Although they appear to be quite ordinary farmers, raising sheep and chickens on their 95-acre farm in Stone Arabia, NY, husband and wife team Marc Kratzschmar and Judy St. Leger are unique in the world of farming. “My regular job is working for SeaWorld,” St. Leger states. “I determine why pelicans...

If a dairy cooperative situated on a major highway wanted to draw the attention of people driving by, what would be the obvious choice? A cow. But not just any cow. The fiberglass creation, named Lady LeWinDa Milkzalot, is a year-round fixture on the lawn of the Lowville Producers Dairy Cooperative ...

Twelve months of work is measured in a matter of minutes. Shearing day reveals the overall health of the animal and defines the income that animal has produced in its fleece. A successful shearing day begins months in advance and is achieved with proper nutrition and grazing management practices. Nu...

Dryden, NY — This year brought us to the 29th Annual Dryden Dairy Day. The parade is part of a full celebration of June is Dairy Month. Dryden is a small farming community in Upstate New York that is surrounded by area farms. The event incorporates local business, schools and churches for a fun-fill...

NEWARK VALLEY, NY — This situation of farmers under-managing grazing land, plants, animals, biological systems and finances was the backdrop of what internationally renowned holistic grazing educator and South African rancher, Ian Mitchell-Innes, has seen throughout America on his three month lectur...

VERONA, NY — Bundled up in winter jackets and caps, or unexpectedly shivering in t-shirts, some kids stomping around delightedly in their precocious mud boots, they came — as expected — to the Oneida County Farm Fest 2013 on June 7. The event is held rain or shine, and once again, it rained at Braba...

“The world’s most widely adopted biotech trait, Roundup Ready® soybeans, is set to go off patent soon in the U.S. — the last applicable Monsanto-owned patent is expected to expire in 2014.” In cutting-to-the-chase fashion, the Monsanto press release’s first line explains it very clearly. Other thing...

FABIUS, NY — Progress could be the middle name of Trinder Farm LLC. In just the past five years, the Trinder Farm has arguably undergone more significant changes than in the previous 35 years since Tom Trinder bought the family farm. Trinder and his management team, consisting of herdswoman Nancy Wo...

ARLINGTON, VA — For the second time in a year, the Senate has approved a comprehensive farm bill containing the dairy policy reforms backed by the National Milk Producers Federation. The Senate passed the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 by a vote of 66-27 on June 10. The measure contai...

Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), commented on the 2013 Farm Bill as it moves from Senate approval to consideration by the House of Representatives. “It has been a long process, but a very worthwhile one. After much thoughtful dialogue, the Senate passed a Farm...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On June 10, U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, D-MN, made the following statement after the U.S. Senate approved S. 954, the 2013 Farm Bill. “Today’s Senate vote brings us one step closer to having a new, five-year farm bill in place this year. Cha...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Corn Growers Association congratulates the Senate on passage of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act (2013 farm bill). The legislation was agreed to by a vote of 66-27. NCGA now urges the House of Representatives to quickly follow suit. “America’s farmers greatly...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate in a 66 to 27 vote passed the 2013 Farm Bill (S. 954) on June 10. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Scott George, a dairy and beef producer from Cody, WY, issued the following statement on the passage of the legislation: “NCBA is very pleased w...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On June 11, the National Grange released a statement regarding the 66-27 passage of the Senate’s Farm Bill, saying while hopeful we now wait again on the House for action on the nearly $1 trillion piece of legislation that affects every American directly or indirectly. “While we’r...

In two years, Fogarty’s Dairy Farm in Melrose, NY, will celebrate its centennial birthday. Established in 1916 by John Fogarty, the 200 acre farm has specialized in milking dairy cows. “He was milking by hand back then so 20 was probably the most he (my grandfather, John) could milk,” Bill Fogarty, ...