New England Farm Weekly

Vermont 4-H’ers compete at Eastern States Sheep and Goat Shows

BURLINGTON, VT — Six Vermont 4-H sheep members and two dairy goat members recently had the opportunity to compete at Eastern States Exposition, in West Springfield, MA.

Representing Vermont in sheep events, held Sept. 30 to Oct. 2, were Jarod and Raymond Bushey, both from Addison; Rebecca Moriarty of Jericho; and Gabrielle and Riley Ochs and Siri Swanson, all from Orwell. Bridget Denio of Waterford, and Lillie Tuckerman from South Woodstock, participated in dairy goat contests, Sept. 29 to Oct. 1. [Read more…]

Straight Talk campaign

by Tamara Scully

“What we do today, impacts what we’ll have tomorrow,” Glen Brunkow, a farmer who narrates the recently released video from the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), says in the clip. “Technology plays a huge part in sustainability.”

The animated video, aimed at introducing consumers to the benefits of today’s agriculture via a brief cartoon, talks about global positioning systems (GPS), technology to track livestock activity, irrigation improvements to help conserve water, and the use of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. [Read more…]

New England Fiber Festival continues to grow in popularity

by Paul Burdziakowski

Fiber enthusiasts from all over New England came together for the seventh annual Fiber Festival that took place Nov. 5-6 at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA. The event is put together each year by the New England Sheep and Wool Growers Association (NESWGA) in order to promote the use of wool and other natural fibers and related products to the general public. [Read more…]

Farm Credit East update on the dairy industry

by George Looby, DVM

Farm Credit East is a major source of financing and support services to the agricultural community in the northeast. Many in the dairy industry rely on its services as a source of both long and short term financing to insure that their operations are as financially efficient as market conditions allow. It will come as no surprise to anyone that dairy farming has ridden the waves of market turmoil for many years. [Read more…]

GMOs: Weeding through the data

by Tamara Scully

According to the results of the Organic Farming Research Foundation’s 2016 National Organic Research Agenda, weed control was rated as a top concern of 67 percent of the certified organic farmers in the United States. The primary concern, cited by 74 percent, was soil health, quality and nutrient management.

Optimizing the soil ecosystem helps to manage weeds: the two are implicitly linked. [Read more…]

‘Art in the Orchard’ at Park Hill Orchard

by Laura Rodley

Huge insects that don’t need to be eradicated, horses on the loose, people being framed and liking it. All this, along with outdoor theatre performances, pumpkins, apples, hot or cold cider, donuts and cider slushies can be found at Park Hill Orchard in Easthampton, MA. [Read more…]

NODPA holds annual Field Days

by Sally Colby

Those who traveled to Chambersburg, PA for the Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance annual Field Days, held on Sept. 29 and 30 found that attending the two-day event was time well spent.

Participants had the option of touring the Trickling Springs Creamery plant prior to the first session. Trickling Springs is a relatively young company, established in 2001, and provides an outlet for organic farmers who produce clean (low somatic cell count) milk. [Read more…]

Arrowhead Acres

by Lorraine Strenkowski

With a major in Horticulture and a minor in Ag-Business Management from the University of Connecticut, 22-year-old Mackenzie Beckwith transformed her great-grandfather’s dairy barn into an inviting farm store. Arrowhead Acres offers products from over 10 different local businesses/farmers as well as other artisan crafters. Cookies, muffins, pies, stuffed breads, soup and many other goodies are made right in the store, with much of the produce that’s grown on the property. [Read more…]

Country Folks

Highlighting Agriculture