Cowles Family Farm continues to create Supermilk
by Enrico Villamaino
Cowles Family Farm is one of only 16 dairies in New York State to receive the Supermilk award every year since its introduction 30 years ago. (more…)
What do beef cattle and environmental stewardship mean to me?
by Katie Navarra
On the drive home from a late-August Western New York cattle sale, Ric and Karen Coombe reminisced about their kids’ experiences showing registered Angus cattle. As their youngest son ages out of Junior Angus and Junior Beef Producers events, they wanted to give other youth the opportunity to enjoy similar experiences. (more…)
Take a lesson from the humble donkey
by Pauline Boyer
I’ve been a horse lover my entire life. In the past few years, though, I’ve had the pleasure of working with and getting to know a little about donkeys. The other day I was watching my newest donkey, Bella. She is only three years old and had recently lost her baby when my husband and I rescued her. As I watched her cautiously settling into her new surroundings and becoming acquainted with our old donkey Pearl, I found myself thinking of how different donkeys are from horses. It also made me think that, when it comes to working and staying safe on a farm, there’s a lesson to be learned from a donkey. (more…)
Vermont dairy farm counts on two enterprises
by Edith Tucker
EAST MONTPELIER, VT – The COVID-19 pandemic continues to push the five-family-member Fairmont Farm ownership team into thinking outside the box, explained its spokesperson-owner Clara Hall Ayer. “Things are changing fast,” she said. (more…)
Apprenticeship serves as stepping stone at Cobb Hill
Apprenticeship serves as stepping stone at Cobb Hill
by Sonja Heyck-Merlin
Cobb Hill is a 270-acre co-housing community in Hartland, VT. The land is collectively owned by 23 families. Kerry Gawalt, her husband Stephen Leslie and their daughter Maeve live in Cobb Hill and operate Cedar Mountain Farm on the property. The diversified enterprise, which consists of a dairy, three-acre market garden and compost production, utilizes most of the 70 acres of open land owned by the community. (more…)
Farm succession requires planning
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Many farmers want to pass on their land to a family member or a young farmer when they’re ready to retire. Since the cost of land, equipment and buildings is often higher than beginning farmers can afford, farmers anticipating succession should plan ahead to ensure their land goes where they want it to go. Practical Farmers of Iowa presented “Making the Land Affordable for the Next Generation of Farmers” as a recent webinar, hosted by Dale Nimrod, a farmer who has completed two succession plans, along with his attorney, Karl Knudson, and Matt Roberts, a certified financial planner in Des Moines. Sally Worley, representing Practical Farmers, emceed. (more…)
The expense that pays
by Sally Colby
Lameness in dairy cows is a serious issue. Cows that can’t walk properly cost money in one way or another, and also present a serious welfare issue. Lame animals can easily become bullying targets of more aggressive cows, and will reduce their lying time simply because it’s difficult to recline and rise. (more…)
Tioga County 4-H youth thrive during uncertain times
Tioga County 4-H members didn’t get their usual opportunity to show off the animals they’ve raised, crops they’ve grown, and artwork they’ve created at a typical county fair this year. Instead of letting this year become a roadblock in their learning though, the youth worked harder than ever to master agricultural and artistic skills to present their projects to the community in unique ways. (more…)
The tag on the bag
by Sally Colby
When producers consider minerals and other supplements for beef cattle, there are numerous options – all of which should be based on reading and understanding the tag. (more…)
When to plant – and harvest – forage crops
by Enrico Villamaino
The Extension programs at UMass, the University of Maine and the University of Vermont have collaborated on a joint study of the benefits of different types of forage crops. (more…)
Anatomy of a compost pile
by Sally Colby
Compost enriches soil, helps retain moisture and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers. It also supports the growth of beneficial fungi and bacteria that break down organic matter. On-farm composting can provide a ready-to-use source of organic matter to enrich soil and feed crops. (more…)
Raising and selling bison
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Raising bison may sound like an easy way to raise meat animals, as bison don’t require shelter, even in northern climates; however, Martha McFarland, in a recent Practical Farmers of Iowa presentation, said that anyone interested in raising bison needs to fully understand the animals first. (more…)
