Pesticide applicators know the label is the law, and the EPA’s recently released final insecticide strategy means there’s more to know. The plan identifies protection plans for federally endangered and threatened species from the use of insecticides while providing flexibility for growers. The EPA s...

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 –...

Barrita Shanks didn’t set out to become a beef maven, but when she fell for Jeff Shanks at his restaurant in Lima, NY, fate would have its way. For the 28 years since the couple decided to make a go of running Seven Bridges Farm, they’ve remained determined never to cut corners and to give their cow...

Bull or AI sire selection is one of the riskiest decisions made by beef producers, especially for small herds. Genomic testing can reduce risk and accelerate herd improvement. In a presentation for the Beef Reproduction Task Force, Dr. Troy Rowan, assistant professor, beef cattle genomics, Universit...

Part 3: Tick bite prevention Many have heard of the “red meat allergy” (alpha-gal syndrome – AGS), the result of a lone star tick bite. Sharon Forsyth, founder of Alpha-gal Alliance, provides information to help those who live in areas where there’s potential for contact with the lone star tick. As ...

Nitrogen (N) is very important for corn, as it’s needed for growth and reproduction. Nitrogen is a very dynamic component in the soil, changing between various forms, but plants can’t absorb or use all forms of N. Instead, they absorb inorganic N, primarily nitrate and ammonium. Renuka Mathur, Ph.D....

Hello, farm family! I’ve been thinking about the concept of “resistance” lately. Often, resistance has a negative connotation, such as when adolescents resist parental authority. Although resistance is inherently difficult, it can be one of your most powerful tools. Think about the plants you grow. ...

A Central New York fixture since the 1960s – both at their previous long-time location in Palatine Bridge and at their current offices in Canajoharie – Lee Newspapers Inc. shows no signs of letting off the gas pedal. Publishers of the regional commercial agricultural weekly Country Folks , the month...

That’s the title of Tom Kilcer’s June 2025 monthly newsletter, available at advancedagsys.com . Kilcer is a Certified Crop Advisor who served for 28 years as a field crops agent working for the Extension service in Columbia County, NY. He then managed the Cornell agronomy research farm in Valatie, N...