About Ag at CCE

CCE of Essex County is unique among local organizations in offering a continuum of education and resources that enable it to address food systems issues in a holistic way. By working at a food-system level, we can more effectively respond to cross-cutting needs such as food safety, food access, local agriculture and community infrastructure. We offer resources for farmers, and consumers that span the food system.

CCE Essex agricultural support includes county-specific projects, regional teams, and collaborators at Cornell University. Please see the pages at the left (Farmland Protection and Transition Support, etc) to learn about the work ongoing in the CCE Essex office. Please contact the CCE Essex office with any questions or to request a farm visit. Farm visits are a very useful way to learn more about the needs of your farm. You can visit the office for soil testing boxes and guidance in soil or forage sample submission.

Agricultural resources and events are announced and archived through a google groups forum: Essex County Farmer-to-Farmer. This forum allows all resources to be accessed by topic at any time, for participants to share resources and create dialogue, and for participants to customize how messages are received. To join, contact Carly Summers.

Essex County residents interested in support from the regional teams or Cornell resources below are encouraged to first contact CCE Essex and we will link you to the best expert for your question or need. Each team produces (highly recommended) regular newsletters with research based information relevant for the time of year and current needs of the region.

The Northern New York Regional Ag CCE team focuses on dairy, field crops, soil health, hemp, and business management.

The Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture CCE team provides excellent support and consultation for vegetable and fruit production, as well as business management.

Adirondack Harvest is a collaborative marketing organization for direct-market farming, forestry and fiber businesses. The organization is based and run out of CCE Essex. Adirondack Harvest provides the only comprehensive and current local food resource website for the Adirondack region, as well as various events for local food outreach.

The Harvest NY CCE team provides marketing and value-added processing support.

The Willsboro Research Farm is a Cornell University Experimental Station, one of only 3 in the state, and is located in Essex County conducting research specific to the needs of this region.

The Uihlein Maple Research Station focuses on maple research and workshops, located in Lake Placid.

Cornell Small Farms provides excellent on-line webinars and resources addressing every aspect of farming, from production to business management.

For Consumers
Strong farmer-consumer connections result in a strong local foods system in which consumers identify and appreciate the value of local products, foods are produced and consumed locally, "food miles" and our carbon footprint are reduced, and dollars keep circulating here to strengthen our local economy. Through special events, farm tours, publications, and classroom outreach, CCE of Essex County connects you and your family with the farmers who grow your food.

Last updated October 22, 2019