Country Folks
Posted on August 19, 2026
Cows don’t ask for a lot. Ample high-quality fresh feed and water along with a comfortable resting place covers much of what they need. However, there’s new evidence that the fresh feed aspect, including particle length, is more complex. During a recent Balchem Real Science presentation, Dr. Rick Gr...
Country Folks
by Sonja Heyck-Merlin 
Posted on August 19, 2026
“One thing I’m not going to tell you today is that as a founder or as a producer that you need to start recording more videos and being on social media more. I recognize that everyone’s busy," said Mallory Seargeant, a marketing strategist and founder of Ramper Creative . Rather, Seargeant emphasize...
Country Folks
by Sally Colby 
Posted on August 19, 2026
Every farm has flies. The issue is what kind, how many, where and their impact on livestock. Veterinarian David Prentice recently presented information on fly control for farms for the Dairy Calf & Heifer Association . Prentice began with fly basics: Fly reproduction is consistent among species, but...
Country Folks
by Sally Colby 
Posted on August 19, 2026
Throughout their lives, farmers inhale a lot of dust. Field work, feed handling, working in enclosed spaces and other routine farm tasks result in dust inhalation. The type of dust, length of exposure and other factors determine the degree of risk. Tara Nordgren, Ph.D., associate professor, Universi...
Country Folks
by Joseph Armstrong 
Posted on August 19, 2026
Today it may seem like there’s a stark contrast between town and countryside; however, there has never been a hard line where civilization begins and wilderness ends. A subtle line always connects the largest city to the deepest forest. Agroforestry enters this conversation not as nostalgia or radic...
Country Folks, Crop Comments
Crop Comments B5 
Posted on August 19, 2026
Dietitians tell us that a person consuming an 8-oz. glass of cow’s milk is ingesting approximately 232 mg of phosphorus (P), a nutrient vital for bone health, energy metabolism and cellular function. Taking these numbers further, I calculate that approximately 1 lb. of elemental P departs the farm i...
Country Folks
by Sally Colby 
Posted on August 12, 2026
Rob Goodling, business consultant for Farm Credit East, recently provided information on what the dairy industry can expect as producers passed the halfway mark in 2026. Goodling’s information was based on the 2025 Northeast Dairy Farm Summary and 2026 Mid-year Outlook. Summary input is based primar...
Country Folks
by Sally Colby 
Posted on August 12, 2026
Anyone thinking about a manure digester might envision a massive unit on a large livestock farm. Matt Steiman, assistant farm manager at Dickinson College, explained that isn’t the case at the Carlisle, PA, farm. “This is a unique system,” Steiman said. “Most digesters are on large farms with 500 co...
Country Folks, Farmers First
tecnavia 
Posted on August 12, 2026
What sort of taxes do you pay in your farm life? Chances are you’re familiar with the more common taxes: income, sales, payroll, property, self-employment, inheritance. But what about the switch tax? I only recently learned about the switch tax from one of my podcast guests, and it’s much more costl...
Country Folks
tecnavia 
September 9, 2026
The annual Hoover Manure Expo held this summer in Chambersburg, PA, featured a panel of manure handlers who discussed in-season manure application as ...
Country Folks
by Laura Rodley 
September 9, 2026
It’s not a lightsaber, but it’s close. John Winchell of Alltech Global Technical Support Expert uses a handheld NIR infrared mobile technology sensor ...
Country Folks
by Laura Rodley 
September 9, 2026
The 158th Cummington Fair drew good crowds, eager to get out in the splendid early autumn weather. Since 2018, Albert Judd of the family-run Goshen St...
Country Folks
by Deborah Jeanne Post 
September 9, 2026
Farming is listed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S. Add to this the financial uncertainty of the ...