New York SARE State Program
Progress Summary Report – July 1, 2008 – October 31, 2010
This report contains a summary of the program progress and outcomes during the first 2 years and 4 months
of a 3-year funded initiative. Final project outcomes will be measured and reported after completion of the
third year.
Program Initiative
In 2008-2009, the NY State SARE professional development program supported professional development for
service providers and farmers in 5 target areas: 1) Local Marketing Innovations, 2) Enhanced use of
Grasslands, 3) Livestock Processing Issues, 4) Beginning Farmer Support, 5) Farm Energy Issues. While the
program made good progress in improving the knowledge base and energizing NY programming in these areas,
state staff believed stronger outcomes could be obtained through a more focused educational effort. In 2010,
the NY State SARE professional development program narrowed its focus to one critical issue: Farm Energy.
New York’s small farmers, who make up 90% of New York’s farm population, are searching for strategies to
reduce energy costs and invest in affordable renewable technologies to power their farm. Farm Energy
emerged as one of 5 top critical issues at the 2007 and 2010 statewide small farms summits, a forum for
farmers and service providers to voice emerging issues and collaborate to develop solutions. Over the past
several years, many educators across the state have offered public programs about opportunities in the broad
areas of alternative energy, but much of this programming has been geared toward home owners. The NY
SARE Professional Development program is responding to this need for energy programming tailored
specifically to the needs of small farmers.
Program Description
Professional Development
Before the start of the 2010 farm energy focused initiative, New York SARE programming involved:
supporting state-wide work teams that are addressing the 5 target areas listed above
sponsoring 9 relevant conferences
providing 15 travel scholarships to educators to attend conferences relevant to the target area topics.
A collective audience of 1126 farmers and ag professionals participated and learned through the SARE
sponsored conferences and workshops during 2008 and 2009.
The programming for the 2010 farm energy focused initiative has been implemented through offering:
4 on-farm field days demonstrating conservation and renewable energy strategies
http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/news/pressroom/pressroom2010.cfm#jul
profiles of farmers in NY that have successfully implemented conservation or renewable energy strategies;
http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/projects/workteams/energy/EnergyProfiles_2010.pdf
professional development training for educators in how to conduct informal energy audits.
The programs are administered by the Small Farms Energy Workteam, a statewide network of educators who
collaborate to present education and outreach. To date, 49 service providers and 79 farmers participated in 4
on-farm energy field days where they learned about these improved energy technologies used on area farms:
photovoltaic installations biodiesel, a combination solar/wind powered
wind turbines pumping system
passive solar design do-it-yourself wind and solar installations.
solar thermal
Outreach
The NY State SARE outreach program dramatically expanded visibility for SARE’s funding opportunities and
resources.
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Activities for SARE outreach included:
Four new publications:
1. SARE Farmer Grant Profiles: How NY farmers use SARE funding to test new ideas
http://nesare.org/state-programs/new-york/ny-sare-farmer-grant-profiles.pdf
2. NY Sustainable Ag Quarterly http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/news/SARE.cfm
3. The Northeast SARE Spotlight, a regular feature of the Small Farm Quarterly Magazine
http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/quarterly/index.cfm
4. Farm Energy Innovators, Strategies for Conserving Energy & Converting to Renewable Fuel
http://www.smallfarms.cornell.edu/pages/projects/workteams/energy/EnergyProfiles_2010.pdf
A presentation on SARE Farmer and Partnership grants; SARE exhibits at 19 conferences
Numerous press releases announcing SARE sponsored events and activities.
Outcomes for the New York State Program
Service Providers’ Outcomes 2008-2009
State-wide work teams supported by the NY SARE program conducted 10 focus groups and meetings
which resulted in the publication and distribution of 5 training manuals and workbooks.
12 of the 15 educators who received travel scholarships to attend out-of-state conferences published
articles in the Small Farm Quarterly Magazine to share what they learned at the conferences.
Attendees at 2 conferences sponsored by the NY SARE program reported strong intentions to learn more
about solar energy and sustainable farming and share information learned with farmers.
Outcomes 2010
The outcomes reported below are known based on after-event surveys of participants at the 2010 farm energy
field days. The participants will be asked to complete a second, follow-up survey at a 6 month interval; the
subsequent survey will measure how service providers have used information learned to educate farmer and
how farmers have followed through on their plans for implementing practices.
Service Providers’ Outcomes 2010 Farmers’ Outcomes 2010
30 service providers planned to reproduce the 18 farmers plan to conduct an energy audit on
information learned and use it to teach farmers. their own farm within 1 year.
30 farmers plan to seek out further information
about energy conservation and renewable energy.
20 farmers plan to schedule a renewable energy
assessment on their own farms within 1 year.
15 farmers plan to install renewable energy on
their own farms within 1 year.
28 farmers reported an increase in knowledge of
energy conservation and renewable energy
30 farmers planned to reproduce the information
learned and share it with other farmers.
Outreach
Readership for e-news and resources increased from 3000-5000 from July 1, 2008-October 31, 2010.
Our listserve conveys SARE information to 4925 Farmers, Landowners and Service Providers, 470 Cornell
University and Cooperative Extension Educators, and 47 press contacts.
More than 3000 people had opportunities to learn about SARE and SARE grants at conference/meeting
exhibits
2008 and 2009 applications from NY for Northeast SARE small grants included: 26 farmer, 25 partnership
and 31 community grant applications.
2010 submissions known to date include 25 farmer grant applications.
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