Country Folks
Posted on March 25, 2026
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) isn’t the primary news story today, but the virus is here to stay. Veterinarian Eric Gingerich, technical services specialist, Diamond V/Cargill, promotes biosecurity, but he’s hoping for vaccine approval. Gingerich recently provided an HPAI review and an upd...
Country Folks
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant 
Posted on March 25, 2026
A panel of both new and wizened farmers kicked off the recent New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association 2026 Winter Expo, discussing soil health to farm survival strategies. David Whitaker and Corey Hillebo with the “Farm4Profit” podcast based in Slater, Iowa, formed the panel with Tom Corcoran, k...
Country Folks
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant 
Posted on March 25, 2026
Can AI help your farm’s workforce development? Wolfgang Heuweiser, DVM, Ph.D., professor and director of Quality Milk Production Services in the Department of Population Medicine & Diagnostic Sciences in Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine, presented on the topic as part of Cornell’s “Boots in ...
Country Folks
by Sally Colby Think A8 
Posted on March 25, 2026
In a presentation hosted by Bal Chem, Andrew Rose of the nonprofit organization Bioeconomy Information Sharing & Analysis Center (BIO-ISAC), discussed a critical and timely question: Could your operation survive a cyberattack? Rose refers to himself as an “accidental expert” in cybersecurity. He was...
Country Folks
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant 
Posted on March 25, 2026
What can you expect in the market for 2026? Mike Meisenzahl, representing Clover Ag Risk Management in Honeoye Falls, NY, presented a snapshot of the ag markets and recent farm-related legislation at the New York Corn & Soybean Growers Association Winter Expo. “Every analyst is probably saying that ...
Country Folks, Crop Comments
Crop Comments
Crop Comments B6 cale, which is shorter and denser than rye, and can be expected to produce superior crude protein while still standing. 
Posted on March 25, 2026
There are five days left of winter as I’m writing this column. Winter has been colder than normal for most of the Northeast, a fact reflected in our electric bill and fuel oil consumption. Utica’s official snowfall has been about a third higher than normal, a claim which our village of Hartwick (35 ...
News
Courtney Llewellyn 
Posted on March 23, 2026
In time for National Ag Day on March 24, the nonprofit Rural Minds announces the launch of the new Farmer Mental Health Resilience Program in support of mental wellness for farmers and farm families. This critical new initiative aims to support the ag community by providing farmers and the individua...
Country Folks
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant 
Posted on March 18, 2026
The first few weeks of a heifer’s life matter – a lot. Adam Beard, Ph.D. with Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, presented “Early Calf Management: Key Influence on Heifer Development” as part of Cornell’s ongoing “Boots in the Barn” webinar series. Beard discussed the developmental...
Country Folks
by Andy Haman 
Posted on March 18, 2026
“Did you know Cornell Cooperative Extension has an entire team dedicated to agritourism operational assistance and advocacy?” Laura Biasillo with the CCE Agritourism Work Team led a Q&A session for producers at the 2026 Ag Solutions & Networking Expo, which took place at SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech in...
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...
