Other Ag News: Field Days Bring Together Latino/a/x Farming Community

WNY Farm Field Day Highlights Apple Production, Soil Health, Leadership

Sergio Rosario and Silvia Rios, co-owners of Rosario Brothers LLC, welcomed nearly 30 participants to an educational field day at their apple orchard in Albion, in western New York State.

The field day, conducted in Spanish, began with a farm tour where Rosario explained his strategies and practices for apple production, including pruning, the use of reflective tarps, and grafting.

Farmers learn about apple production at Rosario Brothers Farm. Tim Shenk / Cornell Small Farms Program

The field toured as part of the field day has been owned by Rosario Brothers Farm for about three years. During this time, many many significant improvements have been made to the quality and productivity of the orchard. Rosario’s goal is to produce “extra fancy” quality apples that have a higher value in the fresh apple market than apples for processing, which was the goal of the previous owner.

After the tour, participants learned about the importance of soil in agriculture. María José Oviedo from the Cornell Small Farms Program’s Futuro in Ag team presented on the importance of soil health and demonstrated different physical properties such as soil aggregate stability and soil water filtration, showing the importance of soil health in the movement, filtration and storage of water and nutrients.

Mildred Alvarado, coordinator of Futuro, then led the group in a discussion and exercises on the importance and management of personal and business finances as a key factor in building sustainable enterprises.

Honorato Martínez shares his appreciation for having Spanish-first leadership training.

Hormis Bedolla, an employee in the apple industry for more than 20 years and supervisor of work crews, presented keys to developing leadership skills.

Rosario and Rios finished out the day by awarding certificates of recognition and appreciation to high-achieving members of their team who make it possible for Rosario Brothers Farm to contribute to the local and regional economy with their hard work and love for the production of high-quality apples.

The participants at the farm field day appreciated the openness of the owners for creating a space to share their knowledge acquired over many years of experience. During the event there was an atmosphere of trust and an invitation for each of the participants to begin their path to becoming successful entrepreneurs.

Long Island Latinx Farming Community Trained in Cover Cropping

Members of Long Island’s Latinx agricultural community gathered at the Horticulture Research and Extension Center in Riverhead, NY on August 20, 2024 for an afternoon of learning and community building.

The main topics of the Spanish-language event were the importance of soil health for agricultural production, the benefits of cover crops and learning about different summer cover crops that can be adapted to the conditions of the region.

In addition to cover crops, the event was a unique opportunity to expose the Long Island Latinx community to educational and research opportunities, showing them that they can also play a role in the institutions that support agricultural development.

It was gratifying to see in attendance Long Island farm worker families and entrepreneurs looking to get started in agriculture. It was a joy to watch the children enjoying the scientific demonstrations and research, understanding the hows and whys behind the practices being shown. Most of the families had never had access to hands-on training opportunities, doing it in their own language and with high-level scientific information.

Cover crops are crops planted in rotation or at the same time as certain vegetables. The benefits of implementing cover crops in agricultural production include improving soil structure and protection during rain and runoff events, improving water filtration into the soil, helping with weed, pest and disease control, and increasing the availability of nutrients to the soil, among many other benefits.

The day was made possible through the collaborative effort of the Cornell Small Farms Program’s Futuro in Ag project and Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Suffolk County, as well as support from the New York State Soil Health Program.

The Latinx population on Long Island is significant. According to the 2020 Census, more than 20 percent of Long Island identifies as Hispanic. This represents nearly 600,000 people. Because of this, education and research in Spanish continues to grow in importance.

During the event, more than 20 participants were able to hear information relevant to the use of summer cover crops and soil health, observe rainfall simulations and the results with different crops, as well as observe different cover crops. For many participants, it was the first time they had learned about cover crops, and receptivity was high related to the options and benefits of using cover crops in different scenarios.

More Than 80 Participate in Bilingual Field Day

More than 80 people participated in a bilingual Farm Field Day at West Haven Farm in Ithaca, New York, focused on equity in agriculture and the impacts of climate change on food production this past Sunday, July 28. The event was organized by the Cornell Small Farms Program’s Futuro en Ag team, along with the Northeast Organic Farmers Association of New York (NOFA-NY) and West Haven Farm. The event was also supported by the New York Soil Health Program. The presentations were conducted primarily in Spanish, with simultaneous interpretation into English.

The hosts, Carlos Aguilera and Lorena Mendoza, along with their staff and technical specialists from Cornell, shared their experience and knowledge of production in high tunnels, microgreens production, the importance of soil in agriculture, soil health, reduced tillage, cover crops and seed saving.

The afternoon session focused on the food system and the importance of the participation of small-scale producers, entrepreneurs and other actors in the food chain. Owners of Four Leaf Farm and Mama Said Hand Pies also participated, providing vegetables, chickens and cooking prowess for the event.

The event highlighted the importance of equity in agriculture and sustainable farming practices. The organizers noted the effort of New York’s Latino/a/x agricultural community, who attended from Central and Western New York, Hudson Valley, Long Island and New York City.

Successful Field Day for Latino/a/x Farmers in Hudson Valley

The Latino/a/x farming community gathered for the Second Annual Hudson Valley Area Latinx Farmers’ Field Day on July 15, 2024. The Spanish-language event was hosted at Three Sisters Farm in Kerhonkson, NY, where co-owner José Rodríguez and his family welcomed more than 30 participants. Rodriguez shared his family’s experience of building a farm business, immersing themselves in farming in New York with the same love, hard work and perseverance as they did in their native Mexico.

María José Oviedo from the Cornell Small Farms Program’s Futuro in Ag team teaches the importance of soil health. Tim Shenk / Cornell Small Farms Program

The educational content was facilitated by the Cornell Small Farms Program’s Futuro en Ag team in collaboration with the Orange County Cornell Cooperative Extension Office, and with the support of the New York Soil Health Program. Facilitators from Three Sisters Farm and West Haven Farm focused on how to improve resilience in agriculture, as well as developing and pursuing goals at the level of the individual, the family, the farm, and the business.

Participants saw demonstrations of different technologies and equipment for vegetable production that comprise climate resilient practices for water conservation, mulching, soil health, cover crops, and pest and disease management. Participants learned the importance of doing cost-benefit and market analysis in order to develop sustainable and profitable production systems.

The active participation of the producers and the friendly exchange of experiences and lessons contributed to this welcoming field day. The atmosphere was full of camaraderie and learning. Farmers in attendance exchanged tips and experiences, creating a true community spirit.

The event lasted from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Participants expressed gratitude for being able to learn from the Rodríguez family’s experience, in addition to the formal presentations and informal conversations that took place throughout the field day.

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