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NY Sustainable Ag Quarterly F A L L

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Fall 2009 Highlights About SARE SARE stands for Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education New York is part of the Northeast SARE region.

SARE defines sustainable agriculture as economically viable, ecologically sound, socially supportive and a holistic approach to farming.

SARE offers... Many types of sustainable agriculture grants, resources, publications and a national events calendar.

ANNOUNCEMENTS Greetings Farm Enthusiasts, If you‘re thinking about applying for a Farmer Grant, a Partnership Grant, or a Sustainable Community Grant, don‘t wait to begin the application process! Deadlines are late November and early December. Also, take a look at the other funding opportunities in this issue—new grants for graduate students; financial help to attend out-of-state conferences; and financial assistance for hosting conferences and workshops. Interested in other grants? You‘ll find a comprehensive fact sheet of other farm-related grants in the NY Beginning Farmer Guide, published by the Cornell Small Farms Program. Visit the link at: http:// www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pdfs/Guide/Grant%20Opportunities%20for% 20Farmers.pdf Violet Stone, NY SARE Outreach Coordinator

INSIDE THIS ISSUE... For more info For more information on NE SARE programs, visit the website at: www.nesare.org

SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT: Young Farmer Movement Builds Momentum……….….2 Learn more about the energetic young farmer coalition known as ―The Greenhorns‖ and the excitement they are generating. GRANTS/FUNDING/SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES………………………….…………3-4 SARE GRANT RECIPIENT PROFILE: Beauty Under Cover………………………………….5-6 Jan Blomgren of Windflower Farm evaluated the performance of 10 high-value organic cut flower varieties grown in five kinds of high tunnels NEW PUBLICATIONS, HANDBOOKS & WEBINARS……………………………………..…...7 SUSTAINABLE AG EVENTS CALENDAR……………………………………………………..…..8

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SUSTAINABILITY SPOTLIGHT. This Fall we are highlighting the Greenhorns, an emerging young farmer coalition. The Greenhorns are producing a documentary film that explores the lives of America's young farming community -- its spirit, practices, and needs.

The Greenhorns: Young Farmer Movement Builds Momentum Founded in a basement in Berkeley, California, in 2007, the young farmer coalition known as ―The Greenhorns‖ has matured from an idea for a recruitment film into a widespread national community. The center of the Greenhorn coalition is based at Director Severine von Tscharner Fleming‘s farm in the Hudson Valley, New York.

The Greenhorns documentary film explores the lives of America's young farming community

In the autumn of 2007, the Greenhorns began seeking out mentors and characters for a film, traveling the country to document an emerging movement of young farmers with a series of borrowed cameras and generous cinematographers. According to Severine, over the two years the camera crew spent travelling America, many ―scrappy, resourceful, adaptive young Americans‖ came forth to share their farming stories and styles. The Greenhorns are hopeful that the film will inspire and encourage young people across the country to join the growing movement.

“As the nation experiences a groundswell of interest in sustainable

The documentary film featuring young farmers has become only one of many projects the Greenhorns are coordinating. They now have a sister website called ―Serve Your Country Food‖ which offers an interactive map of young farmers across the country. They offer a detailed manual titled ―Guide for Beginning Farmers‖ which covers some of the major areas of institutional support for young farmers, some likely venues of learning, and useful references. And, they are finishing a book featuring young farmer profiles. ―These stories describe methods of production that we feel to be representative of the young farmer experience in contemporary American life,‖ says Severine.

lifestyles, we see the promising beginnings of an agricultural

How have the Greenhorns accomplished so much in so short at time? Their playful and impassioned, yet committed and revival” steadfast approach to farming and the rural lifestyle has attracted both widespread media attention and a coalition of followers. Greenhorns across the country actively participate in organizing young farmer meet-ups, fund-raising, and volunteer recruitment. Their energetic events calendar covers workshops and festivals ranging from seed saving to pig roasting to a farmers ball. The blog, which is titled ―the irresistible fleet of bicycles‖ has a banner that reads ―join the fleet. find some land. be a greenhorn‖. And the message is resonating with droves of people, as evidenced by the long list of essays and posts by young farmers populating the blog pages. This young farmer coalition is setting out to recruit the next generation of farmers, and by all accounts so far, are rapidly ‗gaining ground‘. To learn more about the Greenhorns and their projects, visit their website at www.thegreenhorns.net.

