Grazing
New York has an excellent climate for pasture production - ample rainfall, fertile soils and moderate temperatures. Pasture plants include cool season grasses and legumes. Many dairy and livestock farms utilize pasture during the growing season with about 280,500 acres grazed. Fencing is an essential component to a grazing operation. These include high-tensile, woven wire, wood, and less frequently barbed wire. Water is an essential piece, too. Recommendations are for water in every paddock.
Dung Beetles in Pastures
Last Modified: June 15, 2020
Reducing the Risk of Compaction When Grazing Cover Crops
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: October 31, 2019
The benefits of cover crops have been known for many
years; one is remediating compaction.
Pricing Corn Silage -- Fall 2019
John Hanchar, Farm Business Management Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: September 13, 2019
- 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.
Deer Farming
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: December 3, 2018
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.
Financial Balancing Act Means Managing Risk is Essential
Joan Sinclair Petzen, Farm Business Management
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: September 19, 2018
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.
Stockpiling Pastures
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: July 10, 2018
Know a Better Pasture
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: February 20, 2018
Pasture is a great way to feed your livestock during the growing season.
Meet the Specialist, Nancy Glazier
Last Modified: February 20, 2018
Meet Small Farms Specialist Nancy Glazier as she works with Peter Lehning and John Lehning, new beef producers.
Improved Meat Marketing for Small Scale Farms in the Northeast
Last Modified: October 6, 2017
Part 1. Understand the customer and their needs: Developing marketing strategy.
Labeling Guideline on Documentation Needed to Substantiate Animal Raising Claims
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: September 8, 2017
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is the Agency in USDA with the responsibility for ensuring that the labeling of meat and poultry products is truthful and not misleading.
Creating an Optimal Promotional Strategy for your business
Last Modified: July 17, 2017
At some time or another, most businesses find themselves developing various types of promotions to stimulate sales. Promotions are rarely "one-off" occurrences rather they are a part of an overall company promotional strategy. Article by Debra Wood Perosio, Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University.
Decoding the Label: Know Your Beef Choices
Last Modified: May 10, 2017
Check out the newly released fact sheet on types of beef production practices.
Managing Spring Grass Growth and Selective Grazing
Last Modified: May 4, 2017
For most beef cattle farmers who are managing their pastures in a rotational grazing system two of the biggest spring challenges are the flush of rapid growth that will occur and selective grazing. OSU Wayne Co. extension educator Rory Lewandowski reviews some basic plant growth biology and grazing principles that may suggest some management strategies. Click here for the full article.
Forage Congress - Presentations
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: March 14, 2017
New to the NWNY Team's lineup this winter was Forage Congress at the Genesee River Restaurant and Reception Center in Mount Morris, NY.
This event covered timely topics recommended by the region's producers. The morning's session began with an overview of the cropping plan from the ground up, economics of high fiber digestibility, and new alfalfa varieties with quality grasses. The afternoon covered double cropping with winter triticale and options for properly storing silages.
HPAI Identified in Tennessee
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: March 7, 2017
Now is the time to be diligent with biosecurity with your poultry flock with HPAI identified in the US.
Economic Benefits from Utilizing Cover Crops as Forage
Last Modified: December 21, 2016
Planting cover crops, then grazing or harvesting them, is a practical way to effectively reduce nutrient pollution,
plus provide economic benefits to cattle owners. Project conducted by the Practical Farmers of Iowa.
Deer Worm in Small Ruminants
Last Modified: December 20, 2016
The purpose of this article is to familiarize goat and sheep farmers with 1) typical signs of deer worm infection and 2) potential treatments to discuss with your veterinarian. By Dr. tatiana Stanton, Cornell Univ. Small Ruminant Extension Specialist
Fall Forages
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: September 8, 2016
Fall is coming, whether or not you have all your hay crops needed for the winter.
Commissioner Urges Swine Owners to use Best Practices to Prevent Disease Spread
Last Modified: August 23, 2016
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball today urged swine owners in New York to take proactive steps to prevent the spread of Swine Brucellosis (SB).
Click here for more information.
Multispecies pastures show productivity, drought tolerant promise
Last Modified: July 28, 2016
R. Howard Skinner a physiological plant ecologist and member of the USDA-ARS-Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit. He's been looking into how to increase the amount of forage (grasses and plants that animals eat) pastures can grow.
Click here for the rest of the story.
Fall Feeding Decision Tools
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: July 22, 2016
Many farms in the Lake Plains and Finger Lakes Regions in New York have diminished forage supply for the feeding season we are about to enter. Drought conditions have challenged our production systems in 2016. Here are some tools to help with decision making.
Summer Annual Forage Options
Last Modified: July 13, 2016
This factsheet was developed for Northern New York, but still is relevant in our area.
Requirements for Selling Shell Eggs in New York State
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: July 7, 2016
The fact sheet is a great resource for the small egg producer.
