Country Folks
Posted on April 8, 2026
Growing the size of the dairy herd means looking at what to do with the additional manure. These considerations can affect both the farm and the environment. Jason Karszes, Lainey Koval and Kirsten Workman, all with Cornell PRO-DAIRY, discussed “Acres, Cows & Nutrients: Financial & Environmental Con...
Country Folks
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant 
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, Dairy
by Sonja Heyck-Merlin 
June 17, 2026
“We want to identify what are the top management practices that explain the best milk quality in organic dairy farms,” said Carlos Nino de Guzman, a d...
Country Folks, Dairy
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant ommercial dairy herds are increasing both 
June 17, 2026
Commercial dairy herds are increasing both in profitable milk components and in overall yields. Does this mean cows should be challenged with more nut...
Country Folks
by Sonja Heyck-Merlin 
June 17, 2026
“The famous quote about food hubs is when you’ve seen one food hub, you’ve seen one food hub. They’re like snowflakes,” said Katelyn Porter of the New...
Country Folks, Dairy
by Sally Colby 
June 17, 2026
Mary, Javier and Lorrie handle moving cows and milking at Cool Beans Dairy. Mary attaches milking units immediately after wiping udders dry while Javi...