The Greenhorns have regular farm celebrations to share skills, make new friends, and support each other.

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Upcoming NE SARE Grant Opportunities The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is a USDA competitive grants program supporting agriculture that is profitable, environmentally sound, and good for communities. To learn more about SARE, visit: http://nesare.org/ FARMER GRANTS — DUE DECEMBER 8, 2009 The goal of the Farmer Grant program is to develop, refine, and demonstrate new sustainable techniques and to explore innovative ideas developed by farmers across the region. Farmer grant projects should seek new knowledge that other farmers can use and should address questions that are directly linked to improved profits, better stewardship, and stronger rural communities. The maximum award is $10,000, and the average award is around $6,500. To apply, you must be a farmer in the Northeast SARE region. You need not be farming full time, but your operation should have an established crop or animal product that you sell on a regular basis. Institutional and incorporated farms may apply, but the primary activity of that farm must be to produce and sell food under the kinds of economic constraints that affect commercial growers. Many community-supported farms qualify, but farms where the primary mission is educational normally do not. You may find it useful to look at descriptions of last year's Farmer Grant awards. Learn more: http://nesare.org/get/farmers/fg-overview/grant-description.html

PARTERSHIP GRANTS— DUE DECEMBER 1, 2009 The purpose of the Partnership Grant program is to support agricultural service providers who work directly with farmers to do on-farm demonstrations, research, marketing, and other projects that will add to our understanding of sustainable agriculture. Sustainable agriculture is understood to be agriculture that is profitable, environmentally sound, and beneficial to the community. The maximum award is $10,000 and the average award is $9,550. To apply, you must be engaged in agricultural research or outreach in an organization such as Cooperative Extensions, NRCS, a state department of agriculture, a college or university, an agricultural nonprofit, or a commercial agricultural consulting business operating in the Northeast SARE region. You may find it useful to look at a list of last year's Partnership Grant awards. Learn more: http://nesare.org/get/partnership/pg-overview/grant-description.html

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY GRANT— DUE NOVEMBER 24, 2009 Sustainable Community Grants are for projects that strengthen the position of sustainable agriculture as it affects community economic development. Communities and commercial farmers must benefit from these proposals, and the selection emphasis is on model projects that others can replicate. We also look for projects that are likely to bring about durable and positive institutional change and for projects that benefit more than one farm. Grants are capped at $25,000. Sustainable Community Grants are primarily for agriculturally oriented agencies (Cooperative Extensions, NRCS, or comparable entities), and community development groups that have the capacity and experience to foster sustainable agricultural economic development. Other institutions and organizations--a farming cooperative or a town planning board, for example, may also apply, provided there is sufficient expertise in sustainable agricultural enterprise development. Learn more at: http://nesare.org/get/sustainable-community/sc-overview/grant-description.html You may find it useful to look at a list of last year's Sustainable Community Grant awards.

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Need $ Help Hosting a Conference or Workshop? SPEAKERS

FUND

The Northeast SARE speakers fund supports organizations who are bringing speakers with expertise in sustainable agriculture to meetings, conferences, and workshops. The goal is to disseminate sustainable techniques and approaches, and the primary audience for these events or workshops should be farmers or agricultural service providers such as Cooperative Extension or NRCS staff. SARE funds can be used to defray the costs of travel, lodging, meals, and speaking fees, up to $1,000. Because funds are limited, we will only consider one speaker fund request per event. Learn more about SARE speakers fund http://nesare.org/get/speakers-and-educators/how-to-apply.html . SUSTAINABLE

