Barns & Equipment

Not too long ago, we relied heavily upon natural ventilation for adult dairy cattle facilities, but in recent years a variety of mechanical and hybrid options have emerged that have the potential to improve ventilation performance.

Good fences make good neighbors. Good fences also serve as “curb appeal” for your farmstead. I sometimes find myself in the unenviable role of a farm business analyst and, frankly, one of the first observations I make about the future prospects of a farm is the state of its fences.

Ensuring that plants receive adequate nutrition is a critical component of a profitable yield, no matter which forage crop you produce. Nutrients come from a variety of mineral or synthetic fertilizer sources, and many producers also rely on organic materials including manure and compost.

Forage quality is critical to a producer’s operation. The quality of forage – good or bad – will affect an operation’s bottom line.

Steven Weaver of Meadowley Farm in Morrisville, New York, milks his seasonal herd of 65 cows in his handmade retrofitted parlor. With two people milking, the cows are all back out onto pasture in one hour. But it wasn’t always that way.

Compact tractors are do-it-all workhorses on the farm. They load material, grade roads, prepare the soil for planting, help in the barn and more.