Computer-based forage inventory calculators are excellent tools, but a good ol' pen and pad of paper can help you achieve the same result. This article walks you through calculating a forage inventory step-by-step, while also providing an example to follow along with.

By Jason Karszes

On more and more dairy farms every year, employees play integral roles in day-to-day operations, decision making, and problem solving. In these roles, ideas for changes to operations and for capital investments are generated. While these ideas might be quite important to the middle manager for their area, across the farm other opportunities in support of the overall priorities and mission of the farm also need to be considered. 

Proposing change to the leadership of the farm, or as part of the leadership team, is typically an essential step to improve farm operations. Developing proposals in support of the change can help with identifying all the potential risks and returns and decision-making by the senior management team.  Several key areas to address in the proposal are laid out below. 

Our team is looking for farms that are either using or looking to transition dairy barns into hog facilities. We will provide a one-on-one consultation about the renovations that you've done or are planning to do, and we'll record footage that will go into a series of educational videos for producers.  

Making baleage is an alternative to dry hay, especially when labor is limited or there aren't enough rain-free days to get dry hay down to the proper moisture. While advantages exist, there are additional considerations in the harvest, storage, and feeding of this product vs dry hay to ensure that a high quality, safe product is produced and maintained.

In case you aren't aware of this resource, PRO-DAIRY's Dairy Market Watch provides monthly information and analysis of Northeast dairy market trends. Just released are the July 2025 data.

Kate McDonald Polakiewicz has joined our team as Farm Business Management Specialist and will be offering programming in financial management, production economics, business planning, and market analysis. 

Baling dry hay in SWNY can be a risky business when it comes to baling at the correct moisture for safe storage. Spontaneous combustion needs only a few variables, including moisture levels exceeding 20% and stacked bales. Baling under appropriate conditions, properly drying the hay, and making sure the hay remains dry go a long way to keeping your investments safe.

Deer Worm, or Meningeal Worm, is a parasite affecting sheep and goats across NYS and the Northeast. The worm can cause paralysis and self-inflicted flesh wounds. An alternative treatment protocol established by Cornell University researchers can improve the outcome of treating animals with clinical infections.

This short survey through the CCE in partnership with the Hudson Valley Textile Project is for anyone raising sheep, alpacas, goats, or other fiber animals in New York State. Your input will help shape future efforts to make fiber farming more sustainable, visible, and profitable. Participants are entered to win a $200 visa gift card.

As part of its mission, Cornell's Animal Health Diagnostic Center (AHDC) offers valuable diagnostic services to New York State livestock producers. They can evaluate freshly dead animals, blood, and tissue samples to determine the cause of illness or death in your herd or flock.

Regardless of what critters are in your care, it's important to reduce stress on them. Remember to also take care of yourself during this heat wave!! 

We're excited to have John on our team for this summer as we work around the region! If you see him out and about, don't hesitate to say hello!