offered 10 online courses - including 4 new topics - to help beginning farmers continue their educational growth. In addition, we hosted professional development training for 65 beginning farmer specialists from around the Northeast. This included sessions on economic impact evaluation, land access, and beginning farmer training criteria and evaluation methods. The overall program's audience is primarily extension educators, but also includes CALS faculty and staff, non-governmental organizations, local planners and economic developers and farmers, and NRCS, Rural Development, SWCD, RC&D staff, and farmers. Our outreach includes coordinating the writing and editing of the Small Farm Quarterly, as a special insert in Country Folks magazine. Our website continues to be a clearinghouse of small farms information, and a gateway to many other Cornell programs and online resources. Our monthly electronic newsletter, called the Small Farms Update, shares important news and events. Research includes a NRI funded research effort focused on evaluating the potential for agricultural clusters to enhance viability of small farms in the Northeast and agricultural education needs of black farmers in the New York. New program efforts include evaluating the economic impact of beginning farmers and adapting resources for minority farmers as well as urban and peri-urban small farms. PARTICIPANTS: Anusuya Rangarajan serves as the Principal Investigator and Project Director for this effort. She is the director for the Cornell Small Farm Program. Matthew Goldfarb serves as the Extension Associate and Co-PD for this project, and the Cornell Small Farm Program. He supports the work teams, leads the minority and urban farmer initiatives and provides research support for qualitative analysis of survey data for all efforts. Violet Stone serves as program outreach coordinator, managing editor of the Small Farm Quarterly and Small Farm Update, and leads the Small Farm Energy Work Team. Erica Frenay is Project Coordinator for the Beginning Farmer Project, leading a team of 10 collaborators. Michelle Striney is Program Assistant for the Beginning Farmer Project, and leads project K-12 education efforts. Below is a list of organizations that participate in SFP activities: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Numerous small farm operators, USDA-NRCS, RC&D, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, 82 beginning farmer organizations from the Northeast, USDA-Farm Services Agency, Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, Penn State University, NYC Watershed Agricultural Council, Alfred State (SUNY). TARGET AUDIENCES: Small farmers Extension Educators, Cornell Faculty, USDA staff supporting small farms, Private lending organizations supporting small farms, Non profit organizations supporting small farms, Organic dairy producers, Livestock processors, Agricultural policy makers, Beginning farmers, General public, Youth. We also have over 300 BFs currently using our online resources to develop their farm plans (increasing at about 30/month) and 5,500 individuals accessing our on-line resources each month. Training opportunities include strategies to enhance beginning farmer support, building local markets, enhancing livestock processing opportunities, organic dairy and vegetable production, grazing, small farm energy innovations and numerous topics related to sustainable agricultural production and marketing. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The Small Farms Program builds collaborations aimed at leveraging all possible resources to enhance small farm economic viability, environmental stewardship and community relations. We work to understand the special research and education needs of these farmers and then cultivate teams of faculty and extension staff to address those needs. As a result of these efforts, thousands of small farmers have greater access to Cornell, CCE, USDA and other sources of research and educational information. Over 27,000 households receive research-based and farmer-generated information via Small Farm Quarterly. With each issue, 14-18 CCE educators and Cornell researchers, 4-6 agency/NGO staff, and 3-4 farmer-authors are enabled to reach and serve this small farm audience. Over 5,000 subscribers to our monthly email Small Farms Update have access to announcements, news, events, funding opportunities and educational resources. Our extensive web site averages 3,200 hits per week. Our program efforts have resulted in 88% of NY's county CCE offices conducting educational programs specific to small farms. Our work teams have provided testimony, state-wide action plans and educational events on key issues affecting grasslands utilization, livestock processing, small farm energy, local markets, and beginning farmers. Since the Beginning Farmer website launched 9 months ago, we have had nearly 57,400 visitors, averaging 180 visits per day. Several hundred people have created accounts on the site, and about half of these have completed 3 or more new farmer planning worksheets. In 2011 we have offered 10 online courses with an average of 30 participants per course - including 4 new topics - to help beginning farmers continue their educational growth. We do not offer any academic credit, but those who successfully complete a course will receive a certificate and are also eligible for Farm Service Agency (FSA) borrower training credit, which can improve eligibility to receive a low-interest FSA loan. We have distributed more than 6,000 hard copies of the Guide to Farming in NY, in addition to copies downloaded electronically, and have received very positive feedback from farmers. Overall, the Small Farm Program has succeeded in establishing a network of committed individuals who seek to enhance the profitability and sustainability of small farms in NY. We have demonstrated successful research and extension efforts to solve practical problems of these farmers. We believe that the diversity and innovation of these farmers can be engines for local economic development.
