Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County (CCE) has received funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture to establish a Beginner Farmer Program. The Beginner Farmer Program assists beginner farmers in the Catskills-Hudson Valley Region through group training, one-on-one conversations, farm visits, farmer to farmer mentoring, farmer networks, and an intensive learning cohort.
The program focuses on supporting historically underserved individuals that consist of beginner farmers in operation for less than 10 years, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) owned and operated farms, women-owned and operated farms, veteran farmers, farmworkers, small farms, and organic farms.
Technical assistance and workshops will be offered in direct marketing, wholesale marketing, business planning, farm financial management, farmland access, agricultural production, food safety, urban farming, compliance with laws and regulations, soil health, composting, rotational grazing, agritourism, high tunnel seasonal extension, farm food safety plans, and much more!
CCE staff will work with a program Advisory Committee consisting of farmers and farm business owners in Sullivan County. The committee will help develop the Beginner Farmer Program, provide guidance for program implementation, and most importantly provide a farmer perspective rooted in their agricultural and business experience.
Our team members are also available to meet one-on-one with prospective farmers, reviewing business plans, “vetting” ideas for soundness, and directing you to more in-depth resources as needed. We live and work in New York, so we have practical experience and advice to offer for both production and for marketing plans.
Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County is hosting seasonal educational workshops at local farms. Visit our events listing for more information.
This program is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture award #2022-06508, through the American Rescue Plan Technical Assistance Investment Program.
Taylor Adam
Beginner Farmer Program Manager
tea46@cornell.edu
(845) 292-6180 ext. 130
Last updated December 6, 2024