Learn about Berry Production and ‘Where to place your high tunnel’
From Cornell Cooperative Extension Serving Allegany County
Expanding Your Horticultural or Produce Operation – Friday, April 11, 2025, 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Willing Town Hall 1431 State Route 19 Wellsville, NY 14895
Open to aspiring, beginner, and experienced farmers interested in operating a horticulture or produce business. This workshop is free to attend.
On the production side, sessions will include Berry Production with Anya Stansell, Small Fruits Extension Specialist Harvest New York. She will cover what do blueberry plants need to produce abundant fruit? A comparison of varieties and information on preparing a site and fertilizing plants. Also, we have more options than ever to extend our season with strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. A review of varieties and season extension techniques (high tunnels and row covers) for high quality fruit.
High Tunnel Siting with Elizabeth Buck, Cornell Vegetable Program. Avoid common and costly mistakes by learning what makes the best place for a high tunnel and what you need to do before building one.
For the business side, session on Marketing Considerations with Robert Hadad, Regional Vegetable Specialist. What to consider when looking to start growing and marketing fresh produce. Figure out the marketing before you plant the first seed. Understanding soils are also essential for profitability so we will follow with Why Do Soil Testing, Lynn Bliven CCE Allegany County. Soil testing provides baseline information to determine plant needs. We’ll discuss when pH testing may be adequate and when a full soil analysis is a better fit. Plus Make the Most of Your Soil presented by Katelyn Miller, SWNY Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops Team. Understanding what your soil needs is the key to growing a successful crop. By interpreting your soil results and using manure effectively, you can give your crop the nutrients it needs to thrive. We’ll wrap up the afternoon with discussion on developing a Farmers Market in the Willing community.
Pre-registration is not required, however appreciated to assist with planning. Please contact Lynn Bliven at 585-268-7644 ext. 18 or email lao3@cornell.edu by April 9th. Thank you to the Town of Willing Planning Board for sponsoring this program.
Expanding Your Horticultural or Produce Operation is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension Allegany County (CCE-Allegany). The association is part of the national cooperative extension system, an educational partnership between County, State, and Federal governments. As New York’s land grant university Cornell administers the system in this state. For more information, call 585-268-7644 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/allegany. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.
