Press Release

Contact: Deanna “Dee” Elliot — deanna@greenscarecrow.com
Web: https://greenscarecrow.com/ • FB/IG: @greenscarecrow
Project: Northeast SARE Farmer Grant FNE25-110

Farmer-Developed ‘Green Scarecrow’ Helps MA Farms Save ~140,000 Ears of Sweet Corn
Elliot Farm and Volante Farms report strong reductions in bird damage during SARE-funded trials.

Lakeville & Needham, MA — November 25, 2025
This project is funded by Northeast SARE (USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program), which backs farmer-driven research to improve profitability, stewardship, and farmer quality of life. In 2025, Elliot Farm (Lakeville) and Volante Farms (Needham) piloted Green Scarecrow 3.0 and rescued an estimated ~140,283 ears of sweet corn, worth ~$143,425 at retail. A three-season SARE trial (2025–2027) will continue at both farms to validate performance across weather, varieties, and planting windows.

What is Green Scarecrow 3.0?

Green Scarecrow 3.0 is a farmer-developed, eco-friendly, patent-pending laser bird-deterrent system built for small farms. The solar-powered unit uses rotating green lasers and bird distress calls to deter crop-pest species—such as red-winged blackbirds—from entering fields and feeding on high-value sweet-corn plantings, without harming non-target wildlife. Mounted on a 10-foot tripod, the head sweeps 360° and tilts vertically to mimic a patrolling predator. It’s portable and easy to place at field edges or laneways—made for everyday farm use.

What happened on the ground (2025)

We compared each farm’s 2025 harvest to what birds usually eat in those same months. With Green Scarecrow in the field, more ears stayed on the stalk and made it to the farm stand.

·   Elliot Farm (Lakeville) — More corn made it to customers.
Compared with a typical year, Green Scarecrow helped Elliot keep about 32% more of July corn and about 65% more of August corn from being eaten by birds.
Impact: ~127,710 ears protected — ~$127,710 at $1/ear.

·   Volante Farms (Needham) — Consistent gains across the season.
Compared with a typical year, Green Scarecrow helped Volante keep about 28% more of July, about 6% more of August, and about 15% more of September corn from bird damage.
Impact: 12,573 ears protected — ~$15,715 at $1.25/ear.

“Bird damage can turn a beautiful field into a financial sinkhole—fast,” said Ken Elliot, crop production lead at Elliot Farm and co-founder of Green Scarecrow. “Green Scarecrow was straightforward to deploy, and the results helped us keep the farm stand stocked with this highly popular—and highly profitable—item when demand was high.”

Why this matters

• More corn, better margins. Cutting bird losses in peak weeks keeps thousands of ears available for CSA members and walk-ins—translating directly into farm revenue and more local food on tables.

• Green by design. Uses light and sound, not pesticides or explosives; no pollutants, no netting waste, and neighbor-aware through call scheduling.

• Built for small farms. Solar power, quick setup, and flexible placement make it cost-effective where netting is impractical and traditional scare devices underperform.

What’s next

The team will continue multi-season trials through 2027 and host a public field day in 2026 to share placement tips and call-schedule best practices. To receive the field-day invite, visit greenscarecrow.com or follow @greenscarecrow.

About Green Scarecrow

Green Scarecrow LLC is the team behind Green Scarecrow 3.0, a farmer-developed, eco-friendly, patent-pending bird-deterrent system for small farms. Our mission is simple: help growers keep more of what they grow—without cannons, chemicals, or compromises. Learn more at greenscarecrow.com and follow @greenscarecrow on Facebook and Instagram.

About Northeast SARE Farmer Grants

Northeast SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) funds farmer-led innovation to improve profitability, stewardship, and farmer quality of life. Farmer Grant FNE25-110 supports Green Scarecrow’s three-season evaluation.

Funding acknowledgement: This project is supported by Northeast SARE Farmer Grant FNE25-110.