by Sally Colby
Now that heifers are no longer relegated to an old shed on the edge of the property and fed whatever the milking herd refuses, they’re performing up to their genetic potential starting with their first lactation. But managing heifers for optimum milk production still requires careful attention to growth throughout calfhood and through at least two lactations. (more…)
by Sally Colby
Although modern farm equipment is designed for safe operation that doesn’t result in immediate or long-term harm to the user, there’s a degree of risk every time the key is turned. However, some risks are silent, and equipment operators may not be aware of the danger. (more…)
by Courtney Llewellyn
Regularly testing your soil to make sure it’s performing as best as it can is important, but so is testing the manure you spread as fertilizer. Mahmoud Sharara, waste management Extension specialist with North Carolina State University, shares the best management practices for sampling manure. (more…)
by Katie Navarra
All Emma Durling of Trumansburg, NY, wanted for her fifth birthday was to ride a live unicorn with wings. As she found out, when you wish hard enough, your dreams do come true. (more…)
by Troy Bishopp
Whether you put a teaspoon of clover honey in your tea, stir some in your oatmeal cookie recipe or enjoy a good mead, you’re supporting local beekeeping family businesses that pollinate plants and nourish a nation. In a bit of good news, Mother Nature’s worker bees have claimed the number one spot among Americans as their most preferred sweetener – stinging the “Big Sugar” industry. (more…)
by Enrico Villamaino
The University of Maryland recently hosted a webinar to discuss the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule, the “Navigable Waters Protection” (NWP) rule, and how their interpretations of the 1972 Clean Water Act (CWA) may possibly affect farmers and agricultural operations in the future. (more…)
by Troy Bishopp
I saw a Pinterest post recently (which I modified slightly) that says “Old roads, old tractors, old folks and old ways still have a lot to offer in this sped-up world we live in.” Because we need some joy during this Christmas season pandemic, I’ll share a tractor story as old as time. (more…)
by Tamara Scully
Those who wish to purchase food grown locally are most familiar with produce. Fruit and vegetables sold by the roadside are a hallmark of locally grown food. Produce is the low-hanging fruit of local food consumption. Even so, luring customers away from supermarket purchases of imported or well-traveled produce, which is always in season, isn’t easy. (more…)
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
If you would like to add making maple syrup as part of your agricultural business, it’s vital to assess the health of your forest. New York State Extension Forester Peter Smallidge presented “Evaluating the Potential of a Site for the Commercial Production of Maple Sap” as a recent webinar hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. (more…)
by Tamara Scully
Dr. Chris Wolf recently explained just how dairy farmers actually get paid. The mysteries behind the milk check were found to be threefold: the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) uniform (or blend) price, regional order differences and farm level concerns such as components and milk hauling costs. They all have an effect on the final milk check received. (more…)
by Sally Colby
Many farms wouldn’t have an adequate labor force without the presence of H-2A workers. L.G. D’Arrigo, co-leader of the immigration practice at Harris Beach in Albany, NY, said there isn’t a reliable supply of labor in the U.S., and part of that is because the American government is concerned about whether U.S. workers are available to fill positions. (more…)
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
“All cities, suburbs and rural towns have Norway rats and house mice,” said Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, coordinator of community integrated pest management for Cornell, who recently presented a talk on rodent management as part of a webinar on IPM. (more…)
