October 29, 2007

Contact: Anita Deming, 518-962-4810, and Molly Ames, 315-788-8450

Note: This series includes programs in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida and St. Lawrence counties

Aspiring North Country Farmers Offered Diverse Learning Opportunities November 6-27

A series of November workshops will help those who want to be North Country farmers � anyone who has recently purchased a farm or land and those already farming but looking to diversify or transition to a different type of agricultural enterprise. The AgVentures Program of in-depth workshops for new farm enterprises offers programs November 6-27 at sites across Northern New York.

�These in-depth classes are designed to help new and beginning farmers succeed in their new agricultural adventure by setting goals, creating a doable business plan and implementing it. Time will be provided during the four evening programs to help participants design their own farm enterprise plan,� says AgVentures co-organizer Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County Executive Director Anita Deming. �Participants will have a chance to meet with advisors that can help you succeed, through a little preplanning. We will have significant resources on hand to outline recommendations and potential pitfalls of various enterprises.�

Co-organizer Molly Ames, farm business management educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, says, "It is exciting to see the number of farm and land owners willing to take thoughtful steps to plan and implement something new. These are people who see opportunity in the marketplace and want to carefully explore their options. Extension
has much to offer in the way of assistance with marketing connections and information networks."

The AgVentures In-Depth for New Farm Enterprises series will offer 6:30-9:30 pm programs by videolink between Cornell Cooperative Extension offices in Canton, Lowville, Malone, Oriskany, Piseco, Plattsburgh, Watertown, and Westport, on Tuesday evenings November 6-27. The fee for the four-part series is $20 plus a charge of less than $20 for a business planning template. Pre-register by calling your local Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) office.

The November 6-27 Tuesday evening videoconferencing series includes the following topics:
� Nov 6: Identifying Goals, Skills and Resources and Choosing an Enterprise
� Nov 13: Marketing What You Produce and Evaluating Your Land, Equipment & Facilities
� Nov 20: Maintaining Healthy Land for Healthy Profits and What Will It Take to Be Profitable
� Nov 27: Regulations, Taxes and Legal Issues and Sharing Your Plans/Ideas.

This series of agricultural enterprise development workshops is supported by Senator James W. Wright; the New York Farm Viability Institute; the Cornell Small Farms Program, the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, and Cooperative Extension across the North Country. For more information, contact your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office. # # #

Contacts at Cornell Cooperative Extension for media:
Clinton County: Amy Ivy, 518-561-7450
Essex County: Anita Deming, 518-962-4810
Franklin County: Bernadette Logozar, 518-483-7403
Hamilton County: Nancy Welch, 518-548-6191
Jefferson County: Molly Ames, 315-788-8450
Lewis County: Peggy Murray, 315-376-5270
Oneida County: Jim Manning, 315-736-3394
St. Lawrence County: Steve VanderMark, 315-379-9192
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