ADT at The Security Investor Conference

December 10, 2015 in Photo

Young Farmers Conference at Stone Barns

December 05, 2015 in Photo

The Young Farmers Conference, at Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture, is convening some 250 young and beginning farmers for intensive workshops, demonstrations, business courses, conversations and dancing. Part of the Center's Growing Farmers Initiative, the conference is unique in scope and reach, bringing together thought leaders, creative practitioners and business experts in the sustainable agriculture movement with farmers eager for ideas, information and connection.

Young and beginning farmers attend to talk about improvements they want to make to their farms and, for most, dream about the type of farm they hope to have one day. They gather to share ideas, business models, tools and experiences that can help them meet the challenges of small-scale farming.

A study conducted in 2011 by the National Young Farmers Coalition not only quantifies those challenges but gives voice to the frustrations and fears of the farmers dealing with them. Lindsey Lusher Shute started the coalition in 2011 to help define the issues confronting this generation of young farmers and bring about the policy changes needed to give them a leg up. In a nationwide survey of 1,000 farmers, Lindsey found that some of the top barriers impeding them are lack of capital, credit and land.

The annual Young Farmers Conference, together with Stone Barns Center’s Growing Farmers Initiative, is designed to give beginning farmers the resources and information they need to overcome these hurdles, as well as be a vital forum for education and training.

Problem: Lack of Capital and Access to Credit. Finding the money to start a farming operation can be daunting. Inputs are expensive and the margins are slim. Of the farmers surveyed by the National Young Farmers Coalition, 78% ranked “lack of capital” as their top challenge. Yes, there are loans available from the USDA Farm Service Agency, but current rules are too restrictive, small loans are hard to secure and loans can take a long time to process. Financial straits frequently force beginning farmers to work second jobs: 73% report they rely on off-farm income to make ends meet. This year, the Young Farmers Conference is offering a Business Planning Track—a five-workshop series focused on establishing systems to promote efficiency and help farmers find their market niche.

Problem: Access to Land. According to the survey, approximately 78% of beginning farmers did not grow up on a farm. Without inheriting farmland, the prospect of buying land, and at affordable prices, can be unattainable for many, especially for those in areas with high real estate prices. Several conference workshops will explore the access to land issue from different angles, from urban farming to farm ownership.

Problem: the Need for Education and Training. All beginning farmers need hands-on training—both technical and practical. They need to learn techniques and ideas from experienced farmers and have an opportunity to put them to work. The survey cited farm apprenticeships as one of the things that currently is working—and arguably one of the things that Stone Barns Center does best for young farmers, with its dozens of apprenticeships offered annually. As the only national annual conference of its size and scope, Stone Barns Center’s Young Farmers Conference is leading the way in educating and convening young farmers. And it offered up education and practical courses in spades: backyard beekeeping, the basics of soil science, pasture-raised laying hens, greenhouse management, sheep-handling skills, poultry-processing, crop rotation, whole-animal butchering—just to name a few.

To learn more about the Young Farmers Conference visit virtualgrange.org!

Tectonic 2015 Summit

December 02, 2015 in Photo

BNY Mellon and Jefferies 1st Annual Global ADR Investor Conference

November 30, 2015 in Photo

BNY Mellon and Jefferies 1st Annual Global ADR Investor Conference

89th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

November 27, 2015 in Photo

A prisoner float goes down 6th Avenue for the 89th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as seen from above street level on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015, in New York. (Photo by Ben Hider/Invision/AP)

Ben Hider - Event and Portrait Photographer based in New York City and Westchester

Walmart and Governor Cuomo Thanksgiving Food Drive

November 24, 2015 in Photo

The Walmart Foundation's partnership with Governor Cuomo and the State of New York this Thanksgiving is part of its overall commitment to assist communities and families throughout the state. During the past fiscal year, the Foundation donated more than $25 million to charitable efforts in New York State, including donations of nearly 13 million pounds of food to local food banks — more than 10 million meals to those in need.

Walmart Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations Jason Klipa said, "We are proud to once again partner with Governor Cuomo and the State of New York to put a little extra joy on the Thanksgiving tables of thousands of New Yorkers. While the holiday season can often remind us that there are many in need, we hope everybody can find even the smallest ways to help those who are less fortunate throughout the entire year."

Ben Hider - Event and Portrait Photographer based in New York City and Westchester

New York Botanical Garden Holiday Tree Lighting

November 22, 2015 in Photo

Kick off the holiday season! View the lighting of a stunning conifer display by special guests, and join in an old-fashioned sing-along with the Westchester Chordsmen featuring carols from many traditions