So many great questions were asked during the webinar that Carrie summarized these into a Q&A document available for download as a PDF here.

To apply for the loan, visit the FSA website to download an application and instructions.

The Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming is now taking applications for its 2013 Sustainable Farming Certificate Program, as well as several shorter courses.  These programs provide hands-on training in small-scale, commercial organic farming systems and are geared for beginning and aspiring farmers.  

They also appeal to serious homesteaders, agricultural science students, educators, and others who need to deepen their knowledge of sustainable production practices and gain a realistic understanding of the opportunities and challenges involved in small-scale farming.  

“We work hard to attract a diverse group of trainees each year,” says Groundswell Director Joanna Green. “People of all ages and demographics are getting interested in farming, and they all need access to the training and the resources required to be successful.” Groundswell especially encourages people of color to get involved, as well as new Americans, LGBT and others who have sometimes been excluded from the sustainable agriculture/local foods movement.

A campus without walls

Groundswell ‘s courses are taught by experienced farmers on diverse working farms in the Finger Lakes area.  These include West Haven Farm in Ithaca, Northland Sheep Dairy in Marathon, Kingbird Farm in Berkshire, and The Good Life Farm in Interlaken, which serve as the main “Mentor Farms” for Groundswell programs.

 “With Groundswell, you’re getting the best farmers in the area to open up their farms, their business plans, their marketing strategies, growing practices and maybe most importantly, their lifestyles,” says Allan Gandelman of Main Street Farms in Homer, NY. Gandelman and his business partner Bob Cat both participated in Groundswell programs before and during the launch of their innovative indoor farm business, which now produces and markets sustainable-raised Tilapia and specialty greens year-round.

100-Hour Sustainable Farming Certificate Program now in its third season

This is the third season Groundswell is offering its 100-hour Sustainable Farming Certificate Program. The program runs from May 6 to October 26 and provides a well-rounded, in-depth immersion in organic crop and livestock production. It also exposes trainees to a variety of models and mentors for successful small farm management.  The curriculum combines on-farm workshops, classroom training, farm tours, and supervised on-farm work experience.

This year Groundswell is also offering a series of shorter courses for those who don’t want to take on the full 100-hour Certificate Program.  These include several advanced-level Intensives, geared for farmers with at least two years of production experience.

Groundswell’s 2013 Sustainable Farming Programs include:

·         Sustainable Farming Certificate Program: 100 hours, May 6 – October 26

·         Finger Lakes CRAFT: Monthly farm tours and social gatherings

·         Organic Farming Fundamentals: Six sessions, May 8 – June 26.

·         Commercial Organic Vegetable Production Basics: Eight sessions, May 22 – August 28.

·         Organic Livestock Production Basics: Six sessions, July 3 – August 7.

·         Pastured Poultry Intensive: Full-day workshop, Aug 12.

·         Sheep Dairy Intensive: Full-day workshop, Aug 18.

·         Hog Breeding & Farrowing Intensive: Full-day workshop, Sep 16.

·         Draft Horse Intensive: Two-day workshop, Sep 28-29.

·         Poultry Processing Practicum: Full-day workshops, dates TBA.

Tuition for each program is on a sliding scale. Program details and an online application form can be found at www.groundswellcenter.org.  For more information email info@groundswellcenter.org or call 607-319-5095.

The Groundswell Center for Local Food & Farming is an initiative of the EcoVillage Center for Sustainability Education/Center for Transformative Action.  Support is provided by USDA’s Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute for Food and Agriculture-USDA, Grant #2010-49400-21799, Park Foundation, and Appalachian Regional Commission’s New Americans Initiative. For more information, visit www.groundswellcenter.org.

A Bergey Excel 10kW wind turbine installed at Cross Island Farm, NY

Are your farm energy bills on the rise – and are you wondering what you can do to reduce them?  Are you looking for more sustainable sources of energy?  This four-part online webinar series will provide examples of energy conservation measures, solar arrays, wind turbines, compost heat, and a variety of other ecological production techniques and introduce you to farmers and professionals who are successfully harnessing the power of renewable resources to produce affordable, sustainable energy.  Tune in to learn if solar, wind, geothermal, and even compost power are right for you!

This lunchtime webinar series will run from noon-12:45pm every Friday from March 29^th through April 19^th.  All of the webinars are free and open to the public.  To sign up, please complete and submit our New Generation Energy Webinar Sign-Up form.   You will receive an email approximately one week before your chosen webinar(s) providing a link and instructions for you to access the series.

