Part 4: Personal stories Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), often dubbed the “red meat allergy,” is a life-changing reaction to a particular sugar resulting from the bite of a lone star tick. Many farmers, including some who told their stories during a presentation on AGS, have been affected by this syndrome...

Regarding the “correct” seeding rate for sorghum and/or sudangrass, old-timers typically recommended 15 – 20 lbs. of seed/acre (or one bag for three acres). At this rate, seed drop/acre ran about 225,000. This means slightly less than one inch between plants on 30-inch rows. Advocates for this pract...

Steve Hopkins has spent his life immersed in agriculture – as a producer, educator and leader. Over three decades as a Virginia Cooperative Extension agent, he helped farmers across the state improve profitability, adopt new practices and grow their operations all while steadily expanding his own fa...

Farmers are familiar with AI as the abbreviation for artificial insemination or avian influenza, and many know it also stands for artificial intelligence. Alexis Stevens, farm management specialist with Iowa State University, said there are more than 36,000 AI tools available today – and the number ...

Soil fumigants are pesticides that, when applied to soils, form gases to control pests which, if unchecked, disrupt plant growth and crop production. Fumigation suppresses weeds and soilborne plant pathogens in crops like potatoes, onions, sugar beets, tomatoes, mint, carrots and strawberries. Chemi...

Christina Dodge provided some simple yet effective tips for building a motivated and committed workplace team. Dodge is a Maine Small Business Development Center business advisor. “The power of motivation is that motivation drives results and that shows up in increased productivity, better customer ...

Dr. Jeffrey Bewley admits his first impression of compost bedded pack barns for dairy cows wasn’t favorable. He was concerned about animals laying on manure, impacts on milk quality and mastitis potential. Bewley, who serves as executive director, Innovation and Genetics, Holstein Association USA, p...

Manure is making a comeback, not just as a nutrient source but as a long-term investment in soil health, crop yields and fertilizer savings. New data from Cornell University’s Nutrient Management Spear Program (NMSP) and PRO-DAIRY confirm what many farmers have long suspected: manure’s magic doesn’t...

There’s general concern among doctors that as we age, our bodies become less efficient at regulating temperature. This puts such people at greater risk of heat illness. To avoid such problems, health professionals recommend that aging folks in hot weather drink plenty of water before going outside –...