by Sally Colby
Farmers in some areas are reporting the presence of robins, the quintessential harbinger of spring. Others have heard red winged blackbirds, another sign of warmer days. But where’s the line between beneficial birds and those that cause crop damage, and are birds in decline? (more…)
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…)
by Katie Navarra
Labor continues to top farmers’ lists of operational challenges. Finding reliable labor and affording wages without sacrificing cow health is a critical issue. Health sensor monitoring technologies are one option dairy farmers have for streamlining human labor while still providing critical care for their cows. Automated health monitoring tech and its place in dairy herd health management was the focus of a Cornell PRO-DAIRY webinar led by Julio Giordano, DVM, MS, Ph.D., a member of Cornell University’s Department of Animal Science. (more…)
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…)
As announced in January, Lee Newspapers Inc., publishers of Country Folks, Country Folks Grower and Country Editor, is now responsible for hosting Empire Farm Days (EFD). The show will take place at Rodman Lott & Son Farms in Seneca Falls, NY, July 29 – 31. (more…)
Dr. Steve Hendrick, DVM, says one of the most critical steps in reducing disease and loss in newborn calves is reducing dystocia.
Hendrick cited a study that examined the causes of calf mortality, and said the main cause of death in stillborn calves was due to dystocia. Other causes of stillborn calves include thyroid gland lesions, myocardial necrosis or myopathy (dead or dying heart muscle or dysfunctional heart) and skeletal myopathy or necrosis. (more…)
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…)
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…)
by Troy Bishopp
SYRACUSE, NY – At the annual New York State Agricultural Society meeting, it’s tradition to hear from the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner on the state of agriculture. “This is probably the best and one of the largest networking opportunities in the country. The opportunity to renew friendships has been special to me for many years. Things I learned here inspired much of what my farm is doing today,” said the Schoharie County farmer and Ag Commissioner Richard Ball. (more…)
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…)
by Courtney Llewellyn
There is a glimmer of hope for New York farmers still looking for clarification and expansion of a key part of the Farm Laborers Fair Practices Act. Thanks to a 30-day extension of a legal stay, the definitions for farm laborers will continue to be refined until at least Feb. 28. (more…)
by Courtney Llewellyn
Last year was a difficult year for farmers. That’s how David Fisher, president of New York Farm Bureau, kicked off the conference call on Jan. 29 to discuss their top priorities for the 2020 legislative session. That statement was essentially the bad news before the good news, however. (more…)
