by Courtney Llewellyn
MADISON, NY – Once a month, if everything else goes to plan, a dedicated group gathers for a Women in Agriculture discussion group hosted by Madison County Cornell Cooperative Extension. Unfortunately, the March meeting didn’t get together as scheduled on March 4, but it’s all good. They’ll keep working and hopefully will see each other in April. (more…)
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
WATERLOO, NY – Could you increase your wheat yield? Dennis Pennington, Michigan State University Extension Wheat Specialist, thinks so. Pennington presented “Managing Wheat for High Yield Potential” at the recent Soybean and Small Grains Congress, hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops team. (more…)
New York State Dairy Princess, Alternates named at 57th Annual Pageant
SYRACUSE, NY — Natalie Vernon from Wayne County was crowned the 2020-2021 New York State Dairy Princess on Feb. 18, at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool, NY. Selected from among 22 county dairy princesses who have served since the spring of 2019, Vernon will devote an additional year to promoting milk and dairy products with American Dairy Association North East (ADA North East). (more…)
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
WATERLOO, NY — Has bindweed affected your farm? Dr. Lynn M. Sosnoskie recently spoke on “The Biology, Ecology and Management of Bindweed” at the New York Certified Organic meeting hosted by the Martin Auction Barn. Sosnoskie is an assistant professor of weed ecology and weed management for specialty crop systems with the Cornell University School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell AgriTech, Geneva, NY. (more…)
by Stephen Wagner
Dr. Henry Zerbe is vice president of protein procurement and innovation for Wendy’s Quality Supply Chain Co-op Inc. When he spoke at the 51st annual Lancaster, PA, Cattle Feeders Day, he mentioned he had lived in Ecuador for a year – “one of the best things in my life in terms of gaining an appreciation for the benefits that we have here in the country we live in, and an appreciation for all the riches and blessings we have.” (more…)
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
As hemp production ramps up nationwide, it’s vital to understand the laws managing its cultivation and the latest on cultivation practices. Dr. James DeDecker, director of the Michigan State University Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center, recently spoke on hemp regulation and production. (more…)
by Sally Colby
Farmers in some areas are reporting the presence of robins, the quintessential harbinger of spring. Others have heard red winged blackbirds, another sign of warmer days. But where’s the line between beneficial birds and those that cause crop damage, and are birds in decline? (more…)
by Troy Bishopp
FAIRLEE, VT – With millions of acres of pastureland and hay crops, the wise use and management of grasslands and forage systems to power the Northeast economy, regenerate agriculture, feed the populace and provide ecosystem services is immense. These humble sods contain opportunities to improve agriculture sustainability while solving many climate resiliency and food sovereignty issues. However, the quiet grass needs some PR now and then to accentuate the positives. (more…)
by Katie Navarra
Labor continues to top farmers’ lists of operational challenges. Finding reliable labor and affording wages without sacrificing cow health is a critical issue. Health sensor monitoring technologies are one option dairy farmers have for streamlining human labor while still providing critical care for their cows. Automated health monitoring tech and its place in dairy herd health management was the focus of a Cornell PRO-DAIRY webinar led by Julio Giordano, DVM, MS, Ph.D., a member of Cornell University’s Department of Animal Science. (more…)
by Sally Colby
Stress studies in humans clearly show social environment stressors are among the most serious stressors we face. Factors such as a low socio-economic status or not having a good social support network can have a major impact on our health, and caregivers often experience social stress. Many aspects of what has been learned about human stress can be applied to livestock. (more…)
by George Looby
To many, the term “spring lamb” has a positive ring to it – a hopeful term that signals the decline of winter, the approach of Easter and a time to get the peas planted. It marks the time of the year when traditional sheep operations are at the very peak of their activity. These farms must carefully plan the time their lambs are born in order to be ready for the Easter market. (more…)
As announced in January, Lee Newspapers Inc., publishers of Country Folks, Country Folks Grower and Country Editor, is now responsible for hosting Empire Farm Days (EFD). The show will take place at Rodman Lott & Son Farms in Seneca Falls, NY, July 29 – 31. (more…)
