FLORIDA, NY — People have known for ages that a healthier and happier cow equates to better milk production and quality. However, even with this knowledge it can be easy to take the wrong steps toward cow comfort or push off improvements until a better time, which may or may not come. The truth is t...

FAIRLEE, VT – With millions of acres of pastureland and hay crops, the wise use and management of grasslands and forage systems to power the Northeast economy, regenerate agriculture, feed the populace and provide ecosystem services is immense. These humble sods contain opportunities to improve agri...

Labor continues to top farmers’ lists of operational challenges. Finding reliable labor and affording wages without sacrificing cow health is a critical issue. Health sensor monitoring technologies are one option dairy farmers have for streamlining human labor while still providing critical care for...

In 1960, minimum wage was $1/hour. Today, it’s $11.80/hour. Sixty years ago, farmland in New York’s Washington County sold for $75/acre. Conservative figures as of November 2019 estimate agricultural land in the area is valued close to $2,500/acre. Just 10 years ago, the average annual family health...

Stress studies in humans clearly show social environment stressors are among the most serious stressors we face. Factors such as a low socio-economic status or not having a good social support network can have a major impact on our health, and caregivers often experience social stress. Many aspects ...

To many, the term “spring lamb” has a positive ring to it – a hopeful term that signals the decline of winter, the approach of Easter and a time to get the peas planted. It marks the time of the year when traditional sheep operations are at the very peak of their activity. These farms must carefully...

As announced in January, Lee Newspapers Inc., publishers of Country Folks, Country Folks Grower and Country Editor, is now responsible for hosting Empire Farm Days (EFD). The show will take place at Rodman Lott & Son Farms in Seneca Falls, NY, July 29 – 31. “We came into Empire Farm Days because we ...

Dr. Steve Hendrick, DVM, says one of the most critical steps in reducing disease and loss in newborn calves is reducing dystocia. Hendrick cited a study that examined the causes of calf mortality, and said the main cause of death in stillborn calves was due to dystocia. Other causes of stillborn cal...

Whether a farmer or not, aches and pains creep up on us all. Very often, those maladies manifest as knee pain – and trying to work while one (or two) of your most important joints isn’t working correctly can cause serious problems. Ned Stoller, with Michigan AgrAbility and founder of Disability Work...

SYRACUSE, NY – At the annual New York State Agricultural Society meeting, it’s tradition to hear from the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner on the state of agriculture. “This is probably the best and one of the largest networking opportunities in the country. The opportunity to ...

There is a glimmer of hope for New York farmers still looking for clarification and expansion of a key part of the Farm Laborers Fair Practices Act. Thanks to a 30-day extension of a legal stay, the definitions for farm laborers will continue to be refined until at least Feb. 28. Brian Reeves of Ree...

Last year was a difficult year for farmers. That’s how David Fisher, president of New York Farm Bureau, kicked off the conference call on Jan. 29 to discuss their top priorities for the 2020 legislative session. That statement was essentially the bad news before the good news, however. The good news...

Parents seeking daycare and summertime educational enrichment crave more options for their children. That’s where farms seeking an additional revenue stream can offer day camping. But it takes some preparation before farmers can open their acres to eager young campers. Food Animal Concerns Trust pre...

It’s got some big advantages, but it’s not quite as simple as it might sound. Grazing multiple species of livestock together in the same pastures, either simultaneously or successively, requires an understanding of pasture growth, health and biology. It also requires a working knowledge of how each ...

WATERLOO, NY – Have you spotted waterhemp in your corn fields? Bryan Brown with New York State Integrated Pest Management wants more farmers to scout for the weed. Brown presented on waterhemp at the recent Corn Congress hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & F...