Betsy Hicks, SCNY Dairy & Field Crops Team, Cornell Regional Dairy Specialist, spoke about assessing lameness in dairy cows, during the 2nd Annual Cow Comfort Conference, hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension, North Country Regional Ag Team, and the South Central NY Dairy & Field Crops Team, at Li...

The somatic cell count (SCC) of milk increases if there is mammary gland inflammation in the cow. SCC is a “good marker of mastitis,” Susan Schexnayder, University of Tennessee, said in a recent DaireXNet presentation, “New Insight Into the People Side of Milk Quality.” “Mastitis is directly related...

There’s a dairy farm in eastern New York that proves careful cow selection and paying close attention to genetics over the years is worthwhile. Jeff and Jan King, along with their parents Edgar and Carolyn, own and operate Kings Ransom Farm, which has been in the family for 115 years. Jeff and Jan a...

“Stand up for what you stand for!” emphasized NY Animal Agriculture Coalition Executive Director Jessica Ziehm. Ziehm led an impressive roster of speakers for the 2018, 2nd Annual Cow Comfort Conference, hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension North Country Regional Ag Team, and the South Central NY...

LATHAM, NY — Conservation, quality soils, cool season pastures and human health are uniquely intertwined in the northeast pasture belt for the benefit of all. The Northeast Pasture Consortium continues to advocate for these coveted grasslands and grazing’s importance with an alliance of graziers, ex...

LIVERPOOL, NY — As with any industry, the future of agriculture lays in the hands of young people. Dr. David Kohl spoke on the topic at the recent 2018 Corn & Soybean Winter Expo, hosted by the New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association. He emphasized the top reasons young people should enjoy many ...

Pennsylvania state beef extension specialist Dr. Tara Felix says dairy steers contribute to approximately 15 to 20 percent of the nation’s beef supply, and that numerous packers are interested in receiving a steady supply of them. “Holstein calves have the genetics and the propensity to marble and c...

CAZENOVIA, NY — “If you share my addiction to chewing and swallowing, you’ll want to watch the documentary: Farmers for America,” says the movie’s narrator, Mike Rowe, of the famed TV show, Dirty Jobs and CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation. The Cazenovia Public Library partnered with the Madison Co...

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) says one of the most important jobs she does as senator for New York is the work she does on the Senate Agriculture Committee. She praises the state for its abundant resources and products, including vegetables, fruits, barley for brewers, and milk and dairy product...

Alex and Becky Johnk are totally immersed in agriculture, from what they do every day on their farm to their participation in farm-related organizations. The young couple planned their Greenville, NY farm to be diversified. Alex realizes the concept is a bit old-school, but he’s modeling the farm af...

Braving a major winter storm, New York State residents traveled to get information that would help them to start or to grow a Farm to School program in their communities COBLESKILL, NY — Amidst a “Bomb Cyclone” weather event, a New York State Regional Farm to School Conference occurred Jan. 4, on th...

That’s Sonny Perdue’s motto for the USDA, and he plans to share it with farmers across all 50 states as he discusses the upcoming Farm Bill. Perdue, the 31st U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, grew up on a dairy and row crop farm in Georgia, spent time as a veterinarian in private practice, had a succes...

DELHI, NY — When the Watershed Ag Council’s Agriculture Program Manager, Larry Hulle, ask young farmers, Eleanor Blakeslee Drain, Nikki Sebastian Hager, Tim Sherwood and Tyler Hymers to be on a panel to visit with a “few” people; little did he know, it would be a standing room only event. This eye-o...

While animal welfare and abuse issues, particularly on large dairy operations, have been in the media spotlight and are a primary consumer concern, the majority of dairy farms emphasize animal welfare and prioritize proper animal care. After all, if the cows aren’t comfortable and healthy, they aren...

Despite bitterly frigid weather, more than 60 folks from at least five northeastern states — and one farmer from Texas — attended a mid-January Lely robotic dairy meeting and toured three robotic dairy farms in Western NY. “We see robotic milking increasing as dairymen are concerned about the availa...