Eastern Edition

Emerging corn pest in Northern New York prompts farmer-driven research

Western Bean Cutworm, an emerging pest of field and sweet corn in the Eastern U.S, prompted the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program to fund field research in 2016. The results of those trials are now posted at www.nnyagdev.org as the work continues in cornfields this summer. [Read more…]

2nd annual Dairy Day celebrated at Walter Elwood Museum

by Elizabeth A. Tomlin

Walter Elwood Museum of the Mohawk Valley, located at 100 Church Street, Amsterdam, NY, celebrated their 2nd annual Dairy Day with Montgomery County’s Dairy Promotion team, headed up by American Dairy Association and Dairy Council (ADADC) NY District 5 Director / Montgomery County Dairy Promotion Chair, Terri Phillips-Nelson. [Read more…]

Farmers market aims to revive downtown

by Michael Wren

GLOVERSVILLE, NY — Gloversville was the heart of leatherworking and glove making for over 150 years. However, as the industry began to decline so did the economy of Gloversville. A once thriving downtown has been slowing down ever since the leather factories left. In hopes of remedying this problem, Jennifer Jennings, a Gloversville Downtown Development Specialist, has created a new twist on farmers markets in Gloversville. [Read more…]

Building a NYS brand

by Michael Wren

SYRACUSE, NY — On July 20, New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball and Assemblywoman Pamela Hunter toured a Byrne Dairy processing plant and a supplying New York State dairy farm to show the growing support and strength of the recently implemented New York State Grown and Certified program. [Read more…]

Mixed species cover crops: tools for managing soil health and fertility

by Katie Navarra

Cover crops are a key tool for managing soil health and fertility. Farmers that use cover crops in rotation with other crops can improve weed and disease suppression, improve soil infiltration, increase nitrogen and other nutrients and increase soil resilience during extreme weather events. Some farmers, both in organic and traditional cropping systems, have embraced the practice. [Read more…]

Horse Progress Days showcases advancements

by Sally Colby

Farmers who use late-model, fuel-powered equipment for farm work might not think it’s “progressive” to use a team of horses or mules for pulling a brand-new field mower. But for those who rely on horses or mules for power in the field, there’s been a lot of progress. [Read more…]

Mother Nature presents obstacles for young farmers at Ridgedale Dairy

by Elizabeth A. Tomlin

It comes as no surprise that Mother Nature has played a huge role in what New York farmers have had to overcome this 2017 spring and early summer.

The struggle has not been an easy one for any farmer, including young farmers Morgan Behnke and Cyrus Conard at Ridgedale Dairy, Ames, NY. [Read more…]

Lots of rain, lots of pasture, lots of decisions

by Troy Bishopp

CAZENOVIA, NY — The word of the day for Central New York farmers is RAIN. The monsoonal trend has frustrated farmers, flooded fields, pushed back planting and harvesting schedules and created the need for sunshine to lift morale back on the farm. The silver lining to this year’s moisture is abundant pasture production for those who use it to feed livestock. But how do you begin to manage such overabundance and reconcile a pasture plan with what nature throws at you? [Read more…]

Country Folks

Highlighting Agriculture