FARMER

E DUCATORS

The SARE program offers direct grant support to selected speakers so that they can travel within the region and speak on sustainable topics without any cost to the organization hosting an event. Before applying for speaker funds, you should see if one of these farmer educators is a good fit for your event; if so, all you need to do is contact the speaker directly and arrange for a speaking or workshop appearance. All farmer educators are actively farming, so there are constraints on their time. Be sure to get in touch with a farmer educator as far in advance of your event as possible. Learn more about sustainable farmer educators at http://nesare.org/get/speakers-and-educators/sustainable-farmer-educators.html EVENT

SPONSORSHIP

OPPORTUNITIES

The NY SARE outreach office offers financial assistance starting at $350.00 for workshops and events with a sustainable agriculture focus. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, or to download an application, visit http://nesare.org/state-programs/newyork/scholarships-sponsorships.html

Students & Educators: 2009-10 Scholarships SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ‘ANY’ KIND OF AG EDUCATOR If you are an agriculture educator in New York, you can apply to receive SARE scholarship assistance to attend an out-of-state conference or workshop that has a sustainable agriculture focus. Scholarships are available for all kinds of educators, including extension agents, farmer educators, natural resource conservation educators, etc. Awards are up to $350 per educator. For more information, contact Violet Stone, NY SARE outreach coordinator, at 607-255-9227 or [email protected] or download an application at the NE SARE website: http://nesare.org/state-programs/new-york/scholarships-sponsorships.html

SARE ANNOUNCES GRAD STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS In Spring 2010, Northeast SARE will be offering grants to graduate students doing research in sustainable agriculture. The grant will allow the student, under the supervision of a faculty advisor, to explore topics that will benefit farmers and add to our understanding of sustainable farm systems. Awards are capped at $15,000 and can run up to two years, and the money can be used for labor, materials, and other direct costs associated with a research effort. Proposals can cover a wide range of topic areas -- cropping systems, pest management, livestock health, farm energy production, soil quality, or the institutional purchase of local food, for example. Proposals can be submitted on line from mid-April until May 31, 2010. To learn more, go to the Northeast SARE web site at www.nesare.org

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SARE Grant Recipient Profile. The following 3-year SARE Farmer Grant project was originally launched in 2004 with an award of $9,276. To learn about other SARE funded projects, visit the national project database at www.sare.org

Beauty Under Cover JAN BLOMGREN OF WIND FLOWER FARM EVALUATED THE PERFORMANCE OF 10 HIGH-VALUE ORGANIC CUT FLOWER VARIETIES GROWN IN FIVE KINDS OF HIGH TUNNELS THE

FARM

Jan and Ted Blomgren have been growing organic vegetables and cut flowers on their 15 acre farm in the Taconic hills of Washington County for over a decade. As experienced farmers, they are skilled in the cultural practices of ecological farming and have developed a substantial customer base at the Saratoga Springs Farmers Market and in NYC, where they ship weekly vegetable and bouquet deliveries to 350 shareholders.

“Tunnel But any farmer, no matter how practiced or popular, still struggles with the inevitable drought or flood, hot or cold, hail or wind that imperils the most vulnerable crops every growing season. Today, a myriad of technological innovations designed to shield crops from nature‘s volatility are available at low cost to the farmer. One of these, the hoop house, has been a critical tool for Windflower Farm, aiding in not just season extension, but allowing Jan to raise cut flowers under optimal growing conditions for most or all of their life cycle. Realizing the importance of the hoop structure to the economics of her flower operation, Jan planned an experiment to trial a selection of her highest value cut flowers in 5 different hoop structures, hoping to gather data on how the unique conditions each structure created enhanced or hindered the desired traits of the flower.

structures can be configured in as many different shapes and sizes as the imagination allows.”