We will be using WebEx to host this webinar series.  To use WebEx, all you will need are functioning speakers  (a sound card in your computer) and a good Internet connection – a cable modem or DSL are preferable, but dial-up, mobile wireless, and satellite Internet connections can also work.  If you have any questions about the Internet or hardware requirements necessary to use WebEx, please contact Hannah Koski at hpk23@cornell.edu.

This webinar series is sponsored by NE SARE (Northeast Sustainable Ag Research and Education) and the Cornell Small Farms Program.  To learn about funding opportunities available from NE SARE, visit www.nesare.org.  To learn more about small farm resources and support, visit www.smallfarms.cornell.edu

March 29: Dreaming of Local Lemons – Solar Energy Virtual Tour.  Noon – 12:45pm
with Leo Siemion of Summit Naturals Organic Farm, Summit, NY

Leo Siemion of Summit Naturals Organic Farm will give a virtual photo tour of the sustainable energy features on his 25-acre organic farm.  The farm produces 11 varieties of garlic in raised fields, eggs from heritage Buff Orpington breed chickens, and bottled honey, comb honey and beeswax candles from 12 bee colonies.  Leo and his farm crew have spent the past several years raising approximately 450 pond-bred Koi fish for retail sale.  Their 60×21 foot high tunnel is double walled plastic and excess solar heat is circulated through 250 feet of corrugated pipe 2 feet underground.  The active solar heating system allows Summit Naturals to grow greens throughout the winter.  Their smaller glass greenhouse attached on the south side of the family home has 520 feet of corrugated pipe, 5 feet underground which runs through an insulated stone pit and radiates back up through the concrete floor.  Leo has been able to produce tropical fruits such as oranges, lemons, pineapples and figs in this greenhouse.  In addition, they have two pole mounted solar arrays totaling 10-kW and an evacuated tube solar hot water system. The farm has acquired a restored 40 year old GE Electrak electric tractor to use the excess electricity they now produce and reduce diesel fuel needs.

April 5: Powering Your Farm Off the Grid – Virtual Tour. Noon – 12:45pm
with Raymond Luhrman of Fox Creek Farm, Schoharie, NY

Is it possible to operate a farm off-the-grid, and what are the challenges and opportunities? Raymond Luhrman will take us on a virtual tour of Fox Creek Farm and describe how his family operates their 350 member CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) operation from electricity produced right on site. The Lurhman’s have installed two 1.3 kW solar arrays and a Bergey XL1 wind turbine on a 100 foot tower.  Raymond will describe how he sited, sized, funded and installed these systems.  He’ll also present some additional energy conservation features of the farm, including the passive solar barn, and the CoolBot regulator that makes his walk-in cooler extra energy efficient. Aside from these technical aspects, he will also share thoughts on the challenges and opportunities that come with off-grid farming.

April 12: Compost Power! Noon – 12:45pm
with Sam Gorton, Compost Power, Systems Engineer and Design Consultant

Composting is a sustainable process for transforming farm wastes into a stable soil amendment. But, did you know that an active compost pile may be able to generate enough heat to keep your greenhouse warm in the wintertime, offset your water heating fuel needs or even heat a small-scale biogas digester? Composting is a sustainable process for transforming farm wastes into a stable soil amendment. But, did you know that an active compost pile may be able to generate enough heat to keep your greenhouse warm in the wintertime, offset your water heating fuel needs or even heat a small-scale biogas digester?  Sam Gorton, a PhD student at the University of Vermont (Burlington, VT) and co-founder of the Compost Power Network (Waitsfield, VT) will describe strategies to power your home, greenhouse or barn on the heat produced from high-Carbon compost recipes.

April 19: Ask an Installer: Wind, Solar and Geothermal. Noon – 12:45pm
with Conor Kays, Alternative Power Solutions

Energy prices are rising, and who knows where they will be in 10 or 20 years.  Investing in renewable energy now can turn a variable cost into a fixed one over the life of the system.  Conor Kays from Alternative Power Solutions of NY will talk about how to choose between geothermal, solar or wind (or all three), how to size a system, current financial incentives and offsets, and services that installers will provide.

The Cornell Small Farms Program is pleased to announce the release of our new “Guide to URBAN Farming in NYS”.  The Guide answers these and many other common questions about farming in urban environments, and can help you launch, continue, or expand your urban farm business.

