“People don’t open their Instagram app expecting to be sold to. They want to be engaged with – to be entertained,” stated Penn State Extension’s Miranda Harple during a recent webinar about the use of Instagram to elevate your brand and connect with customers. In its ongoing evolution as a product a...

Justin Tupper is a second-generation sale barn operator, a third-generation rancher in his family’s beef cattle operation and current president of the U.S Cattlemen’s Association . Tupper recently addressed the issue of competition in the beef industry at the USDA Forum in Virginia. “Who’s the most ...

Brigeen Crush 3291 “Baby Girl” was Hayden Pike’s first purchase from the Blue Ribbon Calf Sale in 2018. This Holstein cow led her to many achievements, such as producing over 90 lbs. of milk per day and scoring VG-86 as a two-year-old. Hayden showed Baby Girl at multiple local shows along with large...

“Maple syrup holds a special place in the hearts and imaginations of the American public. It’s a unique tradition in the Northeast, and it really draws the public interest every year,” said Aaron Wightman. Wightman is a Cornell Extension associate in the Department of Natural Resources and the Envir...

Grazing operations take advantage of year-round pasture, but farmers must still deal with manure and the flies that come with it. Good grazing and manure management practices in late winter and early spring grazing can help stave off potential fly issues and create more resilient pastures. It’s impo...

It’s easy for an owner of forested acreage to forget about all those trees until it’s tax time. Dr. Kurt Smith, assistant professor of forestry and Extension specialist, NC State, said everyone’s tax situation is different, and to compound the issue, tax laws are continually evolving. However, fores...

Jeff Greenwood from Growing with Greenwood is passionate about helping farmers make their agritourism events as efficient as possible. Specifically, Greenwood focuses on improving the layout of the farm/event to make it run as smoothly and effortlessly as it can. At the recent NAFDMA Convention in B...

The label (or feed tag) on a bag of feed provides a great deal of information on the product as well as how it should be fed. Although some information may vary from state to state, feed tags are governed by the Association of American Feed Control Officials and contain mandatory information that he...

“If you’re interested in conservation, then it’s easy to see why it’s such an exciting time right now. We’re seeing all parts of the supply chain, from the farmer to the retailer and everything in between, coming together to try and help advance conservation practices on U.S. farmland,” said Ben Wes...

Sunday breakfast is usually a time of reflection for my wife and me. As we looked out over our snowless pastures, green lawn and full bird feeders, it seemed odd for the first week of February. It was then that I remembered seeing a bluebird pair on the fence while cutting wood on the first sunny da...

If done right, buying something secondhand can save you a lot of money upfront. Whether you’re updating your wardrobe at the local thrift shop or buying a new-to-you car for the family, purchasing something used can definitely help your budget – as long as you pay your due diligence. You wouldn’t bu...

As I sit in my Starr Hill farm office writing this article, I just completed taking a full inventory of my hay and feed supplies on our farm. In doing a mid-winter inventory, we look at how many bales of first cutting and second cutting hay we have, along with bedding hay and round bales. In additio...

No matter what the industry is, employees play an essential role in a business. Hiring and employee retention are two aspects that managers and owners must take seriously. Not only are the employees working to help keep the business running, but they also interact with your paying customers, meaning...

It’s been 25 years since we started our Big Buck Contest for Pioneer and Performance Premixes customers. The contest continues to create new friendships across the state. It is exciting to have the farmers show off pictures of the huge rack bucks they shot. In 2023 we have five nice bucks that will ...

According to Gustavo Schuenemann, DVM, Ph.D., there are approximately 9.3 million dairy cows in the U.S., and there is a 33.8% pre-weaned (birth to 60 days) calf morbidity rate. Another 5% of calves are stillborn (either born dead or die within 24 hours). Through careful genetic selection, adequate ...