Business

Relevant Events
NY Pork Producers 2025 Annual Meeting
March 29, 2025
Waterloo, NY
Crops, Cows & Critters - Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops Newsletter Sponsorship
December 19, 2025
Negotiating Land Leases & Building Strong Relationships for Long-Term Success
Katelyn Walley, Business Management Specialist and Team Leader
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
Leasing farmland can be a great opportunity for both farmers and landowners, but it takes good communication and a fair agreement to make it work. In small towns and rural communities, word gets around fast--so it's important to start off on the right foot and keep things positive. Here are some key steps to help you negotiate a land lease that benefits everyone.
Demystifying Ag Value Assessments: A Summary for Landowners and Farmer Renters
Katelyn Walley, Business Management Specialist and Team Leader
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
Farming comes with plenty of challenges, and property taxes is a pretty big one of them. In New York, the Agricultural Assessment Program helps lower property taxes for land used for farming. Every year, if you own or rent farmland, this program can save you money. Here's what you need to know to take advantage of this benefit AND connect with rented landowners to ensure they're receiving this benefit.
Reflections From The 2025 Operations Managers Conference
Katie Callero, Dairy Management Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

The 2025 Operations Managers conference entitled "Empowering Managers: Embracing Diversity, Consistency, and Attitude for Success" was hosted by Cornell PRO-DAIRY and Northeast Dairy Producers Association at the end of January. Check out some of my favorite takeaways from the conference.
Setting Your Farm Financial Resolutions Series Information
Katelyn Walley, Business Management Specialist and Team Leader
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
Selling Turkeys This Year? Reminders for Labeling and Handling
Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

As you're planning your turkey harvest and sales, keep safe handling, proper labeling, and regulations on sale in mind to enjoy a stress-free and food safety-forward holiday season.
Dairy Delights and Good Advice by Margaret Quaassdorff
Nestled atop a hill overlooking Seneca Lake, sits Shtayburne Farm Creamery, a quaint value-added dairy farm business run by the Hostetler Family. I spent an afternoon with brothers, Lorin and Lance and their family, who I found not only to be serving up ice cream flights and farmstead cheese, but good advice for those farmers interested in value-added dairy processing.
Value Added Dairy Tour - That's a Wrap!
On March 13th and 14th, a group of 23 farmers and small dairy processors from Western NY traveled with the CCE NWNY and SWNY Teams to successful farms and businesses who work within the value-added dairy processing space on the eastern side of the state. This trip was a result of a growing interest for locally produced specialty dairy products, and a desire from farmers to learn about options to diversify their dairy farm businesses.
State Opens up $4.25M in Grant Funding for Beginning and Disadvantaged Farmers
Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Two competitive state grants are available to fund start-up, improvement, or expansion of farm operations; support for marketing, training, construction, and more! Applications open October 25th and December 30th, closing January 24th, 2025 and December 30, 2024, respectively.
It's Time - End of the Year Tax Planning (Part One)
Katelyn Walley, Business Management Specialist and Team Leader
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

The sun is still shining, crops are still growing, and your mind is probably the farthest it possibly can be from tax planning. But - Fall is a great time to focus on tax planning and managing your tax liabilities. By creating a tax strategy BEFORE January 1st, you'll avoid those (always fun) December 31st equipment purchases and (less fun) stress and headaches.
Want to learn more about Value Added Dairy Production? Start here!
Katelyn Walley, Business Management Specialist and Team Leader
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
Are you a dairy producer interested in on-farm dairy processing? Looking to diversify your operation with direct to consumer sales? Interested in value-added production? Tired of scouring the internet to find a whole lot of information that you're not sure actually applies? Here's a great place to start!!!
Weekly USDA Farmer's Market Price Reporting is Starting to Come in!

This weekly price reporting information shows the range and average prices that farmers across the state receive for vegetables, fruit, meats, and dairy products using Square Point of Sale software. This article shares more about the project as well as opportunities to get involved and contribute to the price reporting.
Preparing for Hot Weather by Steve Hadcock
As I write this article (5/20/2024), we are experiencing some unusually warm weather. While I hope that some cooler and more seasonable days will return, we can expect many hot, humid days this summer. Now is a good time to start thinking about how you will protect yourself, your family members, and your employees from heat-related illnesses.
Upcoming Events
Shop Talk: Drone Discussion
March 27, 2025 : Shop Talk: Drone Discussion
West Valley, NY
NY Pork Producers 2025 Annual Meeting
March 29, 2025
Waterloo, NY
2025 NYSDEC How to Get Certified Course

April 2, 2025
Portland, NY
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