Seeking Dairy Farms to Join Dairy Grazing Cohort
Katelyn Walley, Business Management Specialist and Team Leader
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
Cornell Cooperative Extension's Fay Benson is seeking dairy farmers who are interested in transitioning to grazing for their milk cows or heifers.
Training and Funding to Grow Dairy Grazing Operations in New York
Limited Time to Apply to Join Dairy Grazing Cohort
The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center has introduced a new initiative to support new or existing dairy farms that would like to increase grazing practices within their operation. As part of this initiative, Fay Benson with Cornell Cooperative Extension is partnering with Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) to expand well-managed grazing lands in New York and Pennsylvania and support regional farmers in their grazing transition. To learn more about the project and to apply to be a participant go to: https://pasafarming.org/soil-institute/farmer-training-development/transition-to-grazing-cohorts/
Farmers that are selected to join one of the two cohorts, will be eligible to receive one on one technical support as well as apply for a $5,000 grant at the end of the two-year commitment. Signups will be accepted through July 1st and the New York Cohort will be capped at 10 farms. Applicants must apply online.
For more information, contact Fay Benson, Small Dairy Specialist; South Central Dairy & Field Crops Team: 607-391-2669 or afb3@cornell.edu.
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Upcoming Events
Driving Efficiency in Dairy & Exploring the Irish Experience
September 29, 2025
Rock Stream, NY
This workshop series will feature in-depth presentation and discussion led by Dr. Padraig French who is the Head of Livestock Systems and the Dairy Enterprise Leader at Teagasc (the Irish version of USDA). Dr. French will focus on the critical success factors for Irish dairy, which include pasture utilization, labor efficiency and managing for seasonal calving. The discussion will focus on ways that U.S. dairy farmers can use some of the Irish dairy techniques to become more profitable with grass farming.
Silvopasture on a Shoestring
October 7, 2025
Franklinville, NY
Join Joshua Greene, Director of Education at Trees For Graziers, Jonathan Bates, Statewide Agroforestry Educator, and Lynn Bliven, owner of Wild Geese Farm for a full day training event that will include classroom and hands-on sessions. The focus will be on DIY silvopasture projects on small grazing farms. We will address the practical considerations of tree establishment, protection, and maintenance while learning how silvopasture can help address your farm's resource concerns and enhance livestock grazing.
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December 19, 2025
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