Laying Out a Grazing System: A Program for Veterans
Event Details
Date
October 1, 2021
Time
10am - 2:30pm
Location
Great Northern Farm
1716 Fisk Rd
Eaton, NY 13334
Host
Cornell Small Farms Veterans Farm-Ops Program
Rich Taber
607-334-5841 ext 1121
email Rich Taber
Register by calling 607-334-5841 ext. 1121 or emailing rbt44@cornell.edu by Wednesday, Sept. 28. Please leave your name, Veteran status, phone number, and a good email contact so they can contact you.
The Cornell Small Farms Veterans Farm-Ops Program, and the Canandaigua VA, in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County, with assistance from the Chobani Foundation will be offering an on farm program explaining how to set up a grazing and fencing program for livestock. Great Northern Farm is owned and operated by Army Veteran and longtime farmer and CCE Grazing, Forestry, and Animal Science Educator Rich Taber and his wife Wendy. The Tabers have been raising beef cattle, sheep, and dairy heifers on the farm for years. Rich has completely redesigned the grazing system during the 2021 grazing season. On the 165-acre farm there are 30 acres of improved rotational grazing, twelve acres of unimproved grazing, and a five-acre winter sacrifice/feeding lot. Rich will explain how he reclaims old fields using brush hogs, native seedbanks, a few fertility inputs, and animals, using the principles of regenerative agriculture, and as inexpensively as possible. This year he subdivided the 30 acres of grazing into seven paddocks, using electrified rope for the divisions. After lunch a walk around the farm will be used to show how the theories of grazing have been applied to this cold, high elevation property. Cost of attending will be free, with a limit of 20 attendees, preference being given to Veterans. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. All attendees will be provided (at no cost to the attendees) with a copy of Sarah Flack's excellent book "The Art and Science of Grazing", which retails for $30.00.
If you have any questions, please contact Rich Taber at rbt44@cornell.edu or call 607-334-5841 ext. 1121.
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Announcements
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We send out a bi-weekly e-newsletter that has announcements, upcoming programs, and opportunities for you! Registration is quick, easy, and free. Click here to sign up today!Document and Share Storm Damage
Mother nature has really been difficult over the last few days. Significant damage has been seen throughout NYS. Please let us know what types of damage your farm may have sustained during this time. This could be in the form of property damage, lost power, milk dump due to lost power, loss of livestock, loss of stored feed or growing crops.Farms are encouraged to DOCUMENT AND SHARE any impacts the weather may have had on their home or business. This could include structure damage, crop loss, inventory loss due to power outages, damage to equipment or fencing, and more.
If your farm experienced any sort of damage, please reach out to any of the folks listed below (or all of them). The more impact information that is collected, the greater the likelihood of a disaster declaration which can bring vital emergency support and awareness. The CNYDLFC Team will continue to collect detail and submit to NYSDAM and the EDEN network.
Reporting Weather Related Impacts (For your home or farm business)
- First, ensure that all the people and animals on your farm are safe, and that there aren't any unsafe working conditions created because of the weather (check your structures!). If there's an emergency, call 911 - don't try to manage it all on your own.
- Second, document all negative weather impacts for your farm and their estimated financial cost. Take photos, make estimates, and put it all in a safe place.
- Reach out to your insurance providers - farm, vehicle, crop, etc. to initiate the claim process as needed.
- Then, share your farm's damage with any (or all) of the ag support agencies listed below. We all work together to collect storm damage information and funnel it up to Ag and Markets which can initiate a natural disaster declaration.
- Chenango: 607-334-5841
- Fulton/Montgomery: 518-853-2135
- Herkimer: 315-866-7920
- Madison: 315-684-3001
- Otsego: 607-547-2536
- Schoharie: 518-234-4303
- Saratoga: 518-885-8995
- Erik Smith: 315-219-7786
- Daniela Gonzalez: 315-749-3486
- Ashley McFarland- 315-604-2156
Your county USDA/FSA service center.
- Chenango: 607-334-3231
- Fulton/Montgomery: 518-853-4015
- Herkimer: 315-866-2520
- Madison:315-824-9076
- Otsego: 607-547-8131
- Schoharie: 518-295-8600
- Saratoga: 518-692-9940
Your county farm bureau manager
- Region 3: Bailey Coon: 518-937-0566
- Region 5: John Wagner: 315-761-9770
- Region 6: Natally Batiston: 518-937-0269
- Region 7: Todd Heyn: 518-431-9338
Please let us know how we can help you.
Cash Rent and Custom Harvest Survey
To date, there is limited information available about rental rates and fees for crop harvesting. Farms can use this valuable information for their farm business planning to help improve decision making and profitability.Farmers Can Join MeatSuite For Free!
MeatSuite.com is a free resource provided by Cornell University where NY meat farmers can create a farm profile and list their bulk (wholes, halves, quarters) and bundled (i.e. Grilling Bundle) meat products.Why should farmers join?
1. It's free and easy!
2. Connect with more local customers. In the past year the MeatSuite.com farm directory had 8,300 visits from New York consumers. Farm profiles get as many as 25 views per month from potential local customers. We also spotlight MeatSuite farms on social media and bring attention and purchases to farms through highlights and giveaways.
How do I join?
Farmers can visit https://www.meatsuite.com/farmers/ to create a free farm profile. You must list at least one product for your farm's profile to go live. You'll also have access to Cornell's free Meat Price Calculator, a helpful tool for pricing your meat to make a profit.
While you're on MeatSuite, check out the "Creating Consumer-Friendly Bulk Meats" publication on the log-in page. It has tips on how to create bulk meat products that are easier for first-time buyers to say "yes" to.
If you have any questions as you create your farm profile or products, we're here to help! Please email Matt LeRoux at mnl28@cornell.edu.