Publications
- Rangarajan, A. and V. Stone. 2011. Small Farm Quarterly. Provides technical information and resources on various issues relevant to small farms in the Northeast. Published in conjunction with Country Folks Magazine of Lee Publications. Also available at http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/quarterly/index.cfm.
- Stone, V. 2011. Cornell Small Farms Update. Monthly. Provides timely information on educational information, resources and workshops of interest to small farms. Via email and available at http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/news/updatearchive.cfm
- Goodsell, M. and T. Stanton. 2011. A Resource Guide to Direct Marketing Livestock and Poultry. Outlines regulations and strategies for successful direct marketing of animal products. Available at: http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pdfs/Resource%20Guide%20to%20Direct %20Marketing%20Meat%20and%20Poultry.pdf
- Roth, M. 2011. Guide to Farming in New York: What Every Ag Entrepreneur Needs to Know. This resource includes 33 fact sheets on all aspects of getting started or operating a farm in NY. Available at: http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/projects/LP/RG_Livestock_Poul try_2011.pdf
- Benson, A. 2011. Grazing Dairy Production Record. This resource was adatped from: Milk Production Records for Management Control. The publication is intended to help small dairy producers monitor performance to provide benchmarks for future improvements to health, production, inputs, and profits
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The mission of the Small Farms Program is to support and encourage the sustainability of healthy, thriving small farms that contribute to food security, healthy rural communities, and the environment, with detail at www.smallfarms.cornell.edu. To this end, we have fostered small farms focused research, extension programs, networking and collaboration across NYS. As part of our strategic planning, we hosted NY Small Farm Summits in 2006, 2007, and 2010, which engaged stakeholders across NYS. At these summits, five priority areas to enhance small farm viability were identified. We provide small grants to four work teams (Small Farm Energy, Grasslands Utilization, Local Markets and Livestock Processing) to create strategic plans for these priority areas. These plans have been published and distributed. Team outcomes for the next two years were generated at the 2010 Summit. The NY Beginning Farmer Project secured USDA funding for its regional activities (fifth work team). This project created five new online courses, including video and webinars to advance training of beginning farmers and high school students interested in agriculture. To understand needs of beginning farmers, we implemented an online survey that had 350 respondents. In addition, we hosted professional development training for 45 beginning farmer specialists from around the Northeast. This included sessions on impact evaluation, social networking, incubator development, farm financial analysis and grant writing. In 2010, we initiated a new team focused on small dairy viability. The overall program's audience is primarily extension educators, but also includes CALS faculty and staff, non-governmental organizations, local planners and economic developers and farmers, and NRCS, Rural Development, SWCD, RC&D staff, and farmers. Our outreach includes coordinating the writing and editing of the Small Farm Quarterly, as a special insert in Country Folks magazine. Our website continues to be a clearinghouse of small farms information, and a gateway to many other Cornell programs and online resources. Our monthly electronic newsletter, called the Small Farms Update, shares important news and events. Research includes a NRI funded research effort focused on evaluating the potential for agricultural clusters to enhance viability of small farms in the Northeast. New program efforts include evaluating and adapting resources for urban and peri-urban small farms. PARTICIPANTS: Anusuya Rangarajan serves as the Principal Investigator and Project Director for this effort. She is the director for the Cornell Small Farm Program. Matthew Goldfarb serves as the Extension Associate and Co-PD for this project, and the Cornell Small Farm Program. He supports the work teams, leads the Small Dairy Team and provides research support for qualitative analysis of survey data for all efforts. Violet Stone serves as program outreach coordinator, managing editor of the Small Farm Quarterly and Small Farm Update, and leads the Small Farm Energy Work Team. Erica Frenay is Project Coordinator for the Beginning Farmer Project, leading a team of 10 collaborators. Michelle Striney is Program Assistant for the Beginning Farmer Project, and leads project K-12 education efforts. Below is a list of organizations that participate in SFP actitivies: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Numerous small farm operators, USDA-NRCS, RC&D, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, 38 beginning farmer organizations from the Northeast, USDA-Farm Services Agency, Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, Penn State University, NYC Watershed Agricultural Council, Alfred State (SUNY). Training opportunities include strategies to enhance beginning farmer support, building local markets, enhancing livestock processing opportunities, organic dairy and vegetable production, grazing, small farm energy innovations and numerous topics related to sustainable agricultural production and marketing. TARGET AUDIENCES: Small farmers Extension Educators, Cornell Faculty, USDA staff supporting small farms, Private