Dane Mainella

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Farming Status and Plans

Years actively farming:

2-5

Description of farming status, plans, and practices:

I am looking for land to lease long-term, and eventually buy. I have 4 years of farming experience, 2 years in NY. My focus is on agroforestry and permaculture, integrating tree crops, pasture, and livestock. My plan is to raise groves of mixed perennial crops such as fruits, nuts, and berries. While my perennial system is getting established, I plan to raise a market garden of annual vegetables to eat, preserve, and sell in the city. When the perennial system is established, I would like to rotate sheep, pigs, and chickens in the pasture of the groves.

 

Description of marketing method:

I plan to sell annual vegetables until my perennial system is producing enough for it to support itself. I'd sell the perennial fruit, nut, and berry crops, as well as sell grafted and seedling nursery stock, and seeds, until I have a you-pick customer base established. 

Does this farmer have a business plan?

Yes

Farm Characteristics

Preferred location:

  • Capital Area
    • Albany
    • Fulton
    • Montgomery
    • Rensselaer
    • Saratoga
    • Schenectady
    • Schoharie
    • Washington
  • Central
    • Chenango
    • Cortland
    • Herkimer
    • Madison
    • Oneida
    • Onondaga
    • Oswego
    • Otsego
  • Finger Lakes
    • Cayuga
    • Livingston
    • Monroe
    • Ontario
    • Seneca
    • Schuyler
    • Tompkins
    • Wayne
    • Yates
  • Hudson Valley
    • Columbia
    • Delaware
    • Dutchess
    • Greene
    • Orange
    • Putnam
    • Rockland
    • Sullivan
    • Ulster
    • Westchester
  • Long Island
    • Nassau
    • Queens
    • Suffolk
  • New York City
    • Bronx
    • Kings (Brooklyn)
    • New York (Manhattan)
    • Richmond (Staten Island)
  • Southern Tier
    • Allegany
    • Broome
    • Chemung
    • Steuben
    • Tioga

Desired acreage:

1-5, 6-10, 11-20

Crops and Livestock

Primary crops:

Vegetables, Fruits, Grains, Other Crops

Primary Livestock:

Goats/Sheep, Pigs, Poultry

Description of livestock/crops:

My plan is to raise groves of mixed perennial crops such as fruits, nuts, and berries. While my perennial system is getting established, I plan to raise a market garden of annual vegetables to eat, preserve, and sell in the city. When the perennial system is established, I would like to rotate sheep, pigs, and chickens in the pasture of the groves. I also plan to establish a nursery of seedling and grafted edible perennial trees and shrubs. 

Farmland Tenure

Tenure options desired:

Farm Management, For Lease, Partnership, For Sale, Other Tenure Agreement

Description of tenure options desired:

I am looking for land to lease long-term, and eventually buy.

Additional Information

Will this farmer's operation qualify an eligible landowner for an Agricultural Assessment?

Unsure

Experience & education:

Formal agricultural education, On farm work experience, Farm internship/apprenticeship, Farmer training or workshop

Experience description:

Most recently I completed a year-long Agroforestry apprenticeship with Savanna Institute at a fruit and nut farm in Iowa specializing in you-pick and the nursery business. Ive worked on an urban vegetable farm that served low-income communities in NYC. I've also worked on seven diverse, small-scale organic farms in six states across the country. 

Relevant documents: