by Sally Colby
No two farm transfers are the same, but there are some basic considerations that apply to every situation. Dr. Alex White, Department of Dairy Science at Virginia Tech, shares some of the most important points for farm families to think about during transition planning. (more…)
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
How can your farm better manage drought years? By improving soil health. A recent eOrganics webinar, “Preparing for Drought: The Role of Soil Health in Water Management in Organic Production,” addressed the topic. (more…)
by Sally Colby
Soil and too much water is a bad combination for horses. Mud can result in slips and falls of both people and horses, and can quickly turn more hazardous if the temperature drops and hoof prints turn into frozen holes. (more…)
by Sally Colby
Every cow on the dairy farm is special, and each has special needs at least twice during the year. Dairy managers and employees can work together to identify and manage these cows in the most timely and appropriate manner. (more…)
by Laura Rodley
Organizers work all year long to bring the world renowned Strolling of the Heifers to Brattleboro, VT. Every year, people throng the sidewalks to watch calves and heifers stroll through town in honor of all farmers and the hard work they do, and to connect people firsthand with the farmers and the source of healthy local food throughout the region. As “Farmers Are Our Heroes” was this year’s theme, many of the cows and strollers alike wore caped crusader costumes or capes. Children at the end of the parade were also adorned with capes, emulating superheroes. (more…)
by Tamara Scully
One of the oft-cited impediments to growing a local red meat food supply is the need for USDA inspection for both slaughter and butchering of direct-market retail cuts of meat. Livestock producers often lament long wait times for harvest dates, as well as the distance to USDA certified plants. There is a perceived lack of harvesting facilities in the Northeast region. (more…)
by Sally Colby
Dr. Alex White, Department of Dairy Science at Virginia Tech, has tip for ruining a family dinner: start bringing up topics that many families avoid, and ask questions like “Hey Mom and Dad – what am I getting from your will?” or “When are you going to retire so I can take over?” or “We should invest in new equipment.” (more…)
by Laura Rodley
Wayward Goose Farm is set on a bucolic hill where an African goose went wandering in search of its mate. (more…)
by Enrico Villamaino
Farming is very often a family business, with one generation fostering and passing the torch off to the next. For Tony Moniz Jr. this is doubly so. The scion of two royal houses of the Rhode Island dairy community, he seemed destined to follow in the footsteps of both his mother’s and father’s families. (more…)
by Tamara Scully
Animal welfare isn’t only about physical health. Biologically healthy dairy cows can be mentally or emotionally stressed, and unable to express their natural tendencies or preferences. Dr. Katy Proudfoot, Ph.D., of the Ohio State University has been researching cow behaviors in the maternity pen since her undergraduate days at the University of British Columbia. Proudfoot presented research findings from her own research as well as from that of colleagues in a recent Dairy Cattle Welfare Council webinar. (more…)
by Sally Colby
At one point in Cliff Hawbaker’s dairy career, his goal was top production – squeezing every bit of milk from his cows. In 1998, a fellow dairyman who had switched to grazing convinced Hawbaker to give grazing a try. (more…)
by Courtney Llewellyn
Many people are familiar with the concept of a dairy princess – the poised young woman in the sash strolling around the county fair or visiting local schools to talk up the benefits of the dairy industry. Emily Shaw was never a dairy princess, but she is a different kind of royalty: an Instagram influencer, with nearly 7,000 followers. As @DairyGirlFitness, she inspires others to keep in shape and support the dairy industry. (more…)
