SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Beginning farmers are encouraged to join us on Thursday, January 18 for sessions geared towards helping them navigate equipment purchases and recruiting, hiring and training labor for their farm.
Beginning Farmer: Demystifying Equipment Purchases
Thursday, January 18, 2018
Buying Equipment for Your Current and Future Scale Operation (Part A) | 9:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Buying and Scaling a Tractor and Appropriate Equipment (Part B) | 10:45 AM – 12:00 PM
Session organized by Anu Rangarajan, Cornell Small Farms Program
A two-part session at the Expo will review factors for making equipment purchases and will be paired with a tailored tour of trade show to address participant’s questions.
Buying Equipment for Your Current and Future Scale of Operations Part A and B at the 2018 Empire State Producers Expo on Thursday, January 18 will provide an overview to help participants evaluate the many factors to consider when buying equipment, including the trade-offs of purchasing new or used, maintenance needs, and potential challenges.
During the second section of the track, presenter Shane LaBrake for a tour of the trade show floor to review key considerations for picking a tractor and scaling-up equipment, tailored to the interests of session participants. Shane will help participants think through working with the machinery, and begin to evaluate the costs and potential returns of having new and different pieces of equipment. While this session will build on the concepts discussed in Part A, participation in both sessions is not required. Participants will leave this session feeling empowered with information to make better decisions for purchases for their operation.
Beginning Farmer: Labor Management Techniques for Advanced Beginning Farmers at the Expo
Thursday, January 18, 2018 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Session organized by Anu Rangarajan, Cornell Small Farms Program
This extended session will provide a framework for farmers and managers to consider when recruiting, hiring, and training employees.
During this session, Elizabeth Higgins, of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program will share techniques for develop clear job descriptions, including information about hiring staff, and offering just in time feedback and performance appraisal to both correct problems and motivate employees. Presenter Kat McCarthy, Cornell Small Farms Program, will next explain how to develop components of an employee handbook, and how these materials can help with employee recruitment and retention. The session will be concluded with information about how to establish and run effective training programs. Participants will leave this session with an outline of text/concepts they could include in the development of their own employee handbook, as well as a check-list for developing job descriptions and training programs on their own farm.
The 2018 Empire State Producers Expo is January 16-18 at the SRC Arena in Syracuse, NY. This annual show combines the major fruit, flower and vegetable associations of New York State in order to provide a comprehensive trade show and educational conference for New York producers, as well as neighboring states and Eastern Canada. In years past over 100 presentations were given by Cornell Cooperative Extension personnel and highly regarded speakers from across the country. Panel discussions feature some of the top industry experts and growers in New York. Between educational sessions, attendees can visit the trade show featuring over 150 commercial vendors and non-profit exhibitors.
Educational sessions topics include commodity specific programs in berries, cabbage, snap beans, peas, beets, carrots, fruiting vegetables (tomatoes, peppers), cut flowers, tree fruit, sweet corn, tomato, onion, Cole crops, root crops, vine crops, and emerging markets (hops, malting barley, mushrooms, hemp, hard cider); and multidisciplinary programs in precision irrigation, weed management, soil health, biopesticides, beginning farmer operations, marketing, greenhouse production, climate and forecast models, GMOs, and wildlife management. DEC pesticide recertification credits and Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) credits will be offered during the appropriate educational sessions.
For more information about the Expo and to register, visit the NYS Vegetable Growers Association website at nysvga.org/expo.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension Cornell Vegetable Program
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