-
Will Dry Weather Create Forage Shortages This Winter?
·
Farmers can take action now to adequately prepare for the winter months. We have seen quite dry conditions in much of our region and much of the state this past spring and into early summer. There has been some recent rain. However, it has been sporadic in nature. Some locations have seen a fair amount…
-
Selecting a Beef Cattle Breed
·
In part two of our “What’s Your Beef?” series on raising cattle on small farms, we help you answer the questions of what breed of beef cattle you should get. In the first article in this series in the summer edition of SFQ, I outlined several of the many topics with which you need to become familiar with if you…
-
What’s Your Beef?
·
So you think that you would like to raise some beef cattle on your small farm? This is the first installment of a multi-part series of articles on raising beef cattle on the small farm. In this series of articles in the Small Farms Quarterly, I will outline many of the topic areas that you…
-
Beefing Up the Dairy Industry: New Research Offers Guidance on Beef Crossbreeding
·
Farmers may now be better equipped to decide if a beef cross-breeding enterprise would be a good addition to their dairy business, thanks to new research from Cornell University Beef Extension Specialist Mike Baker. Baker’s research has found that Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) data points can help dairy farmers make a good-fit beef breed bull…
-
Five Simple Steps to Improve Biosecurity Around Livestock
·
Now that we’re on the verge of summer, some farms may start to see an increase in foot traffic. Dairy farms receive regular visits from feed dealers, nutritionists, veterinarians, and other agricultural service providers, not to mention the milk truck. Livestock producers may open their doors to the public for farm tours and other…
-
Animal Welfare: Perception and Reality
·
By Kimberley Morrill, phD Do you think cows have emotions? Do you think cows feel pain? Do animals exhibit empathy, sympathy and compassion? These were the questions asked to the attendees of the 2018 Dairy Cattle Welfare Symposium. Speakers, farmers and industry representatives from around the globe gathered in Scottsdale, AZ May 31st – June…
-
How to Write a Custom Grazing Contract
·
Strong, written contracts can prevent some of the Boneheaded Business Blunders I made in my early years of ranching. My previous two articles have covered every brutally specific detail that I should have included in my former land lease contracts. This month I’m running down everything that needs to be in a custom grazing contract.…
-
Building Healthy Pasture Soils
·
The following article is an excerpt from the factsheet “Building Healthy Pasture Soils” available in full at www.ATTRA.org and can be downloaded as a free PDF at the website, along with many other guides and resources. Let’s consider the agricultural practices that help build healthy soil. In essence, we want to increase aggregation, contribute soil organic matter, increase biodiversity,…
-
Concerned Citizens and Vilified Farmers: Thoughts on Animal Welfare Complaints
·
The growing divide between farmer and citizen intersects at the topic of animal welfare. I received a call today from a concerned citizen who was worried about some cattle that had been left out for the winter. I was happy that they called me first instead of the authorities, and we had a calm and intelligent…
-
Gimme Free Ice Cream!
·
One educator’s quest to address a pressing issue. I am a regular visitor to the Stewart’s Shops in my neck of the woods, and I’m not ashamed to admit that their ice cream and ready-to-eat pizza constitute a significant portion of my diet when I am on the road. This morning I was in…
cattle
Receive news and resources as they are released by joining our newsletter.
Join the Small Farms Newsletter
To start your subscription and start receiving content, you will need to complete our full sign-up form on the following page.
