As a dairy or beef producer, do you ever wonder about products, other than beef or milk, that are derived from your cattle? Is leather on your radar? Beyond meat production, the cattle carcass is often an afterthought for many farmers. But it doesn’t have to be. Just like fiber, the cow’s hide is a ...

As many dairy farmers realize, understanding your milk check and the mathematics behind the mystery of just how much you’re going to get paid almost requires an advanced degree in economics. That’s why Cornell Cooperative Extension Central New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Team welcomed Dr. ...

Jesse Evans, research assistant in the veterinary entomology lab at Penn State, said those who enjoy autumn outdoor activities can avoid the threat of serious disease by being smarter than the average tick. Evans discussed arthropod vectors (any arthropods that can transmit diseases to humans) and t...

Last month, New York Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan), a member of the Committee on Agriculture, introduced Bill A11041, which would require a farm owner or operator that produces shell eggs or liquid eggs for human consumption to confine egg-laying hens in a cage-free housing system wit...

Farmers who confine the milking herd and those who graze their herds often have differing perspectives on which environment provides the optimal level of cow comfort, has positive impacts on herd health and results in the best financial results for the dairy. Anne-Marieke Smid, a University of Briti...

A recent webinar hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County aimed to help both landowners and farmers protect themselves when entering lease agreements. “Learn How to Put Together a Lease That Makes Sense” was the latest in the “Accessing Farmland” series of interactive online workshop...

Reliable, high-speed internet in rural regions has been an issue for decades. City centers and villages can download movies in minutes; meanwhile, those traveling some country roads need to let others know their approximate locations in advance because there is no service available in case of an acc...

Along with my friends and my cows, we recently had the privilege to participate in the 2020 Northeast All Breeds Fall Show in West Springfield, MA. It was different than normal. We had to be masked at all times and there were no spectators – only those working and showing. There was no sleeping or f...

Autumn is a favorite time of the year, with its abundance of garden fruits and vegetables, cool nights, warm sunny days and crisp blue skies against the backdrop of colorful fall foliage. The garden is producing like crazy and we are busy harvesting its bounty, canning and storing in the cool baseme...

Dairy cows are ruminants, evolved to eat grass, which is composed primarily of carbohydrates. Microbes present in the rumen ferment carbs and break them down into volatile fatty acids (VFAs), the main source of energy for cows. These microbes also break down rumen-degradable proteins and non-protein...

As the last cutting of hay is baled and stored, the question of whether or not it will be enough to support the beef herd through the winter can be a tricky one. For those raising grass-fed beef, particularly in extreme cold weather areas, the amount of hay available to supplement the herd during th...

If you want to expand your farm’s maple production, going with tubing rather than collection buckets can make the entire system work more smoothly. It’s vital to set up your sugarbush’s tubing properly so that it works well. Adam Wild, director of the Cornell Uihlein Maple Research Forest, and Aaron...

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County continues its series of online seminars to better assist both aspiring farmers and current landowners. The latest installment of the “Accessing Farmland Zoom Series” was “Determining the Realistic Value of Land and its Best Use.” The session was present...

The 2020 election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 3. With that in mind, Country Folks reached out to those seeking the highest offices in each of the states in our coverage areas, asking them for their goals and plans for the agricultural sector. Many did not respond to our queries; therefore, we sought ou...

Big news was announced in the dairy world earlier this month, with Nestlé offering its support – in the form of $10 million over a five-year period – for the Net Zero Initiative, a new industry-wide effort that will helpU.S. dairy farms of all sizes implement new technologies and adopt economically ...