Farmers expect weather, pests, disease and family issues to affect their farm’s profitability. What they often do not expect is a lawsuit. Rachel Armstrong, executive director of Farm Commons, recently presented “Farm Liability and Insurance Basics,” hosted by Food Animal Concerns Trust. A Duluth, M...

Recently I visited Connie, a Mohawk Valley dairy farmer. I’ve been advising her in both her cow and crop management programs for many years. Her small herd of grass-fed organic Holsteins had once again begun to seriously chow down her complete mineral mix, dicalcium phosphate and salt. She told me t...

For years dairy farmers have been under fire from changing laws and milk prices that don’t keep up with inflation. Will the new labor law be the final nail in the coffin of Mom-and-Pop dairy farms? The new law, recommended by the Farm Labor Wage Board and accepted by New York State Department of Lab...

When raising a herd of dairy cattle, it’s important to do your research on care techniques, such as the structure of their housing facility. Animals’ basic needs must be met so they’ll have a comfortable and enjoyable home, which decreases stress and increases production and ease for farmworkers. In...

If the last forage harvest of the season didn’t yield well or livestock were left with poor quality grazing at the end of the season, it might be time to consider refurbishing. Dr. Katie Payne, applied forage systems specialist, Virginia Polytechnic University, suggested planning well in advance to ...

“Bedtime snacks can be healthy and help you sleep better.” This statement reflects practical wisdom of many human dietitians and sleep therapists. I believe it also applies to plant dietitians, a dignified body of scientists with whom I rub shoulders frequently. It can be argued that winter forages ...

If you run any kind of agritourism operation this time of year, whether that be a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, a Halloween event or something else, you’re likely welcoming lots of folks to your farm who aren’t normally present. In addition, if you have a petting zoo or a barn full of livestock, it’s ...

A farmer who’s about to spend $250,000 on an implement or land does considerable homework before making such a purchase. Dr. John Goeser, nutritionist at Rock River Laboratory, wants farmers to also consider the investment they’ve made in corn for silage. “We don’t often think about it as such, but ...

Of all the farms I worked on as a boy, the most memorable was the old Borden Farm on the east side of Canadarago Lake outside of Richfield Springs. By the time I came along, it had been sold to Bill and Shirley Weingates. Back then, they were milking about 200 cows on one of the biggest operations i...

Researchers and beekeepers alike have been sounding the alarm over the drastic decline in bee populations over the course of the past two decades. Randall Cass, an entomologist who has worked with the Iowa State University Extension Program for the past five years, spoke with Country Folks to discus...

Sometimes it’s possible to pull up mature corn plants with little or no effort. In this situation the majority of roots are in the top three inches. Autumn soil testing – so as to maximize the efficiency of fertilizer inputs – often reveals soil limitations as the probe hits compacted layers. Soil c...

Assessing treatment options and using FAMACHA Internal parasites are the bane of anyone who raises sheep or goats. However, there are strategies to help producers manage parasites such as Haemonchus contortus (barberpole worm), which is responsible for major losses in the industry. Dr. Andrew Weaver...

It’s called back-breaking work for a reason. Farmers are no strangers to back pain. The National Institute of Health (NIH) reports that lower back disorders are among the most frequently diagnosed musculoskeletal problems suffered by farmers. A common cause of back pain in farmers is whole body vibr...

If your workplace relationships have grown strained and difficult, working with human resources personnel to resolve the conflict or changing jobs are two options to resolve the problem; however, these may not viable solutions for people working together on a family farm. PA Farm Link recently offer...

The Asian longhorned tick (ALT) is a newcomer to the U.S., and its presence has already caused significant damage to cattle. Blood-sucking ticks on the body are harmful enough, but the pathogens they transmit can be devastating. Denise Bonilla, USDA-APHIS entomologist, discussed the circumstances th...