Start-up dairy farmer remains optimistic
by Sally Colby
In a time when dairy farming is tenuous at best, a relatively new dairy farmer in Stockton, NJ, is looking toward the future. (more…)
Jessica Hula-Fredericks receives 2019 Silver Cow Award
by Elizabeth A. Tomlin
Herkimer County’s Dairy Promotion Committee held their annual banquet at the Miners Table near Herkimer, with Holly Pullis of Roedale Dairy and Hollywood Enterprises, Richfield Springs, NY, acting as MC for the event. (more…)
Second Annual Turnout Grazier Meeting
by Katie Navarra
Rain and colder temperatures didn’t keep beef producers from attending the second annual Spring Turnout Grazier Meeting on May 1. Hosted by St. Croix Farm, a third-generation conserved farm in Schaghticoke, NY, new and experienced beef producers were eager to learn marketing and management tips for developing a sustainable beef business. The event is organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension’s (CCE) Capital Area Agriculture and Horticulture Program. (more…)
Grants can aid in produce operations
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Applying to grants early can make the difference between obtaining funding and not. Elizabeth Higgins, Extension specialist Ag Business Management, spoke about upcoming grants in a recent webinar hosted by Cornell. Higgins works for the Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Hudson Valley Research Lab in Highland, NY. (more…)
Family farm seeks to educate on ag
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Showing animals formed the beginning of Rugenstein Family Farm in Canandaigua, NY. Owned by Mike Pyra and his wife, Amy, the farm owns 21 beef cows and 6 pigs. Since the Pyras own just 2 acres, they house only the pigs and keep the cow herd at Amy’s parents’ home four miles away, where they have 15 acres designated for livestock. They also raise 75 acres of hay for the beef herd and to sell. (more…)
NYS Senate Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act hearing
by Elizabeth A. Tomlin
Legislation is in the works that will greatly impact New York State agriculture, and on April 26, members of the agricultural community took the opportunity to have their testimonies heard by four members of the New York State Senate during the first of three public hearings held regarding the proposed Farmworkers Fair Labor Practices Act. (more…)
Optimizing Grazing: NEPC
by Tamara Scully
The Northeast Pasture Consortium’s annual meeting brought together agricultural professionals, researchers, industry representatives and stakeholder farmers dedicated to improving pasture management in the region. Grass-fed milk, organic dairy farming, and pasture forage management were some of the topics explored. (more…)
Diversification on Simons Family Farm
by Elizabeth A. Tomlin
During a March Shop meeting hosted by Simons Family Farm, Remsen NY, and coordinated by Oneida County Cooperative Extension, Ben and Chris Simons spoke to attendees about their diversification from dairy and how they have made it work.
Ben explained the farm is in a partnership including himself, his wife Robin and their son Chris. (more…)
Dairy farmers continue to defy the odds
Recent figures released by the United States Department of Agriculture illustrate that from 2008 to 2018, 19,659 dairy farmers left their farms across the United States.
However, the remaining 37,468 dairy farmers produced 27,593 billion pounds more of milk in 2018 than was produced in 2008.
Wisconsin dairy farmers clearly illustrated what is going on in the dairy industry. In 2008, Wisconsin dairy farmers were producing 24.4 billion pounds of milk. This figure increased to 30.5 billion pounds of milk in 2018. The amazing thing is, during those 10 years, Wisconsin lost 5,230 dairy farms. The number of dairy farms in Wisconsin is down to 8,500. (more…)
Economics and strategies for getting cows pregnant
by Elizabeth A. Tomlin
“For the typical dairy herd in the northeast, lowering the average DIM (Days in Milk) from 200 to 160 will result in around 10 lbs./cow/day more milk simply because you now have a fresher herd,” said CCE CNY Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops Area Dairy Management Specialist, Dave Balbian. “There’s a lot of economic advantage to getting these cows turned around in a hurry.” (more…)
Grazing sheep inspires Conservation Award for Gibraltar Farm
by Troy Bishopp
NORTH BROOKFIELD, NY — A love affair with the land and raising sheep exclusively on diverse pastures has many personal rewards for Etienne and Isabel Richards of Gibraltar Farm. It pays homage to their grandparents’ farm back in South Africa who raised all their own meat from the farm and taught the couple, land stewardship. Their passion to follow these ecosystem principles and produce high quality sheep, manage for soil health, and enhance water retention practices has led the couple to be awarded the prestigious 2019 Madison County Conservation Farm of the Year. (more…)
Crop Comments: Five second flash to bang
Monday afternoon I took 13 soil samples. Immediately upon returning home, I spread out each of the samples on newspapers on card tables on our front porch. Early this afternoon, all samples appeared to have dried sufficiently overnight to screen successfully. After screening, the separated soil was returned to the sandwich bag in which it left its field. The sealed baggie was placed in a small cardboard box to be sent with other samples to the soil lab in Ithaca. (more…)
