Hyperbole is often found in literature when an author wants to heighten the effect of their words or add vibrancy and magnitude to catch the reader’s attention. Singer John Legend said, “I think writers are prone to hyperbole sometimes.” I’m guilty, but I hope the bait caught the fish. Anyone in agr...

As farmers throughout the Northeast have been waiting less than patiently for rain, some areas have finally gotten some long-overdue moisture. But is late-season rain enough to salvage a corn silage crop? Dr. John Goeser, adjunct professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison Animal & Dairy Science, rec...

Even lifelong hunters get sloppy. Comfort turns to complacency and a few small slip-ups can tank your entire season. The truth? Skill isn’t just about what you do, it’s also about what you avoid. Here are four common mistakes even seasoned hunters still make – and what to do instead – to stay at the...

National Farm Safety and Health Week (NFSHW) is taking place this year Sept. 21 – 27. NFSHW is a time to increase awareness of the high risk of accidents and injuries in agriculture and to promote the adoption of life-saving health and safety practices. Despite a slight decrease in total fatal occup...

Oechsner Farms of Newfield has been selected for the New York AEM-Leopold Conservation Award. The award honors farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in the management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land. Thor Oechsner and his wife Rachel Lodder, who own...

Quimby Farm is nestled among the rolling hills of the Hudson Valley. The barn, over a century old, overlooks the lush acreage of the heritage farm, beloved for its berries, grapes and beef. The business, run by the Quimby family for 85 years and counting, is modest but self-sustaining; a way of life...

When a barnyard is partially in concrete and the pasture is little more than holes left by the hooves of beef cattle, what’s the answer? In Craig Alleman’s case, the best solution was more concrete. Alleman’s farm was a mess, with mud and pugging throughout the pastures. Pasture vegetation didn’t st...

Improving soil health starts with analyzing the soil, according to Aaron Breimer, owner of Moose Ag, a private consulting firm in Chatham, Ontario, who works with farmers on increasing profitability through soil health initiatives. Breimer, whose background is in cash crops, has worked in sales, agr...

Summertime is county fair time! All across the region, local folks and youngsters have been hard at work preparing their animals, crops, agricultural goods, baked goods and arts and crafts for the big weekend. The Little World’s Fair takes place the third weekend of August each year in Grahamsville,...

There’s been a lot of discussion around biosecurity, especially around the ever-changing situation with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) around the world. Lisa Pederson, livestock specialist at the Central Grasslands Research Extension Center in Streeter, ND, describes biosecurity as the combination of ...

Dairy and beef farmers are aware of the cyclical nature of the cattle industry. They also know the two segments are closely related. Corey Geiger, economist for dairy production and processing, CoBank, recently discussed trends in dairy and beef. “Dairy is dynamic and growing,” said Geiger. “It’s th...

SENECA FALLS, NY – Farmers always have an eye on the sky, as weather impacts so much of what they do. But paying attention to long-term weather patterns can help farmers plan their long-term strategies, according to Matt Reardon, senior atmospheric scientist with Nutrien. He presented “Chasing Water...

September 5 is the International Day of Charity, and while many of us are struggling to take care of our own, sometimes giving just a little can mean a lot. Think of the bell ringers around the holidays – all that pocket change that goes into those red buckets really adds up. So, if you are so incli...

Many farmers preserve forage as dry hay, but for some, baleage is a good alternative. Depending on storage conditions, losses in baled dry hay stored outdoors is between 10% and 30%, while properly wrapped baleage should have almost no quality loss. Storage for baleage is less costly than a chopped ...

The Pennsylvania No-Till Alliance recently celebrated its 25th anniversary at the Jim Hershey farm in Elizabethtown, PA. One of the featured demonstrations was a soil pit, which was dug directly under recently planted sorghum-sudangrass. Lisa Blazure, soil health coordinator, Stroud Water Research C...