Farmers First
Posted on May 7, 2025
Hello, farm family! I know you’ve been there. You run into a fellow farmer at the hardware store or the local diner. You exchange comments about the weather, tariffs and the family. Then, you notice that something is off. It might be something explicit. A catch in his voice. A tear in her eye. A sta...
Crop Comments
jkarkwren 
Posted on May 7, 2025
During 63 months as an agronomy/livestock Extension agent in Central New York, I learned the “correct” term for winter small grains planted in early autumn: cover crops. After leaving Extension for a career in ag sales in 1978, I continued referring to such crops as cover crops. Then I began resurre...
News
Sally Colby 
Posted on April 30, 2025
Organic agriculture is a vital aspect of the ag sector’s bottom line, and the industry is working to ensure continued efficiency. Scott Rice, senior director of regulatory affairs for the Organic Trade Association (OTA), described updates to the organic rule at the recent USDA Ag Outlook Forum. “ St...
News
Andy Haman 
Posted on April 30, 2025
“Many farmers tend to invest in assets instead of showing or paying themselves wages, utilizing the tax code to reflect as little taxable income as possible – but they run the risk of not qualifying for retirement benefits,” Jodi Gauker, business development Extension educator with Penn State Extens...
Crop Comments
jkarkwren 
Posted on April 30, 2025
According to Katelyn Miller, Western New York field crops and forage specialist, a relatively new disease threatens NY corn production – tar spot. This plant disease originated in Central America and was first reported in the U.S. in 2015. The first significant yield-reducing tar spot event was obse...
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Gardening Farming, Lifestyle
Laura Rodley 
September 23, 2025
Hiking, hunting, harvesting? Going for a walk in the woods? Riding your horse? Mowing your lawn? Picking apples? Beware of yellowjackets. “Historicall...
Events, Lifestyle
January 22, 2025
Salt prematurely ages roads and bridges and degrades freshwater lakes, streams and drinking water. Just a teaspoon of salt permanently pollutes five g...
Lifestyle
February 5, 2025
Efforts to revive small business sectors have helped countless communities regain their prosperity and sense of community pride. Those efforts have be...
Gardening Farming
February 3, 2025
The middle of winter, with snow covering brick-hard, frozen ground may seem like an odd time to plan a new garden bed, but it’s the best time. If you ...