by George Looby, DVM
At any given moment in time it would be most difficult to estimate how many herding dogs are roaming the fields, pastures and barnyards of this country. To watch them work puts many of us to shame as they respond to the hand signals and whistles of their Shepherds with a zeal that never ceases to amaze. Unfortunately some of these animals have inherited a defective gene that puts them at risk for a potentially deadly illness. [Read more…]
by Pat Malin
EAST SYRACUSE, NY — If farmers wish to become transparent with the consumer and the public about their activities, it can be as easy as setting up a farm profile on Facebook.
On the other hand, opening up these lines of communication can come with risks and unwanted attention.
How the farmers balance their need to market their products and engage in dialogue with the public versus maintaining their privacy was a major topic at the New York Farm Bureau’s Animal Welfare Symposium on Oct. 29 at the Doubletree by Hilton. [Read more…]
Penn State’s Poultry Judging Team placed first in the nation at the 50th National Collegiate Poultry Judging Contest held Nov. 1-3 at the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. It is the first time since 2005 that the team has placed first, though it has been second six times, third two times and fourth once. The team scored an impressive 4,258 points out of 4,500.
Josh Cassar, Lansdale, PA, led the team as first place overall individual, having also won high individual at the spring national contest earlier this year. Cassar placed first in Egg Production and Quality and second in Breed Selection and Carcass Quality. [Read more…]
Penn State University hosted a successful Northeast Regional Dairy Challenge that drew 109 students from 10 northeastern U.S. and two Canadian universities to State College, PA, on Oct. 22 -24. This event marked the 13th annual Northeast Regional Dairy Challenge which is an innovative, three-day educational competition designed to prepare students for careers in the dairy industry. [Read more…]
by Tamara Scully
“Rumination is so sensitive to the cow’s state of being. Resting as a biological process, and rumination, are so closely intertwined,” Dr. Rick Grant, of the Miner Institute said. “Management that impairs lying time almost has to decrease rumination response,” no matter the diet being fed. [Read more…]
Festival games at the Grafton County 4-H Family Fall Festival on Oct. 16 provided 4-H families and those interested in learning more about 4-H, an opportunity to have fun and even create some crafts before the formal presentation began. [Read more…]
by Paul Burdziakowski
When you hear the words tobacco farm you might imagine the rolling fields of North Carolina or a plantation in tropical Havana, Cuba as the ideal setting. There is, however, a long-standing tobacco farm that sits in the temperate climate of Southwick, MA.
“Tobacco farming has been in the Connecticut River Valley for a long time,” said John Arnold, one of three brothers who co-own the farm. “People think of it as southern best quality tobacco grown here in the north.” [Read more…]
by Heather Bryant, Regional Field Specialist, Food and Agriculture
Bright and early Thursday morning, Oct. 29, 126 people arrived in Whitefield for the annual North Country Fruit and Vegetable Seminar and Tradeshow. This was the sixth year we’ve run this program at the Mountain View Grand and as usual they came through with an “as local as possible” meal which included squash, beets, kale and tomatoes grown by some of the attendees. [Read more…]