Beginning Farms
"There are many resources available to beginning farmers in the Northern Region. For those looking for information on funding available and other information resources to start a new farming operation, see the links listed below. If you would like further assistance, please contact a regional team member."FSA Offices- http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=ny&agency=fsa
Farm Credit East's Farm Start Program- https://www.farmcrediteast.com/en/Products-and-Services/FarmStart.aspx
USDA Small Farm Funding- http://ric.nal.usda.gov/small-farm-funding
NY Ag and Markets Grant Funding- http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/RFPS.html
NY Ag and Markets Farming Programs- http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/Programs.html
Cornell's Northeast Beginning Farmer's Project- http://www.nebeginningfarmers.org/
"Transition Cow Tuesdays" and "Healthy, Hardy, Heifers!" Webinar Recording Links
Lindsay Ferlito, Dairy Management
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: March 1, 2022
Back to Basics: Calf Barn Ventilation
Last Modified: September 9, 2021
Beat the Heat!
Casey Havekes, Dairy Management
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: September 9, 2021
Benchmarking calf growth and performance on northern New York dairy herds
Casey Havekes, Dairy Management
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: September 9, 2021
FARM Animal Care Program Version 4.0 Update
Lindsay Ferlito, Dairy Management
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: September 9, 2021
10 Simple but Effective New Year's Resolutions to Improve your Dairy
Casey Havekes, Dairy Management
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: February 2, 2021
How to Manange COVID-19 Risks on Dairy Farms
Last Modified: March 19, 2020
Ever wish you'd paid more attention in accounting class
Kelsey O'Shea, Agriculture Business Development
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: April 16, 2019
Antimicrobial Resisitance, Treatment Protocols and Prudent antimicrobial usage..
Kim Morrill, Dairy Management
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: February 5, 2019
The Dairy Industry nees to change to stay relevant to consumers
Kim Morrill, Dairy Management
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: February 5, 2019
Winter Ventilation
Last Modified: February 5, 2019
You can Never be too prepared for an Emergency
Lindsay Ferlito, Dairy Management
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: February 5, 2019
AG Plastics Recycling
Ron Kuck, Livestock Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: August 14, 2018
Pro-Dairy Waste Tire Update
Lindsay Ferlito, Dairy Management
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: August 14, 2018
Pasteurizers - What Should I be Considering?
Kim Morrill, Dairy Management
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: April 26, 2017
Pasteurizers provide an option for producers to feed whole milk to their calves, while reducing the risk of pathogen transfer from milk to calf. The ability to feed whole milk or waste milk, while reducing the risk of pathogen exposure sounds like a great idea, HOWEVER, there are some things to consider before going out and writing a check for that nice, new, shiny machine.
Grants for Small, Beginning Farmers
Kelsey O'Shea, Agriculture Business Development
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: January 23, 2017
On December 16, 2016, Liz Higgins, from the Eastern NY Horticulture team, joined us in Plattsburgh, NY to lead a discussion on the current grants and other incentives available for beginning and small farms.
Farm Finance 101
Kelsey O'Shea, Agriculture Business Development
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: December 28, 2016
Ever wish you paid more attention in that accounting class? Maybe you're a bit rusty on financial ratios, or looking to learn something new. Each month I will go over an accounting or finance topic as it relates to your farm business, so stay tuned! This month is on leverage and repayment capacity measures:
Pricing Standing Hay
Last Modified: June 7, 2016
Feeding Inventory: Determining what you have and what your farm needs.
Kim Morrill, Dairy Management
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 31, 2016
Alfalfa Height Monitoring
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 20, 2016
Ear to the Ground
Kitty O'Neil, Team Leader, Field Crops & Soils Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: May 20, 2016
IPM for Organic Dairies
Ron Kuck, Livestock Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: April 20, 2016
NPB Antibiotics on the Farm
Ron Kuck, Livestock Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: March 29, 2016
NPB Responsible Antibiotic Use Booklet
Ron Kuck, Livestock Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: March 29, 2016
Be on the Lookout for Horseweed...A.K.A Marestail
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: March 25, 2016
Is Your Farm Prepared For a Crisis? Part 1
Libby Eiholzer, Bilingual Dairy
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: March 23, 2016
Are you ready for an undercover video to be released depicting animal abuse on your dairy farm? Who could be ready for that?
