Farm fitness: Founding a 5K
by Courtney Llewellyn
Want to bring more people to your farm? Want to find a different source of agritainment income? Farms often boast a lot of land and not a lot of traffic. Have you considered hosting a race? (more…)
Northeast Pasture Consortium accentuates the power of grass
by Troy Bishopp
FAIRLEE, VT – With millions of acres of pastureland and hay crops, the wise use and management of grasslands and forage systems to power the Northeast economy, regenerate agriculture, feed the populace and provide ecosystem services is immense. These humble sods contain opportunities to improve agriculture sustainability while solving many climate resiliency and food sovereignty issues. However, the quiet grass needs some PR now and then to accentuate the positives. (more…)
Mitigating social stress in dairy cattle
by Sally Colby
Stress studies in humans clearly show social environment stressors are among the most serious stressors we face. Factors such as a low socio-economic status or not having a good social support network can have a major impact on our health, and caregivers often experience social stress. Many aspects of what has been learned about human stress can be applied to livestock. (more…)
Innovation with cow comfort in mind
by Sally Colby
Dairy farmers take every measure possible to provide the best care for their animals while remaining profitable. As one dairy family in Pennsylvania continually seeks the best ways to care for animals, they’re taking sustainability and stewardship to a new level. (more…)
How to host a farm school for adults
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
For most adults, the schooldays may be long gone; however, some want to learn more about how farms operate. That’s why hosting a farm school can help you educate others while creating an additional revenue stream. Paul Dorrance, owner of Pastured Providence Farmstead in Chillicothe, Ohio, and Karen Kopf, owner of Kopf Canyon Ranch in Troy, Idaho, presented “Host a Farm School for Adults” as a recent webinar. (more…)
Dealing with Lyme disease in horses
by Hope Holland
With all the bad news about ticks and Lyme disease it would appear for the equine community there is more to come. Horses are now showing symptoms of Lyme disease that are not only concerning in that they inhibit the work they are trained and used for but also possibly dangerous to those who ride and work with them. (more…)
Horses and barn fire safety
by Tamara Scully
Whether you own a large equestrian facility or a few draft horses, knowing how to prevent barn fires, protect your animals from wildfires and safely evacuate from any fire threat are imperative. (more…)
How farmers can deal with nagging knee pain
by Courtney Llewellyn
Whether a farmer or not, aches and pains creep up on us all. Very often, those maladies manifest as knee pain – and trying to work while one (or two) of your most important joints isn’t working correctly can cause serious problems. Ned Stoller, with Michigan AgrAbility and founder of Disability Work Tools, recently presented “Working with Knee Pain in Agriculture” at this year’s Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo. (more…)
Chaney wins Grand Champion CAC in Denver
by Rebecca Long Chaney
DENVER – It was a great day on the hill here for Sheridan Chaney and her Red Angus steer Milo at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS). The Elwood, NE, 16-year-old’s dream came true Jan. 12 when she was named the NWSS Catch-a-Calf (CAC) Grand Champion. Chaney is formerly of Thurmont, MD. (more…)
Investing to save money
by Sally Colby
Ag technology is rapidly advancing, especially for dairy farms. While it’s tough for dairy farmers to consider spending money for something they may not be sure is right for them, there’s a good chance an activity monitoring system will save money over time. (more…)
Offering kids’ camp brings farms revenue
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Parents seeking daycare and summertime educational enrichment crave more options for their children. That’s where farms seeking an additional revenue stream can offer day camping. But it takes some preparation before farmers can open their acres to eager young campers. Food Animal Concerns Trust presented “Planning Ahead for Farm Camps for Kids” as a recent webinar. Samantha Gasson, co-owner of Bull City Farm in Rougemont, NC, and Ana Skemp, co-owner of Deep Roots Community Farm, presented. (more…)
More problems with backyard flocks
by George Looby
There are few sights more wholesome than a flock of hens busily scratching around in a backyard setting. It is somewhat disturbing to learn, however, that tranquil picture may have real problems just under the surface. Dan Flynn reported in Food Safety News that all but one U.S. state has reported outbreaks of Salmonella attributed to contact with backyard flocks. (more…)
