If the last forage harvest of the season didn’t yield well or livestock were left with poor quality grazing at the end of the season, it might be time to consider refurbishing. Dr. Katie Payne, applied forage systems specialist, Virginia Polytechnic University, suggested planning well in advance to ...

If you run any kind of agritourism operation this time of year, whether that be a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, a Halloween event or something else, you’re likely welcoming lots of folks to your farm who aren’t normally present. In addition, if you have a petting zoo or a barn full of livestock, it’s ...

A farmer who’s about to spend $250,000 on an implement or land does considerable homework before making such a purchase. Dr. John Goeser, nutritionist at Rock River Laboratory, wants farmers to also consider the investment they’ve made in corn for silage. “We don’t often think about it as such, but ...

Researchers and beekeepers alike have been sounding the alarm over the drastic decline in bee populations over the course of the past two decades. Randall Cass, an entomologist who has worked with the Iowa State University Extension Program for the past five years, spoke with Country Folks to discus...

Fifth-generation cattle farmer Liz Martin grew up on her family’s Ironstone Spring Farm in Lancaster County, PA, and learned about livestock as she helped on the farm. Martin’s father was in the poultry business and raised Angus cattle, many of which were sold to 4-H’ers. Martin recalled building th...

Assessing treatment options and using FAMACHA Internal parasites are the bane of anyone who raises sheep or goats. However, there are strategies to help producers manage parasites such as Haemonchus contortus (barberpole worm), which is responsible for major losses in the industry. Dr. Andrew Weaver...

It’s called back-breaking work for a reason. Farmers are no strangers to back pain. The National Institute of Health (NIH) reports that lower back disorders are among the most frequently diagnosed musculoskeletal problems suffered by farmers. A common cause of back pain in farmers is whole body vibr...

If your workplace relationships have grown strained and difficult, working with human resources personnel to resolve the conflict or changing jobs are two options to resolve the problem; however, these may not viable solutions for people working together on a family farm. PA Farm Link recently offer...

The Asian longhorned tick (ALT) is a newcomer to the U.S., and its presence has already caused significant damage to cattle. Blood-sucking ticks on the body are harmful enough, but the pathogens they transmit can be devastating. Denise Bonilla, USDA-APHIS entomologist, discussed the circumstances th...