by Sally Colby
By the time a farmer begins to harvest corn silage, there’s already a significant investment in what’s coming in from the field. Expenses including seed, fertilizer, inoculant and plastic and the many hours spent planting, harvesting, packing and covering are either paid or will be paid shortly after harvest. (more…)
by Elizabeth A. Tomlin
No signage directs you to Smith’s Stock Farms Inc., in Hornell, NY, where 11 DeLaval robotic milking systems (RMS) have recently been installed.
The farm, about 2,100 acres, was originally established in 1832 on 52 acres. Brothers Lowell and Dale Smith are current owners at the farm. Lowell’s son Aaron, along with Andrew Smith and Chris Passero, are slated as being future owners of the Steuben County dairy. (more…)
by Elizabeth A. Tomlin
“My husband and I are both full-time farmers on separate operations,” Leslie (Hamilton) Stein of Piffard, NY, said.
Married just over a year ago to Dan, Leslie works on her family’s farm, Triple H Farms in Geneseo, NY, while Dan works on his family’s farm, Stein Farms in Caledonia. Together on their own farm, River Ridge Angus, the couple works like a tag team. (more…)
by Enrico Villamaino
Years ago, a nine-year-old girl went on a family trip to Ireland. Little did she know the profound effect it would have on her life.
“It was on that trip, in the heart of Ireland, that I first saw a cow being milked,” said Maryrose Livingston. “The only word I can use to describe how that made me feel was enchanted.” (more…)
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
SYRACUSE, NY — Showing his cows at the New York State Fair recently offered 16-year-old Vince Pascarella a chance to represent the best of Pascaralla Family Farm. A senior at Cattaraugus-Little Valley High School this year, it’s obvious that Pascarella enjoys the experience. Each time he entered the ring, he alternated between expressions of concentration and excitement. (more…)
by Tamara Scully
Why not use those fallen fruits from your orchard crops to provide feed for pastured pigs? And why not let those pastured pigs do the labor of “harvesting” their own meal, direct from the orchard? (more…)
Next year is 2020 – and if you haven’t heard a pun about a “perfect vision” for the new year, we’re reiterating it here. At Lee Newspapers, we are making changes now to present a new vision for our loyal readers. (more…)
by Sally Colby
Given some acreage and a bit of time, nearly anyone can put weaned beef calves on good pasture and watch them grow. Sounds simple enough, but pasture management and grazing requires skill and attention to what’s happening in pastures – not just when pasture is growing, but throughout the season. (more…)
by Sally Colby
At the first Lamb Summit held recently in Fort Collins, CO, 200 sheep producers and industry leaders from across the nation gathered for a variety of educational sessions designed to showcase the latest in sheep production. (more…)
by Elizabeth A. Tomlin
“We are proud owner/members and producers for Organic Valley, and proudly marketing to Organic Valley through the National Farmers Organization,” remarked 3rd-generation dairy farmer, CV Wade, of Wade Farms, Jasper, NY. (more…)
by Troy Bishopp
New York’s NRCS Resource Conservationist, Ed Henry, set the stage of Grasstravaganza 2019 by quoting Thomas Jefferson’s understanding of a strong agronomic economy as the backbone of a nation: “Agriculture is our wisest pursuit because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals and happiness.” Henry believes the adoption of properly managed grazing is one of the most efficient ways to produce food for New York consumers and inspired the capacity crowd to grasp the possibilities. (more…)
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Invasive insect species can cause havoc on a farm because in many instances the pests have no natural predators. That’s why Patricia Wakefield-Brown, invasive species outreach for Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva and volunteer coordinator with Finger Lakes Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management, presented on invasive species at the recent Empire Farm Days. (more…)