The 105-page resource guide contains fact-sheets on a myriad of topics, including tips for advocating for urban agriculture, engaging communities, dealing with contaminated soils, intensive growing techniques, urban composting, site security, urban livestock, direct marking options, accepting food stamps, grant and financial opportunities, and many more!  Also included is an appendix listing services and resources available from several urban farming organizations throughout New York State

Whether you’re looking to grow food on your roof top, keep chickens in your backyard, learn more about hydroponics or start an urban CSA, the “Guide to URBAN Farming in NYS” will provide or direct you to the information you need to know.

The Guide is available as a free download [PDF] or you may view individual fact sheets online (good for dial-up or band-width restricted users). Check it out at  http://nebeginningfarmers.org/publications/

Reaching today’s consumer is harder than ever, with your audience becoming less responsive to traditional media than ever. Your customers are engaging on social media and this presents a unique opportunity to build an online community around your brand. Learn how to build your brand online from a fellow farmer and leading social marketer. You will be given the tools you need to craft your social media campaign on Facebook, Twitter and other leading social media channels. Expect to leave with actionable tips to refine or build your social marketing campaign. This session will be interactive, covering topics from dealing with negative feedback, effective posting frequency, time management strategies, how to create remarkable content, and more. Be sure to bring your laptops, tablets, smartphones, and questions to this hands-on workshop!

These workshops are open to ANY agriculture business.
4 locations to choose from across New York:
1. Feb 5, 2013, 12:30-4:00pm – Buffalo
2. Feb 6, 2013, 8:30-12:00pm – Syracuse
3. Feb 7, 2013, 8:30-12:00pm – Kingston
4. Feb 8, 2013, 8:30-12:00pm – Riverhead

The cost of the workshop is $50.00.  To register, visit www.nyflowergrowers.org ASAP!

Join weekly live webinars on Tues. nights from the comfort of your living room, and participate in homework and discussions in the course’s online classroom between webinars. You’ll learn from successful organic farmers about why they’ve chosen certification and what considerations might be most important for your farm.

The course begins Tues. Feb 12 and runs for 6 weeks. It costs $200 and registration is only open until the first day of the course, or until it fills, whichever happens first. View Frequently Asked Questions about our online courses here: http://nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/online-course-faqs/.

To view the syllabus and learning objectives for BF 106: Organic Certification, or to register, visit:
http://nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/all-courses/bf-106-organic-certification/

This course is just one of many offered by the Cornell Small Farms Program in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension. Registration is still open for BF 202: Business Planning (starts Feb 21) and BF 103: Taking Care of Business (starts March 4). Read more at http://nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses

Beginning and small-scale farmers interested in improving marketing, management and profitability on the farm should be sure to attend the all-day Beginning Farmer session at the 2013 Empire State Producers Expo on Tuesday, January 22 at the Oncenter Convention Center in Syracuse, NY. Moderated by Anu Rangarajan, Director of the Cornell Small Farms Program, the day will feature successful growers, Cooperative Extension educators, and ag business owners sharing their experiences and information on the following topics:

Planning for Success: 9:00am – 11:00am
Grower-panelists Nancy Grove of Old Path Farm (Sauquoit, N.Y.), Sue Decker of Blue Star Farm (Stuyvesant, N.Y.) and Luke Deikis and Cara Fraver of Quincy Farm (Easton, N.Y.) will discuss their experiences planning and maintaining small, profitable farms in New York State. Following the panel, Matt Leroux (Tompkins County, Cornell Cooperative Extension) will speak about appropriate marketing channel selection and assessment for small-scale farmers, and Melissa Madden of Good Life Farm in Interlaken, NY will discuss how to plan for scaling-up a small farm business.

Optimizing Equipment Choice and Management: 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Dr. Andrew Landers of Cornell University will present small sprayer options for small-scale vegetable farmers, followed by a presentation of equipment for small-scale and beginning farmers by Charles Bornt of Cooperative Extension’s Capital District Vegetable Program. Lee Strivers of Penn State Extension in Washington County will conclude the session with a discussion of how to calculate pesticide and fertilizer applications for small-scale applications.

