Beginning Women Farmers - Whole Farm Planning Training Program accepts applications for upcoming sessions

The Central New York Resource Conservation and Development Project, Inc. (CNYRC&D) recently completed the second year of a three year program to assist beginning women farmers, defined as those having less than 10 years farming experience.  “Empowering Beginning Women Farmers in the Northeast through Whole Farm Planning” was funded by Holistic Management International through a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture.  Across the Northeast, over 150 women have graduated from the training giving them new tools, information and perspectives on how to succeed in farming.

This innovative program instructs participants on using a holistic approach to decision making on their farms.  Thirty participants (fifteen per year) from all across NY State met for ten sessions on topics such as goal setting, financial, business, and marketing plans, land and infrastructure planning, soil fertility, and planned grazing.  The final four sessions were located on farms to allow for hands-on learning. According to participant Linda Haley Ross of Madison County, "The NE Beginning Women Farmer program allowed me to learn hands-on, in-classroom, and through peer discussion the real challenges I would be facing as a farmer today, while providing me the tools to address them. In addition, I leave with a lifelong support system and perpetually growing network of resources to guarantee my success."

 Participants are provided with a mentor and are connected with a network of other beginning women farmers throughout the Northeast for additional support.  Participants from previous classes continue to meet after graduation to stay connected, enjoy the camaraderie created by the training and expand their learning.

Applications for the third year of this program are due on September 30, 2011 and are available at www.cnyrcd.org or by contacting Lauren Lines, New York State Coordinator at rcdstaff@cnyrcd.org.  The sessions will begin in November and will be located in Central New York for the upcoming year.

Pastured Poultry Workshop May 14, 2011 in Norwich, NY. From 9:30am to 3:00pm.

CNY RC&D Project, Inc., Cornell Cooperative Extension in association with Cornerstone Farm Ventures and the Fertrell Company will be holding a Pastured Poultry Workshop May 14, 2011 in Norwich, NY. From 9:30am to 3:00pm.

Topics covered will be Pastured Poultry 101 with Jim McLaughlin from Cornerstone Farm Ventures, Pastured Poultry 201 with Jeff Mattocks from the Fertrell Company and Poultry Health by Dr. Jarra Jagne of the Cornell Poultry Diagnostic Laboratory.

Chicken Guy Jim McLaughlin will lead off the workshop with his renowned Pastured Poultry 101 that will give you all you need to know to begin raising poultry. From purchasing day old chicks all the way to processing and marketing this fast paced presentation will give you take home information to start your own pastured poultry operation.

Jeff Mattocks long time nutritionist with the Fertrell Company will follow with Pastured Poultry 201 which will go more in-depth study with feed and watering requirements, poultry nutrition, and tips on natural and conventional treatments for poultry.

To conclude the presentations Dr. Jarra Jagne of the Cornell Poultry Diagnostic Laboratory will present on poultry disease diagnosis and flock health. This session will provide you with tools to help manage the health of your poultry flock.

Pre-registration is required as seating is limited. To keep expenses low lunch will be on your own. Registration for the workshop is $20 per person. For more information or to register call: 607.334.9962 or on-line: www.cornerstone-farm.com

SMALL FARM SWINE FORUM

SMALL FARM SWINE FORUM

Saturday May 7, 2011 

from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Romulus Fire Hall, Romulus, NY

 THIS IS AN INFORMAL FARMER TO FARMER PROGRAM. 

Our thanks to CCE-Seneca County for helping with the registration

 Alternative swine production offers the small land holder an interesting opportunity in the northeast.  We have a large population and a significant portion of that population seeks to eat certain foods for specific reasons.  That food might be organic, naturally raised, from specific animal breeds, locally produced, incorporating sustaining production procedures, and/or raised with certain humane considerations.  We have niche market opportunities.  Animal production also offers nutrient management advantages where crops are involved.

Guest Speaker: 

Dr. Peter Lammers, Livestock Specialist with the National Center for Appropriate Technology

Pete has extensive background in alternative swine production and niche marketing, including six years working closely with Mark Honeyman on sustainable swine production at Iowa State.

Pete’s topics:     

Alternative Pig Production and Marketing

General overview of alternative pig production practices in the United States. Focus will be on how farmers in various parts of the country are housing and managing their pigs in order to access the growing demand for local, natural, and/or organic pork. Emphasis will be placed on farrowing set-ups and managing pig flow. Will include discussion of how individuals are marketing their products and important lessons learned from past experiences.

Production Applications

Alternative protein sources for pigs:  Basics of swine nutrition with focus on low-cost diets for farmers in New York and the Northeast US. Emphasis will be placed on finding local alternatives to soybean meal and how this might impact meat quality and pig performance

Saving baby pigs:  Will cover basics of farrowing without conventional farrowing crates and practical experience of farmers who are relatively successful. Will include considerations for farrowing hut or other set-up design.

Farmer to Farmer Panel:

Four New York pork producers will share their experiences and answer your questions  concerning alternative, sustainable, niche pork production and marketing. 

Your Small Farm Swine Forum:

An open discussion by all participants, including the audience.  Bring your questions, your concerns, and your experience.  We can all learn from one another.

Suggestions to prime the pump:

-Regulatory road blocks for small farm marketing?

-Why aren’t NY auction reports individualized like PA’s in Country Folks?

-Concerned about the quality of swine knowledge among veterinarians in NY?

-Where do you go for swine production information?

-Does niche marketing have a future in a questionable economy?

-It’s your turn to add to this list

Your opportunity to gain from this forum is only limited by your imagination. 

Come – learn, share, network, and enjoy the company of like minded folks.

Cost:  $25 per person when received by April 29, 2011. 

