Although the milk check pays the bills on a dairy farm, many dairy farmers don’t fully understand fluid milk pricing. Brook Duer, attorney for the Penn State Center for Agricultural & Shale Law , agrees with farmers who say pricing is complicated. Federal milk pricing is conducted through the operat...

Organic livestock production comes with challenges, two of which are the high costs of organic feed and bedding. Dr. Yuzhi Li, professor of organic swine production, University of Minnesota, explained how the university raises organic pigs and reviews several research projects designed to explore fe...

Carl Majewski, a University of New Hampshire Extension field specialist, has been working to increase awareness of IPM practices for both farmers and non-farming stakeholders. He’s noticed that throughout the years, farmers are continuously leasing land from non-farming landowners. Majewski pointed ...

Winter has officially settled in the Northeast, bringing with it snow and Pennsylvania’s Keystone Farm Show. Hosted annually at the York County Fairgrounds in York, PA, the event is in its 28th year. It is one of the first major events in the winter agricultural trade show circuit and draws attendee...

On-farm outdoor recreation is different from typical agritourism activities such as U-picks, farm stands or demonstrations. “We’re talking about adding true outdoor recreation into your farm. This might be hiking, kayaking, biking, fishing, mountain biking or rock climbing. We’re thinking about the ...

The term “checkoff” derived from historical programs that were not mandatory; producers marked a checkoff box if they wished to contribute to the program. Checkoff programs “promote and provide research and information for a particular agricultural commodity without reference to specific producers o...

The discussion about a consumer’s right to repair ag equipment has been going on for years, and progress is being made. Back in 2020, Ross Pifer, director of the Center for Agricultural & Shale Law and clinical professor at Penn State Law, introduced the topic of the right to repair during a Nationa...

Most mornings my eyes open at 3 a.m., not because I have farm chores but because there is some subconscious grief that honors my brother’s death and the call time nobody wants to get at that hour. Then my mind takes over and creates tormenting, endless tasks of work and guilt trips until I’m exhaust...

Sarah Hirsh, an Extension educator at University of Maryland, shared cover cropping case studies from Maryland’s Eastern Shore at a recent Northeast Cover Crop Council meeting. The case studies are part of a multiyear grant which includes support from USDA-NRCS and the National Fish & Wildlife Found...

TUCSON, AZ – Farmers from around the East Coast fed their animals, put another log on the fire, packed their bags and took to the friendly skies, joining over 540 farmers and ranchers at the sold out ninth National Grazing Lands Coalition (NatGLC) Conference Dec. 4 – 6. The journey suggested “The sk...

Flannel shirts, calloused hands and colorful stories marked another year of putting conservation on the ground for the Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District. In the spirit of gratitude, the district hosted its 14th annual customer appreciation luncheon at the CCE Madison building in Morr...

Raising heifers has changed over the years, and Penn State ag engineer John Tyson said there are still some new concepts in heifer housing. “Calves and heifers represent the best genetic potential on the farm,” said Tyson, who spoke recently at the Penn State Dairy Nutrition Workshop. “That’s why we...

“We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.” Sarah Cornelisse of Penn State Extension began a recent webinar with that Bill Gates quote. Complaints have value: Your clientele care about the ultimate success of your business and complaints offer a unique window into prospect...

As the livestock industry takes hits for its purported role in global warming, researchers are working on science-based concepts for potential methane reduction from dairy cattle. Dr. Guillermo Boggio, University of Wisconsin post-doctoral research associate, explained that methane emissions represe...

On Nov. 30, the New York Hot Farm Pulling Series club had their annual banquet and award ceremony at Vernon Downs Event Center featuring food, dancing and fun with a live band. There were 80 members (with their significant others and family members) in attendance. The NYHFPS is a tractor pulling clu...