Country Folks
Posted on March 4, 2026
Influenza A virus continues to challenge pork production. It mutates. It reassorts. It exploits management gaps and thrives on opportunity. New field data now show that everyday barn level decisions directly influence how genetically diverse and complex this virus becomes inside a herd. The data cit...
Country Folks
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant 
Posted on March 4, 2026
Effective weed control strategies can help farmers facing invasive weeds that are resistant to conventional application of glyphosate. Vipan Kumar, Ph.D., Extension weed management specialist for Cornell’s College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, presented on the topic at the annual Corn Congress. “P...
Country Folks
by Enrico Villamaino 
Posted on March 4, 2026
Sweet sap seasons are sacred in the sugarbush. Yet a speckled sapsucker is stirring stress among syrup producers. The spotted lanternfly (SLF), first detected in Pennsylvania in 2014, has spread swiftly and is now established in at least 19 other states. This invasive Asian planthopper prefers tree-...
Country Folks, Crop Comments
Crop Comments
Crop Comments B3 
Posted on March 4, 2026
Corn was originally a tropical grass from high elevation areas of central Mexico (about 7,400 feet above sea level). Today, corn still prefers conditions typical of that area – warm daytime temperatures and cool nights. Areas that consistently produce high corn yields share some significant characte...
Country Folks
Posted on March 4, 2026
Hello, farm family! Have you noticed extra stress in your on- and off-farm relationships lately? Perhaps you find yourself: • Avoiding “hot topics” with customers (or even family and friends) • Feeling uncomfortable in family get-togethers • Wrestling over how “personal” or “political” to get in soc...
News
Courtney Llewellyn 
Posted on February 25, 2026
A recent shift toward more restrictive weed control measures along with new, mandatory pesticide application rules has been mandated by the EPA. Wesley Everman, Ph.D., Iowa State Extension weed specialist, began an explanation of the rule changes with a brief history of what brought the EPA to devel...
Country Folks
Beef industry B13 
Posted on February 25, 2026
The Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show’s (ERJAS) 2026 event, “Fallin’ for Angus in the Empire State,” will take place June 18 - 21 in Hamburg, NY, at the Erie County Fairgrounds. ERJAS is the second largest show of the National Junior Angus Shows. It rotates around the eastern U.S. annually to allow...
Country Folks
by Andy Haman 
Posted on February 25, 2026
Multiple streams of income can bring financial success for any business owner. Agriculture is no different. Evolution is important if you want to “stay in the game.” However, a game plan is vital for those who wish to do so. Diversification can be driven by several factors, says Penn State Extension...
Country Folks
by Sally Colby 
Posted on February 25, 2026
The largest rodent in North America is the beaver. It lives in nearly all 50 states, and it’s the official mammal of New York State. Their strong jaws allow them to decimate trees quickly, and just one animal can chew down several hundred trees every year. Beaver dams flood farmland, timber and road...
Gardening Farming
Courtney Llewellyn 
March 18, 2026
Humans have been sharing seeds and stories that go along with them for over 10,000 years. Hosting a seed swap in your community can be a fun way to he...
Lifestyle
Andy Haman 
March 17, 2026
A number of factors are involved in keeping a vehicle functioning and looking good. Ensuring a vehicle interior is clean and tidy is easily overlooked...
Lifestyle
Andy Haman 
March 15, 2026
Hobbies provide an opportunity to learn new skills, meet people, earn a little extra money, and keep minds sharp. Peruse the aisles of a home improvem...
Events
Courtney Llewellyn 
March 13, 2026
Though this writer brings almost 100% Old World genetics to the table, sadly, that doesn’t include any ancestors from the Emerald Isle. Still, St. Pat...