Kitty O'Neil

Kitty O'Neil

Ag Climate Resiliency Specialist

cell 315-854-1218


Areas of Interest
soil health

Kitty O'Neil joins Harvest NY with an extensive background in climate smart farming; Her goal is to improve productivity and resiliency across the state through smart farm and business management with keen attention to climate-related risks to land, farms, crop, and animal production and long-term soil health. She is a member of the Cornell Climate Smart Farming Extension Team and the Agriculture and Climate Change Program Work Team. Her current research projects focus on impacts of soil compaction to crop yields and soil function.

Kitty previously served as the Cornell Cooperative Extension Regional Field Crops and Soils Specialist in Northern NY. She grew up on a successful family dairy farm in Cayuga County, NY and went on to receive a B.S. in Animal Science from Cornell University, her M.S. in Animal Nutrition and Plant Biochemistry from Michigan State University (MSU), and her Ph.D. in Sustainable Plant and Soil Cropping Systems from MSU. Kitty is also a Certified Crop Adviser.

Prior to working with Cooperative Extension, Dr. O'Neil spent several years working at MSU researching potato cropping systems, studying impacts of crop rotations, soil amendments, and cover crops on soil health and biophysics on potato farms.

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Upcoming Events

Whole Farm Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Planning (CAMP) Series

January 27 - February 17, 2026
Jan 27, Feb 3, Feb 10, Feb 17 | 11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Please join Ulster County CCE and CCE Harvest New York for a free four-part webinar and workshop series focused on building climate resilience on your farm. We will cover climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, learn how to access locally relevant historical climate data, and begin a climate adaptation plan or disaster preparedness plan for your farm.

By the end of the series, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to identify vulnerabilities in their operations, determine which strategies best address the issue, and secure funding to support project implementation. 

Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Pruning & Fruit Tree Health 101 (Flushing, NY)

February 22, 2026
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Flushing, NY

Join us at Ridgewood Community Garden for a free, hands-on workshop with CCE Harvest NY Urban Garden Specialist Karen Guzman. Participants will learn about basic tree maintenance and pruning techniques. Proper winter care helps trees conserve energy, prevent damage from cold weather, and prepare for growth in the spring. 

NOTE: This event was postponed from January 25 to February 22 due to the weather.

Announcements

2025 Year in Review

2025 was another year of growth and accomplishment for CCE Harvest NY! Our 2025 Year in Review highlights our impacts and details our work.
  • Farm to School Local Procurement by the Numbers
  • Biochar in the NYC Urban Agriculture Landscape
  • Harvest New York Supports Farmer-Led Research Advancing Upland Rice Production in New York State
  • Community Garden Soil Testing Program Yields Great Results
  • Regional Roots: Culinary Training to Enhance School Meals with Local Foods
  • Rooted in Learning: Strengthening Farm to School Connections Across New York
  • South Lawn Farm Expands Fresh Food Access and Urban Farming Opportunities
  • NYS Summit Advances the Mushroom Industry
  • Research to Manage Pests in Blueberries with Less Sprays
  • Building a Research and Extension Hub at Brooklyn Botanic Garden
  • A Successful Community Garden Leadership Program Pilot
  • Farm to School Events Deliver Education, Culinary Training, and Business to Business Opportunities
  • A Trusted Source of Science-Based Information for the Cannabis sativa Hemp Industry
  • Sustainable Pest Management for New York Urban Farmers
  • Cultivating Resilience: Harvest New York Drives the State's Climate Goals Through Research and Outreach
  • Expanding Agritourism Outreach Across New York State
  • Coordinating City Agencies, Academia, and Community Gardens to Improve Urban Soils
  • USDA Urban Agriculture Training Development Complete