Country Folks
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...
Country Folks
by Deborah Jeanne Sergeant 
Posted on February 25, 2026
It can be very hard to sometimes predict what the effect of the cover crop will be on nitrogen requirements for the next corn crop,” said Charlie White, a Penn State associate professor and Extension specialist in soil fertility and nutrient management. Pennsylvania corn growers facing this conundru...
Country Folks
Crop Comments
Posted on February 25, 2026
Fertilizer burn is seedling injury caused by high concentrations of salt, nitrogen or ammonia in fertilizer applied too close to the seed or in-furrow. This causes dehydration, yellowing, stunted growth and delayed maturity. Nature boasts two ways for getting rid of surplus moisture. The most common...
Lifestyle
Courtney Llewellyn 
May 6, 2026
Golf attracts millions of enthusiasts every year. According to the USGA 2025 Golf Scorecard, a record 82 million rounds were posted in 2025, marking a...
Gardening Farming
Courtney Llewellyn 
May 4, 2026
Trees are very important to our world. They help with landscape aesthetics, shade, food production, wildlife habitat and much more. Now is a great tim...
Events
Courtney Llewellyn 
May 2, 2026
The Adirondack Railroad Beer & Wine Trains are getting ready to roll in for a new season. In addition to the Utica Beer & Wine Train, two new offering...
Lifestyle
Courtney Llewellyn 
April 30, 2026
Great nature photography doesn’t start with expensive gear – it starts with paying better attention. In just 15 minutes, you can train your eye, sharp...