by Troy Bishopp
Farmers are now being asked to present virtually by organizations and conference committees in lieu of face-to-face meeting venues. Opportunities abound in reaching a worldwide audience from your living room or farmstead. Are you ready to share your knowledge through the tiny video portal on your computer? (more…)
by Courtney Llewellyn
If you’ve watched any HGTV in the past few years, you know a hot trend in home decoration and renovation is reclaimed barn wood. Fortunately, there is a plentiful source of this must-have material in old buildings – many often unused – wherever old farms are found. (more…)
by Tamara Scully
If the benefits of Kentucky 31 tall fescue don’t outweigh the risk of toxicity, or its propensity to out-compete other forages, it is possible to renovate and remove this controversial forage from your pastures. (more…)
by Karl H. Kazaks
As winter settles in, reviewing your winter livestock management strategy can help you improve the productivity and profitability of your operation. Recently, NRCS hosted a webinar with three of its agronomy and grazing experts to discuss approaches to handling livestock during what can be a challenging time of the year. (more…)
by Judy Van Put
For a number of years, we’ve enjoyed receiving weekly emails from Image Equine Photography, featuring a “Photo of the Week.” Carien Schippers, originator of the site, chooses stunning images of equines she has photographed to share. She adds inspirational quotes and interesting facts on the breed, discipline or the region/country where the photo was taken. She started the “Photo of the Week” about a dozen years ago but has been an equine photographer for practically her entire life. (more…)
by Tamara Scully
Tall fescue has earned a bad reputation. For some, it’s the grass that never dies, being an aggressive grower and having earned notoriety as difficult to eradicate. Others are concerned about its toxic effects: the ergot alkaloids which are found throughout the plant – in the highest concentrations in the seed heads – have deleterious effects on livestock. (more…)
by Katie Navarra
The coronavirus pandemic created a perfect storm for an economic, political and health crisis all at the same time, according to David McWilliams, an economist and professor at Trinity College Dublin. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, a strong recovery from the financial crisis of 2008 was likely to bust based on economist Hyman Minsky’s “Minsky Cycle” that says every cycle leads to boom and bust, McWilliams said. (more…)
by Troy Bishopp
NYFarmNet Personal Consultant Brenda O’Brien cited a common occurrence among women involved in agriculture today: “Sometimes you don’t realize you’re actually drowning when you’re trying to be everyone else’s anchor.” The recognition and managing of myriad daily stressors was the focus of a virtual collaborative effort by Annie’s Project, Cornell Cooperative Extension and NYFarmNet to help women through the health, emotional and financial challenges on the farm. (more…)
by Tamara Scully
Deciding when to cull a dairy cow from the herd is often based on production, reproduction or health issues. The primary job of the dairy cow is to produce milk. Its secondary job is to join the beef supply chain. When and how dairy cows leave the farm and journey to the packing plant often involves issues revolving around animal welfare. (more…)
by Sally Colby
Now that heifers are no longer relegated to an old shed on the edge of the property and fed whatever the milking herd refuses, they’re performing up to their genetic potential starting with their first lactation. But managing heifers for optimum milk production still requires careful attention to growth throughout calfhood and through at least two lactations. (more…)
by Sally Colby
For some dairy families, the day before or after Thanksgiving brought an unpleasant surprise.
Hundreds of dairy farmers and milk haulers in states across the nation received a letter written in legalese, but the bottom line was clear: “You owe us a large sum of money, and if you pay a percentage of that, we won’t sue you for the total amount.” (more…)
by Frank Gringeri
For horses just starting out or horses in a re-training program, longe lining is a wonderful way to develop the aids. Many good things come of long lining; education of the mouth and bit, straightness and forwardness and gathering up the horse from back to front. Of equal importance is the learning of the halt with the hand. Without that, there is no half halt or compression of the energy from the haunches. (more…)
