by Katie Navarra
Today, maybe more than ever before in our country’s recent history, our supply chain is being tested. Agriculture advocates need to think about all the perspectives that need to be considered to ensure a bright future for American agriculture and all the people it represents. (more…)
by Sally Colby
If there’s no contingency plan for your farm, it isn’t too late to develop one. If the farm has an outdated plan, now is a good time to review and revise. (more…)
by Enrico Villamaino
A newly published academic paper has outlined the potential dangers of using endectocides (veterinary parasiticides) in cattle. (more…)
Part 2: Clean colostrum and feeding goals
by Sally Colby
The long-term goal of a colostrum management program on any farm should be raising healthy and well-grown heifers that calve between 22 and 24 months of age and at 85% of mature body weight. (more…)
by Troy Bishopp
REMSEN, NY — “Sending my perfectly-good milk down the drain is one of the most demoralizing things I’ve ever had to do,” said Leon Atwell. Like hundreds of dairy farmers around the Northeast, Atwell struggles to survive during the COVID-19 outbreak that has caused ongoing interruptions of bulk milk pickups. “Dairy farms don’t have a huge profit margin to begin with, so anything you take away is very detrimental to us,” he said. (more…)
by Catie Joyce-Bulay
“I like to think of it as ‘the smell of the flower will draw in the bee,’” said Matt LeRoux, describing the importance of creating an identity for your farm business. “We’re not going to survive, especially small farms, if we don’t have an identity. This identity will draw in your target customer.” (more…)
by Enrico Villamaino
The current worldwide pandemic and its consequent economic shutdown are having dire effects on the dairy industry. (more…)
by Tamara Scully
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, dairy farmers are facing the hardship and heartbreak of seeing their milk dumped into manure pits and onto fields as processors are caught with excess supplies. Food service demand for fluid milk and milk products has plummeted amid mass closures of schools, restaurants and corporate cafeterias. The International Dairy Foods Association and the National Milk Producers Federation estimate that supply currently outpaces demand by about 10%. (more…)
by Courtney Llewellyn
The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) hosted a short webinar on May 14 for farmers, ranchers and other producers interested in applying for direct payments through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). (more…)
by Katie Navarra
Feed contamination such as molds and mycotoxins can impact animal health and productivity for livestock and poultry. Given that feed costs account for nearly 70% of production costs, maintaining quality in total mixed rations (TMR) should be a priority. (more…)
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
WATERLOO, NY — Molds and mycotoxins plague many farmers, but John Winchell, New York territory sales manager for Alltech, admitted, “I love them! It sounds funny to say, but they fascinate me.” (more…)
by Sally Colby
Beef producers with cattle nearing the end of the finishing cycle are finding themselves stuck holding animals past their ideal slaughter weight. Dr. Dan Loy, professor of animal science and director of the Iowa Beef Center, has some tips for cattlemen forced to hold cattle during plant slow downs and closures. Loy said that while heavier carcass weights have been an ongoing trend, the current situation is unprecedented. (more…)