THE

SARE

GRANT

In 2004, Jan received a SARE grant to fund the salary of a field employee to assist with planning, planting, data collection and photography, and to reimburse her efforts as the project‘s supervisor and facilitator. They drew upon the experience of Laura McDermott, a horticulture agent with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) in Washington County, as an advisor to the project. Specifically, the goal was to determine how the temperature and relative humidity inside each hoop structure affected stem and inflorescence (flowering part) length, stem number per plant, and stem girth (circumference). Because Jan plants many of the varieties in succession to ensure a long, uninterrupted flow of harvest, she recorded data for the first, second and often third sowing of a variety. The flowers selected for comprehensive data measurement were: Stock, Godetia, Larkspur, Snapdragon, and Bells of Ireland. Additionally, Jan made visual notes on the productivity of China aster, Asiatic lily, Delphinium, Sunflower and Lisianthus. Tunnel structures can be configured in as many different shapes and sizes as the imagination allows. The architecture of a tunnel is designed to trap heat and humidity inside to hasten the growth of a plant relative to outside conditions. Stagnant air and over-heating issues are often overcome with fans, vents, or roll up side flaps that allow heat to escape and fresh air to pass through. The types of tunnels that Jan and Ted used in the SARE experiment included variations on both the ―high tunnel‖, a permanent structure of curved PVC or hollow metal piping covered in a polyethylene plastic, and the ‗field tunnel‘, a structure erected quickly and seasonally by inserting hoops in to the ground over a designated series of beds. The field tunnels in the experiment were either ―walk-in‖ or low to the ground, hovering just over the blossoms. The covers ranged from opaque, light-weight, permeable commercial fabrics NY

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A variety of cut flowers were used in the trial: (Left to Right) Stock, Godetia, Delphinium, Snapdragon, Bells of Ireland.

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Beauty Under Cover, continued such as Typar and Covertan to single layer plastic. RESULTS

Measuring Snap Dragons in the field tunnel. Each stem was measured for stem and inflorescence (flowering part) length, stem number per plant, and stem girth (circumference).

While further trials are needed to clarify results, information emerged in the 2004 data that will help the Blomgren‘s determine how to match tunnel structures, covers and crops in the future. They concluded that plastic tunnels were generally superior to Typar and Covertan tunnels, regardless of the structure. In turn, Covertan and Typar were superior to growing plants in the out-ofdoors. Covertan was found to provide less warming and wind protection than its counterpart, Typar. Some warm-loving flowers, such as China aster, Lisianthus, and Bells of Ireland, were better suited to the warm Typar tunnel than cool-loving crops such as stock, larkspur, and snapdragon. The date of seeding added yet another variable in determining which covers complimented cool or warm-loving crops.

The experiment pointed to better and worse combinations of covers and structures. Low tunnels covered with plastic became too hot. Even the walk-in tunnels covered with plastic over-heated, indicating that the high tunnel with its larger airspace and roll-up walls was best suited for a plastic cover. Low tunnels covered with Covertan didn‘t‘ create enough warmth during the unusually cold and windy spring, but could perhaps offer more favorable conditions in more average temperatures. Taking all factors into account, the high tunnels provided the best overall horticultural results. Jan explains the likely reasons: ―This may have had most to do with the high quality of the material used to cover them, but the slightly superior results of these units compared to plastic-covered walk-ins shows that the size of the structure is important‖. Another advantage of high tunnels over plastic-covered field tunnels is the capacity of the high tunnel to withstand significant snow loads in the winter. Covers from less permanent field structures are removed in the fall and re -applied before planting in the spring. Jan and Ted were pleased with their initial observations, but as in any farming venture, they have a lot of learning and exploring ahead. They continue to search for the most economical hoophouse structures, taking expense and labor into account, for the highest quality cut-flowers and vegetables. Their next pursuit will be experimenting with various walk-in and drive-in (or tractoraccessible) single and multi-bay structures. To check with Jan and Ted on their latest research, contact Windflower Farm at 518-692-3188. For more specific results on variety performance, download the Blomgren‘s final report at: www.sare.org/reporting/report_viewer.asp?pn=FNE04-503. To obtain a copy of the Windflower Farm power-point photo narration of the results, please contact the Small Farms Program at 607255-9227. Author Information: Violet Stone is the NY SARE Outreach Coordinator and also Cornell Small Farms Program. She may be reached at 607-255-9227 or [email protected]

Jan Blomgren with a bundle of fresh cut Lisianthus.

