Many farms begin as a family operation; however, more farms should consider establishing a more formal business entity – the limited liability company, or LLC. Attorney Rachel Armstrong, founder and executive director of Farm Commons in Duluth, MN, recently presented “Forming an LLC: The Basics” as ...

The Tug Hill Commission (THC) in the Finger Lakes region recently hosted a webinar in which presenters discussed how the area is handling the influx of solar installations. Matt Johnson, planning director for the THC, discussed steps municipalities can take to mitigate projects and deal with solar p...

A farmer’s strength is measured not just by the callouses on their hands but by the resilience in their hearts and minds, weathering storms both seen and unseen. The upcoming holiday season is a joyous and magical time for many; however, in the sprawling landscapes of upstate New York, where the rhy...

Hershey, PA, was the destination for hundreds of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) members who met for the organization’s 73rd annual meeting. One of the most important aspects of the meeting is the culmination of policy development through the adoption of policies by the delegate body. Policy developm...

“I’m a stay-at-home mom raising our three boys, homeschooling and helping my husband run the farm – if it were a complicated process, it wouldn’t be possible for us.” That refrain is echoed by many farm and small business owners. In 2023 it’s never been more crucial to stand out. But it can still fe...

Part 1: The early days Sheep and goat owners are familiar with the unique identification tags that go in animals’ ears before they’re moved from one property to another. However, most aren’t aware of the details that led to today’s near-eradication of scrapie, a small ruminant disease that’s 100% fa...

“Ideally, business decisions are made on profitability, not on cash flow,” Jon Winsten, an agricultural economist, said, addressing dairy farmers via a University of Vermont Extension webinar. Those words of wisdom are the impetus behind the Large-Herd, Low-Overhead Dairy Grazing model (LODG) Winste...

Cattle producers often ask Penn State extension veterinarian Dr. Hayley Springer what to include in a vaccination protocol. Since farms have a variety of management challenges and different vaccine protocols, the answer is “It depends.” Springer said the definition of the word vaccinate is “to admin...

Branching out, wearing different hats, having a finger in every pie, putting a lot of irons in the fire – whatever euphemism you use, farmers these days are almost required to do more than simply grow food and harvest it. Value-added products are one way of diversifying and increasing revenue stream...

Most farmers want their land to stay in agriculture, but very few have plans in place that dictate how the land, business and other assets will be divided among their heirs. Over 30% of farmers in New England have reached retirement age. The majority of this population has not named a successor. Wit...

“Gobble gobble” isn’t just a turkey vocalization – it’s an action customers are making to gobble up their Thanksgiving centerpiece from local farms. There has been a consistent trend by consumers to buy local for the Thanksgiving table, especially in pursuit of turkeys. Whether they come from a barn...

Proper understanding of mineral supplementation can prove pivotal to herd health. Laurentia van Rensburg, a technical mineral supplementation specialist and guest speaker for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s “Cattlemen’s College,” advised farmers on how to evaluate and compare different m...

Most, if not all, feed rations for livestock are based around the same grains: corn and wheat. There’s an upstart in that community though that may benefit those raising animals, and specifically, those raising chickens. A recent webinar titled “Exploring the benefits of U.S. sorghum in poultry feed...

Although most young people have no complaints about their feet, ag workers are prone to foot issues that often worsen with age. Foot pain from any cause can result in a stilted gait, which increases the risk for injury. Dr. Antony Merendino, DPM, and assistant professor in orthopedics and rehabilita...

On Oct. 18, the Boonville-Oneida County Fair held an Appreciation Dinner at Stysh’s Brown Barn & Campgrounds in a beautifully resurrected dairy barn. They wanted to recognize the dedicated, hardworking and amazing volunteers along with the Board of Directors that made the 2023 fair such a success. A...