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...

It’s not a lightsaber, but it’s close. John Winchell of Alltech Global Technical Support Expert uses a handheld NIR infrared mobile technology sensor to measure when dairy farmers should harvest their corn silage. Like many superheroes, he lives in New York but travels round the world, assisting dai...

The 158th Cummington Fair drew good crowds, eager to get out in the splendid early autumn weather. Since 2018, Albert Judd of the family-run Goshen Stone Company in Goshen, MA, has been president of the Hillside Agricultural Society, which organizes Cummington Fair in Cummington, MA. Folks of all ag...

Ever wonder why it is sometimes possible to pull up mature corn plants with very little effort? In such cases, the majority of roots are in the top three inches. Soil testing – to maximize the efficiency of fertilizer inputs – often reveals soil’s physical limitations when probes hit compacted layer...

A farm bonfire has a certain magic. Hayrides roll in from the fields, boots crunch across the ground and a crackling blaze gives families a warm place to gather as the evening cools. For farms offering agritourism events, that combination can turn a simple autumn night into a memorable experience. B...

Hiring seasonal employees challenges many farm operators as many aspects of the hiring process and other human resources matters differ from that of non-seasonal employees. Farm consultant Erica Leubner recently presented a “Seasonal Employees” webinar, hosted by Cornell as part of New York’s Annie’...

David Liu is a rising senior at Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH, and he’s on a mission to share knowledge about the risks and threats of microplastics in agriculture. He shared his research during a recent presentation for NOFA/Mass . The EPA defines microplastics as plastic particles ranging ...

Throughout spring, the white or light pink, funnel-shaped flowers of wild morning glory graced many roadsides in the Northeast. With help from UConn Cooperative Extension, I’m able to provide information on this pretty flower. The scientific name is Convulvulus sepium (“of hedges” or “of fences”), e...