Cowles Family Farm continues to create Supermilk
by Enrico Villamaino
Cowles Family Farm is one of only 16 dairies in New York State to receive the Supermilk award every year since its introduction 30 years ago. (more…)
What do beef cattle and environmental stewardship mean to me?
by Katie Navarra
On the drive home from a late-August Western New York cattle sale, Ric and Karen Coombe reminisced about their kids’ experiences showing registered Angus cattle. As their youngest son ages out of Junior Angus and Junior Beef Producers events, they wanted to give other youth the opportunity to enjoy similar experiences. (more…)
The expense that pays
by Sally Colby
Lameness in dairy cows is a serious issue. Cows that can’t walk properly cost money in one way or another, and also present a serious welfare issue. Lame animals can easily become bullying targets of more aggressive cows, and will reduce their lying time simply because it’s difficult to recline and rise. (more…)
The tag on the bag
by Sally Colby
When producers consider minerals and other supplements for beef cattle, there are numerous options – all of which should be based on reading and understanding the tag. (more…)
Anatomy of a compost pile
by Sally Colby
Compost enriches soil, helps retain moisture and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizers. It also supports the growth of beneficial fungi and bacteria that break down organic matter. On-farm composting can provide a ready-to-use source of organic matter to enrich soil and feed crops. (more…)
Raising and selling bison
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Raising bison may sound like an easy way to raise meat animals, as bison don’t require shelter, even in northern climates; however, Martha McFarland, in a recent Practical Farmers of Iowa presentation, said that anyone interested in raising bison needs to fully understand the animals first. (more…)
Seward joins call to delay decision on changing 60-hour overtime threshold for farm workers
State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I – Oneonta) recently called for the Farm Laborers Wage Board to put the brakes on any changes to the 60-hour overtime threshold for farmworkers. Senator Seward joined with the Senate Republican Conference and members of the farming community in calling for freezing the threshold at its current level to enable the collection of more data on the mandate’s impact. (more…)
Three decades of Supermilk, 17 decades of farming at Gettyvue
by Enrico Villamaino
Thirty years can seem like a long time. On the other hand, for a farm that has been operating since 1853, it can seem like just the blink of an eye.
The Empire State Milk Quality Council (ESMQC) has been bestowing its Supermilk award for 30 years. In that time, thousands of dairy farms have been recognized for the quality of their milk, but just 16 have earned the distinction every year for the past three decades. (more…)
Hooked on horns
by Katie Navarra
When Mike Albanese was just five years old, his grandfather reminisced about oxen with horns so large the animals had to turn their head to fit through the barn door. Mike’s grandfather was a shepherd on a small northern Italian village in the Alps before emigrating to the U.S. In 1940, his grandfather purchased land in Jamesville, NY, to start a new farm and often shared memories of home. (more…)
Same time zone, different world: Farming in New York and Georgia
by Evelyn Leubner
After a long day of working, I now have layers of red clay under my fingernails instead of the dark brown New York soil. That was one of the first things I noticed when I moved to Georgia: the dirt (technically, clay). It’s burnt orange color makes me question how anything grows in it. I moved to Georgia for a change in scenery and I got exactly that. So many country songs sing about Georgia pines, and now I know why. They are beautiful, tall, and you can find them just about everywhere you go. They remind me of asparagus, as they are long and skinny with branches only at the very top. Moving here has given me the opportunity to live in a completely different environment compared to New York. Just like the trees, lakes, dirt and animals are different, so are their farms. (more…)
The Jolly Green Giant and his Liberty
by Enrico Villamaino
In the past, Caleb Vander Groef’s stature may have been working against him, especially when he was showing calves instead of fully grown heifers.
Caleb raised his cow Liberty from a calf and has been showing her for two years. But at the start, he suspects he may have made Liberty seem a bit smaller than she really was. (more…)
Dealing with late season heat stress
by Sally Colby
Summer might be winding down, but there’s still plenty of hot weather ahead. Alycia Drwencke, Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops program, said that for four months of the year, the average temperature in New York State is 70º or higher, and that spells heat stress for dairy cattle. (more…)
