Is Adding A Grain Operation Feasible? – AG Matters

Could grain production add a revenue stream to your farming operation?  We'd all like a crystal ball to foresee the future, especially when it comes to investing money and time into a new project.  Cornell's Northeast Beginning Farmer Project can give you a glimpse into what the future may hold.

Small-Scale Organic Grain Production is a series of online webinars conducted by Kat Loeck, an organic grain farmer in Seneca County and Brian Caldwell, a researcher in Cornell’s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences and a long-time organic farmer.  The webinars will run each Tuesday evening from 7:00-8:30, January 19 through February 23.

By the end of this course you will:

• Understand the agronomic characteristics of common grain crops and evaluate the suitability of specific crops for your operation.
• Recognize the interactions of cover cropping and crop rotation.
• Identify scale-appropriate equipment and applications.
• Describe the full-season tasks involved in grain farming-from pre-planting to post-harvest.
• Employ harvest, storage and market strategies to maximize quality and profitability.
• Understand the financial aspects of small-scale grain production and develop a basic enterprise budget

The entire webinar series costs $200 plus the purchase of a textbook.  You can more details and register online.

SOURCE: Cornell Cooperative Extension