lending organizations supporting small farms, Non profit organizations supporting small farms, Organic dairy producers, Livestock processors, Agricultural policy makers, Beginning farmers, General public, Youth PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The Small Farms Program builds collaborations aimed at leveraging all possible resources to enhance small farm economic viability, environmental stewardship and community relations. We work to understand the special research and education needs of these farmers and then cultivate teams of faculty and extension staff to address those needs. As a result of these efforts, thousands of small farmers have greater access to Cornell, CCE, USDA and other sources of research and educational information. Over 27,000 households receive research-based and farmer-generated information via Small Farm Quarterly. With each issue, 14-18 CCE educators and Cornell researchers, 4-6 agency/NGO staff, and 3-4 farmer-authors are enabled to reach and serve this small farm audience. Over 4,000 subscribers to our monthly email Small Farms Update have access to announcements, news, events, funding opportunities and educational resources. Our extensive web site averages 3,200 hits per week. Our program efforts have resulted in 88% of NY's county CCE offices conducting educational programs specific to small farms. Our work teams have provided testimony, state-wide action plans and educational events on key issues affecting grasslands utilization, livestock processing, small farm energy, local markets, and beginning farmers. Our on-line survey of beginning farmers identified priority education areas as soil health, crop production strategies, identification of sustainable farming practices and their economics and impact, access to onfarm mentoring, and farm record keeping and decision support. A total of 150 people received training through our online courses. We have distributed more than 6,000 hard copies of the Guide to Farming in NY, in addition to copies downloaded electronically, and have received very positive feedback from farmers. Our new small dairy team has identifed priority areas for education and research. Our statewide work teams for developing local markets, improving livestock processing access, expanding use of idle grasslands and identifying renewable energy strategies have enhanced collaboration on these issues. Overall, the Small Farm Program has succeeded in establishing a network of committed individuals who seek to enhance the profitability and sustainability of small farms in NY. We have demonstrated successful research and extension efforts to solve practical problems of these farmers. We believe that the diversity and innovation of these farmers can be engines for local economic development.
Publications
- Rangarajan, A. and V. Stone. 2010. Small Farm Quarterly. Provides technical information and resources on various issues relevant to small farms in the Northeast. Published in conjunction with Country Folks Magazine of Lee Publications. Also available at http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/quarterly/index.cfm.
- Stone, V. 2010. Cornell Small Farms Update. Monthly. Provides timely information on educational information, resources and workshops of interest to small farms. Via email and available at http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/news/updatearchive.cfm
- Masler, A. and Bass, A. 2010 New York Farm Energy Innovators. Highlights six small farms and their strategies for conserving energy or converting to renewable fuel. Available at: http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/projects/workteams/energy/Ene rgyProfiles_2010.pdf
- Goodsell, M. and T. Stanton. 2010. A Resource Guide to Direct Marketing Livestock and Poultry. Outlines regulations and strategies for successful direct marketing of animal products. Available at: http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pdfs/Resource%20Guide%20to%20Direct %20Marketing%20Meat%20and%20Poultry.pdf
- Roth, M. 2010. Guide to Farming in New York: What Every Ag Entrepreneur Needs to Know. This resource includes 33 fact sheets on all aspects of getting started or operating a farm in NY. Available at: http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pdfs/GuidetoFarminginNYUpdated2-10. pdf
- Welch, D. 2010. Green Grass Green Jobs: Increasing Livestock Production on Underutilized Grasslands in NY. This report highlights research, policy and education needs to expand use of grasslands for livestock production. Available at: http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/projects/workteams/GU/Report. pdf
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Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The mission of the Small Farms Program is to support and encourage the sustainability of healthy, thriving small farms that contribute to food security, healthy rural communities, and the environment, with detail at www.smallfarms.cornell.edu. To this end, we have fostered small farms focused research, extension programs, networking and collaboration across NYS. As part of our strategic planning, we hosted the 2006 and 2007 NY Small Farm Summits, which engaged stakeholders across NYS. At these summits, priority areas to enhance small farm viability were identified. In 2008, we provide small grants to three work teams (Grasslands Utilization, Local Markets and Livestock Processing) to create strategic plans for these priority areas. These teams have increased the number of individuals participating in the SFP. The NY Beginning Farmer Project received competitive funding for its activities (fourth work team). In addition, we provided small