Center for Agricultural Development & Entrepreneurship (CADE)

About the Organization

CADE envisions a vibrant, regenerative, and equitable food system in which locally owned agricultural businesses thrive and communities are nourished by healthy, sustainably produced food. Established in 1991, our mission is to increase the number and diversity of viable farm enterprises and related businesses across the supply chain in New York through technical assistance, education, mentoring, network-weaving, partnerships, advocacy, and research. CADE’s values are integral to all our services: Collaboration, Sustainability, Regenerative Practices, Equity & Inclusion, Innovation, Transparency.

We aim to increase the “Triple Bottom Line” of agricultural development:
+ Increase profit margins of farm businesses through efficient production systems, effective marketing & distribution programs, & sound business principles;
+ Promote sound environmental production practices such as low input, organic, grass-based livestock production, watershed runoff protection, improved distribution and fewer “food-miles,” reducing energy consumption; and
+ Engender positive social outcomes such as job creation, generational farm transition, positive connections between farmers and consumers, healthy food access, & locally circulating dollars.

CADE has worked for 35 years to help nearly 3,000 NY farm and food businesses. Our longtime grassroots support to NYS farm and food businesses across the supply chain, our institutional market connections, and our past research on building a healthy, equitable food system continue to reflect our vision statement: Nourishing Communities with Healthy, Sustainably Produced Food.

Regional Navigator Services 

CADE provides a full range of services to farmland seekers and landowners to support farmland access or transfer.  In house, we have program managers that specialize in identifying available farmland, consulting with farmers looking for land, matchmaking between the parties, business planning, assisting with marketing of new products, and giving advice about farmland protection opportunities.  We also have numerous connections with outside resources like Pace University for legal guidance and setting up lease agreements, Farmnet for farm transfer and estate planning, Otsego county and Schoharie county land trusts for assistance with farmland protection models, and Farm Credit East and FSA for financial support.

Reach out to us for support in the following areas: 

• Consultation or Mediation
• Farm Business Planning or Marketing
• Finding and Evaluating Farmland
• Farm Transfer and Estate Planning