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2009 Publications from NE SARE YOUTH

RENEWING

THE

COUNTRYSIDE

Whether we live in Manhattan or Peoria, we depend on a healthy countryside: it supplies the food we eat. So it‘s welcome news that across the nation, a hearty crop is taking root. Smart, young people are returning to the roots of American Agriculture—roots steeped in a tradition and culture of diversity, quality, and respect for the Earth. Full of brilliant color photographs, ―Youth Renewing the Countryside‖ shares remarkable stories of young people in each state changing the world through rural renewal. Produced by Renewing the Countryside in partnership with young writers and photographers across the country and with support from SARE and the Center for Rural Strategies.

LAND & POWER: SUSTAINABLE CAN AMERICANS

AGRICULTURE

AND

AFRI-

Black American agricultural experiences are grounded in unique cultural, historical, and ecological experiences, informed by the values and history of the African Diaspora. In 2007, over 100 people gathered at Tuskegee University to move innovation in Black sustainable agriculture forward. ―Land & Power: Sustainable Agriculture and African Americans‖ features a selection of the presentations, posters, discussions, and performances that made up this extraordinary, joyous event. The authors capture the perspectives of various Black American cultural leaders about land and power as they relate to sustainable agriculture and Black American traditions. ―Land and Power‖ places African American farmers, their cultural traditions, and the historical circumstances they have faced squarely in the forefront of the sustainable agriculture movement.

CROP ROTATION MANUAL

ON

ORGANIC

FARMS:

A

PLANNING

―Crop Rotation on Organic Farms: A Planning Manual‖ provides an in-depth review of the applications of crop rotation-including improving soil quality and health, and managing pests, diseases, and weeds. Consulting with expert organic farmers, the authors share rotation strategies that can be applied under various field conditions and with a wide range of crops. Published by the Natural Resource, Agriculture and Engineering Service (NRAES) and funded in part by SARE, the book includes instructions for making rotation planning maps and discusses the transition to organic farming.

2009 SARE Grant Writing Webinars NEED MORE INFO ABOUT SARE FARMER, OR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY GRANTS?

PARTNE RSHIP

This fall, Charlie White of Penn State University and Carol Delaney, NE SARE Grants Coordinator, offered two webinars on Farmer, Partnership and Sustainable Community Grants. The recordings from these webinars are available anytime for viewing. Farmer/Partnership Grants webinar (9/16/09): https://breeze.psu.edu/p40251664/ Sustainable Communities Grant webinar (8/25/09): https://breeze.psu.edu/p97275502/ For personal help writing your grant, contact Carol Delaney, Farmer Grants Coordinator, at the NE SARE office at [email protected] or call 802/656-0697 or Violet Stone, NY SARE coordinator at 607-255-9227 or [email protected]

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Upcoming NY Sustainable Ag Events November 2nd and 3rd, 2009 2009 CORNELL AG STRATEGIC MARKETING CONFERENCE

Story Telling: Marketing the Unique Story of Your Business for Success! The Henry A. Wallace Visitor and Education Center, Hyde Park, NY. The conference will feature successful producers, processors, and other agribusinesses that will showcase their business stories and specific ways they build success through improved marketing strategies. In addition, key professional and industry experts will provide methods to help you evaluate the success of your marketing activities and analyze the financial implications of marketing strategies you employ. For more information, visit http:// marketingpwt.aem.cornell.edu. November 12-14, 2009 GREAT LAKES POSIUM

DAIRY

SHEEP

SYM-

Marriott Hotel, Albany, NY. Some topics and speakers include: Getting Started in Sheep Dairying, Cheesemaking with Sheep Milk, Challenges in Cheese Plant Design, Intake on Pasture, Effects of Prepubertal Lamb Nutrition on Milk Production, Genetic Markers for Milk Production, and Sheep Nutrition and Fermentable Fiber. For more details or to register, see: http://www.dsana.org/symposia.html.