Planning for Profitability on a Diversified Vegetable Farm: 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Grower Liz Martin will discuss her approach to assessing the profitability of each crop grown at Muddy Fingers Farm in Hector, N.Y. Jeff Froikin-Gordon, co-founder of AgSquared, will offer an overview of this record-keeping software tailored to small-scale producers. Crystal Stewart of Cooperative Extension’s Capital District Vegetable Program will end the session and day with real-world stories of how small farmers have successfully planned for profit.

About the 2013 Empire State Producers Expo
The Beginning Farmers session is part of the larger 2013 Empire State Producers Expo, which unites New York State’s fruit, flower, vegetable and direct marketing associations in a trade show and educational conference for growers in New York and surrounding states. The Expo, to be held at the Oncenter Convention Center in Syracuse, N.Y. on January 21-24, will feature a variety of speakers and presentations of interest to beginning and seasoned farmers alike. Pre-register for $45 for single day attendance, $90 for three day attendance or register at the door for $60 for single day, $125 for three day. More information about the Expo, including registration information and a full schedule, is available at http://www.nysvga.org/expo/info.

This colorful report details the top priorities for enhancing the viability of small farms in New York.   We thank the 580 farmers, educators, and advocates around the state who participated in our initial online survey to rank emerging small farm opportunities.  We applaud the efforts of the 150 participants of the NY Small Farm Summit (February 2012) who worked together to identify specific actions for advancing these opportunities over the next 5 years.  This report highlights the top eight priorities and provides concise justifications, suggested actions and relevant resources for each.

Recommendations in the report are intended for anyone interested in supporting the long term viability of New York’s small farm sector.  This includes farmers, educators, researchers, policy makers, producer and non-profit organizations, economic development planners, agricultural service providers, supporting businesses, community groups and local food advocates.

The report can be used in any number of ways — to justify grant proposals, promote rural economic development, stimulate farmer discussion, influence policy-makers or target investment to support the viability of small farms.

We encourage you to share the report with your neighbors, community members and colleagues and take action where appropriate.  Supplementary information, including the full ranked list of the 16 priorities, additional justifications and recommendations for each priority, videos from the NY Small Farms Summit, and survey results summarized by region, is available at http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/projects/summit/ 

Questions about the report may be directed to Anu Rangarajan, the Director of the Cornell Small Farms Program (ar47@cornell.edu) or the Small Farms Program Office at 607-255-9227 or smallfarmsprogram@cornell.edu.

The Virtual Grange is the first of its kind—a comprehensive online site where beginning, sustainability-minded farmers can find technical tutorials, learn about innovations in sustainable farming and connect with mentors and peers. It is by farmers and for farmers: while maintained by Stone Barns Center, with resources from its own farmers and apprentices, in time much of the site’s content will be contributed by the broader community of farmers.

“After working with beginning farmers for many years, we know that the Virtual Grange is an essential tool that’s been sorely lacking in the young-farmer space,” says Nena Johnson, director of Stone Barns Center’s Growing Farmers Initiative. “It’s designed to bring beginning farmers together to think creatively and solve some of the toughest problems facing agriculture today.”

Historically, far-flung American farmers gathered in the local grange hall to socialize, organize and share experiences. (“Grange” means farm, from the medieval Latin “granica,” or grain.) But as small farms disappeared over the past several decades, so too did these community meeting places. The Virtual Grange is a new type of grange hall for a new generation of farmers who embrace sustainable agriculture. While the average age of U.S. farmers today is 57, the average age of organic farmers is 34. Most did not grow up on farms and lack the practical and technical skills to help them succeed in their chosen field.

The Virtual Grange will launch during the 2012 Young Farmers Conference, the 5^th annual meeting of beginning farmers hosted by Stone Barns Center. More than 250 young and beginning farmers from across the United States and Canada will gather in Pocantico Hills for the event, held December 12 – 14. This year, Adam Davidson, co-founder and co-host of Planet Money, a co-production of NPR and This American Life, and a New York Times columnist, will deliver the keynote address.

Over the course of three days, conference-goers will attend a range of 60 workshop offerings and network with peers and mentors, helping them build the community necessary to support their farm enterprises in the seasons to come. New in the 2012 conference lineup are a half-day pre-conference session on soil and biochar organized by Johannes Lehmann, of Cornell University’s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences; and a Business Planning Track, a five-workshop series focused on establishing systems to promote efficiency and helping farmers find their market niche. Panel discussions will feature experts and leaders in farm-based education, the co-operative business model, agriculture and ethics, and new-farmer case studies.

