by Tamara Scully
Equipment and feed dealers, dairy producers and other industry representatives gathered at two Berks County, Pennsylvania farms for an in-depth exploration of precision technology. Hosted at the Stutzman family’s Lehigh Creek Farm in Mertztown and Cornerview Farm in Kutztown, attendees received a close-up look at the use of automation on mid-sized family dairy farms. [Read more…]
by Lorraine Strenkowski
A poultry tractor, (sometimes called an ark), is a movable coop without a floor. This housing allows free ranging along with shelter, where birds can consume fresh forage such as grass, weeds, bugs, worms, or grubs. Most poultry tractors are lightly built A-frames which one person can drag to designated areas in their yard. It may have wheels on one or both ends to make travel easier. [Read more…]
by Hope Holland
Judi Smith and her family are pretty busy right now. This is crunch time for all five turkey houses on their three-generation family farm that work in conjunction with the family business of processing for the Hillside Turkey Farms Store in the not so small town of Thurmont, MD, a town that has worked to maintain its friendly small town identity. [Read more…]
by Michael Wren
GHENT, NY — Oct. 17, 2016 marked the final on-farm field day put on by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY). These events are hosted by farms in New York State and are held from June through October. NOFA-NY’s Executive Director Adrianna Natsoulas and the Grain and Field Crops Coordinator Robert Perry helped to put on the field day. [Read more…]
According to the Biodynamic Association, biodynamics is a holistic, ecological, and ethical approach to farming, gardening, food and nutrition. Biodynamic agriculture has been practiced since the early 1920’s. The principles and practices are based on the findings of Dr. Rudolf Steiner. Today, the biodynamic movement encompasses thousands of regenerative gardens, farms, ranches, orchards, and vineyards which all look for a more sustainable approach to farming. [Read more…]
BURLINGTON, VT — Vermont 4-H horse delegates that went to the Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup did the state proud, finishing in the top 10 in team competitions and in all events with the communications team capturing first place in their contest. [Read more…]
Workshops, speakers, and awards highlight 100th Anniversary Celebration of New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation
On Friday Nov. 11, New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation celebrated their 100th Annual Meeting with a conference at Church Landing in Meredith. Workshops and training sessions were held throughout the day for Farm Bureau members. Congresswoman Ann Kuster, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee, recognized the accomplishments and hard work of Farm Bureau members over their 100 Years of service to agriculture in a letter and Governor Maggie Hassan honored the New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation with a commendation read by NHFB President, Denis Ward, during the evening banquet. [Read more…]
by Sally Colby
Dairy farmers know the importance of colostrum to the newborn calf, and well-managed farms have established protocol for ensuring calves have adequate colostrum within hours of birth.
“Colostrum management is the most important thing you do with an animal in their life,” said Dr. Jud Heinrichs, professor of dairy science at Penn State University. “What you do in the first two hours of their life has huge implications.” [Read more…]