Current Topics in Transition Cow Nutrition and Diet
Ron Kuck, Livestock Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: March 19, 2016
How will El Nino Impact our Crops in 2016?
Mike Hunter, Field Crops Specialist
North Country Regional Ag Team
Last Modified: March 19, 2016
Can value be added to Holstein bull calves?
Last Modified: December 9, 2015
With favorable market conditions, it can be profitable raising dairy beef.
USDA Guide for Organic Crop Producers
Bill Verbeten, Field Crops
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: February 12, 2015
Thinking about transitioning some acres to organic production? Already an organic crop farmer and need to review some information? Check out the USDA Guide for Organic Crop Producers in the PDF below.
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Business
Livestock
Forages
Grains
Upcoming Events
Robotic Milking System Farm Tour
July 11, 2022
Belleville, NY
This program is applicable to any dairy farmers who are interested in learning more about robotic milking systems or who already have robots. Doubledale recently built a new facility with 8 Lely robots, while Gehrkes retrofitted an existing facility to install 1 DeLaval robot. Come tour two unique farms, enjoy lunch, socialize with other farms, and learn from each other.
Dairy Cattle Handling and Safety Program for Farm Workers
July 25, 2022
Champlain , NY
This program is applicable to any current (or prospective) farm workers that currently work with (or aspire to work with) dairy cattle. This on-farm program will focus on cattle behavior, flight zone, good handling practices, risks and hazards when handling cattle, and it will include a hands-on portion.
Dairy Cattle Handling and Safety Program For Youth
August 1, 2022
Croghan, NY
This program is applicable to any local youth that currently work with (or aspire to work with) dairy cattle. This on-farm program will focus on cattle behavior, flight zone, good handling practices, risks and hazards when handling cattle, and it will include a hands-on portion. Ages 12 and up.
Announcements
Looking to add land to an existing NYS Certified Agricultural District
Annual Thirty Day Period for Landowners to Request Additions of Viable Agricultural Land to Existing Agricultural Districts
The Jefferson County Board of Legislators has set June 1st through June 30th of each year for the purpose accepting requests to add predominantly viable agricultural land to an existing NYS Certified Agricultural District in the County.
Viable agricultural land: actively farmed as well as land that is highly suitable for agricultural production.
A parcel of land is "predominantly" viable if a minimum of 51% of the parcel is viable agricultural land.
The purpose of NYS Certified Agricultural Districts is to encourage the continued use of farmland for agricultural production. The Agricultural District Program is based on a combination of landowner incentives and protections, all of which are designed to forestall the conversion of farmland to non-agricultural uses.
Landowners who wish to submit a request to add land to an existing NYS Certified Agricultural District may download the form from the Jefferson County Department of Planning web page under NYS Certified Agricultural Districts, or you may call the Jefferson County Department of Planning, (315) 785-3144 and ask for the 2022 Agricultural Annual Inclusion Form.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is spreading rapidly across the world.
Although cities have the most sick people, the disease has reached rural communities of New York as well. Everyone needs to take this very seriously. Agriculture is an essential business, so many of us will continue to go to work. However, we all need to take precautions to stay safe and help prevent further spread of the disease. The key things to do are limit contact with other people and keep everything very clean. We've prepared a new resource to help Spanish- and English-speaking farm employees access credible, multi-lingual information that they can use right away. Here are this links to a printable resource for farms to use:English COVID 19 Procedures
Spanish COVID 19 Procedures
To see a full list of other relevant resources, click here.
How to Manage COVID-19 Risk on Dairy Farms
Straightforward helpful steps to manage risk on dairy farms! We are happy to help talk farms through these steps and develop risk management plans for protecting owners and team members. Reach out to Kelsey O'Shea via email kio3@cornell.edu for more information.