Since 2008, demand for the beginning farmer education offered at the Young Farmers Conference has grown exponentially. This year’s conference sold out in 36 hours.

For more information on the Virtual Grange: virtualgrange.org

For more information on Stone Barns Center and the Young Farmers Conference: stonebarnscenter.org

New ‘How-To’ Grazing Video Series
This new series of 12 “How-to-Graze” Videos was produced by Ken Smith and staff at Chenango County Cooperative Extension.  If you’re a livestock farmer or educator looking to improve your understanding of grazing ‘best management’ practices, the series covers everything from setting up electric fence, water systems and laneways, to how to address weeds or periods of drought. The videos can all be found on the Cornell Small Farms Program You Tube Channel.  Visit http://www.youtube.com/user/cornellsmallfarms and scroll down to “Featured Playlists”.   Thanks to CCE Chenango, Chenango County Grazing Farmers, Conservation Grazing Lands Initiative Educator Karen Hoffman, NRCS Educators Robert Declue and Lauren Johnson, among others for their collaboration on this series!

Farmer Experiences and Models for Building Successful Farmer-Distributor Relationships
Selling wholesale to the right distributor can save on the costs of direct marketing and move a larger quantity of product in an efficient manner.  But is selling to a distributor right for your farm?  Monica Roth of CCE Tompkins County and Becca Jablonski a PhD. Candidate in City & Regional Planning led this two-part research study.  Phase I of the project consisted of interviews with NYS distributors to gage their interest in and requirements for selling to smaller producers. Part II of the project sought the farmer perspective.  This second phase consisted of surveying small – mid-sized farmers to assess their experiences selling to distributors.  The study indicates that there is increasing demand from local food retailers, restaurants and distributors for local foods and as a result, farmers are selling more produce to these buyers. For the medium sized farmers in the study, wholesale sales are now approaching half of their sales volume.  Read interviews with distributors (Phase I) in 2012 issues of Small Farm Quarterly Magazine athttp://smallfarms.cornell.edu/quarterly/ Learn more about the farmer surveys and findings (Phase II) at http://smallfarms.cornell.edu/projects/grants/For more information, please contact Monika Roth, mr55@cornell.edu or 607.272.2292

Promoting Workplace CSA in the Southern Adirondacks
Do regional businesses make good CSA distribution sites?  That was the question asked by a team of southern Adirondack region educators: Teresa Whalen, southern region coordinator for Adirondack Harvest, Laura McDermott, regional vegetable specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Capital District Vegetable and Small Fruit Program (CDVSFP), and Stephen Hadcock, CCE Columbia County.   This project conducted trainings for interested businesses in Warren, Washington and Saratoga Counties to explore the benefits of becoming CSA distribution sites.  Trainings also targeted farmers interested in distributing their CSA shares at business work sites.  All educational materials produced by the project can be found athttp://smallfarms.cornell.edu/projects/grants/.  As a result of this project, 21 prospective workplaces attended trainings, 38 potential farms attended trainings, and 3 businesses hosted Worksite CSA’s.  Because of the success of this project CCE Clinton County educator and executive director, Amy Ivy, is applying for a NESARE Community Development grant to further explore, educate and foster Worksite CSA’s in the northeastern corridor of NYS.  For further information please contact either Laura McDermott at 746-2562 or lgm4@cornell.edu or Teresa Whalen at 466-5497 or taawhalen@yahoo.com

New & Improved! Sheep & Goat Marketing Website Back Online
Looking for help marketing your sheep and goat products?  This popular website, www.sheepgoatmarketing.info, has been renovated and brought up-to-date.  The site includes a Marketing Directory to assist farmers to network with sheep and goat buyers, processors, auction barns, and livestock haulers in the Northeast US.  It also includes a Producer Directory where sheep and goat farmers can promote their products (dairy, fiber, and meat) and animals (breeding stock and market animals). The Classified Ad section is currently limited to advertising market animals for sale or market orders that buyers need to fill. The Calendar section provides dates and marketing information for holidays when lamb and/or goat is traditionally consumed. The Education section has a wide range of articles to help farmers to evaluate their animals and educate themselves more about marketing and processing. It also includes information on livestock management and processing requirements for Halal and Kosher marketing and information about previous marketing projects.  For more information contact Dr. tatiana Stanton, Cornell Small Ruminant Extension Specialist at 607-254-6024 or tls7@cornell.edu or our webmaster, Linda Poppleton at LJP2@cornell.edu