Suicide is a dire issue facing the U.S., with devastating effects on individuals, families and communities. According to the CDC, suicide is a leading cause of death, claiming nearly 48,000 lives in 2021 alone. Shockingly, suicide rates are significantly higher in rural areas, with rates among peopl...

There is a lot of talk these days about the electrification of vehicles, ethanol-based power and solar power – but until fairly recently, all three were considered unable to compete economically with oil-based technologies. That notion has been debunked, but it remains difficult to convince the gene...

April is tax time! Many of us are scrambling to get all our files and numbers in order to file our income taxes by April 15. For those who have an income-producing farm or barn, keeping barn records is an important part of doing business and part of the procedure of filing yearly taxes. But what if ...

There are many different ways to incorporate solar onto your farm, and Chris Lent, a sustainable agriculture specialist for the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), helped explain the options for farms in the Northeast during a recent seminar. Solar operations on farms usually range fr...

We like to have a little fun at the Country Folks offices when certain holidays roll around. Check out our silly April Fool’s Day stories. AI technician shocked to see cows As the world becomes more and more digital, students are being influenced to earn degrees in fields that would seem to be benef...

When the dairy herd is sold and the buildings are empty, is there a use for them? Tim Terry, dairy farmstead strategic specialist with Cornell Pro-Dairy , says yes. On many farms, old barns can be repurposed for housing goats or sheep. Owners of old barns have several options, including salvaging an...

In early March, four members of the Oneida County Farm Bureau participated in the annual Taste of NY Reception that took place at the New York State Capitol. In attendance at the event were OCFB President John Collins, his wife Samantha, and Board Members Pat vanLieshout and Benjamin Simons. The One...

With technology improving year after year, it’s important to stay with the times and use the new systems to make your business more successful. One relevant technological advancement is artificial intelligence (AI). Dale Bertrand, CEO of Fire&Spark , is very knowledgeable when it comes to using AI t...

Kyle and Gordon Tibbitts of New Hartford, NY, are fifth generation maple producers. I joined them to address the Oneida County Board of Legislators meeting on March 13 on maple season in Oneida County. “What we are here for is to explain that maple is the very first crop of the 2024 year and to prom...

Home of the iconic Corn Palace — a symbol of the region’s healthy agricultural climate since 1892 — Mitchell, SD, will be the host location on March 25 for the national kick-off of the 2024 Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week . This year’s event, taking place from March 25 – 29, is a joint effort of the U....

Better management means better outcomes for dairy breeding outcomes. Julio Giordano, director of the Dairy Cattle Biology & Management Laboratory at Cornell University and an associate director of the Cornell Institute for Digital Agriculture, presented “Integrating Precision Technologies for Improv...

One great way to make a profit during your farm’s agritourism event is by prioritizing your food and beverage offerings. Mike Holtzman, the founder of the Holtzman Group: Hospitality Experts/Profitable Food Facilities Worldwide, is well-known in the food and beverage industry. He hosted a session at...

“The thing to remember is that most employees really do expect benefits because these benefits help them maintain their overall economic security,” said Jason Entsminger, Ph.D., at a Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners (MOFGA) workshop. Entsminger is the State Specialist for Small Business with Univ...

At the American Forage & Grasslands Council annual meeting earlier this year, forage experts presented a number of updates on baleage – and why it’s so important to do it right. Looking at “Assessing Fermentation Quality and Botulism Risks Associated with Baleage,” Jimmy Henning, Extension professor...

While livestock contracting isn’t a controversial topic, Bernt Nelson said it’s been his main focus since arriving in Washington, D.C., to serve as the livestock economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation . At a USDA Forum held recently in Virginia, Nelson addressed the issue of market fluctu...