Mid Atlantic

Automatic dairy farming: Part 2

by Tamara Scully

Dairy farmers recently gathered at Mor-Dale Farms, in Myersville, PA, to learn about automation: calf feeders, feed pushers, robotic milking systems and more. Part One discussed the use of automatic calf feeders as presented at the workshop “Automation and the Dairy Industry,” organized by Dr. Charles Garner, DVM.

Automatic feeding robots

Once calves mature, automation can still play a role in their daily feeding. Even in barns where humans — not robots — milk the cows, equipment, such as an automatic feed pusher, can simplify farm chores while helping to insure the cows consume the maximum dry matter intake, and are eating more of their daily rations. [Read more…]

“Meat your beef” with Baltimore culinary students

As part of its Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI), the beef checkoff hosted a “Meat Your Beef” channel-influencer immersion event at Hedge Apple Farms in Buckeystown, MD on April 29. Participants included 21 chef instructors and culinary students at the Howard Community College and the Montgomery Community College in the suburbs of Baltimore, MD. [Read more…]

Ag commissioner says now is the time for farmers, agribusinesses to prepare for hurricane season

RALEIGH, NC — Hardly a county in North Carolina can say it is immune from hurricane damage. From Ivan in the mountains, Hugo in the foothills, Fran in the Sandhills, and Isabel and Floyd in the East, hurricanes have cost lives and livelihoods in every region of the state.

Scientists are predicting another active hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean, which means North Carolina could again find itself in the path of a storm.

Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is encouraging farmers, livestock producers, food manufacturers, pesticide dealers, timber owners and other agribusinesses across the state to prepare now for hurricane season. [Read more…]

Fighting the silver bullet mentality

by Sally Colby

Dr. Gareth Bath, University of Pretoria, South Africa, says when it comes to treating sheep and goats for internal parasites, producers have spent far too long concentrating on the parasites instead of the host.

“We tended to rely on dosing remedies that worked,” said Bath, explaining the worldwide resistance problem. “Since the 1960s, there have been a series of excellent drugs. Unfortunately, this led us to be lazy and get into bad habits and not think of anything except a dosing program. [Read more…]

Delaware 4-H and FFA Spring Dairy Expo results

Forty-seven exhibitors presented 66 entries to judge Aaron Horst of Hershey, PA at the recent Delaware 4-H and FFA Spring Dairy Expo held at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington, DE. Champion awards were presented to the following entries and exhibitors: [Read more…]

Sprouted grains for grazing dairies

by Tamara Scully

Sprouted grains have become a “very controversial” and a “very hot topic” in dairy grazing, Dr. Kathy Soder, Animal Scientist, USDA-ARS, said in the recent eORganic webinar “Evaluating Sprouted Grains on Grazing Dairy Farms.”

“You’re taking a grain, and you’re sprouting it.” [Read more…]

Partnerships enhance next generation resources in dairy

HARRISBURG, PA – The Center for Dairy Excellence and Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania have strengthened partnerships with both the Pennsylvania Dairymen’s Association and the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program. The two partnerships focus on expanding and enriching the Center Foundation’s “Next Generation” initiatives, Dairy Leaders of Tomorrow and Discover Dairy, while building greater support for broad industry collaboration through the Center for Dairy Excellence. [Read more…]

2016 Virginia Beef Expo Junior Angus Show

Angus exhibitors led 65 entries at the 2016 Virginia Beef Expo Junior Angus Show, April 17 in Harrisonburg, VA. Randy Daniel of Colbert, GA and Chandler Akins of Nashville, GA evaluated the entries before naming champions. [Read more…]

Country Folks

Highlighting Agriculture