Feed contamination such as molds and mycotoxins can impact animal health and productivity for livestock and poultry. Given that feed costs account for nearly 70% of production costs, maintaining quality in total mixed rations (TMR) should be a priority. “If you assume one pound of dry matter intact ...

As if farmers don’t have enough stress, numerous current events in world and in the ag community have led to additional stress and insecurity about the future. Ted Matthews, psychologist and director of Minnesota Rural Mental Health, said when he worked for FEMA, he never received any calls from far...

WATERLOO, NY — Molds and mycotoxins plague many farmers, but John Winchell, New York territory sales manager for Alltech, admitted, “I love them! It sounds funny to say, but they fascinate me.” He offered a presentation earlier this year on the topic at a meeting of New York Certified Organic, hoste...

Beef producers with cattle nearing the end of the finishing cycle are finding themselves stuck holding animals past their ideal slaughter weight. Dr. Dan Loy, professor of animal science and director of the Iowa Beef Center, has some tips for cattlemen forced to hold cattle during plant slow downs a...

Many producers don’t know how to price their goods, especially among different points of sale. That’s why Will Jaquinde, sustainable agriculture instructor at Tollgate Farm and Education Center at Michigan State University, presented “Pricing Products for Different Markets” as a recent webinar. Farm...

As many farms are encountering labor shortages, the farm’s recruiting and hiring practice should receive closer scrutiny. Stan Moore, Michigan State University extension agent presented “Recruiting and Hiring Employees” as a recent webinar. Moore said whether a farm is large or small, following recr...

The sheep industry has an excess of wool. Larger farms – and some smaller ones, particularly if they aggregate their wool via a wool pool – sell on the commodity market, directly to a wool mill or warehouse. Smaller farms often sell specialty fiber and wool products directly to the consumer, as a va...

You may think of the trees on your farm as a good source of shade for pastured animals, sap for maple syrup production or perhaps as a long-term timber harvest; however, Steve Gabriel offered many more uses for trees in his presentation “Trees for Livestock Food and Medicine” hosted as a recent webi...

Farmers participating in the Foodshed Alliance’s Sustainable Agriculture Enterprises (SAgE) and some who would like to discuss their needs gathered in the Sussex County Freeholder’s meeting room earlier this year. Kendrya Close, executive director of the Foodshed Alliance, explained the alliance was...

You may process more animals than you did last year, but how can you know whether or not your operation is profitable? John Hendrickson and Jim Munsch from the University of Wisconsin-Madison presented “Livestock Compass: A Profit Management Tool for Livestock Producers” as a recent webinar hosted b...

A short season. Half a sap crop. Coronavirus. Social distancing. But the worst thing of all this spring for Lawrence “Larry” Rudd of Rudd’s Family Maple Syrup in Mannsville, NY, is not seeing family and friends. Rudd is a third generation maple producer. His grandfather Emery Rudd started the busine...

MORRISVILLE, NY – There’s an old saying: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” It aptly describes Ashley Marshall, Sarah Mazza, Kathleen Orth, Sammi Collins and Rebecca Werbela, who have been the driving fo...

Food hubs can provide producers with a means of moving more produce. Mariel Borgman, MSU Extension community food systems educator, recently presented “Food Hubs: A Distribution Solution.” Borgman explained the various tiers of the food system based on a bullseye, starting in the center with persona...

In the March 2020 issue of the NODPA (Northeast Organic Dairy Producers Alliance) News, Ed Maltby (NODPA’s executive director) answered the question: “How will organic production’s positive contribution to (abating) climate change be recognized?” Early in his answer, Maltby stated that organic produ...

Ed. Note: This article was first printed in Country Folks on Feb. 12, 2018. With some large slaughter facilities either closed or operating with minimal employees, more consumers are looking for locally raised beef and we felt republishing it would be beneficial to producers. Feeding bull calves and...