grants to eight extension educators, to facilitate Farmer to Farmer learning groups. In this approach, the role of the Extension educator is not so much to deliver knowledge, but to facilitate the sharing of knowledge among farmers. As a result of this investment, we have seen enhanced skills among educators and success with discussion groups around the state. Our audience tends to be primarily extension educators, but also includes CALS faculty and staff, non governmental organizations, local planners and economic developers and farmers, and NRCS, Rural Development, SWCD, RC&D staff, and farmers. Our outreach includes coordinating the writing and editing of the Small Farm Quarterly, as a special insert in Country Folks magazine. Our website continues to be a clearinghouse of small farms information, and a gateway to many other Cornell programs and online resources. Our monthly electronic newsletter, called the Small Farms Update, shares important news and events. Research includes a NRI funded research effort focused on evaluating the potential for agricultural clusters to enhance viability of small farms in the Northeast. New program efforts include distance learning for value added dairy and beginning farmers. We also host a class, titled "Exploring the Small Farm Dream" that provides an opportunity for Cornell students to deepen their understanding of the opportunities and constraints of operating a small farm. PARTICIPANTS: Below is a list of organizations that participate in SFP actitivies: Cornell Cooperative Extension Small farm operators, NY USDA-NRCS, RC&D NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets USDA-Farm Services Agency Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Penn State University NYC Watershed Agricultural Council Alfred State (SUNY) Training opportunities include strategies to enhance beginning farmer support, building local markets, enhancing livestock processing opportunities, organic dairy and vegetable production, grazing, and numerous topics related to sustainable agricultural production and marketing. TARGET AUDIENCES: Small farmers Extension Educators, Cornell Faculty, USDA staff supporting small farms, Private lending organizations supporting small farms, Non profit organizations supporting small farms, Organic dairy producers, Livestock processors, Agricultural policy makers, Beginning farmers, General public, Youth PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The Small Farms Program builds collaborations aimed at leveraging all possible resources to enhance small farm economic viability, environmental stewardship and community relations. We work to understand the special research and education needs of these farmers and then cultivate teams of faculty and extension staff to address those needs. As a result of these efforts, thousands of small farmers have greater access to Cornell, CCE, USDA and other sources of research and educational information. Over 27,000 households receive research-based and farmer-generated information via Small Farm Quarterly. With each issue, 14-18 CCE educators and Cornell researchers, 4-6 agency/NGO staff, and 3-4 farmer-authors are enabled to reach and serve this small farm audience. Over 2,300 subscribers to our monthly email Small Farms Update have access to announcements, news, events, funding opportunities and educational resources. Our extensive web site averages 2,700 hits per week. Our grants program has resulted in 88% of NY's county CCE offices conducting educational programs specific to small farms. 30+ farmer discussion groups have been supported through grants. The 2007 Small Farms Summit engaged over 120 farmers, CU faculty, CCE educators, USDA & NYS agency NGO staff, and NGOs. It established a line of communication for small farmers to the NYS Agriculture Commissioner's office and the NYS Center for Dairy Excellence, and provided input for collaborative statewide Work Teams on Grasslands Utilization, Livestock Processing Issues, Local Markets, and Beginning Farmers. In the last 12 months, we have offered 6 Regional Beginning Farmer trainings this year. Several of these counties had never before held in-depth trainings, and Educators in those counties received intensive mentoring, enabling them to offer future trainings. Another 22 people received training through our first online course. We have distributed more than 4,000 hard copies of the Guide to Farming in NY, in addition to copies downloaded electronically, and have received very positive feedback from farmers. Our new organic dairy efforts include an education effort to help consumers identify NY organic milk, changes to Federal Order, and farm business trainings and consultations. Our statewide work teams for developing local markets, improving livestock processing access, expanding use of idle grasslands and identifying renewable energy strategies have enhanced collaboration on these issues. Overall, the Small Farm Program has succeeded in establishing a network of committed individuals who seek to enhance the profitability and sustainability of small farms in NY. We have demonstrated successful research and extension efforts to solve practical problems of these farmers. We believe that the diversity and innovation of these farmers can be engines for local economic development.