Posts by Carli Fraccarolli
The Better System: Pasture-Raised, Ethical Meats by Rebecca Thistlethwaite & Jim Dunlop What do we mean by the term “ethical” meats in the subtitle? In our minds, ethical meats come from producers who want their animals to live comfortable lives and to die as quickly and as humanely as possible. These animals get to exhibit their…
Read MoreHelping farmers evaluate alternatives and plan for success. by Lynn F. Kime To meet the educational needs of small-scale and part-time farmers, Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, with support from the USDA-Extension Service, the USDA-Risk Management Agency, and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, has developed a set of 64 publications called “Agricultural Alternatives”. Most…
Read Moreby Mariane Kiraly In 2014, the USDA Farmers’ Market Promotional Grant Program was announced. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County had been doing a lot of work with small and start-up farmers to assist them with growing a large variety of products, but most still lacked a year-round venue to market their products. Mariane Kiraly,…
Read MoreSupply-chain relationships help producers and get farmers back on the farm. by Rachel Carter Joe Bossen loves beans. He enjoys growing beans and working with the farmers who grow beans for Vermont Bean Crafters—producers of organic bean burgers, dry beans, and hummish (bean-based hummus). Bossen especially loves making bean burgers and developing recipes for new…
Read Morefrom NYSDAM New York State Veterinarian Dr. David Smith reminds New York’s poultry industry to practice good biosecurity to keep their birds free from avian influenza and other diseases. In the Northwestern and Central parts of the United States, animal health officials have detected a few new strains of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) among…
Read Moreby Ulf Kintzel Many farm stores offer ready-to-use minerals for sheep in a loose form in a bag. If you are happy with those minerals and if you can afford buying them, read no further. If you find them too pricey or if you are astonished how much of them are consumed by your sheep…
Read MoreIf you have an overgrown woodlot, a strong back, a chainsaw, a small tractor with a mower, a pile of grass and clover seed, and a rake, then you can start establishing a small silvopasture on your land. To help you think about getting started, I will describe my own experience with planting a small-scale…
Read MoreWith over 3 million idle acres in NY , maybe there’s some out there for you. by Nancy Glazier Undeveloped rural land in New York is generally classified into three categories: active agricultural, forest, or idle. Over 3 million acres of vacant land lay idle, waiting for an opportunity. Not all of this land should…
Read Moreby Jerry Henkin If you want to plant nut trees, It’s important to research your land and the type of nut trees you want. Check the soil for the correct pH for the trees you want to plant. There should be good drainage, sunshine, and air flow. Will you want tall trees, which need to…
Read MoreThe Right vs. the Wrong Way by Peter Smallidge Timber in farm woodlots and rural woodlands may offer economic opportunities for the landowner. In addition to best management practices that protect the health and productivity of your woods, there are also financial considerations for the owner’s attention. Selling timber includes special tax considerations, but at…
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