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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

“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...

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...

Hello, farm family! Are you farming out of scarcity or abundance? I’m not talking about the balance in your bank account, the number of people on your payroll or even the pounds of product you sold this week. I’m talking about your mindset. The Scarcity Mindset A scarcity mindset starts from the pre...

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...