Cornell Discussion Group on Commercial Small Ruminant Management Formed
Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

This discussion group was formed to connect sheep and goat farmers, extension staff, researchers, and service providers to share experiences and information on sheep and goat management. The group will focus on commercial production of all types including goat and sheep dairies, solar array grazers, traditional meat and fiber operations and grass-fed farms. This discussion group will meet virtually via ZOOM at 7:30 pm on the third Thursday of every month. The first meeting will be November 19th at 7:30 pm to focus on "winter feeding". If you are interested in participating in this discussion group, please fill out this online Google Form!
Your participation in this discussion group is greatly appreciated!
This program is being hosted by:
Dr. Michael L. Thonney
Cornell University
114 Morrison Hall
mlt2@cornell.edu
607-592-5891
Dr. tatiana Luisa Stanton
Cornell Small Ruminant Extension Specialist
tls7@cornell.edu
607-229-9066
Dr. Niko Kochendoerfer
Postdoctoral Associate
nk584@cornell.edu
607-279-3474
Upcoming Events
Is Grazing Sheep Beneath Solar Arrays and Opportunity for Your Future?
September 25, 2023
Mt. Morris, NY
Grazing sheep beneath utility-scale solar arrays can build wealth of present and future sheep farmers as vegetation management service providers and access to additional pasture. The Cornell Cooperative Enterprise Program (CEP) conducted a survey earlier this year completed by over 600 farmers. Farmers identified barriers to grazing sheep under solar arrays and weighed in on need for a producer-led organization to negotiate contracts on their behalf, coordinate logistics of multiple flocks, provide transport of sheep to and from the site, care for sheep while on-site, and provide supplemental mowing. Additional questions focused on processing and marketing needs.
Technology for Grazing Dairies Webinar
September 27, 2023
Join us for this free webinar! Brought to you by the dairy specialists of CCE NWNY and SWNY Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Programs.
Protecting Against Murphy's Law: A FREE Live Seminar for Veterans.
October 4, 2023
What Can Go Wrong, Will Go Wrong!
Good ole' Murphy's Law is probably the best description of what it's like to be a farmer that there is! Join Cornell Cooperative Extension Farm Business Management Specialist, Katelyn Walley-Stoll, to learn more about the 5 areas of risk on farms and how to develop strategies to manage those risks. Participants will have the opportunity to identify areas of risk on their own farms and brainstorm ways to (try to) prevent the inevitable!
Registration is REQUIRED by visiting https://tinyurl.com/CCERisk or call Kelly at 585-268-7644.
Announcements
No announcements at this time.