Most farmers in the northeast aren’t doing much baling in April, but because of the early winter and persistent snow cover in the winter of 2013/2014, it was impossible for Andy Bater to harvest his crop until just a month ago. Bater’s crop is switchgrass, a native, warm-season grass that is gaining...

It’s not every parade that has a live, 4-legged, marching cow and miniature horses in addition to the full size horses commonly seen adorning parades. But at this year’s Memorial Day Parade in Gloversville, NY, attendees were in for a special treat — thanks to the Fulton Montgomery County Cooperativ...

The Sane Energy Project, a non-profit organization that supports renewable infrastructure, has released details of a Stanford University study on renewable energy indicating the state of New York could be entirely renewable by the year 2030. According to Sane Energy Project founder Clare Donahue, St...

by JAY GIRVIN, Esq., Girvin & Ferlazzo. P.C., Albany, NY Q. If I’ve received an agricultural assessment exemption in the past, what are the consequences if I convert the property to a nonagricultural use going forward? A. As local assessors are working to complete their final assessment rolls for th...

At a time when more small business are being pushed aside to make room for larger ones, Mary Jeanne Packer’s carding and spinning mill is an exception. Battenkill Fibers Carding and Spinning Mill is targeted toward the small flock farmer and is prepared to accommodate them. “Mary Jean has created a ...

In early 2013, Joy Hess, the herdsman for her family’s JoBo Holstein Farm, decided it would be a good idea to start a Facebook page for the farm. Nearly every evening, Joy posts photos and tidbits of information about the farm, including new calves, planting and harvest, cow management, general dair...

Farmers from around New York attended an informative meeting addressing farm equipment and New York State updated traffic safety laws, during a clinic held at Al and Linda LaRue’s Farm Shop Facility in Charlton, Saratoga County. Trooper Christine Bornmann of the New York State Police Commercial Vehi...

An invited guest at the 2014 Belleville Henderson FFA Annual Awards Banquet in Belleville, NY, New York State Dairy Princess Casey Porter offered a moving presentation that spoke about the impact of the Christian, agricultural and local communities on her life following the July 30, 2013 accident in...

WHITESTOWN, NY — Three candidates for Oneida County Dairy Princess sat at the head table at Hart’s Hill Inn on the evening of May 2, the eyes of 200 people studying their demeanor, their attire, their attitude and their manners. As each one was called upon to give a brief, prepared speech and later ...

New York Farm Bureau Foundation for Agricultural Education, Inc. hosted fundraising feasts in both the eastern and western part of the state, raising funds to promote agriculture awareness in schools across the State. “As agriculture is essential to our lives, so is education essential to the future...

When PEDv, or porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, first made the news, industry officials were quick to act. However, since experts had almost no experience in dealing with the disease, there was a lot of groundwork to cover before organizations could provide sound information to producers. PEDv was fi...

Sheila Flanagan and Lorraine Lambiase had a couple of Nigerian goats when they were both working in the legal profession in California. “We really enjoyed them,” said Sheila, adding that one of her favorite pastimes was checking out farms around the country. “We always thought we’d make a major brea...

In 1966, when I was an Army Reservist, I had a two-week summer camp in Fort Shelby, MS. Not far from there was Gulfport, a resort town on the Gulf of Mexico, where I swore I would live one day. A bit north of Gulfport is a town called Prentiss, where five years ago John Logan, a chicken farmer, conc...

Now the snow is gone, and most of us are waiting impatiently for spring to arrive. The first harbingers of the season have blossomed, but for every group of early bloomers there are a few plants that pose potential threats to livestock and pets. After a winter on dry forage and silage, the natural i...

The predator approaches his prey quickly, then slows down and calculates his next move. He crouches and waits until the prey settle down. The predator is patient, but is quick to act as soon there’s an opportunity for a capture. As the prey start to move, the predator moves too; in perfect harmony w...