What’s the number one challenge every farmer faces? Ask this question of a group of farmers, and a few nominees will likely rise to the top: weather, regulations and everyone’s favorite, money – particularly the lack of it. So which of these do I think is number one? None of them. I won’t deny that ...

When operations consider making cheese from their milk and they weigh everything that comes with it – adding a creamery or the necessary facilities, finding a market niche – it’s tempting to stick to what is known: cheddars, jack cheeses, Swisses. However, a recent Penn State Extension webinar moder...

Sometimes Olivia Jennrich is dressed in barn attire. Sometimes her choice is casual clothes for a college class. She also wears a tiara. Jennrich was raised in Jefferson, WI, and although she didn’t grow up on a farm, she spent a lot of time on her grandparents’ dairy farm. “My grandparents, along w...

Imagine a guest at your winery breaks an ankle on uneven ground. Or a severe thunderstorm rolls in during an evening corn maze. Or a foodborne illness concern is reported on social media. Stacey Stearns, a communications specialist for UConn Extension, wants agritourism operations to have an emergen...

Let’s go back to late February 2026, when we saw military action between Iran and the U.S. Transportation of Middle East crude oil, through the Strait of Hormuz, was becoming very sluggish. Artificially reduced crude oil supply, destined for the U.S., forced oil prices past $100/barrel in early Marc...

When you pass away, what happens to the farm? If you simply think “the kids” will figure it out with ease after you pass, you’re dead wrong. USDA Census reports indicate that about 70% of family farms will change hands within the next 20 years, but of those, only 30% will remain in the family. The t...

At a presentation sponsored by the National Agricultural Law Center , lawyer Audry Thompson from the Penn State Center for Agricultural & Shale Law discussed the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations for minors employed on farms. Passed in 1938, the FLSA established federal minimum standards f...

In horse racing, the final stretch is the last straightaway of the track leading to the finish line. I like to compare growing seasons to horse races. Much of the corn in the Northeast has been affected by drought, suffering lower starch build-up levels due to less water during July. But, of late, m...

The annual Hoover Manure Expo held this summer in Chambersburg, PA, featured a panel of manure handlers who discussed in-season manure application as well as challenges with winter spreading. Eric Rosenbaum, Rosetree Consulting , moderated a panel that included dairy farmers Eric Hoover, Anthony Mar...