The University of Vermont’s “Across the Fence” television program is the longest running locally-produced program in the United States, and is produced by the University of Vermont Cooperative Extension. The show recently featured Jenn Colby, Pasture Program Coordinator at the UVM Center for Sustain...

For small-scale organic farms, pastured broiler chickens may offer valuable contributions in a crop rotation program. Chickens contribute to soil fertility. Farm-produced cereal grains like Naked or Hulless Oats offer valuable supplements to organic poultry diets. Organic produce growers will often ...

For years the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has acted as the regulatory body for intercollegiate athletics ensuring that student athletes adhere to the guidelines set forth by that body. In addition to its power to regulate, the NCAA is charged with the responsibility of ensuring t...

“There are very few states where Natural Resources Conservation Services staff have developed and completed all Forage Suitability Groups (FSGs) for their state,” Kevin Ogles, grazing specialist with NRCS said. “There are not any NRCS states in the Eastern U.S. that have completed them. However, rec...

While the ‘team’ concept might sound like something from a sports league, the term also applies to dairies that want to work together for everyone’s good. Dairy profit teams have been used effectively on dairies of many sizes. Dairies that have formed teams have found that team approach help everyon...

LIVERPOOL, NY — Hans Mobius networked at the recent New York State Farm Bureau conference as if he were a fresh-faced rookie running for his first public office. Although he’s a battle-hardened political veteran, he still brings an eager approach to his campaign. A voting delegate and farmer from Er...

Although many sheep farmers use herding dogs to work livestock, not all of them had sheep when they started. Julie Williams, who lives in the Hudson Valley area, had herding dogs before she had sheep. Her first dog was a Kelpie named Lucy. “I trained her all the way through knowing how to do a shed,...

In 1985 Bobbie and Terry Jones took over the Cedarville, NY, farm that her family had owned since 1954. About 10 years ago they put up a new free stall barn and new milking parlor. Every morning Bobbie is up at 4 a.m. to milk approximately 140 cows. Counting her grandson, Nicholas, the Jones’s are g...

When there’s trouble during a calving, someone on the farm is usually willing and able to don an obstetric sleeve and help that cow safely deliver the calf. But the decision to assist a cow should be a part of careful observation skills and overall good cow sense. Penn State Extension Veterinarian D...

LIVERPOOL, NY — Hydraulic fracturing. Also known as “hydrofracking,” it is one word guaranteed to stir up a hornet’s nest of comments. Whether you live in an urban neighborhood or rural district in the northeastern U.S., you’re sure to have heard about fracking at town, city council and school board...

by Troy Bishopp, The Grass Whisperer I’m pleased The New York Times released an op-ed piece titled, Keep Farmland for Farmers, poignantly written by Hudson Valley Farmers, Lindsey Lusher Shute and Benjamin Shute which chronicles the plight of finding land and making a go of it beyond the boroughs of...

Award winning Belted Galloway cattle and award-winning sheep’s milk cheese can be found on the same farm in Cazenovia, NY. But there’s no competition on the farm: both the sheep and cattle are thriving, providing milk, meat and superior genetics in a finely-tuned, integrated system. The farm, owned ...

SYRACUSE, NY — If the U.S. Congress really wanted to get its act together, it should take a page from the New York State Farm Bureau playbook. “This is true democracy at work,” Farm Bureau president Dean Norton commented as he chatted with fellow farmers from upstate New York during the Farm Bureau’...

Although living on a farm is an advantage for young people who are interested in activities such as 4-H and FFA, it’s harder for non-farm youngsters to participate — unless someone provides an opportunity. John and Pat Clark have provided that opportunity for youth in their area. After raising their...

The University of Maine at Machias recently held a panel discussion on genetically modified foods, as a part of its ongoing “Food and Community” series of events. Panelists for the discussion were: Maine organic farmer Jim Gerritsen, president of the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association; John ...