Keeping microbes happy when forage quality is poor
Livestock producers don’t choose to deal with inferior quality forage, but there are often no options when harvested forage is less than optimal. (more…)
Measuring the value of agritourism
More visitors on your farm, spending more time with you and possibly spending more money, seems to be the obvious goal of agritourism, but for a lot of those in the ag community there’s more (more…)
Iowa Rest Stop Sign Grades State’s Soil Health
Frequently I try to illustrate the carbon sequestration benefits of a fairly modest increase in topsoil (more…)
‘How’ questions for maple producers
University of Vermont Extension farm business specialist Mark Cannella works with maple producers on business and financial planning. Whether it’s a start-up, a 2,000-tap operation thinking (more…)
Testing biochar as cattle amendment to reduce methane emissions
Governments worldwide have in recent years announced plans to reduce methane emissions as part of a larger effort to regulate atmospheric emissions. Both the EU and the U.S. under Biden (more…)
New Year’s resolutions – and keeping a horse journal
It’s that time again – when we all look forward to a new year, a fresh start, a renewal of ideas. Many will make New Year’s resolutions or set goals that are personal in nature, but why not set (more…)
Madison SWCD recognize the many hands
HAMILTON, NY – “Many hands make light work.” It also rings true that these hands operate the many tools and machines that do the heavy lifting for implementing water quality practices (more…)
Planning Now to Dodge Compaction Later
In his December 2022 newsletter titled Crop Soil News (at advancedagsys.com), Certified Crop Advisor (more…)
Sustainability, drones and no-till farming
William Thiele isn’t farming thousands of acres or milking hundreds of cows, but he is eager to share the story of how he uses modern technology to improve his farm. The Thiele family, including (more…)
Choosing winning traits
Sisters Shelby and Lacey Pombrio are regulars at livestock shows and neither will miss an opportunity to tell others what they love about their favorite cattle breed. But the predominantly white (more…)
Upcoming antibiotic rule change
The rumors are true. As of June 11, 2023, farmers will no longer be able to purchase antibiotics over the counter or through mail order without a veterinarian’s prescription. (more…)
Class C Stream Bill vetoed for the third time
ALBANY, NY – There was a big sigh of relief among rural communities that Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed S.4162/A.6652, known by many as the Class C Stream Bill. If passed, the legislation (more…)
Sharing is caring with farm equipment
In the 1990s, Sweden began to see the establishment of equipment sharing groups or “machine rings.” Today there are 20 local associations with about 5,000 members – approximately 6% of all (more…)
Regenerative practices as a draw for farm visitors
Agritourism operators are in a unique position to add regenerative practices to their enterprises, according to Nicole Vaugeois, associate vice president of research at Vancouver Island University (more…)
