Report Spotlights Potential of NY Grasslands

NEWS FROM THE SMALL FARMS PROGRAM AT CORNELL

TOPIC: New Report Spotlights Potential of NY Grasslands
DATE: For immediate release, November 8, 2010
CONTACT: Violet Stone, 607-255-9227 or vws7
ONLINE: www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/news/

The Cornell Small Farms Work Team on Grasslands Utilization is pleased to announce that a new report, Green Grass, Green Jobs: Increasing Livestock Production on Underutilized Grasslands in NYS is now available. The report is the culmination of two years of statewide study by a team of extension educators, farmers, agency staff, and faculty across New York State. The Work Team is led by Dan Welch of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County

The report focuses on recommended actions in research, education, extension, and policy to realize the potential of our grasslands as a farming resource that will spur rural economic development, grow the regional food supply, and enhance environmental outcomes for all citizens of NYS.

There are over 3 million acres of grasslands in NYS that are not currently being used for agricultural production. This presents an opportunity for the state to encourage economic development on these lands that will lead to job creation, enhance regional and local food security, and contribute to sustainable agriculture enterprises. Several barriers exist to the increase utilization of grasslands for livestock production. One of these barriers is farmers limited access to these underutilized grasslands and capital to develop agricultural enterprises. While there are several alternative options for utilizing grasslands, livestock production is the focus of this report.

Topics discussed in the report include: Why increased livestock utilization of NYs grasslands makes sense; Livestock production and marketing opportunities; Barriers to increased livestock utilization of NYS grasslands; and Recommendations and inventory of grasslands management resources of NYS landowners & farmers.

Green Grass, Green Jobs: Increasing Livestock Production on Underutilized Grasslands in NYS is available as a free download from the Cornell Small Farms website at vws7.

For more small farm news and events, visit www.smallfarms.cornell.edu