Working Paper

Achieving Improved Soil Health Outcomes While Maintaining or Improving Economic Viability: Case Study of a Dairy Farm Business in the Genesee River Watershed, New York

John Hanchar, Cornell University/College of Agric. & Life Sciences/CCE/Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program
Aaron Ristow, American Farmland Trust

Summary

• The owners and primary operators of the Mulligan Farm, a dairy farm business in the Genesee River Watershed of New York, like many farm business owners today, seek to achieve improved soil health and related outcomes while maintaining or improving economic performance.
• The Mulligan Farm has successfully planned and implemented numerous cropping system changes designed to achieve improved soil health and related results.
• Economic analysis suggests that successful implementation of soil health improving practices coincided with improved economic performance.

Costs of Production Analysis, Industrial Hemp, NYS, 2017

• Variable costs of production estimates for 2017 are $282, $268, and $269 per acre for industrial hemp for fiber only, fiber and seed, and seed only, respectively
• Fixed costs of production estimates for 2017 are $145, $183, and $160 per acre for industrial hemp for fiber only, fiber and seed, and seed only, respectively
• Total costs of production estimates for 2017 are $427, $451, and $429 per acre for industrial hemp for fiber only, fiber and seed, and seed only, respectively

Pasture is a great way to feed your livestock during the growing season. 

Meet Small Farms Specialist Nancy Glazier as she works with Peter Lehning and John Lehning, new beef producers. 

Part 1. Understand the customer and their needs: Developing marketing strategy.

Knowing when an animal is ready for 'finish' or 'slaughter' is extremely important for getting a premium price and satisfying the unique needs of your customers. The Cornell Small Farms Program and the Baskets to Pallets project are pleased to announce a new educational video for livestock producers titled, "Determining the Market Readiness of Beef Cattle". Mike Baker, Cornell Beef Cattle Extension Specialist, takes the viewer on a visual tour of features to assess of both finished and unfinished steers and heifers, including beef breeds and dairy crosses. The video will be an excellent resource for livestock farmers and educators alike. Special thanks to Mike Baker and Lynn Bliven of Allegany County Cornell Cooperative Extension. 

With favorable market conditions, it can be profitable raising dairy beef. 

Two groups of producers, one in central NY and another in northern NY have come together to market their cattle cooperatively in hopes of building a reputation which over time will increase price of their feeder cattle.

Cornell All Forage Fed Bull Test is looking for a few good bulls. This will be the fourth year of the stored feed test; a new addition is an optional 84-day pasture component. 

Tune in as the NWNY Teams' Extension agronomists put on their GoPro cameras and head to the field.

Considering varying your corn or soybean populations? Curious about multiple hybrid planters and planting two corn or soybean varieties in the same field? Maybe you're trying to decide between a planter with hydraulic or air bag down force pressure? If so check out this AgFocus Newsletter article from April of 2015.

On Sunday February 15th, 2015 the FAA released it's proposed rules for commercial unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly called drones, for public comment for 60 days. A summary can be found in the PDF below.