From 1985 to 1992, ABC aired a detective show, “MacGyver,” which followed the adventures of Angus MacGyver, a secret agent armed with remarkable scientific skills, solving problems in the field using any materials at hand. The episode I liked best featured MacGyver hunkered down in a swamp, trying t...

Dr. Troy Rowan, assistant professor, beef cattle genomics, University of Tennessee, realizes cattlemen may not see the value of genomic testing for commercial heifers, but he offers solid information on why it’s worthwhile. “Traditional heifer selection strategy has been to buy good bulls, use commo...

As an undergraduate at Cornell during the mid-1960s, I took a course titled “Marketing of Agricultural Products.” The textbook for the course bore the same name, co-authored by Max Brunk and Lawrence Darrah. When I took the course, Darrah was the instructing professor, and I paid $4.50 for a used co...

The Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI), a subcontractor to the beef checkoff, was proud to be involved as a collaborator for Virginia Beef Cattle University, which took place July 21 – 23 at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. As part of its mission to strengthen beef demand and trust in the N...

Once upon a time, the phrase “shameless self-promotion” was seen only in a negative light. These days, talking about yourself – through the lens of your farming operation – may be the best way to promote your business and your way of life. Speaking candidly about their advocacy in action at the most...

A recent call among veterinarians and entomologists regarding the New World screwworm (NWS) delved deep into this potential agricultural threat. After a May shutdown of cattle movement, USDA announced a risk-based port reopening plan for July. It was short-lived when authorities discovered NWS was m...

The record wildfires of 2023 (compliments of our neighbor to the North) started gaining momentum in March of that year. Their intensity increased, starting in June, but Canada had been affected by an ongoing, record-setting series of wildfires. As the worst wildfire season in recorded Canadian and N...

AMELIA COURT HOUSE, VA – In our current world of reusable rockets and flying taxis, the dairy industry may to outsiders seem to be a remnant of bygone eras. But any dairyman can tell you that they’ve only been able to survive by adapting to change. Take Oakmulgee Dairy as an example. Virginia’s olde...

The concept of soil health is all about enriching your soil. Jamie Garzon, the assistant Extension professor and forage educator at UMaine, defines soil health as “the soil’s continued capacity to function as a vital living ecosystem.” Maintaining healthy soil can lead to increased plant growth, qua...