DELHI, NY – Nothing beats a live event, especially after a two-year pandemic and being “Zoom-ified” by the virtual world of information sharing. What a difference it makes for farmers and presenters who can make eye contact, share practical ideas and brainstorm solutions on agricultural subjects and...

The 2023 Cattle Industry Annual Convention played host to a meeting of Region I of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) on Jan. 31 in New Orleans. Region I of the NCBA is composed of Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Je...

Solar energy arrays on farmland no longer means that the land will be taken out of production as large ground-mounted panels take up valuable farmland, disturb soils and offer neighbors unsightly views. Instead of large parcels of land dedicated exclusively to solar panels, modern agrivoltaics combi...

Dairymen have several options for dairy cattle housing: tie-stalls, free-stalls, pasture, composting bedded pack or a combination of methods. No matter what the system, manure management is always a factor in keeping cows clean and healthy. During the North American Manure Expo, OMAFRA Livestock Spe...

Defined officially, a brand is “a product, service or concept that is publicly distinguished from other products, services or concepts so that it can be easily communicated and usually marketed.” Many farmers don’t devote much time to defining their brand, but maybe they should. “Brand Building Thro...

When it comes to any business, such as running a farm, finding cost-effective ways to reach production goals and standards is a key way for a successful market. Reusing materials not only can produce better results in product but also save the business money. In any type of livestock production, a l...

Like so many older riders, I grew up in an era when riding helmets were basically non-existent – if you rode Western, you wore a Western cowboy hat that offered little protection, except from the bright sunshine. If you rode English or did any jumping or showing, you wore a little black hunt cap or ...

Colony collapse disorder (CCD) is something I have been monitoring since it was first identified by entomologists two decades ago. CCD occurs when the vast majority of bees in any given colony – generally worker bees – die unexpectedly. Because the queen bee needs the nectar provided by these worker...

In 1972, Congress attempted, through the Clean Water Act, to keep the waters of the United States clean and safe for consumption, travel and recreation. The Clean Water Act grants the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers the authority to decide whether individual bodies of water are subject to r...

He’s young, but third generation dairy farmer Brett Keller has seen a lot of changes at his family’s Holly Rock Farm in Stuyvesant, NY. He appreciates the farm’s history in relation to the modernization that has taken place over the years. The Kellers’ start in dairy farming was in Easton, CT, where...

With the 2023 Farm Bill in the works, Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA), chair of the House Ag Committee, gathered eight members of the committee during the Pennsylvania Farm Show to hear the concerns of industry stakeholders. The event drew a standing room only crowd of primarily farmers. David Smith, Pen...

ROME, NY – The Boonville Farms Cooperative hosted their 88th annual meeting recently with 60 people in attendance representing 27 family dairy farms in the co-op. Newly elected officers for 2023 were Chris Hoefele of Fonda and Nelson Horst of Cato, and Rodney Willson Jr. as treasurer. Re-election of...

Changes in how antibiotics are sold are established and will take effect in about six months. Although some farmers will be impacted more than others, all farmers can prepare for the change ahead. The primary difference for farmers after the rule change will depend on how they’ve obtained antibiotic...

Pregnancy ketosis. Twin kid disease. Pregnancy toxemia is known by many names, and it is important for farmers to know what it is and how to recognize the signs of the disease in their ruminant livestock. Pregnancy toxemia is a metabolic disease that occurs during the late pregnancy of a ewe, doe or...

As I’m writing this on Jan. 18, the temperature in downtown Hartwick is 37º F with a light mist falling. Most of our recent meager snowfall has evaporated or melted into the ground. Without adequate snow cover, alfalfa stands – particularly clear alfalfa stands – on less than ideally drained soils a...