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The mission of the Small Farms Program is to support and encourage the sustainability of healthy, thriving small farms that contribute to food security, healthy rural communities, and the environment, with detail at www.smallfarms.cornell.edu. To this end, we have fostered small farms focused research, extension programs, networking and collaboration across NYS. As part of our strategic planning, we hosted the 2006 and 2007 NY Small Farm Summits, which engaged stakeholders across NYS. At these summits, priority areas to enhance small farm viability were identified. In 2008, we provide small grants to three work teams (Grasslands Utilization, Local Markets and Livestock Processing) to create strategic plans for these priority areas. These teams have increased the number of individuals participating in the SFP. The NY Beginning Farmer Project received competitive funding for its activities (fourth work team). In addition, we provided small grants to eight extension educators, to facilitate Farmer to Farmer learning groups. In this approach, the role of the Extension educator is not so much to deliver knowledge, but to facilitate the sharing of knowledge among farmers. As a result of this investment, we have seen enhanced skills among educators and success with discussion groups around the state. Our audience tends to be primarily extension educators, but also includes CALS faculty and staff, non governmental organizations, local planners and economic developers and farmers, and NRCS, Rural Development, SWCD, RC&D staff, and farmers. Our outreach includes coordinating the writing and editing of the Small Farm Quarterly, as a special insert in Country Folks magazine. Our website continues to be a clearinghouse of small farms information, and a gateway to many other Cornell programs and online resources. Our monthly electronic newsletter, called the Small Farms Update, shares important news and events. Research includes a NRI funded research effort focused on evaluating the potential for agricultural clusters to enhance viability of small farms in the Northeast. New program efforts include distance learning for value added dairy and beginning farmers. We also host a class, titled "Exploring the Small Farm Dream" that provides an opportunity for Cornell students to deepen their understanding of the opportunities and constraints of operating a small farm. PARTICIPANTS: Below is a list of organizations that participate in SFP actitivies: Cornell Cooperative Extension Small farm operators, NY USDA-NRCS, RC&D NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets USDA-Farm Services Agency Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Penn State University NYC Watershed Agricultural Council Alfred State (SUNY) Training opportunities include strategies to enhance beginning farmer support, building local markets, enhancing livestock processing opportunities, organic dairy and vegetable production, grazing, and numerous topics related to sustainable agricultural production and marketing. TARGET AUDIENCES: Small farmers Extension Educators Cornell Faculty USDA staff supporting small farms Private lending organizations supporting small farms Non profit organizations supporting small farms Organic dairy producers Livestock processors Agricultural policy makers Beginning farmers General public Youth PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The Small Farms Program builds collaborations aimed at leveraging all possible resources to enhance small farm economic viability, environmental stewardship and community relations. We work to understand the special research and education needs of these farmers and then cultivate teams of faculty and extension staff to address those needs. As a result of these efforts, thousands of small farmers have greater access to Cornell, CCE, USDA and other sources of research and educational information. Over 27,000 households receive research-based and farmer-generated information via Small Farm Quarterly. With each issue, 14-18 CCE educators and Cornell researchers, 4-6 agency/NGO staff, and 3-4 farmer-authors are enabled to reach and serve this small farm audience. Over 2,300 subscribers to our monthly email Small Farms Update have access to announcements, news, events, funding opportunities and educational resources. Our extensive web site averages 1,100 hits per week. Our grants program has resulted in 88% of NY's county CCE offices conducting educational programs specific to small farms. 30+ farmer discussion groups have been supported through grants. The 2007 Small Farms Summit engaged over 120 farmers, CU faculty, CCE educators, USDA & NYS agency NGO staff, and NGOs. It established a line of communication for small farmers to the NYS Agriculture Commissioner's office and the NYS Center for Dairy Excellence, and provided input for collaborative statewide Work Teams on Grasslands Utilization, Livestock Processing Issues, Local Markets, and Beginning Farmers. In the last 12 months, we have offered 6 Regional Beginning Farmer trainings this year. Several of these counties had never before held in-depth trainings, and Educators in those counties received intensive mentoring, enabling them to offer future trainings. Another 22 people received training through our first online course. We have distributed more than 4,000 hard copies of the Guide to Farming in NY, in addition to copies downloaded electronically, and have received very positive feedback from farmers. Our new organic dairy efforts include an education effort to help consumers identify NY organic milk, changes to Federal Order, and farm business trainings and consultations. Overall, the Small Farm Program has succeeded in establishing a network of committed individuals who seek to enhance the profitability and sustainability of small farms in NY. We have demonstrated successful research and extension efforts to solve practical problems of these farmers. We believe that the diversity and innovation of these farmers can be engines for local economic development.