Received after April 29, 2011 $35 per person. Lunch included.

Pre-registration:  

Please make checks payable to CCE-Seneca County. 

Please write PIG on the check. 

Send to CCE-Seneca County, 308 Main Street Shop Centre, Waterloo, NY 13165.

Questions:  Call Bill Henning at (585) 728 5783 or Tro Bui at (607) 592-1438 

CNY Bounty has delivered over 10,000 home deliveries, revenue of program to reach $500,000 with $364,000 direct return to local farmers

October 29, 2010: "CNY Bounty is proud to announce that its innovative, home-delivery, local food program has made over 10,000 home deliveries" according to Steven Holzbaur, CNY Bounty Program Coordinator.  The deliveries have occurred in Chenango, Madison, Broome and now Onondaga Counties.  "This is tremendous news not only for our customers that are receiving locally produced, farm fresh products but for our local small farmers and producers as well.  Revenue for the program is fast approaching the $500,000 mark with $364,000 going directly back to the local farmers that participate in the program."

 This is encouraging news for the small farmer that is providing fresh, organically produced foods and who has many challenges competing with large agribusiness and supermarket pricing.  Adam Perrin, owner of Quarry Brook farms in Sherburne states "CNY Bounty is providing a unique and essential component of a local sustainable food system through the direct connection of consumers and producers.  When you order from CNY Bounty you get the healthiest food and you help keep local farmers and producers in business".  Quarry Brook Farms offers certified naturally grown, grass-fed beef, lamb, pork, chicken, eggs along with pesticide-free produce on the CNY Bounty website.

This is equally exciting news for the supportive customers of the Bounty.  "I have been ordering for close to a year from the Bounty" states Cary LaManche of Liverpool.  "The consistent freshness and quality of the meats, vegetables and bakery items I order each week can't be beat. I also feel like I'm contributing to the health of our local farming community.  All this and to have the items delivered each week is a tremendous help for someone with a busy schedule." 

CNY Bounty is a year-round online farmers’ market that supports over 110 local small and mid-sized farmers and producers.  The Bounty creates new markets for locally produced foods, thereby strengthening the local economy and providing healthy food to all citizens of Central New York in an environmentally responsible way. Over 900 locally produced products including grass-fed, hormone–free meats; organic dairy products and farm fresh produce are listed on the website: www.CNYBounty.com  CNY Bounty offers FREE membership and FREE home delivery to customers in Chenango and Madison counties with drop site deliveries to Broome and to northern, eastern and southern Onondaga County.  

Each week, Bounty staff coordinates weekly product availability with farmers and producers and upload the products, prices, photos and descriptions on the website.  Each farmer/producer decides on its own price, and Bounty staff operates on a 23% margin to cover overhead costs of marketing and distribution.  Customers can go online at www.cnybounty.com before Monday at noon to place an order.  Orders are collected from the farms on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning by Bounty staff, taken to the distribution center, orders are packaged and then distributed to customers in Chenango, Madison, Broome and eastern Onondaga County.

CNY Bounty is made possible by Cornell Cooperative extension of Chenango, Madison and Onondaga Counties, the CNY Resource Conservation and Development, Chenango County Economic Development Fund, Chenango Agriculture Development Council, Madison County Agricultural Economic Development Program, Chenango and Madison Counties, Greater Norwich Foundation, Gorman Foundation, CNY Community Foundation, New York Farm Viability Institute, Assemblyman Al Stirpe, Gifford Foundation, Rural Health Service Corps and AmeriCorps. 

For more information on CNY Bounty, please visit www.cnybounty.com 

To speak with Jody Horsman, Marketing Coordinator call 315.439.7100 or BountyMarketing@gmail.com

Norwich Family YMCA Partners with CNY Bounty

The Norwich Family YMCA is partnering with Central New York Bounty to provide YMCA staff and members, and local residents with the opportunity to learn about the nutritional benefits of locally produced foods.  On Thursday, July 8, 2010, CNY Bounty will provide a local foods tasting at the Norwich YMCA from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  All community members are invited to come sample delicious local foods, including yogurt, granola, and fresh produce.  Attendees will also learn about the benefits of purchasing locally grown produce for the Central New York agricultural economy.

Central New York (CNY) Bounty is a year-round online non-profit farmers’ market.   The program promotes healthy food choices and provides marketing and distribution services to its more than 90 small and medium sized member producers, and delivers fresh organic produce directly to consumers.  There is no membership fee and delivery is a free service. 

 All of Bounty’s member producers are located within New York State.  Many of them are located in Chenango and Madison Counties and are in need of support to maintain their economic viability and their ability to contribute to the region’s economy.  Customers can log on and shop from over 1000 products, which include organic products, grass-fed meats, locally produced yogurts, baked goods, fresh produce, and much more.  Since its inception in 2007, Bounty has expanded from Chenango to Madison County, and is currently expanding into Onondaga and Broome Counties.

CNY Bounty is made possible by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango, Madison and Onondaga Counties, the CNY Resource Conservation and Development, Chenango County Economic Development Fund, Chenango Agriculture Development Council, Madison County Agricultural Economic Development Program, Chenango and Madison Counties, Greater Norwich Foundation, Gorman Foundation, CNY Community Foundation, New York Farm Viability Institute, Assemblyman Stirpe, and Gifford Foundation .

Products sampled at the YMCA event are also available for order on www.cnybounty.com.  Bounty will begin weekly delivery of customers’ orders to Norwich Family YMCA on July 15, 2010.  For more information about CNY Bounty, please visit www.cnybounty.com or call 1-888-252-6106.  For information about the tasting event at Norwich Family YMCA, email josiemaroney@gmail.com.