Supporting Agricultural Business Retention and Expansion

Agriculture, horticulture, and related business vitality is critical to ag economic development in Sullivan County. Extension, the Sullivan County Legislature, County Planning, and the Ag and Farmland Protection Board are committed to assisting farm and agricultural/horticultural business industries.

Ag Business Retention and Expansion Related Workshops, Events, and Initiatives

NCE

•Best Foot Forward: Branding,

Marketing and Sales •Social Media Inspirations •E Commerce 101 •Beginner Social Media •Advanced Social Media •Marketing Your Business •Business Planning Workshop •Wholesale Market Readiness •Farm Transfer and Succession

Planning •Agri-Tourism Workshop •Picture Perfect Social Media

Photography and Graphics

EMPOWERING FARMS TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE

In response to the pandemic, the U.S. government established federal relief and funding programs to help small businesses that were negatively impacted. Access to these programs existed solely online, which created a barrier for many in our agriculture community. CCE Sullivan bridged this digital divide through access and training, by offering direct assistance to farmers seeking to apply for pandemic assistanc. Overall, CCE Sullivan assisted 16 farms with submitting their application and helped them collectively receive over $140,000 in payroll assistance/forgivable loans from the Small Business Administration. nmentt ams y solely ur d this y to ullivann cationn andhelpedand helped them them collectively collectively receive receive over over $140,000 in payroll assistance/forgivable loans from th Small Business Administration. he

FARM AND FOOD BUSINESS PROGRAM

In the Fall of 2021, CCE received funding from the USDA through their Rural Business Development program. Through this new project, CCE staff will work one on one with farm and food businesses to develop business and marketing plans, using professional consultants, along with using industry professionals and in house educators to offer programming on marketing and business development and expansion. The program also allows participants to access funding to implement their marketing plans. Stay tuned for upcoming workshops.

Catskills Food Hub

When the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, a team from CCE Sullivan helped expand the operational capacity of Catskills Food Hub to meet demand and pivot to a hybrid retail market, allowing individuals and families to access food during the height of the pandemic. Distribution sales increased five-fold, stressing operational capacity, but providing a vital outlet for local, small farms to be able to continue selling their products despite restaurant and other market closures.

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SPOTLIGHT ON: BROWN FARM

The Browns have operated a dairy farm in Callicoon since 1978. Richard Brown manages a herd of over 100 cattle, working with the Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) for distribution and sales. During 2020, the farms fluid milk payments dropped in value by over 25 percent. Operating costs remain the same on farms despite fluctuation and bottlenecks in the market. The Browns worked with CCE Sullivan staff to obtain two separate Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) forgivable loans to help cover significant income losses of more than $40,000. The Browns’ operation is majority analog, and without this assistance from Extension, they most likely would not have applied for PPP, though being well qualified. e y

ALL FOR AG THANK YOU BAGS

During the 2020 season, farms navigated an extremely volatile market, while continuing to provide food for our communities. They adjusted operations, increased workloads, and donated food and time. To recognize the strong local farms we have in Sullivan County, the CCE Sullivan team asked the public to nominate farms to receive a thank you gift over the winter holidays. In total, CCESC delivered 51 All for Ag, Thank You Bags full of gifts provided by local partners and dollars to spend at local ag stores.