Publications
- Rangarajan, A. and J. Green. 2007. Cornell University and Cornell Cooperative Extension Small Farm Research & Education Resources. http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/resources/index.cfm
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Progress 10/01/06 to 09/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The mission of the Small Farms Program is to support and encourage the sustainability of healthy, thriving small farms that contribute to food security, healthy rural communities, and the environment, with detail at www.smallfarms.cornell.edu. To this end, we have fostered small farms focused research, extension programs, networking and collaboration across NYS. As part of our strategic planning, we hosted the 2006 and 2007 NY Small Farm Summit, which engaged 80 and 120 people across NYS. At the 2006 Summit, six opportunity areas were prioritized for investment to enhance the viability of small farms in NY. These include local food systems, renewable and conservation of energy, improved grasslands utilization, beginning farmer training, livestock processing, appropriate technology. At the 2007 Summit, the NY Commissioner of Agriculture answered farmer questions related to advancing these priorities with policy initiatives. To encourage innovation in local extension programs
that specifically target small farms, we host a Grants Program for Innovative Small Farm Education. The grants program has emphasized Farmer to Farmer learning, development of fact sheets targeting small farms, and in 2007, the development of statewide teams to advance the priorities of the summit. Several grants focused on development and facilitation of farmer to farmer discussion groups or mentoring projects. In this approach, the role of the Extension educator is not so much to deliver knowledge, but to facilitate the sharing of knowledge among farmers. As a result of this investment, we have seen enhanced skills among educators and success with discussion groups around the state. In addition, we have completed professional development programs to enhance skill, knowledge and networking among agricultural professionals working for sustainable food and agricultural systems. Trainings included organic vegetable production, organic dairy production, beginning farmer support and
holistic management. Our audience tends to be primarily extension educators, but also includes CALS faculty and staff, non governmental organizations, local planners and economic developers and farmers, and NRCS, Rural Development, SWCD, RC&D staff, and farmers. Our outreach includes coordinating the writing and editing of the Small Farm Quarterly, as a special insert in Country Folks magazine. Current readership is estimated 27,000 farm and rural families across the Northeast. Our website continues to be a clearinghouse of small farms information, and a gateway to many other Cornell programs and online resources. Our monthly electronic newsletter, called the Small Farms Update, shares important news and events. Research includes a NRI funded research effort focused on evaluating the potential for agricultural clusters to enhance viability of small farms in the Northeast. New program efforts include distance learning for value added dairy and beginning farmers.
PARTICIPANTS: Participating Organizations Cornell Cooperative Extension Small farm operators, NY USDA-NRCS, RC&D NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets USDA-Farm Services Agency Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Penn State University NYC Watershed Agricultural Council Individuals Joanna Green, Horticulture Michael Baker, Animal Science Monika Roth, CCE Tompkins County Bill Henning, CCE NWNY Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Team Bernadette Logozar, Franklin CCE Jim Hayes, Farmer John Thurgood, Watershed Ag Program/CCE Delaware Phil Metzger, Central NY RC&D Training opportunities include strategies to enhance beginning farmer support, organic dairy and organic vegetable production. Other training programs have included group facilitation, conflict management and building collaborative teams.
TARGET AUDIENCES: Small farmers, Extension Educators, Cornell Faculty, USDA staff supporting small farms, Private lending organizations supporting small farms, Non profit organizations supporting small farms, Organic dairy producers, Beginning farmers, General public, Youth
Impacts
The Small Farms Program builds collaborations aimed at leveraging all possible resources to enhance small farm economic viability, environmental stewardship and community relations. We work to understand the special research and education needs of these farmers and then cultivate teams of faculty and extension staff to address those needs. As a result of these efforts, thousands of small farmers have greater access to Cornell, CCE, USDA and other sources of research and educational information. Over 27,000 households receive research-based and farmer-generated information via Small Farm Quarterly. With each issue, 14-18 CCE educators and Cornell researchers, 4-6 agency/NGO staff, and 3-4 farmer-authors are enabled to reach and serve this small farm audience. Over 1,100 subscribers to our monthly email Small Farms Update have access to announcements, news, events, funding opportunities and educational resources. Our extensive web site averages 1000 hits per week. Our
grants program has resulted in 85% of NY's county CCE offices conducting educational programs specific to small farms. 30+ farmer discussion groups have been supported through grants. The 2007 Small Farms Summit engaged over 120 farmers, CU faculty, CCE educators, USDA & NYS agency NGO staff, and NGOs. It established a line of communication for small farmers to the NYS Agriculture Commissioner's office and the NYS Center for Dairy Excellence, and provided input for collaborative statewide Work Teams on Grasslands Utilization, Livestock Processing Issues, Local Markets, and Beginning Farmers. In the last 9 months, we have offered 3 Regional Beginning Farmer trainings this year, providing in-depth farm start-up information to 72 people across 13 counties. Six of these counties had never before held in-depth trainings, and Educators in those counties received intensive mentoring, enabling them to offer future trainings. At least 10 training participants have begun to develop business
plans to get their operations started. Another 22 people received training through our first online course. We have distributed more than 2,000 hard copies of the Guide to Farming in NY, in addition to copies downloaded electronically, and have received very positive feedback from farmers. More than a quarter of CCE offices are now using our intake form to gather data on new farmers, and we are working with the FSA to begin using this form as well. We have trained 25 CCE Educators and support staff on how to best recognize and handle new farmer inquiries to ensure that they get the information they need. Our new organic dairy efforts include an education effort to help consumers identify NY organic milk, changes to Federal Order, and farm business trainings and consultations. Overall, the Small Farm Program has succeeded in establishing a network of committed individuals who seek to enhance the profitability and sustainability of small farms in NY. We have demonstrated successful
research and extension efforts to solve practical problems of these farmers. We believe that the diversity and innovation of these farmers can be engines for local economic development.
