Food Scraps Post-Workshop Resources - Learn more about the Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Act.

Handling cattle safely is a must for any livestock farm. Here are two resources to help design a handling system, plus one on the principles of low stress handling.   

Sound financial planning and control improve owner's abilities to manage their businesses during unfavorable economic conditions.  Consider the current environment affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lack of rain in many areas.  Budgeting is a valuable farm financial management practice for these situations.  Visit (Brandie, please insert link here) to learn more about budgeting and its value in managing your farm business.

Dung Beetles Aid in Reducing Flies and Gastrointestinal Parasites in Pastures

Markets are still unsteady for fed cattle. Questions have come in regarding how to slow growth. Here is the link to some guidance from University of Wisconsin/Iowa State Extension. 

The benefits of cover crops have been known for many

years; one is remediating compaction. 

• Analysis suggests corn silage price depends on corn silage quantities, alfalfa hay price, the price received by farmers for milk, and corn grain price.
• Analysis for NY suggests that estimated corn silage price is most sensitive to corn silage quantities, alfalfa hay price and corn grain price.
• Price estimates combined with understanding of relevant supply and demand factors from an individual farm business owner's perspective can aid decision making regarding corn silage price.  Given recently available alfalfa hay and corn grain prices (May through July, 2019, and August 27, 2019, respectively), price analysis for NY suggests an estimated corn silage price of about $45 per ton.  The Fall 2018 estimate was about $41 per ton.

Decision making for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) Program benefits from the availability of two recent webinars.

Winter is a challenging time to feed the beef herd. Mud, cold and snow or rain can stress your cows and increase their nutritional needs. How do you know if you are meeting the needs of your herd?

Cervid production is a $3 billion industry in the US. There are many opportunities for farms to raise deer, but proper care and health management is critical. 

The present long-term downturn in commodity prices brings with it increased financial pressure on farm operations.  Alternatives for managing risk are continually evolving.  For many in agriculture, and particularly dairy, self-insurance has been the go-to method of risk management.  Two new tools, the USDA Market Facilitation Program (MFP) and Dairy Revenue Protection Insurance (DRP) are coming on line and a third, Rainfall Index - Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (RI-PRF) merits serious consideration.

NYS Department of Ag and Markets has posted guidelines on disposal of livestock carcasses, in response to reports that some rendering companies have halted pickups from farms.