New York Farm Viability Institute Website Press Releases
PRESS RELEASE: June 28, 2006
Contacts:
Molly Ames, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, 315-788-8450
R. David Smith, New York Farm Viability Institute, Inc., 315-453-3823
New Strategies for North Country Farm Profitability Project Names Coordinators
The “New Strategies for North Country Farm Profitability Project” has named
Molly Ames and Bernadette Logozar as co-coordinators. This project of the
Cornell Cooperative Extension Associations of Northern New York recently
received a $140,000 grant from the New York Farm Viability Institute, Inc.
to help existing and aspiring farmers across New York State’s six
northernmost counties develop new products, new markets and new strategies
for the profitability of their businesses.
Ames and Logozar will work with a team of 20 Extension educators to provide
farmers with
technical support and business planning assistance for transitioning to or
developing new enterprises focused on everything from livestock, meat and
cheese production to fresh and value-added fruit and vegetable products.
North Country Farm Profitability Project Development Coordinator Richard
Halpin, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson
County, says, “We looked far and wide before we realized that we had the
best expertise for this project right here in the North Country. Molly Ames
and Bernadette Logozar know the local land, the local people and the local
resources and have the passion for making our farmers successful through
this new project.”
Carl Tillinghast, executive director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of
Franklin County, says, “The package of expertise that Molly and Bernadette
bring to this project is an outstanding match for the work at hand. Molly is
a proven professional in the area of farm business management and Bernadette
is doing great things in helping rural entrepreneurs with her programming in
ag economic development. This project is going to provide a tremendous
opportunity for farmers across the North Country to work with two dynamic
individuals.”
Ames, who will continue to work part-time as a farm business management
educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, has
expertise in the areas of financial analysis and planning, labor and tax
management, record keeping, marketing and business development. She has an
Agricultural Economics degree from the University of Connecticut and a
Master’s degree from Cornell University where her research evaluated
strategic changes for family-owned agricultural businesses. Ames’ experience
also includes 19 years with Farm Credit’s agricultural lending and financial
services.
Logozar, who will continue to work part-time as a rural and ag economic
development specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Franklin
County, has expertise in marketing, business development, regulations,
alternative agriculture, diversification and small farm operations. She has
a Masters in Political Science degree from the University of Alberta
focusing on the changing role of agriculture in Canadian politics. As the
Agricultural Research Officer with the Alberta Association of Municipal
Districts and Counties, Logozar analyzed, evaluated, interpreted and made
recommendations on various topics related to agricultural policy, the
agricultural industry and farm safety.
Projects receiving grants from the New York Farm Viability Institute (NYFVI),
an independent, farmer-driven, not-for-profit corporation, must respond to
farmer-identified needs and opportunities and must show farm-level benefits
that can be replicated throughout the production agriculture sector.
Business planning for success is a critical component of all NYFVI projects.
The Institute provides New York’s agricultural and horticultural producers
with access to technical assistance, educational resources and a network of
diverse expertise in production agriculture and horticulture, agricultural
economics, value-added processing, marketing, integrated pest management,
business planning, business structuring, waste management and on-farm
business opportunity development.
For more information on the North Country Farm Profitability Project,
contact Molly Ames at 315-788-8450. For more information on the New York
Farm Viability Institute and its grants programs, go online to www.nyfarmviability.org or call
315-453-3823.
See Also:
June 13, 2006
NYFVI Awards $140,000 Grant to North
Country Farm Profitability Project