Publications
- Rangarajan, A. and J. Green. 2007. Key Opportunities and Strategic Investments to Enhance Small Farm Viability in New York: Report and Recommendations from the 2006 NY Small Farm Summit and the Cornell Small Farms Task Group. www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/projects/smallfarmssummit.cfm
- Rangarajan, A. and J. Green. 2007. Cornell University and Cornell Cooperative Extension Small Farm Research and Education Resources. www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/resources/index.cfm
- Rangarajan, A. and J. Green. 2007. Cornell Small Farms Program: Enhancing Research, Extension and Leadership In Support of New Yorks Smaller Farms 2000-2006 Report. www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/about/SFPReport2000-06.pdf
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
The mission of the Small Farms Program is to support and encourage the sustainability of healthy, thriving small farms that contribute to food security, healthy rural communities, and the environment, with detail at www.smallfarms.cornell.edu. To this end, we have fostered small farms focused research, extension programs, networking and collaboration across NYS. As of December 2006, we have 813 members and 50 media contacts. We host a Grants Program for Innovative Small Farm Education, to encourage innovation in regional and local extension programs that specifically target small farm businesses and the families who live and work on these farms. In direct response to farmer input, the grants program has emphasized Farmer to Farmer learning, farmer group marketing innovations and development of fact sheets targeting small farms. Several grants focused on development and facilitation of farmer to farmer discussion groups or mentoring projects. In this approach, the role
of the Extension educator is not so much to deliver knowledge, but to facilitate the sharing of knowledge among farmers. As a result of this investment, we have seen enhanced skills among educators and success with discussion groups around the state. In addition, we have completed four professional development programs to enhance skill, knowledge and networking among agricultural professionals working for sustainable food and agricultural systems. Trainings included collaborative marketing, understanding conflict, building collaborative teams and advanced facilitation skills. Our audience tends to be primarily extension educators, but also includes CALS faculty and staff, non governmental organizations, local planners and economic developers and farmers, and NRCS, Rural Development, SWCD, RC&D staff, and farmers. Our outreach includes coordinating the writing and editing of the Small Farm Quarterly, as a special insert in Country Folks magazine. Current readership is estimated 28,000
farm and rural families across the Northeast. Our website continues to be a clearinghouse of small farms information, and a gateway to many other Cornell programs and online resources. Our monthly electronic newsletter called the Small Farms Update shares important news and events. A new NRI funded research effort focuses on evaluating the potential for agricultural clusters to enhance viability of small farms in the Northeast. Other new efforts include distance learning on value added for dairy and organic dairy. Overall, the Small Farm Program has succeeded in establishing a network of committed individuals who seek to enhance the profitability and sustainability of small farms in NY. We have demonstrated successful research and extension efforts to help solve practical problems of these farmers. We believe that the diversity and innovation of these farmers can be engines for local economic and rural development.
