College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University

09/10/2026

We were honored to welcome USDA Undersecretary Richard Fordyce and Clark Putnam, New York State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency, for a visit across Cornell CALS yesterday.

The visit explored how our Land-Grant mission comes to life through research, extension and innovation that support New York's farm and food sectors.

We're grateful for our partnership with the USDA, which helps drive meaningful impact for farmers, food producers and communities across New York and beyond.

09/09/2026

Fifteen years ago, labor accounted for about 30% of total costs at the Washington Fruit and Produce Co. Today, it’s over 60%.

“Our costs have just been skyrocketing, largely around labor, but everything else as well – meanwhile, apples sell for the same price they did 20 years ago,” said Gilbert Plath, technology director for the Yakima, Washington-based orchard, which grows apples and cherries on 10,000 acres.

“Who gets squeezed at that point? It’s not the warehouse, and it’s not the grocery store. It’s the farmers. We need to find ways to do more with less.”

Plath’s fourth-generation family of growers is one of nine organizations nationwide collaborating on a Cornell-led research project to develop robots that can perform labor-intensive orchard operations such as pollinating flowers, thinning fruits, harvesting apples and weeding between rows. The project is supported by a newly announced four-year grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Research Initiative. The grant will establish a Center of Excellence for Orchard Robotics in Cornell’s Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering.

Read more: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/09/cornell-leads-project-putting-robots-work-us-orchards.

09/04/2026

A winged workforce is helping keep your favorite fruits and vegetables on the menu. Chances are, you pass by these tiny unsung heroes every day without noticing.

Amara Dunn-Silver, biocontrol specialist with Cornell Integrated Pest Management, explains some of the pollinator characters you're likely to encounter if you take a closer look.

08/20/2026

08/17/2026

The Dyce Lab for Honey Bee Studies is hosting our annual honey extraction event! Join us on August 21st from 10am-6pm to extract honey, build bird feeders and check out our newly planted pollinator garden. Free and open to the public!

08/17/2026

We have a new fall webinar series coming up:

Tax 101 – An Introduction to Income Taxes for Farmers
Sep 17, 2026 01:00 PM
Register at: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uFJqZWS8Qz-ResEuz_0gKA

This webinar focuses on good recordkeeping and what information your tax preparer will need to file your taxes effectively.

What you'll learn:

- Understand why accurate record keeping is essential;
- Know what documents are needed;
- Evaluate current record keeping systems and make changes;
- Identify common tax forms and schedules;
- Learn common tax terms and credits;
- Develop a seasonal tax to-do list;
- Understand the value of an on-going relationship with a tax professional.

This program is provided for educational purposes only and should not be considered tax advice. For guidance specific to your individual circumstances, please consult a qualified tax professional.

08/17/2026

If a "101" version of tax awareness and planning for farmers is too entry level for you - don't worry! We are hosting a November 4th Webinar that focuses on more complex topics aptly called "Tax 102."

You can register at: https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_QWl-5tqLSQWce7UxVnrTVQ

08/12/2026

08/05/2026

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Stephen B. Ashley '62, MBA '64.

A trustee emeritus, devoted alumnus and one of CALS' most transformative benefactors, Steve dedicated decades of service to Cornell. His vision and generosity, including establishing the Cornell CALS Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment, will have a lasting impact on our college, our students, and communities around the world.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Steve's family, friends and the many members of the Cornell community whose lives he touched.

Read more about Steve's life and legacy:

Trustee emeritus and philanthropist Stephen Ashley ’62, MBA ’64, whose service and advocacy for Cornell spanned more than five decades, died July 29 in Richmond, New York.

08/04/2026

Doctors recommend dietary fiber for healthy digestion, but to benefit from it, people not only need specific species of gut bacteria but the right strains of those bacteria to process the starches, according to a new study that advances the promise of precision nutrition.

Dietary fiber, which comes in a variety of forms prevents constipation, fosters healthful gut microbes and slows digestion to regulate blood sugar. It is found in several legumes, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

Previous studies examining the benefits of resistant starches found mixed outcomes, as some subjects benefited from it while others experienced no effect.

“We think that one of the reasons for that is because you need the right bacteria in your gut to process resistant starch,” said Angela Poole, assistant professor in the Division of Nutritional Sciences, in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University and the College of Human Ecology at Cornell, and the paper’s senior author.

Read more: https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/07/will-dietary-fiber-help-digestion-it-might-depend-your-gut-bacteria