On Nov. 2, 2018, the National Angus Tour kicked off in Columbus, Ohio, as the opening event of the annual Angus Convention. Eager participants were treated to stops at the Certified Angus Beef Headquarters in Wooster, Ohio, and Claylick Run Farms in nearby Newark. This year marks the 40th anniversar...

If digging clods of soil from random paddocks in a grazing system provided a picture of soil health, is it worth the effort? When beef cattle farmers Margaret and Alan Jaymes converted their dairy and crop farm to a grazing operation, they received assistance from NRCS, USDA soil specialists and hav...

Beginning beef producers have more to consider than which breed to raise and developing a market strategy. Good handling facilities are a critical aspect of a successful beef operation and should be in place before the first animal arrives on the farm. Pennsylvania state beef extension specialist Dr...

It had been a few years shy of a decade since I had last seen and chatted with my old boss, Secretary of Agriculture Sam Hayes (R-PA). State Representative Mindy Fee holds a “farmers’ breakfast” twice a year, an occasion for her constituents to hear the state of Commonwealth and federal affairs by p...

It’s a “buyers market.” Are you thinking of expanding your herd? Or maybe buying into an existing farm that has just come on the market? You had better look twice. “I don’t want to hear anyone saying they didn’t know about this,” said Dr. Belinda Thompson, Cornell University College of Veterinary Me...

Though I had seen Yvonne Longenecker at the Keystone International Livestock Expo, and another ag event I can’t recall, I missed her coronation at last year’s dairy pageant. At KILE she caught me up on her likes and dislikes and educational ambitions. She’s a foodie! “I love food,” she said in no un...

Pregnancy checking is an important aspect of gauging reproductive efficiency in beef herds, and helps producers monitor and improve reproductive efficiency. “How many calves are weaned per cows exposed to the bull?” said Dr. Jessica Gordon, DVM. “If you’re pregnancy checking, you get a lot of inform...

A recent issue of the Financial Partner, a publication of Farm Credit East, summarized the research activities at some of the colleges of agriculture in its service area. Research has long been one of the major activities of these institutions but too often the work they do goes unrecognized. Gettin...

Farmers have a lot on their minds these days, from the day to day care of their animals and property to dealing with catastrophic weather events to fluctuating markets. It could be easy to forget to take care of one person – yourself. A persistent cough, squinting eyes or a toothache could be pushed...