Impacts
The Small Farms Program builds collaborations aimed at leveraging all possible resources to enhance small farm economic viability, environmental stewardship and community relations. We identify needed resources and information and share these with small farm operators across NY and the Northeast. We work to understand the special research and education needs of these farmers and then cultivate collaborations with faculty, extension staff and students to address those needs. We seek grants to investigate new strategies to small farm viability. These efforts will help increase opportunities and long term sustainability of small farms in NYS.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
The mission of the Small Farms Program is to support and encourage the sustainability of healthy, thriving small farms that contribute to food security, healthy rural communities, and the environment, with detail at www.smallfarms.cornell.edu. To this end, we have fostered small farms focused research, extension programs, networking and collaboration across NYS. As of December 2005, we have 345 members and 45 media contacts. We host a Grants Program for Innovative Small Farm Education, to encourage innovation in regional and local extension programs that specifically target small farm businesses and the families who live and work on these farms. In direct response to farmer input, the grants program has emphasized Farmer to Farmer learning, farmer group marketing innovations and development of fact sheets targeting small farms. Several grants focused on development and facilitation of farmer to farmer discussion groups or mentoring projects. In this approach, the role
of the Extension educator is not so much to deliver knowledge, but to facilitate the sharing of knowledge among farmers. As a result of this investment, we have seen enhanced skills among educators and success with discussion groups around the state. In addition, we have instituted a professional development program, in collaboration with other programs at Cornell, to enhance skill, knowledge and networking among agricultural professionals working for sustainable food and agricultural systems. As an example, a Facilitation Skills Training built educators capacity to plan, start and facilitate discussion and learning groups for farmers. Topics included starting groups, understanding group process and development, transferring leadership to the group, enhancing participation, and hands on practice and feedback. Our audience tends to be primarily extension educators, but also includes CALS faculty and staff, non governmental organizations, local planners and economic developers and
farmers, and NRCS, Rural Development, SWCD, RC&D staff, and farmers. Our outreach includes coordinating the writing and editing of the Small Farm Quarterly, as a special insert in Country Folks magazine. Current readership is estimated 26,000 farm and rural families across the Northeast. Our website continues to be a clearinghouse of small farms information, and a gateway to many other Cornell programs and online resources. We initiated a monthly electronic newsletter called the Small Farms Update, to share important news and events. A new NRI funded research effort focuses on evaluating the potential for agricultural clusters to enhance viability of small farms in the Northeast. Other new efforts include distance learning on value added for dairy and organic dairy. Overall, the Small Farm Program has succeeded in establishing a network of committed individuals who seek to enhance the profitability and sustainability of small farms in NY. We have demonstrated successful research and
extension efforts to help solve practical problems of these farmers. We believe that the diversity and innovation of these farmers can be an engine for local economic and rural development.
Impacts
The Small Farms Program seeks to leverage all possible resources to enhance small farm economic viability, environmental stewardship and community relations. We identify resources and make these as widely available as possible. We increase the sensitivity of Cornell and Cooperative Extension to the special needs of these operators. We seek grants to investigate new strategies for success. These efforts will help increase opportunities and long term sustainability of small farms in NYS.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
The mission of the Small Farms Program is to support and encourage the sustainability of healthy, thriving small farms that contribute to food security, healthy rural communities, and the environment (www.smallfarms.cornell.edu). To this end, we have fostered small farms focused research, extension programs, networking and collaboration across NYS. As of December 2004, we have 275 members and 45 media contacts. We host a Grants Program for Innovative Small Farm Education, to encourages innovation in regional and local extension programs that specifically target small farm businesses and the families who live and work on these farms. In direct response to farmer input, the grants program has emphasized Farmer to Farmer learning. Funded grants focused on development and facilitation of farmer to farmer discussion groups or mentoring projects. In this approach, the role of the Extension educator is not so much to deliver knowledge, but to facilitate the sharing of
knowledge among farmers. University-based knowledge may be an important resource in this approach, but Extension educators offer this information alongside farmer expertise to get the best of both worlds. As a result of this investment, we have seen enhanced skills among educators and success with discussion groups around the state. The SFP sponsored 8 different training programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of extension and other agricultural providers to work with small farms. As an example, a Facilitation Skills Training built educators capacity to plan, start and facilitate discussion and learning groups for farmers. Topics included starting groups, understanding group process and development, transferring leadership to the group, enhancing participation, and hands-on practice and feedback. Our outreach includes coordinating the writing and editing of the Small Farm Quarterly, as a special insert in Country Folks magazine. Current readership is estimated 26,000 farm and
rural families across the Northeast. Our web site, continues to be a clearinghouse of small farms information, and a gateway to many other Cornell programs and online resources. We cohosted the Northeast Small Farm and Rural Living Expo with Penn State and Rutgers Cooperative Extension. We initiated a monthly electronic newsletter called the Small Farms Update, to share important news and events. Several research projects led by CU faculty and relevant to small farms were funded in the last several years and are too numerous to outline here (see website and Updates). Overall, the Small Farm Program has succeeded in establishing a network of committed individuals who seek to enhance the profitability and sustainability of small farms in NY. We have demonstrated successful research and extension efforts to help solve practical problems of these farmers. We believe that the diversity and innovation of these farmers can be an engine for local economic and rural development.
Impacts
The Small Farms Program seeks to leverage all possible resources to enhance small farm economic viability, environmental stewardship and community relations. We identify resources and make these as widely available as possible. We increase the sensitivity of Cornell and Cooperative Extension to the special needs of these operators. We seek grants to investigate new strategies for success. These efforts will help increase opportunities and long term sustainability of small farms in NYS.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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