Ag & Food Systems Gathering Thursday, November 13, 2025 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm CCE Allegany County , 5435 County Rd. 48 , Belmont, NY 14813 Our Ag team is looking for community members interested in joining our Agriculture & Food Systems Initiatives Committee. Issue committees help determine the direction of work in the county and region within each CCE Association. Issue Committee members’ major responsibility is to help guide the direction of workshops, classes and other services that we offer residents of Allegany County, and to review the effectiveness of our efforts. Our programs have evolved over the years to reflect changes in: values, ethics, community norms, family structures, mobility and the economy. These changes have been in direct response to this grassroots community involvement making the best use of available knowledge, money, time and other resources. For more details on the Issue Committee: Roles and Responsibilities, click here. If you are interested in serving on our Issue Committee or would like to find out more about our program, please join us on Thursday, November 13th from 12-2 PM at the Cooperative Extension Center. Lunch will be provided, registration requested by November 11th. Please contact Lynn Bliven 585-268-7644 ext. 18 or lao3@cornell.edu if you would like to attend or if you are unable to join us on November 13th but interested in serving on the committee. Lynn Bliven, lao3@cornell.edu, 585-268-7644 ext 18 ========================================= New York Small Farms Summit 2025: Stronger Together Friday, December 5, 2025 9:00 am - 3:30 pm Alfred State College Farm , 1254 State Route 244 , Alfred, NY 14802 We hope you will join us on December 5th for the 2025 New York Small Farms Summit! This is an opportunity to meet other farmers and ag supporters, learn about research and education projects, and set priorities for future efforts to grow small farm success.At the Allegany County site, we will focus on giving trees a chance and how trees build resiliency on small farms. Whether attracted to fruit, nuts, vegetables, fodder or shade, trees can be an integral part of a successful farming system. Join us as we explore the opportunities for resiliency that come from adding tree crops or managing wooded areas of your farm for agroforestry or silvopasture systems. Click here for full agenda. Small farms are managed by diverse people integrating multiple enterprises to meet personal, local, environmental, and food systems goals. The Cornell Small Farms Program is dedicated to uplifting small-scale farming as a dignified and viable livelihood by providing intentional, innovative, and inclusive services. We envision a future where small farms are valued, respected, and supported for the vital role they play in creating a stronger and more resilient food system. This one-day Summit will bring together farmers, extension educators, university faculty, and other service providers at multiple sites across the state. Select locations will focus on different topics and farming communities. Each summit site will connect virtually in the morning to hear from agricultural leaders in New York State. Subsequent in-person conversations will explore topics on small farm entrepreneurship, resilience, support networks, and priorities moving forward.This Summit is free to attend, with lunch provided and refreshments served throughout the day. Therefore, seating will be limited, and pre-registration required. Click here for online registration. Please contact Lynn Bliven if you have questions about the program. Unsure what agroforestry entails? View this 8 minute video from the Savanna Institute - Farming with Trees: 5 Agroforestry Practices Explained.We look forward to meaningful engagement and conversations focused on how we can be stronger together as we build a future for small farm success across New York.Too far to travel to Western NY? Check for details of other sites across the state: https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/projects/summit/. Lynn Bliven, lao3@cornell.edu, 585-268-7644 ext 18 ========================================= Farm Disaster Preparation online Certificate Training Tuesday, January 27, 2026 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Online Event The Farm Disaster Preparation program will help farm owners plan for and manage possible disasters. This program focuses on practical pre-disaster education and preparedness regarding farm equipment safety on the road, fire or structure collapse, storm and wind damage, criminal activity, farm chemical risks, and biosecurity. Farms that complete the training will receive a certificate to provide to their insurer and may be eligible for a credit or discount toward the farm’s annual insurance premium. The value of the credit or discount will vary according to individual policies and policyholder circumstances but can be up to a 10 percent discount.The Farm Disaster Preparation Certificate is directed to all sizes of farms and all types of products. Dairy and livestock farms are especially encouraged to participate in the program due to their additional concerns regarding animal agriculture. The person representing a farm should be the insurance policyholder; other key farm personnel are welcome.The certificate program will be held on Tuesday, January 27, and Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 6:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. You must attend both sessions to receive the certificate. Space is limited, and pre-registration is requested by January 16. There is a $35 fee per farm for this program. For more information about the training contact Lynn Bliven at 585-268-7644 ext. 18 or email lao3@cornell.edu. To pre-register click here.Course Instruction Team: Lynn Bliven, Ag & Natural Resources Issue Leader CCE Allegany County; Stephen Hadcock, Ag. Entrepreneurship and Market Development Team Leader, CCE Capital Area Agriculture and Horticulture Program; and Jim Carrabba, Agricultural Safety Specialist New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH). Lynn Bliven, lao3@cornell.edu, 585-268-7644 ext 18 ========================================= Farm Disaster Preparation online Certificate Training Thursday, January 29, 2026 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Online Event The Farm Disaster Preparation program will help farm owners plan for and manage possible disasters. This program focuses on practical pre-disaster education and preparedness regarding farm equipment safety on the road, fire or structure collapse, storm and wind damage, criminal activity, farm chemical risks, and biosecurity. Farms that complete the training will receive a certificate to provide to their insurer and may be eligible for a credit or discount toward the farm’s annual insurance premium. The value of the credit or discount will vary according to individual policies and policyholder circumstances but can be up to a 10 percent discount.The Farm Disaster Preparation Certificate is directed to all sizes of farms and all types of products. Dairy and livestock farms are especially encouraged to participate in the program due to their additional concerns regarding animal agriculture. The person representing a farm should be the insurance policyholder; other key farm personnel are welcome.The certificate program will be held on Tuesday, January 27, and Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 6:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. You must attend both sessions to receive the certificate. Space is limited, and pre-registration is requested by January 16. There is a $35 fee per farm for this program. For more information about the training contact Lynn Bliven at 585-268-7644 ext. 18 or email lao3@cornell.edu. To pre-register click here.Course Instruction Team: Lynn Bliven, Ag & Natural Resources Issue Leader CCE Allegany County; Stephen Hadcock, Ag. Entrepreneurship and Market Development Team Leader, CCE Capital Area Agriculture and Horticulture Program; and Jim Carrabba, Agricultural Safety Specialist New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH). Lynn Bliven, lao3@cornell.edu, 585-268-7644 ext 18 =========================================