Custom Machinery Rates
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: June 1, 2016
Trying to figure out how much to pay or charge for custom machinery operations? Check out the 2016 custom rate summaries from Pennsylvania.
Grazing Management: Toxic Plants
Last Modified: May 12, 2016
Annual forage crops grown in place of fallow can provide high-quality forage during key production periods and may help reduce soil erosion, suppress weeds, and increase soil nutrient profiles. Kansas State has put together this list.
Get Off to a Good Grazing Season Start!
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: April 12, 2016
The grazing season will soon be here. Start planning now for the grazing season, if you haven't already.
March is Frost Seeding Time!
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: February 16, 2016
March is usually a great time to add some legumes into your pastures or hayfields. It is a way to improve pastures without losing a production year.
Can value be added to Holstein bull calves?
Last Modified: December 9, 2015
With favorable market conditions, it can be profitable raising dairy beef.
Feeder Calf Pool Sale Set, December 16
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: December 9, 2015
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.
Welcome to MeatSuite!
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: November 10, 2015
MeatSuite.com is a free online directory of regional livestock farms selling meat in bulk quantities.
Cornell Bull Test Sign-up is Underway
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: October 5, 2015
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.
Conservation Reserve Program - Grasslands
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: August 7, 2015
The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands is part of the CRP program, a federally funded voluntary program that contracts with agricultural producers so that environmentally sensitive agricultural land is not farmed or ranched, but instead used for conservation benefits.
Cover Crop Options in 2015
Mike Stanyard, Team Leader and Field Crops & IPM Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: August 7, 2015
Winter grain harvest should be just about wrapped up. That leaves a lot of open ground out there to plant some cover crops. We also ended up with quite a few prevented planting corn and soybean acres this spring. Some of that ground will go into winter small grains like wheat, rye and barley this fall. If you do not grow winter grains in your rotation, it is a good opportunity to get that ground covered up. There is also an opportunity to grow some more forage acres. This wet growing season has not been stellar for corn production. Crops like sorghum, forage oats and triticale can help fill in some of those forage losses. The past couple of years have shown us that the first half of August has been the optimal planting window for success of most cover crops.
On a Farm Not So Near You: Tillamook, OR
Libby Eiholzer, Bilingual Dairy
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: March 19, 2015
Article from Ag Focus Newsletter: March, 2015
Apply Now for New Farmer Profit Teams
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: March 16, 2015
Do you need some decision support to improve profitability of the farm business after 3-9 years of running it? Farmers at this stage are often faced with critical decisions that determine the long-term viability of their operation.
Winterizing Your Grazing Facilities
Last Modified: December 3, 2014
Yes, grazing season is over. Here are tips from Rob DeClue, SWCD Chenango County on preparing your grazing system for winter.
Gov. Cuomo Announces New Farmer Grant
Last Modified: November 5, 2014
The New York State New Farmers Grant Fund was created to provide assistance to new and early stage farmers and encourage farming as a career path to sustain and grow agribusiness across New York State.
Cover Crops for Livestock Grazing
Last Modified: October 6, 2014
Penn State Extension Educator, Dave Hartman, writes soil conservation, nutrient sequestration, weed suppression, improved soil health, increased success with no-till, among others, are reasons why cover crop usage is increasing.
Pate Visit a Success!
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: September 30, 2014
The National Beef Quality Assurance program offered to assist with expenses to bring stockmanship expert Curt Pate to NY.
The Small Ruminant Toolbox
Last Modified: September 30, 2014
The Small Ruminant Toolbox includes many publications, presentations and other resources that will be helpful to small ruminant producers.
A Growing Opportunity for New York Angus Producers
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: September 10, 2014
A new marketing opportunity is available through Local Harvest to market Angus and Red Angus cattle.
Cornell All Forage Fed Bull Test, Year 3
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: August 14, 2014
Cornell All Forage Fed Bull Test is expanding for Year 3.
GrassSnap, New App for Monitoring Grasslands
Last Modified: August 14, 2014
GrassSnap makes checking grass as easy as checking salt or water!
USDA Helps New and Beginning Farmers
Last Modified: August 14, 2014
USDA continues its commitment to the future of agriculture by unveiling www.usda.gov/newfarmers, a one-stop shop for new and beginning farmers entering agriculture. It?s a practical, workable tool that will help farmers and ranchers of tomorrow tap into the range of USDA resources today. Featuring direct links to USDA programs and services, as well as case studies about how USDA support is being put to work to for America?s agriculture future, usda.gov/newfarmers is a welcome new resource.
It's Never Too Early to Begin Bull Development
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: July 29, 2014
I ran across some interesting journal articles working with the NY All Forage Fed Bull Test stressing the importance of good nutrition for bull development. It has been found that the first 2-6 months of age is a critical time period, an age that is usually overlooked. Significant herd improvements or declines can be made with the herd bull!
