Country Folks
Posted on December 31, 2025
With recent acceleration of the digital world and artificial intelligence (AI) seeing increased use in nearly every industry, there’s a growing need for data centers to manage the processing, storage and transmission of digital information. Data centers require significant land, power and water, and...
Country Folks
by Sonja Heyck-Merlin 
Posted on December 31, 2025
Planning on hosting a music festival on your commercial farm? Or a wedding? Or a different agritourism event? According to Lindsey Pashow, to reduce the chance of agritourism-related conflicts with municipalities and neighbors, there are several factors to consider. Pashow is an agriculture business...
Country Folks
by Troy Bishopp 
Posted on December 31, 2025
Reflective safety vests, flannel shirts and calloused hands are the staples of putting water quality practices on the ground for the residents and watersheds in Madison County. For the 15th year, the Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District celebrated the many work collaborations and connec...
Country Folks, Crop Comments
Posted on December 31, 2025
Normally I try to give crop-growing readers an update on the global fertilizer situation once every quarter. I get much of my information from an online industry publication titled “Argus North American Fertilizer Newsletter.” My friend and associate Jeff Cassim subscribes to this twice-monthly peri...
Country Folks, Dairy
by Sally Colby 
Posted on December 24, 2025
The American Dairy Coalition , which focuses on federal dairy policy, met virtually this December to wrap up 2025 and look ahead to 2026. GT Thompson, chair of the House Ag Committee, opened the session. “It’s an exciting time for dairy,” said Thompson. “A lot of good things are happening. We will b...
Country Folks
by Sonja Heyck-Merlin 
Posted on December 24, 2025
"About 25% of a dairy’s production costs are going to be in raising heifer replacements. So, they are not actually paying the bills right now, but they are costing a fair amount of money,” said Gail Carpenter. Carpenter is an assistant professor of Extension and outreach in the Department of Animal ...
Country Folks
Posted on December 24, 2025
“Coming down and kicking the tires” on something is a colloquial invitation for someone to come and inspect or test a product or service before buying it. For farmers and the folks who help them, this premise extends to the practice of bale grazing on the land. Whether in a checkerboard pattern, rol...
Country Folks, Crop Comments
Crop
Posted on December 24, 2025
The Dec. 10, 2025 issue of Country Folks listed 11 advertisements for hay crops, one of which was for organic hay. This is relevant, because one year ago our paper posted approximately 30 hay crop ads, roughly 10 of which were for organic forages. I believe that these numbers provide a report card o...
Country Folks
Posted on December 17, 2025
This year’s Keystone Farm Show is one of the largest in its 28-year history. Started in 1998, the Keystone Farm Show carved out an important marketing niche for the agri-businesses in Pennsylvania. While the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg is a great show to educate the people about the importa...
Country Folks
Sally Colby 
February 4, 2026
When it comes to youth operating farm equipment, many adults will say, “I did it when I was a kid and nothing happened to me.” But that isn’t the stor...
Country Folks
February 4, 2026
The New York Beef Council (NYBC) is proud to announce that Troy Bishopp of Deansboro, NY, has been named the 2025 Beef Promoter of the Year. This awar...
Country Folks
by Laura Rodley 
February 4, 2026
The Northeastern Poultry Congress (NEPC) celebrated its 52nd year this January. People flocked to the free family-friendly show at the Eastern States ...
Country Folks
by Joseph Armstrong 
February 4, 2026
If you’ve ever made maple syrup you’re aware of the enormous amount of input necessary to make it. But you also know the sweet and sticky result is we...