New York’s NRCS Resource Conservationist, Ed Henry, set the stage of Grasstravaganza 2019 by quoting Thomas Jefferson’s understanding of a strong agronomic economy as the backbone of a nation: “Agriculture is our wisest pursuit because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals a...

Invasive insect species can cause havoc on a farm because in many instances the pests have no natural predators. That’s why Patricia Wakefield-Brown, invasive species outreach for Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva and volunteer coordinator with Finger Lakes Partnerships for Regional Invasi...

SENECA FALLS, NY — A standing-room only crowd gathered at Empire Farm Days to hear Larry Smart, professor, plant geneticist and breeder for Cornell’s School of Integrative Plant Science Horticulture Section. The size of the group demonstrated their apparent interest in getting in on the ground floor...

Understanding components driving soybean and corn yields and best practices for field management were among topics of interest presented during the 2019 NY Corn and Soybean Growers Association (NYCSGA) Summer Crop Tour recently hosted by Merrimac Farms, Inc., Mount Morris, NY. Missy Bauer, Field Agr...

Since glyphosate is a hot button issue for both consumers and producers, American Hort brought together several experts in the field to discuss the topic. American Hort represents the entire horticulture industry and has been following the glyphosate debate in the interest of dispersing the science ...

SENECA FALLS, NY – Cattle handling for vet appointments and routine procedures is “an extremely important part of raising cattle and it’s part of the Beef Quality Assurance program,” said Mike Baker, Ph.D., beef cattle Extension specialist with Cornell University. Baker led a presentation on beef ca...

Herbicide classification charts and weed identification guides may not be on your ‘Christmas wish-list,’ but if you’re reading this, maybe they should be. Eye-opening research and recent discoveries of new patches of herbicide resistant weeds are prompting producers and agencies alike to open their ...

Anyone who has worked cattle with a spouse or other family member knows the process can lead to tension and arguments. Cattle become stressed because they’re crowded and forced to move unnaturally, and noisy gates and tight spots are uncomfortable and unfamiliar. People become flustered, try to rush...

by Betsy Hicks, Area Dairy Management Specialist Dairy farms today are faced with difficult decisions that impact their day-to-day operations in both short-term and long-term business viability. During this drawn-out low in milk prices, attention to these decisions can be the difference between a fa...

South Central NY Dairy and Field Crops Team member, Mary Kate Wheeler, Farm Business Management, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE), led a team effort, along with custom grazing farm owner/operator Tim Virgil, Fabius, NY, and Fay Benson, Grazing Educator, CCE, South Central NY, Dairy and Field Crop...

According to the USDA, the ratio of older to younger farmers in the Empire State is five to one. A series of initiatives have been implemented in recent years to address this imbalance and assist younger farmers in establishing themselves. Farmland for a New Generation – New York is a program coordi...

According to 2016 USDA data, only 20 percent of beef herds are actively using rectal palpitation or ultrasound to detect pregnancy. While 70 percent of producers with herds of 200 head or more do use one of these methods, a mere 11 percent of those with 49 head or less do so to detect pregnancy. Acc...

Farms employing H-2A workers are required to provide housing for them; however, the Division of Immigrant Policies and Affairs (DIPA), a part of the New York State Department of Labor (NYS-DOL), inspects and approves the housing. Caylin Gwise with the New York spoke on H-2A housing for a recent webi...

Calling all dairies! Large or small, conventional or organic! An opportunity to lower your risk is at your fingertips with the recently implemented, 2019 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program. “June 17 was the beginning of the DMC sign-ups,” said Madison County, Farm Service Agency (FSA) County Execut...

“Milk fat depression (MFD) is an active process,” said Organic Valley Staff Veterinarian, Dr. Greg Brickner, keynote speaker at a recent Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, Inc. (NOFA-NY) field day sponsored by Organic Valley and Maple Hill Creamery, and hosted by Huftalen Farm, Eriev...