This year's preliminary corn silage pricing estimates have been released. Using the estimating equation, and the above prices for alfalfa hay, and corn grain as expected prices, estimated corn silage price is about $61 per ton

Dry hay with an increased moisture level is a concern not only from a quality perspective, leading to increased dry matter losses and mold growth, but is also at an increased risk for heating, and subsequently fires. With reports of hay fires hitting the news, we think it's a good time to dive into what causes the hay to heat, how to decrease the risk of hay fires, and the hazards associated.

Data fatigue is mental exhaustion that comes from excessive data and impairs management decisions. 

Reach out to our dairy specialist Katie Callero for a farm data consultation. 

While New World Screwworm cases are on the rise, they're limited to New Mexico and Texas at this time. Producers are asked to remain alert and look for evidence of live flesh-eating maggots on their animals, especially animals that have been imported from the Southern region of the US.

With margins tight across the dairy industry, many farms are looking for practical ways to cut costs without sacrificing milk quality or herd health. Farms can consider selective dry cow therapy as a way to achieve those goals.

In speaking with many of you across our region lately—whether you're in the dairy, livestock, or field crops sectors—I've heard a theme: everything costs more, and margins feel tighter than ever.

Following the challenging weather of the 2025 growing season, many dairy farms are facing tight forage inventories and looking to 2026 to rebuild forage supplies. The current economic conditions of escalating input costs and tight milk prices increase the difficulty of accomplishing this goal. Despite all of this, farms can still look for the best practices to achieve their forage inventory goals.

What's the status of the dairy industry in NY?

Water is one of the most consumed nutrients by dairy cows and yet it is often overlooked. Water access and quality directly impact milk production, health, and overall performance. Given these important roles, water intake becomes a key management consideration.

March 2026 has been wet, hovering around 150 percent of normal precipitation for much of New York. While this has some manure storages approaching or exceeding their operational capacity, it is critical to follow the prohibited spreading conditions within the CAFO permit and spreading plans in your CNMP. 

With all that's going on in the world right now, some beef producers are asking, "what happens next". While it's likely that none of this will come as a surprise, it's worth stepping back and looking at the bigger picture, the regional lens, and what this means for moving forward.