At the expense of a label
by Sally Colby
The demand for animal protein products derived from animals raised without antibiotics is on the rise in the United States, but there are concerns about the potential impact on animal welfare.
(more…)Trump touches on many topics at AFBF address
by Enrico Villamaino
For the second time in as many years, President Donald J. Trump addressed the annual gathering of the nation’s largest farm group, the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). This year, the event took place in New Orleans, LA, from Jan. 11 – 16.
(more…)Miss Agriculture USA making connections across the country
by Courtney Llewellyn
County fair queens are a familiar sight, moving with their courts through crowds of fair-goers, smiling, waving and representing their realms. Dairy princesses do the same, representing milk producers in their areas. But what about those who want to share their love of agriculture as a whole?
(more…)Weeding out unknowns
One of the five labs that I work with provides small plastic-lined paper bags for their customers to put their soil samples in. The person submitting the soil for analysis fills out the field’s and farm’s specifics on one side of the bag.
(more…)Dennis Family Farm named “Conservation Farm of the Year”
The Onondaga County Soil & Water Conservation District presented Dennis Family Farm with the 2018 “Conservation Farm of the Year” award. Three generations of the Dennis family gathered to receive the award. Local dignitaries were present to celebrate the farm – New York State Assemblyman Al Stirpe; representatives for Congressman John Katko; David Knapp, County Legislator and District Board member; Wayne Norris and David Coburn, also District Board members.
(more…)Farm Safety – Be safe for them
by Noah Radliff
When I was a child I had always heard stories from my father about my grandfather. I never knew him due to an agriculture accident. I only got to know my grandfather through funny stories and passing memories shared from my father. I have always known that my grandfather had passed away from a farm related accident when my father was just 17 years old. The part of the story that has stuck with me the most has been the aftermath of the accident when a family member had to inform the rest of the family “he’s gone.”
(more…)2019 New York State Maple Conference grows bigger and better than ever in new location
by Elizabeth A. Tomlin
A brand new location, along with a new name for the NYS Maple Conference highlighted the 24th annual event.
(more…)Marketing on the urban fringe
by Jane Primerano
All farmers must know their markets but it can be especially important for farmers in suburban or urban fringe areas because consumers may come from varied backgrounds with various food expectations.
(more…)Mycotoxins in feed
by Tamara Scully
Mycotoxin pressures have been high with this fall’s grain harvest, leading to concern across much of the Eastern Seaboard. Drought stress, followed by heavy rains, set the season up to be one in which molds, and therefore mycotoxins, became a serious concern. Random sampling of corn silage by Alltech scientists resulted in more than 75 percent of corn silage samples having mycotoxin levels considered moderate or high for dairy feed.
(more…)The year end report from the Collins Farm
by George Looby
On March 29, 2018 a group of officials and interested individuals gathered at the Collins Powder Hill Farm in Enfield, CT, to review the progress that had been made on a new energy installation on the farm. This project was the result of a study initiated by the Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development Organization (CTRC&D), a non-profit, non-governmental group dedicated to the conservation of energy on Connecticut farms.
(more…)The science of stress
Part 2: Focused stress reduction strategies
by Sally Colby
Farmers are professionals when it comes to getting things done under stress, but often at the expense of their health. Because stress can be a major contributing factor in many complicated health issues, it’s worth pursuing stress-reduction strategies to avoid serious issues.
(more…)Farm business finance
by Jane Primerano
A business plan, the “where do we want to go and where are we going to go,” is the essential beginning of any farm business according to Henry Grinbaum, vice president of Farm Credit East, who spoke recently at the Urban Ag Workshop at the Cook Campus of Rutgers University.
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