Country Folks
Posted on April 8, 2026
Like any farmer, soybean growers want to raise more to get ahead. Horst Bohner, soybean specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, said it’s possible to increase yields based upon past innovations, as no-till systems and Roundup Ready seeds fueled growth at a time whe...
Country Folks, Crop Comments
Crop Comments
Crop Comments A13 
Posted on April 8, 2026
In March 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Health Organization) pronounced judgment against the herbicide ingredient glyphosate. IARC said that glyphosate “probably causes cancer in humans.” Most of the pillars in the ag chemical community opposed that declarat...
Country Folks
by Sally Colby 
Posted on April 1, 2026
Water is often referred to as the most important nutrient. Providing beef cattle with clear and odorless water is a good first step in meeting nutritional requirements, but looks can be deceiving. In a recent presentation, Cheryl Waldner, DVM, Beef Cattle Council, Western College of Veterinary Medic...
Country Folks
by Sonja Heyck-Merlin 
Posted on April 1, 2026
Maine has emerged as a national leader in researching and responding to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in agricultural land. While PFAS contamination has impacted dozens of Maine farms, even causing some to permanently cease operations, Duncan Pfaehler, a senior planner wit...
Country Folks
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant 
Posted on April 1, 2026
Getting ready for the planting season can feel like going to war against weeds, pests and crop diseases. To help farmers gear up for battle, Matt Pinckney, Syngenta retail representative, presented “Maximizing Corn & Soybean Yields” at the recent A.N. Martin Open House. Based in Clyde, NY, A.N. Mart...
Country Folks
POULTRY Healthy poop, healthy birds
by Sally Colby 
Posted on April 1, 2026
There’s a lot to learn from looking at what comes out of the back end of poultry after digestion is complete. University of Maryland Eastern Shore Poultry Specialist Jennifer Timmons, Ph.D., shared insight to guide poultry owners on what to look for in droppings to maintain good flock health. Chicke...
Country Folks
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant 
Posted on April 1, 2026
Farmers are much more likely to be found in the field than in the halls of Congress. That’s why industry advocates are vital to influencing legislation, raising awareness of ag concerns to lawmakers and helping farmers better understand how new legislation can affect their operations. At the recent ...
Country Folks, Farmers First
Posted on April 1, 2026
Hello, farm family! Have you ever walked by a weedy bench and thought, “I’ll just pull a few weeds,” only to realize you then worked for over an hour? Me too. The positive side of that is that I got lots of weeds pulled rather than just a few. The drawback is I now have less time to do the other thi...
Country Folks, Crop Comments
Crop
Posted on April 1, 2026
According to the American Meteorological Society’s Glossary, “Spring snow, also called corn snow or granular snow, is a coarse granular, wet snow, resembling finely chopped melted ice.” Wet snow falling on tall, sturdy trees can break branches; the problem is even worse on immature trees. With lanky...
Country Folks
by Sonja Heyck-Merlin 
April 22, 2026
According to Alyssa Dietrich Warner, it’s commonly recommended to feed a newborn calf a minimum of four liters of colostrum at the first feeding. Some...
Country Folks
by Ben Simons 
April 22, 2026
On March 28 and 29, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School FFA Chapter celebrated a longstanding tradition with Oneida County’s official maple weekend cer...
Country Folks
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant 
April 22, 2026
As a matter of economy, Francisco Leal Yepes, DVM, Ph.D., and assistant professor of ambulatory and production medicine in Cornell’s College of Veteri...
Country Folks
by Sally Colby 
April 22, 2026
Any time between giving birth through weaning or dry-off is the ideal time for ewes or does to develop mastitis. The cost of mastitis is significant d...
