Green Grass, Green Jobs: New Report Spotlights Potential of NY Grasslands

According to Violet Stone who heads the Cornell Small Farms Program (CSF), the CSF Work Team on Grasslands Utilization released a new report, "Green Grass, Green Jobs: Increasing Livestock Production on Underutilized Grasslands." 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. Meredith's Ken Jaffe of Slope Farms was among the work team's contributors.

This report is of significance for the Town of Meredith for two reasons:
1) the report supports livestock/grass-based enterprises as a solution to our need for economic stimulus and 2) the report reinforces the Town's need for a farmland protection plan.

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.

Over 3 million acres of NYS grasslands 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. Two barriers are farmers’ limited access to these underutilized grasslands and capital to develop agricultural enterprises.

Topics discussed in the report include: Why increased livestock utilization of NY’s 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" is available as a free download from the Cornell Small Farms website at www.smallfarms.cornell.edu. Free hard copies are also available and may be requested by contacting Violet Stone at 607-255-9227 or vws7@cornell.edu.