For years dairy farmers have been under fire from changing laws and milk prices that don’t keep up with inflation. Will the new labor law be the final nail in the coffin of Mom-and-Pop dairy farms? (more…)
When raising a herd of dairy cattle, it’s important to do your research on care techniques, such as the structure of their housing facility. Animals’ basic needs must be met so they’ll have a comfortable (more…)
If the last forage harvest of the season didn’t yield well or livestock were left with poor quality grazing at the end of the season, it might be time to consider refurbishing. (more…)
“Bedtime snacks can be healthy and help you sleep better.” This statement reflects practical wisdom (more…)
If you run any kind of agritourism operation this time of year, whether that be a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, a Halloween event or something else, you’re likely welcoming lots of folks to your farm who aren’t normally present. In addition, if you have a petting zoo or a barn full of livestock, it’s possible you’re also welcoming the potential for disease. (more…)
A farmer who’s about to spend $250,000 on an implement or land does considerable homework before making such a purchase. Dr. John Goeser, nutritionist at Rock River Laboratory, wants farmers to also consider the investment they’ve made in corn for silage. (more…)
Of all the farms I worked on as a boy, the most memorable was the old Borden Farm on the east side of Canadarago Lake outside of Richfield Springs. By the time I came along, it had been sold to Bill and Shirley Weingates. Back then, they were milking about 200 cows on one of the biggest operations in the area. I enjoyed all kinds of jobs, even cleaning calf pens, because at the time, I was kind of standing outside of myself, watching this kid from Brooklyn doing these country boy things. I had recently read Thomas Hardy and at times I was seeing all that I was doing through the great writer’s eyes. I never appreciated the country more than at that time of very hard work. (more…)
Researchers and beekeepers alike have been sounding the alarm over the drastic decline in bee populations over the course of the past two decades. (more…)
Many rural and suburban youth experience their first paid employment on a farm. Attorney Michael Harrington, Ford Harrison Law, said hiring factors vary by state and depend on age, whether school is in session and what kind of work teens are allowed to do. There are federal restrictions on certain activities, and some states go beyond federal law to prohibit certain activities. (more…)
Sometimes it’s possible to pull up mature corn plants with little or no effort. In this situation the majority of roots are in the top three inches. Autumn soil testing – so as to maximize the efficiency of fertilizer inputs – often reveals soil limitations as the probe hits compacted layers. Soil compaction adversely impacts root depth and water and nutrient availability. Bigger farms and bigger tractors combine with haste to become a recipe for compaction. (more…)
Raising high quality grass-fed beef, being leaders in the community and their land ethics have earned John and Carolyn Wheeler the honor of being one of three finalists for this year’s (more…)
Fifth-generation cattle farmer Liz Martin grew up on her family’s Ironstone Spring Farm in Lancaster County, PA, and learned about livestock as she helped on the farm. Martin’s father was (more…)
For Kaitlyn Broughton, 17, showing her family’s Shorthorn cattle is an important part of her summer. Growing up on the 500 acres of Broughton Cattle Company in Silver Springs, NY, Kaitlyn has (more…)
Internal parasites are the bane of anyone who raises sheep or goats. (more…)
It’s called back-breaking work for a reason.
Farmers are no strangers to back pain. The National Institute of Health (NIH) reports that lower back (more…)