November 17-18, 2009 NYSERDA’S 9TH ANNUAL INNOVATIONS IN AGRICULTURE CONFERENCE

Hilton Garden Inn, Troy. Topics include: how future farms will adapt to climate change; agriculture‘s role in the development of renewable fuels for heating & transportation; the spectrum of controlled environment agriculture: current research and best practices; energy efficiency opportunities for farms; the current status of the Anaerobic Digester program; and federal and state funding opportunities. For more information, please visit: http:// www.nyserda.org/InnovationsInAgriculture/default.asp.

November 13-14, 2009 IT TAKES A REGION: A WORKING CONFERENCE TO BUILD OUR NORTHEAST FOOD SYSTE M.

Desmond Hotel and Conference Center, Albany. Through in-depth working sessions, homework, provocative debates, and exercises, we'll tackle questions such as: Why regional? What does a regional food system look like? What do we want? What will it take to get there? Who needs to be at the table? What are realistic milestones? What do we need to know, measure and monitor? We'll draw upon the exciting efforts already underway in our region and nationally, including alternative supply chain networks, research projects, infrastructure initiatives and policy advocacy. We'll address scale, size, and geography to reach beyond political boundaries and sector "silos". For more information, contact Kathryn Rhuf at 413.323.9878 or [email protected].

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December 3-4. 2009 YOUNG

FARMERS

CONFERENCE

Registration for the 2009 Young Farmers Conference is live! Check out the brochure and register online by visiting our website: www.stonebarnscenter.org. Conference highlights include: * Over 30 workshops at beginning and intermediate levels covering: - hands-on technical skills - livestock and vegetable farming - policy, community, and advocacy issues as they relate to young farmers - land access - business planning and marketing – and much more! * Workshops are led by farmers, educators, and advocates from all over the United States. * Keynote addresses by Wes Jackson of the Land Institute, and Fred Kirschenmann of Stone Barns Center and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. * Music, contra dancing, and the opportunity to meet other young and new farmers.

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For Winter Submissions If you have any sustainable agriculture news or events that you would like publicized in this newsletter, please contact: Violet Stone, NY SARE Outreach Coordinator at 607-255-9227 or [email protected]. The WINTER issue will be released mid-January 2010

NY SARE Outreach Office Cornell University 135C Plant Science Ithaca, NY 14850 Phone: 607-255-9227 Fax: 607-255-0599 E-mail: [email protected]

SARE Grant Writing Help Available! Northeast SARE Farmer Grant specialist Carol Delaney is available to lead workshops on the priorities of the SARE program and how to plan and write a competitive Farmer Grant application. She can also talk to farmers individually. To reach Carol, e-mail [email protected] or call 802/656-0697.

NY SARE LEADERSHIP TEAM The NY SARE Outreach Office is housed at Cornell University and directed by NY SARE Outreach Coordinator Violet Stone and NY SARE Professional Development Coordinator Anu Rangarajan. A team of sustainable agriculture leaders across the state assist developing outreach tools and programming.

Anu Rangarajan SARE Professional Development Coordinator 607-255-1780 Violet Stone NY SARE Outreach Coordinator 607-255-9227 Rod Howe Community and Rural Development Institute 607-255-2170 Phil Metzger Central New York RC&D/USDA NRCS 607-334- 3231

Rose Marie Belforte Finger Lakes Dexter Creamery [email protected] Brian Aldrich Cayuga County Cooperative Extension (315)255-1183