News Release
Date: April 4, 2008
Contact: Rebecca Schuelke, communication specialist
Telephone: (315) 453-3823 extension 103
Cell phone: (315) 427-2714
Email: rschuelke@nyfvi.org
New York Farm Viability board members return to office in 2008
The New York Farm Viability Institute board of directors returned its slate of officers and members to a one-year term at the board’s annual organizational meeting, held on March 20 in Syracuse.
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John Lincoln, a dairy farmer from Bloomfield and president of the New York Farm Bureau, was re-elected chairperson of the Institute’s board of directors.
Seven farmer-driven organizations representing the majority of New York farmers and the diversity of the state’s agriculture each nominate a representative to the New York Farm Viability Institute board annually. The Farm Viability Institute board elects its own officers.
Lincoln operates Linholm Dairy, a registered Holstein farm in Ontario County.
Jim Bittner of Appleton was re-elected vice chairperson. Bittner is president of the New York State Horticultural Society and operator of Singer fruit farm.
Dave Wood of West Charlton was re-elected secretary/treasurer. Wood, who is also the chair of New York Farm Viability Institute Dairy Committee, operates Eildon Tweed dairy farm.
Each New York Farm Viability Institute director comes from a working farm.
Larry Eckhardt, president of the New York State Vegetable Growers Association, operates Kinderhook Creek Farm in Stephentown.
Steve Griffen, a member of the Empire State Council of Agricultural Organizations, operates Saratoga Sod in Stillwater.
Ron Robbins, a member of the New York Corn Growers, operates Harbor Dairy in Sackets Harbor.
Bob Smith, a member of the New York State Nursery and Landscape Association, lives in Springville. He works with Schichtel’s Nursery in Orchard Park, a wholesaler of flowering, fruit and shade trees.
The New York Farm Viability Institute board of directors selects applied research and outreach education projects for grant funds.
Since 2003, the Institute has invested more than $14 million in farm-based production and business management projects in agro-forestry, aquaculture, bioenergy, crops and forage, dairy, equine, fruit, green industry, livestock, and vegetables.
All projects aim to help participating farmers increase farm profits, as well as provide models for other farmers to follow.
Most projects receive two years of funding. In 2005, the Institute awarded 33 grants totaling more than $2.7 million. Those projects, with final data still coming in, are now reporting more than $9.6 million in increased gross sales and $9.7 million in increased savings due to changes made at the farm. Additionally, the participating farms are making $13.6 million in capital investments.
The projects generated a number of fact sheets, instructional manuals and web pages, workbooks and other materials to help other farmers implement change. Materials will appear on the New York Farm Viability website, www.nyfvi.org, in the coming months.
New York Farm Viability Institute is an independent, farmer-led nonprofit organization that directs and funds farm-level research to increase profits, reduce costs and other barriers, create jobs and encourage practical innovation on the farm. The Institute receives funds from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Visit www.nyfvi.org.