Our region experienced significant severe weather resulting from a powerful series of storms that went through on September 2^nd. Any damage sustained by agricultural lands, crops, livestock operations, buildings, or other agricultural facilities can be reported to our team. 

Selling eggs can bring in some extra farm income, alleviate the stress of a full egg fridge (admit it, we all have one in the spring and summer!), and help you feed your community. Small flock owners can sell eggs to individuals, at a farm market, or wholesale to NYS stores for retail sale. As eggs are produced and prepared for sale, there are some safety considerations and state regulations that need to be kept in mind.

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.

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.

Regardless of how beef animals are finished, either by grass, grain, or a combination, market weight animals that are sent to the auction or processor should be finished properly. This article reviews the characteristics of finishing as described in the Cornell Small Farms video, "Determining Market Readiness of Finished Cattle", narrated by Dr. Mike Baker, found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrF5aCEAI-0&feature=emb_title

With input costs steadily rising and beef calves fetching historically high prices, taking steps to secure and increase your return on investment for beef calves remains a priority. This article explores targets for weaning, castration, deworming, and vaccinations.

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.

Chicks are on the ground, the weather is warming, and in a few short weeks, the first batches of pasture raised chickens will be processed. For many, this means processing in preparation for sales off the farm or at farmer's markets. Bearing that in mind, there are requirements that producers must follow to ensure food safety and legal packaging/labeling of that poultry for sale.

Knowing that we will likely continue to experience volatile N pricing, coupled with less than stellar commodity prices, it's a critical time to evaluate your nutrient management strategy. So,what can you do to maintain your crop yields while also protecting your bottom line?

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