Many New York farmers and landowners can get excited about gaining financial incentives and cost-share assistance through the USDA Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Grasslands Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) this year. However, knowing a few “rules of the road” before you go to an FSA office to make an...

During this year’s Grains Week, a lot of attention was paid to the plants that go into making beer and brown liquors, but there are myriad market channels for grains. Discussing some of the ones tackled at her farm was Mary-Howell Martens of Lakeview Organic Grain, in Penn Yan, NY, where she and her...

This past year has been a difficult one for our 17-year-old mare, Morgan. Back on May 22, 2020, we lost our 36-year-old mare, Sabrina. For the very first time in the seven years since she’s been here, Morgan was suddenly the only horse. I was concerned about how she’d fare; even though she had been ...

by Judi Whittaker Farm medic training for local EMS responders used to be held yearly by most fire departments. In Broome County, they had not provided this training in 15 years. No one thought anything about it. That all changed March 13, 2021. With word of a tragic farm equipment accident, everyon...

History of New York labor laws and initial legislation Dr. Richard Stup, agricultural workforce specialist at Cornell University, said a lot has happened with New York State labor laws over the past few years. Resulting legislation has led to changes in the traditional farm workplace. As he reviewed...

It seems everyone is “bundling” these days, from insurance companies and internet providers to auctioneers and flea market pickers. Bundling is generally used to consolidate and lower prices. It’s also used to get what you want by taking a few lesser items you don’t necessarily prefer. Farmers know ...

Feeding nutritious forage is a vital part of promoting animal health and welfare. Dr. Amanda Grev, forage specialist with University of Maryland Extension, recommends forage sampling and testing to ensure forage is meeting animals’ nutritional needs. She presented “Forage Sampling and Forage Analysi...

by Aubree Domagala, 4-H Pratt Northam Intern The Lewis County Enhancement Calf Award has been the Nobel Prize to the youth in Lewis County for many years. Applicants must submit a well-written response essay answering the following questions: What would a registered calf mean to you? What would be y...

Greenwich High School Agricultural Science teacher Betsy Foote was recently named the New York Ag Educator of the Year. The NYS Farm Bureau, Nationwide Insurance and the NYS FFA Association sponsored this award. There were more than 350 NYS ag teachers eligible for this award. Foote was one of the 1...

The Brookfield Competitive Trail Ride/Drive Clinic and Competition returned this June to Chenango County, bringing in riders old and new. The ride is hosted by Pure Country Campground in New Berlin and led by ride co-managers Joanna Lasher and Lynn Dunn. There are 15- and 25-mile rides and drives bo...

This Aug. 3 – 5, Empire Farm Days is back at a new/old location in Pompey, NY (near Syracuse). Bruce Button, general manager and vice president of Lee Newspapers and Trade Shows, presented this history of the summer celebration: “The Empire State Potato Growers held their first agricultural show in ...

Those who have added on-farm processing to the dairy farm enterprise are required to label products according to federal guidelines, and in most cases, state guidelines as well. Dr. Kerry Kaylegian, associate research professor, Penn State Food Science, discussed federal guidelines for farmers who a...

Dr. Ray Kaplan, parasitologist and professor at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, has some stern words for cattlemen: “We need to start changing the ways we think about controlling worms. What we’re doing now is not only not working well, it’s heading us to potential disaster...

If you haven’t put much thought into what to do in case animal rights activists show up at your farm, it’s time to develop a plan. Activists are becoming more emboldened, and as new groups form, members are developing new tactics. Unfortunately, when activists reach their goal of making headline new...

A PennAg event held recently in Lebanon, PA, encompassed the Keystone Pork Expo, Poultry Progress Day and the Mid-Atlantic Manure Summit. USDA veterinarian Dr. Paul Pitcher presented information on the USDA’s role in addressing several swine diseases, including African swine fever (ASF). Pitcher sai...