The Welsh pony breed itself is probably almost as old as the Romans’ somewhat unsuccessful entry into the British Isles. What we do know is that the Welsh Mountain pony flourished where it landed in the rough countryside and the mountains of Wales long before anyone thought that the fact was worth r...

Whether a dairy herd is large or small, ensuring milk quality is an important aspect of management. Dr. Frank Welcome, veterinarian with Quality Milk Production Services in Ithaca, NY, explained some of the factors that contribute to or hinder quality milk. “The regulatory agencies responsible for m...

“The dairy industry has been in trouble for many years and few outside of the industry and rural America know it,” acknowledged Robert Haefner. Haefner, who formerly held a seat on the New Hampshire House of Representatives, works with the Eastern Region of Council of State Government’s Agriculture ...

Penn State Extension Educator Andrew Frankenfield from Pennsylvania’s Montgomery County is a sixth generation farmer. Living in an area that continues to see development and changes to landscape use, Frankenfield wonders, like many people, “Why we are doing what we’re doing.” “Maybe,” he said, “ther...

George Washington, the “Father of Our Country,” was said to have had a nearly abnormal interest in growing hemp when he lived at Mount Vernon. In 1794, Washington visited a hemp mill in Lancaster County, PA’s Paradise village. He was looking for improved equipment to process the hemp he grew at his ...

LOUISA, VA – A long commute to work is not a foreign concept for many people today, as a lengthy car ride might be worth it for the right reason. Needing to do it as a farmer is a little tougher, as one can’t be as close to the living things they have to care for. Bruce Johnson, of Dragonfly Farms, ...

When John and Julie Mayer purchased farm acreage in Taneytown, MD, their plan was to develop it as a dairy. Although Julie had never milked a cow, she was willing to learn. John had helped on his grandfather’s Montgomery County, MD, dairy farm, and as a teen sought out local dairy farms where he cou...

by RD Vincent, author of the Donbridge Series Walking along the country roads of my parents’ farm, I decided to stop off at my grandmother’s house. I could see her pruning her peony bushes in the late summer sun. As I walked up to her yard, the house phone rang loudly, and she quickly dropped her sh...

Dairy cattle don’t have a reputation as being dangerous farm animals because they’re handled frequently and are usually placid. Despite their easy-going nature, dairy animals have the potential to seriously hurt or kill humans, so it’s important to understand how they perceive their surroundings and...