When poor milk prices threatened the livelihood of the families operating Kingdom Creamery, they turned to the Farm Viability Program to help them create a new plan for success. Ice cream was the answer, and they were able to switch from bulk milk sales to their new product line with the help of Rose Wilson and a successful business plan.
Greg Judy is known for innovative farming and for sharing how he used leased land and mob grazing to go from barely making it to being able to retire early from his in-town job and be a successful, full-time farmer. He sent us these videos of what's happening in one of his Eastern Gramma grass pastures, why he and Jan choose South Poll Cattle, and then gives us a quick look at his pastured pigs.
Rain is always an issue when it's hay making time. Though this was written with farmers in the Northeast in mind, we're sure that there are a lot of you out there who can take advantage of these hay-making tips!
Sometimes cows eat rabbits too! Here's a look at some unusual animal eating behavior and why they choose to eat things we wouldn't have imagined for them. If your livestock are eating strange things, you'll learn why here.
Cation exchange capacity is part of your soil test results. Why do you care? Because it is the capacity of your soil to hold nutrients. Hold onto the tractor seat! We're in for a quick and bumpy ride down the Soil Science Lane!
Everybody says "Set Goals!" but no one tells you how to go about it. Until now. Rosalie Wilson breaks it down into bite-size pieces so that you can get started.
Jack Lazor is one of those people who talk quietly and yet you can hear every word he says. His words are precious and he has used them to enrich the world around him. His new book "The Organic Grain Grower" is coming August 13. Health issues have postponed the book release party planned for August 4th, so we're celebrating him here, taking a moment to acknowledge the world according to Jack.
In response to reader requests for information on raising pasture pigs, here is an interview with Karma Glos of Kingbird Farm in Berkshire, NY. These four, beautifully done videos on pastured pigs were created as part of the Cornell Small Farms Video Mentor series as a resource to small and beginning farmers. We love how Karma takes us from farrowing to processing highlighting the things that make life better for the pigs, and easier and more profitable for the farmer.
In this excerpt from his book "Time to Change" Colorado Rancher Chip Hines shows how shifting per cow costs to your saleable animals gives you a whole new look at how to cover costs and make profits.
“Graziers need to get beyond the paralyzing paradigm of wasting grass if we want to be truly sustainable.”
Those are the words of Ian Mitchell-Innes,...
