Crop Comments
Posted on October 15, 2025
On Sept. 8, much of Central New York received light frosts. Fearing that such might take place, I had covered my frost-sensitive crops with tarps. Doing so proved to be a wise idea, since, come dawn, the hood of our car showed a very thin layer of ice crystals. When those melted away, I removed the ...
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Sally Colby 
Posted on October 14, 2025
Farmers are always eager to learn about new farm technology, especially if it helps achieve production goals. One technology that’s garnering more interest is drones. Ephraim Riehl, Matthew Riehl and David Stolzfus, of RiehlWay Ag in New Holland, PA, discussed the use of drones at the annual Penn St...
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Laura Rodley 
Posted on October 14, 2025
The Big E has been providing fairground entertainment – and agritainment – for 109 years. Bridget Kelleher, assistant director of marketing, stated, “The Big E continues to be the leading showcase for commerce, agriculture and entertainment in the Northeast.” Each evening, fairgoers enjoyed a daily ...
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Enrico Villamaino 
Posted on October 8, 2025
A strong farm lease isn’t just a formality, it’s the foundation of a flourishing farming partnership. Whether you’re an experienced operator or a first-time farmer, a well-crafted lease prevents confusion and helps both parties stay on track. Here’s how to create a crystal-clear, ironclad lease that...
Crop Comments
jkarkwren 
Posted on October 8, 2025
The last few days of September, I saw early plantings of winter rye sprouting nicely in some Central New York counties. Happily, I see more corn growers planting autumn cover crops. The more productive title for these late season plantings is “winter forage,” a mindset which acknowledges that someth...
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Holly Devon 
Posted on October 1, 2025
Raising livestock takes some serious doing. Feeding, watering and minding troublesome animals makes for a long day’s work. When it’s over, who has the energy to sit down and sort through charts, graphs and economic trends to figure out how best to get your meat to market? Consider calling in the exp...
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Sonja Heyck-Merlin 
Posted on October 1, 2025
“Media coverage can bring significant attention and credibility to your farm, but it requires understanding what makes a story interesting, how to pitch it and how to maintain positive relationships with journalists,” said Molly McManus, agritourism and marketing coordinator at CCE Broome in New Yor...
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Laura Rodley 
Posted on October 1, 2025
Hiking, hunting, harvesting? Going for a walk in the woods? Riding your horse? Mowing your lawn? Picking apples? Beware of yellowjackets. “Historically, they always come out this time of year to feast on aster and goldenrod,” said Mary Wigmore, owner of Ashfield, MA-based Wigmore Forest Resource Man...
Crop Comments
jkarkwren 
Posted on October 1, 2025
On Sept. 18, Jim, an organic dairy farmer, called me to discuss possible corn silage toxicity issues that worried him. He milks about 70 cows in Genesee County (NY), and his farm is “regular” organic (not grass-fed). I’ve been advising him on his crop program for several years. He grows corn for sil...
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Sonja Heyck-Merlin 
September 24, 2025
According to Tim Terry, farm strategic planning specialist with Cornell University’s PRO-DAIRY , the calf hutch is still the gold standard for raising...
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Sonja Heyck-Merlin 
September 24, 2025
The Asian longhorn tick (ALHT), native to eastern Asia, was first found in the U.S. in 2017. In less than a decade, ALHT populations are thriving. Est...
Crop Comments
jkarkwren 
September 24, 2025
On the evening of March 15, 2025, a fairly serious electric storm hit central New York and much of the Northeast. The flash-to-bang time for the first...
News
Karl H. Kazaks 
October 1, 2025
LOWESVILLE, VA – Deer Creek Farm is a registered Simmental and SimAngus operation owned by Mark and Dana Campbell. Located in western Nelson County wi...