The Peru Gazette

Northern New York – Do you have questions about what type of insurance you need for your farm?  Have you changed what you are doing on your farm?  Have you added another venture or product to your farm business?  Do you direct market your products?  

The Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) associations of Northern New York are offering a combined “How Much Protection Do You Need?  Let’s Talk Farm Insurance” & “Choosing Your Markets Wisely” workshop in Watertown, Malone and Westport. The workshop is scheduled for 6-9pm on Tuesday, May 29 at the CCE Jefferson County office in Watertown; Wednesday, May 30 at the CCE Franklin County office in Malone; and Thursday, May 31 at the CCE Essex County office in Westport.

Roxaina Hurlburt with Foy Insurance Agency, Deer River, NY, will provide information and tips on farm insurance coverage to meet different needs.

“This workshop is an opportunity for farmers to update their existing knowledge of farm-based insurance and to learn about new products that may fit their current needs, particularly if their farm business mix has changed,” Hurlburt says.

CCE Tompkins County Ag Marketing Specialist Matt LeRoux has developed a Market Channel Assessment tool that provides farmers with farm-specific results for measuring the performance of selling through such channels as CSAs, farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and groceries. LeRoux will help workshop participants evaluate the channels they are currently using as well as demonstrate a framework for evaluating new marketing opportunities.

“This workshops’ market channel assessment exercise is a way for experienced farmers to analyze where they might change up their marketing for a labor savings or improved profitability. It  will also help new marketers evaluate opportunities with the best fit for their production and preferences,” LeRoux says.

LeRoux has recently received funding from the New York Farm Viability Institute to work with 50 farms in a market channel assessment project over the next two years.

The workshop fee is $10 per business.  For more information or to register for the Watertown workshop, contact Megan Miller, 315-788-8450 x 254, mbm243@cornell.edu <mbm243@cornell.edu> ; for the Malone workshop: Bernadette Logozar, 518-483-7403, bel7@cornell.edu <bel7@cornell.edu> ; or for the Westport workshop: Sharon Garvey, 518-962-4810 x 0, essex@cornell.edu <essex@cornell.edu> .

Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.