“Many farmers tend to invest in assets instead of showing or paying themselves wages, utilizing the tax code to reflect as little taxable income as possible – but they run the risk of not qualifying for retirement benefits,” Jodi Gauker, business development Extension educator with Penn State Extens...

Safety is one of many reasons to include appropriate signage for farms engaging in agritourism, explained Laura Biasillo, an agricultural economic development specialist at CCE Broome. “It’s your way of setting expectations for customers as to what can and should or should not happen on the farm. It...

Learning advanced techniques can help take your chicken farming to the next level. Sam Noble, representing Heifer Ranch in Perryville, AR, offered “Advanced Brooding” as a recent webinar hosted by Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT). Despite her farm’s name, Noble has 10 years of confinement and pastu...

Incorporating strategies To help slow the problem of parasite resistance to deworming products, the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (ACSRPC) developed the Sustainable Integrated Parasite Management (SIPM) toolbox. This management combination helps reduce drug use and slows th...

As farmer services director with the Organic Farmers Association (OFA), Julia Barton serves transitional, organic and sustainable producers as a certifier, inspector and provider of technical services. Barton and her family operate an organic farm in Ohio. The OFA is a membership organization for or...

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on April 22 that Chobani , a next generation food and beverage company originally known for its high-quality Greek yogurt, has chosen the Mohawk Valley as the location for the nation’s largest investment in natural food manufacturing after a competitive nationwid...

ROCHESTER, NY – “Training is not an expense, but an investment in human capital.” – Roy H. Williams To serve diverse communities and farming customers effectively, New York State Conservation Districts continually “train-up” to meet folks where they are on the land and implement practices and projec...

Spring turnout is an exciting and dynamic time for graziers and dairy cattle. These lush, fast-growing, green pastures, however, can pose some challenges – notably, decreased butterfat. Early grass is high in unsaturated fatty acids, like linoleic acid, and low in total fiber. When these two factors...

Nearly everyone involved in agriculture has first-hand knowledge of a family member or friend involved in a farm accident. But Dr. Barbara Lee, senior research scientist at Marshfield Clinic Research Institute , believes the term “accident” isn’t accurate. She encourages the use of “incident” instea...

The biggest cost for any livestock operation is feed and nutrition. It’s important to properly store and use your feed to maintain its quality, and to keep your animals healthy. When it comes to hay, silage and small grains, it’s common for farmers to have mycotoxins present. However, if not caught ...

Alfalfa is an important crop for both dry hay and stored forage. However, winter damage can compromise a stand and make it less productive. Al Gahler, ag and natural resources educator in Ohio, discussed winter impacts on alfalfa – the queen of forages. “One of the main concerns is what stands look ...

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (bird flu) has affected more than 1,600 flocks nationwide, including 652 non-commercial backyard flocks (40%), 783 large-scale operations (47%) and 177 small-scale/commercial flocks. Bird flu has killed more than 166 million birds. Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) ...

By this time of year, many farmers are dealing with liquid manure storage at capacity. As farmers consider how to use manure in spring, Glen Arnold, field specialist in nutrient management, Ohio State, urges farmers to understand how stored nutrients affect crops. “About 50% of the nitrogen, phospho...

On March 25, Farm Commons hosted a webinar titled “Terminated and Frozen USDA Funding: Filing an Appeal to Protect Your Rights.” The intent of the session was to provide education rather than legal advice. The mission of Farm Commons is to empower agricultural communities to resolve their own legal ...

“Farming is a profession of hope,” waxed farmer and writer Brett Brian. Scott O’Mara, from the multi-faceted O’Mara Farms , knows this sentiment and tradition very well. “Without hope, plenty of coffee and a strong support network of farmers and local customers, it would be a tough proposition to fa...