Center for Agricultural Development & Entrepreneurship (CADE)

Established in 1991, CADE’s mission is to increase the number and diversity of successful farm enterprises and related businesses in New York. We envision a vibrant food system, in which locally owned agricultural businesses thrive and consumers are nourished by healthy sustainably produced food. For nearly 30 years, CADE has helped more than 2,000 agricultural businesses and organizations transition ideas from concepts to commercially viable activities. Through our Farm and Food Business Incubator run in partnership with SUNY Cobleskill’s Institute for Rural Vitality, CADE identifies the technological and commercialization needs of regional producers, conducts outreach and education activities, organizes interested businesses into cooperative groups, and secures financial support to move projects into production. 

CADE assists farmland owners (including senior farmers or non-farming landowners) and land seekers in our coverage area with creating profiles on the Farmland for a New Generation New York website;  provides technical advice and referrals to attorneys, lenders, business consultants, tax assessors, or other professional service providers on topics such as land leasing options and succession planning; facilitates direct match-making between farmland owners and farmland seekers; and provides one-on-one technical assistance to interested new farmers on business planning, marketing, farm financing, legal structuring, and other areas to support the development and operation of a new farm enterprise.

Regions Served

Mohawk Valley, Schoharie County, Otsego County, Southern Tier, Delaware County

Ag Updates

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Register Now for Cornell Small Farms Online Courses!

Are you thinking about starting a small farm? Do you already have a farm that you're looking to expand? Invest in your professional development and you'll see the returns in your business. The Cornell Small Farms Program offers a suite of more than 30 online courses, primarily taught by Cornell Cooperative Extension educators, to help farmers improve their technical and business skills. 

2023-2024 Online Course List Learn More

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Looking for an on farm job or have a farm job you are hiring for?

Are you looking for a farm job? Are you a farm looking to hire help? Check out the 'Find a Farm Job' page on the New York Farmland Finder website! 

Post a Job  Browse Job Listings

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Applications Open for GrowNYC Farm Beginnings Course!

Farm Beginnings is a foundations course developed for experienced farmers, gardeners, and farm workers who want to build their own farm businesses focused on food, herbs, or flowers in the Northeast. The course is focused on providing business training for land-based farm operations and is primarily focused on serving BIPOC, immigrants, and historically underrepresented communities in farm business ownership. Applications close on Sunday, October 29th! 

Learn More & Apply  Course Eligibility