Beginning Farms

We offer the following resources and links to get you started on an exploration of farming opportunities and learning.




Relevant Events

Beef Extravaganza 2025

September 6, 2025
Addison, NY

Organic Cover Crop & Soil Health Field Day

September 11, 2025
Fillmore, NY

Organic Cover Crop & Soil Health Field Day

September 11, 2025
Fillmore, NY

Silvopasture on a Shoestring

October 7, 2025
Franklinville, NY

Late Season Forage Considerations for 2025

Last Modified: August 18, 2025
Late Season Forage Considerations for 2025

The challenges of the 2025 growing season continue with questions about adequate quantity and quality of forages to meet the needs of dairy herds in the coming year. As we look for a strong finish to the growing season to alleviate some of these challenges it is important to assess your forage situation and take steps to meet the forage needs of the herd.


Guidance for Manure Applications on Prevented Planting Acres

Last Modified: August 11, 2025

Many acres across New York were unable to be planted to corn, soybeans or new perennial forages due to extended wet conditions during this spring's planting season, resulting in several crop insurance claims. Check out this guidance for manure applications on prevented planting acreage for farms under CAFO permit and/or following a CNMP.


Pricing Corn Silage - Preliminary Fall 2025 Estimates

Last Modified: July 28, 2025
Pricing Corn Silage - Preliminary Fall 2025 Estimates

You might think it's too early to talk about corn silage harvest, but this season's challenges have many re-evaluating plans. Preliminary estimates from John Hanchar, NWNYDLFC, put the corn silage price at approximately $63 per ton. These early estimates can support informed decision-making as cropping and forage strategies shift.


Rain vs. Herbicides

Katelyn Miller, Field Crops and Forage Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Last Modified: July 7, 2025
Rain vs. Herbicides

As a result of staggered planting, herbicide application timings have been spread out over a significant portion of time. Weeds and weed control are impacted by wet weather and subsequent flooding conditions for a variety of reasons.


Pesticide Label Changes Brought on by the Endangered Species Act

Katelyn Miller, Field Crops and Forage Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Last Modified: June 16, 2025
Pesticide Label Changes Brought on by the Endangered Species Act

Changes to our pesticide labels are coming including mitigation strategies for spray drift and runoff/erosion. Check out this article to see how these updates will appear on our product labels.


What to Know Before You Mow

Katelyn Miller, Field Crops and Forage Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Last Modified: May 27, 2025
What to Know Before You Mow

Manure continues to be spread onto fields, tillage implements have been in motion, corn and soybeans are starting to get planted, but have you thought about first cutting yet? Collecting this forage offers an opportunity to capture a high quality and quantity of forage, but doing so in a timely manner can come with an array of obstacles.


Ag Safety and Health Springtime Preparations

Last Modified: May 5, 2025
Ag Safety and Health Springtime Preparations

Spring is one of the busiest times of the year on a farm. Even if things are busy, keep health and safety to the forefront of what you do.


Worried About Being Classified as a Hobby Farm by the IRS? What you Need to Know

Last Modified: April 29, 2025
Worried About Being Classified as a Hobby Farm by the IRS? What you Need to Know

Tax season is over, but you may be wondering if you may be audited by the IRS or incorrectly classified as a hobby farm. This article investigates the classification of farms as businesses vs hobbies, what the IRS is looking for in a business, and what records you need to keep to prove you're a legitimate business.


Growing Degree Days: Another Tool in the Harvest Toolbox

Katelyn Miller, Field Crops and Forage Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Last Modified: April 22, 2025
Growing Degree Days: Another Tool in the Harvest Toolbox

Growing Degree Days (GDD) are a valuable tool for estimating crop development and optimal harvest timing. Whether tracking corn maturity or alfalfa harvest, using GDDs alongside other measurements can help improve decision-making and ensure better crop management.


Egg Prices are Historically High - Time to Re-Evaluate your Costs of Production

Amy Barkley, Team Leader & Livestock Specialist
Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Program

Last Modified: April 8, 2025
Egg Prices are Historically High - Time to Re-Evaluate your Costs of Production

It takes a whole lot to produce a dozen eggs! Now's a great time to evaluate your costs so that you can charge a fair price that still enables you to make a profit.


It is Time to Check the Planter

Last Modified: April 8, 2025
It is Time to Check the Planter

It's April and planting season will be here before we know it. Take some time to check over your planter and conduct some maintenance so you are ready to hit the ground running in May. 


USDA Expediting Direct Economic Assistance to Agricultural Producers

Last Modified: April 1, 2025
USDA Expediting Direct Economic Assistance to Agricultural Producers

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing up to $10 billion directly to agricultural producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) for the 2024 crop year. Eligible producers must report 2024 crop year planted and prevented planted acres to FSA on an FSA-578, Report of Acreage form. Contact your local FSA office for more information.






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Upcoming Events

Beef Extravaganza 2025

September 6, 2025
Addison, NY

Organic Cover Crop & Soil Health Field Day

September 11, 2025
Fillmore, NY

Organic Cover Crop & Soil Health Field Day

September 11, 2025
Fillmore, NY

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