For generations, the farmer’s common practice of aggressively tilling fields resulted in successful yields. In the current era, weather changes, economics and conservation efforts to improve soil health and sustainability have led many farmers to embrace a no-till system. Although producers often ca...

A standing room only crowd gathered during this year’s CattleCon for an exciting and in depth presentation – the Checkoff Highlight Session. Kicking it all off was USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jennifer Lester Moffitt. She noted big things already happening or coming soon...

Farmers are, by nature, preppers. But recognizing the importance of preparation and knowing just how to prepare are two different things, according to Dr. Julia Herman. A veterinarian for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Herman made her presentation “Assembling Your Cattle Care Tool...

During the recent National Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting, regional meetings also took place to address the biggest issues in specific corners of the country. Leading the way for the Northeast Region were Chair Denise Savageau of Connecticut and Vice Chair Cliff Lane of Pennsyl...

The American Meteorological Society defines “spring snow” as being coarse, granular, wet snow, resembling finely chopped melted ice, generally found in spring. Foresters worry that this kind of snow can seriously harm trees. When such heavy snow piles up on branches, the stress can be too much, resu...

Running a successful farm is hard work. But what many people don’t realize is that a lot of the work required to keep a farm running smoothly doesn’t take place in the fields, but behind a desk. According to Taylor Mendell, proper recordkeeping can be just as important as proper crop management. Her...

Due to the nature of the job, manure handling equipment must be large, stable and road-worthy. Cheryl Skjolaas, Biological Systems Engineering, University of Wisconsin Extension, said safety measures help protect personnel, prevent down time, prevent accidental spills and maintain customer relations...

Late winter/early spring is a time of great changes. The weather warms, then cools. March snow is mixed with days of rain and its resulting mud – and with the mud and inclement weather, our horses are more susceptible to a number of springtime woes. Paddocks and turnout areas are damp and wet in pla...

Growers from across the Finger Lakes and Central New York gathered recently for the 2023 Soybean & Small Grains Congress, hosted by CCE’s Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops Program. The events allowed participants to earn DEC recertification points and Certified Crop Adviser credits w...

According to Dr. Abby van den Berg, there are many lingering misconceptions that red maple is a “less than” species for maple syrup production. People say red maple has lower sap sugar content, that it has lower yields, that it stops running earlier and that the flavor can be “buddy,” especially lat...

Risk management sounds hopeful, doesn’t it? It means taking steps now to avoid downfalls in the future. On farming operations, it can mean the difference between weathering a storm (figurative or literal) or going under. “Farming itself comes with myriad challenges, and agritourism adds its own uniq...

Contagious diseases are a large threat to the animal production industry, especially those that are deadly or incurable. One well-known bacterial infection found in ruminants such as goats, sheep and cattle is Johne’s disease. Johne’s disease is caused by the mycobacterium Avium paratuberculosis , a...

It’s a no-brainer to state that liming materials improve the performance of fertilizer ingredients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen. Now combine that certainty with the uncertainty of global fertilizer ingredient price volatility. We can assume that using one input (lime) that’s inflated 30% pr...

CattleFax, a global leader in beef industry research and analysis, had experts present their annual Protein and Grain Outlook at the recent Cattle Industry Convention in New Orleans. The session was jump-started by Pono Von Holt, president of CattleFax . “The markets have been emotional – a grind fo...

Dan McFarland, Penn State Extension ag engineer, said empty dairy barns provide an opportunity for those who want to remain involved in livestock production. The process of converting an existing dairy barn for beef cattle production should begin with a careful evaluation of the facility, animal nee...