Freeville, NY
The Homer C. Thompson Vegetable Research Farm, also called Freeville Farm, is located 10 miles from the Cornell campus. It is is a primary location for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' historically important vegetable research. Freeville Farm serves several departments, including Horticulture, Entomology, Plant Breeding and Plant Pathology. The 200-acre farm includes a 30-acre parcel for the Freeville Organic Farm. Well-known by local citizens, the farm is popular for its "field days," which give local commercial farmers and amateur gardeners the chance to learn about state-of-the-art planting and best management practices. The farm is managed by CUAES as a site for interdisciplinary research aimed at optimizing vegetable production systems for the Northeast.
• Vegetable weed management studies include trials on natural weed control with nurse and cover crops, rotations and cultivation equipment, as well as studies on the optimum use of herbicides, to develop appropriate labeling for herbicide use on vegetable crops.
• Testing the newest breeding lines of dried beans and potatoes with best potential of production in New York, to develop appropriate cultural practices, utilization recommendations and yield assessments, which assists local growers in successfully adopting these new varieties.
• On the certified organic acres, research includes trials on vegetable cover cropping, rotations, minimum tillage and the effects of organic nutrient sources on soil quality, to identify new strategies for vegetable production.
• Research on cucurbit crop diseases and late blight on potatoes is evaluating the effectiveness of fungicides and developing new treatment options. The cucurbit family includes squash and cucumber, among other popular vegetables.
• Entomologists are conducting research on corn root maggots and Colorado potato beetles, to develop novel methods of pest control.
The Freeville Organic Research Farm -- 30 acres certified organic by NOFA -- is the home of Cornell's ground-breaking organic agricultural research. Research focuses on optimizing organic vegetable production systems in the Northeast.
Researchers are currently conducting trials on organic production systems in order to meet the short-term and long-term needs of organic farmers. Organic farming is a small but important segment of the U.S. farming market. It offers small- and mid-size farms an option that can improve economic viability and environmental sustainability. It is also the only sector with an increasing numbers of farmers. Organic practices are moving beyond a "niche" market and are an increasingly an important part of today's agricultural landscape.
Every year, the farm donates large amounts of fresh produce to local food banks. In 2007, the farm donated 178,000 pounds - approximately 82 tons - of produce, including potatoes, corn, green beans, beets, melons and collard greens to local area food banks to distribute to families in need.