USDA Grass Fed Program For Small and Very Small (SVS) Producers
Last Modified: May 22, 2014
The USDA is now offering lower-cost verification for 2-year certification.
Converting Hay Prices to Haylage Values
Bill Verbeten, Field Crops
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: March 28, 2014
When farmers are trying to give a dollar value to haylage they often use local hay prices on a dry matter basis and adjust for the dry matter (or moisture content) of the haylage. Download this PDF for more information and and example of how to calculate haylage values off of dry hay prices.
2014 NY All Forage Fed Bull Test
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: March 18, 2014
Here is the information for the second year of the bull test.
Pasture Recordkeeping Tools
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: March 18, 2014
Graziers may find these tools useful for recordkeeping.
Marketing Beef Direct to Consumers
Last Modified: February 18, 2014
FAQs from Lynn Bliven, CE Allegany/Cattaraugus Counties.
Soil Sampling for Field Crops
Bill Verbeten, Field Crops
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: February 13, 2014
Not sure how to sample your soil? Download this Cornell Agronomy Fact Sheet. More Agronomy Fact Sheets are available at the Cornell Nutrient Management Spear Program website.
Alfalfa Management Guide
Bill Verbeten, Field Crops
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: February 7, 2014
Have a question about growing alfalfa? You will probably find the answer in "The Alfalfa Management Guide". This is a must have reference for anyone working with "the queen of forages".
Getting the Most Out of Your Manure Presentation
Bill Verbeten, Field Crops
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: January 23, 2014
There are many practical, cost-effective manure management practices can be adopted on farms of all sizes.
Apps for Ag
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: December 20, 2013
List of some apps for smartphone users.
Annual Farm Business Summary and Analysis Season Is Right Around The Corner
John Hanchar, Farm Business Management Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: December 2, 2013
- Sound financial planning and control are keys to successfully managing agricultural risks.
- The next few months present good opportunities to evaluate your business' financial management practices.
- The NWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program has the capacity to work with a variety producers as they seek to improve their business' financial management practices.
2014 NRCS EQIP Sign-up
Bill Verbeten, Field Crops
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: November 4, 2013
For more information about 2014 EQIP applications download these PDFs.
Dairy Farm Business Summary: Intensive Grazing Farms New York 2011
Joan Sinclair Petzen, Farm Business Management
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: July 1, 2013
Summary and analysis of performance of twenty-eight New York Farms that indicated they graze dairy cows at least three months, moving to a fresh paddock at least every three days and more than 30 percent of the forage consumed during the growing season was from grazing. These farms were neither organic nor first year grazers. Grazing farms are compared to 58 "Non-Graziers" with similar herd size to the 28 grazing farms.
FISA - A complete set of financial statements for agriculture
Joan Sinclair Petzen, Farm Business Management
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: July 1, 2013
This is an Excel 5.0 spreadsheet for calculating financial statements for agriculture. It includes a beginning of year (end of last year) balance sheet, end of year (end of this year) balance sheet, income statement, statement of owner equity, statement of cash flows and ratio analysis. The program is designed to allow single entry of data, it automatically does the transposition of data from one statement to the next and does nearly all the calculations. These statements are designed to be consistent with the recommendations of the Farm Financial Standards Council (FFSC). Thus, the statements include deferred taxes, base values for raised breeding livestock, the "sweet sixteen" financial ratios and the other characteristics embedded in the FFSC guidelines. The statements are intended for use with any type of farm business. Space is allowed for nonfarm assets and income because they are often important to lenders and others using the statements. However, the farm business part of the statement is separate from the non-farm section so that nonfarm assets can be ignored if desired. Each of the four basic financial statements is presented on one page with detailed information on supporting schedules. Thus, the summary financial performance and position of a business can be found on five sheets of paper (including two balance sheets).
Grazing at Grassland Dairy
John Hanchar, Farm Business Management Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: July 1, 2013
Grazing at Grassland Dairy discusses the decision making rational for a start-up dairy to choose the organic production model.
Grazing Management Pays Net Profit, Even On Small Farms
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: June 27, 2013
Pasture in poor condition can support cattle and sometimes make a profit but that doesn't mean better pasture isn't better.
Those Pesky Pasture Flies! Take the Integrated Approach to Control
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: June 27, 2013
Livestock pests can be more than pesky.
Winter Grazing - A Better Way to Feed
Bill Verbeten, Field Crops
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: June 14, 2013
Want to reduce the hay and silage fed overwinter? Consider stockpiling your pastures in July/August.
How Do I Find Alternative Water on My Farm?
Nancy Glazier, Small Farms & Livestock Specialist
Northwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops
Last Modified: March 1, 2013
"Water, water, everywhere, And all the boards did shrink.
Water, water everywhere, Nor any drop to drink."
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May 3, 2024
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