New England Farm Weekly Archives

From beekeeping to grain farming – Thornhill Farm’s journey through value-added products

Lee Newspapers2020-06-12T15:27:42-05:00June 12, 2020|New England Farm Weekly|

by Catie Joyce-Bulay

A continued search for value-added and the pull of heritage was what led beekeeper Todd Hardie of Thornhill Farm from bees to rye. Hardie, who went to ag school and apprenticed at apiaries in New York, spent most of his career in commercial beekeeping in New York and later Vermont, producing raw honey. It was one of his value-added projects – mead and honey wine – that led him down a path to distilled spirits, ending in growing grain for whiskey. (more…)

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Hidden health destroyers

Lee Newspapers2020-06-12T15:24:44-05:00June 12, 2020|Mid Atlantic, New England Farm Weekly|

by Sally Colby

A quick look at market prices for various livestock species will show the most consistent prices for two species: sheep and goats. (more…)

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Three Flint sons plan to stay on family dairy farm

Lee Newspapers2020-06-12T15:19:17-05:00June 12, 2020|New England Farm Weekly|

by Edith Tucker

MILAN, NH – Rick Flint, whose grandfather Lloyd Flint started farming in the Androscoggin River Valley, is pleased (but surprised) that his sons – Josh, Caleb and Daniel – would like to stay on the Flint Farm in Coos County. His daughters, Kathleen and Hannah, remain involved with the farm but at the moment neither sees it a career path. (more…)

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Say hello to Hatchland Farm

Lee Newspapers2020-06-05T10:41:22-05:00June 5, 2020|New England Farm Weekly|

by Laura Rodley

Three generations work at Hatchland Farm in North Haverhill, NH: Howard Hatch, his son Preston, his daughter Kristen (Hatch) May, her husband Dave May, and his granddaughter Emily. It covers 600 acres, give or take a few (some of it is leased). (more…)

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Updates on and information for the livestock markets

Lee Newspapers2020-06-12T15:28:53-05:00June 5, 2020|Mid Atlantic, New England Farm Weekly, Western Edition|

by Karl H. Kazaks

Virgina Tech has been hosting a series of livestock update webinars to keep producers appraised of information and strategies relevant to current market conditions. (more…)

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Measuring soil health vital for yield

Lee Newspapers2020-06-05T10:22:35-05:00May 29, 2020|Mid Atlantic, New England Farm Weekly, Western Edition|

by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

If you don’t know your soil, you won’t know how to amend it – or what to expect for yield. That’s why Sieg Snapp, professor of Soils and Cropping System Ecology at Michigan State University, presented “Measuring Soil Health.” (more…)

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Culturing and types of mastitis

Lee Newspapers2020-06-05T10:34:06-05:00May 29, 2020|Mid Atlantic, New England Farm Weekly|

by Katie Navarra

Although mastitis results in changes in milk quality, it is not always caused by the same bugs. Mastitis is caused by several pathogen groups gram positive (Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp), gram negative (E. coli, Klebsiella spp.) and others. Even well-managed herds have some level of mastitis, which decreases milk quality and creates a loss in production and decreases the quality of milk products. Monitoring for and controlling are most important for keeping mastitis cases low, to less than 2% clinical cases on a farm. (more…)

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Why heifer maturity matters – the Peter Pan problem

Lee Newspapers2020-05-29T15:18:26-05:00May 29, 2020|New England Farm Weekly, Western Edition|

by Katie Navarra

Immature heifers leave a long shadow over a herd that cannot be remedied. Early calving may get milk faster, but over time total volume is comprised. During the Dairy Calf & Heifer Association (DCHA) Virtual Conference in April, Gavin Staley, technical services specialist, Diamond V, shared his evaluation of DairyComp305 production records, which sheds insight into the significant impact of heifer immaturity on whole herd production. (more…)

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How many agriculturists does it take to change a lightbulb?

Lee Newspapers2020-06-12T15:15:34-05:00May 27, 2020|Eastern Edition, New England Farm Weekly, Western Edition|

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…)

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NH Gov. Sununu earmarks $10 million for farmers

Lee Newspapers2020-05-27T19:11:30-05:00May 27, 2020|New England Farm Weekly|

by Edith Tucker

Governor Chris Sununu announced his plans for allocating nearly half the total federal CARES Act coronavirus relief fund (“flex funds”) that New Hampshire has received on May 15. (more…)

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Dosing less can benefit dung beetles

Lee Newspapers2020-05-29T15:17:45-05:00May 27, 2020|Eastern Edition, Mid Atlantic, New England Farm Weekly, Western Edition|

by Enrico Villamaino

A newly published academic paper has outlined the potential dangers of using endectocides (veterinary parasiticides) in cattle. (more…)

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Full throttle at Sunderland Farm Collaborative

Lee Newspapers2020-05-14T15:10:42-05:00May 14, 2020|New England Farm Weekly|

by Laura Rodley

The owners of Warner Farm, Kitchen Garden Farm and Riverland Farm are all friends. They had been tossing the idea around of combining forces and becoming a collaborative (or cooperative). (more…)

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