According to Steve Culman, Ph.D., soil scientist at Ohio State, cation exchange capacity (CEC) is a fundamental soil property used to predict plant nutrient availability and retention in the soil. It is the potential of available nutrient supply, not a direct measurement of available nutrients. Soil...

Colleen Teresa Kielbania raises large breed Polish chickens. She is also a huge fan of British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran, who has sold 200 billion records worldwide, with hits like " Shape of You ," " Perfect ," " Bad Habits " and " Don't ." So much so, she named one of her Polish chickens Egg Sh...

"I like spreadsheets a lot,” said Zach Mangione of Cross Farm . The farm is a certified organic, pasture-based livestock enterprise raising broilers, turkeys and pigs in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Cross Farm is certified by Vermont Organic Farmers (VOF), a third-party organic certifier. VOF Certif...

Punxsutawney Phil typically emerges to look for his shadow around 7:25 a.m. on Feb. 2 at Gobbler’s Knob in Pennsylvania. If he sees his shadow, legend dictates six more weeks of winter; if he doesn’t, an early spring is predicted. My first woodchuck hunting experiences took place at our home farm in...

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 story for everyone. This past summer, in Lancaster County, PA, two boys, ages 14 and 6, were together in a skid steer cleaning a barn. As the 14-year-old ...

The Northeastern Poultry Congress (NEPC) celebrated its 52nd year this January. People flocked to the free family-friendly show at the Eastern States Exposition Center in West Springfield, MA, to see and buy poultry. Karen MacPherson of Middleton, MA, is a volunteer and self-proclaimed enthusiastic ...

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 well worth it – especially on hot blueberry waffles. Some maple producers have upped their game by certifying their process as organic. One may think, “...

“Field research is a lot like fishing,” said Dr. Carl Heeder, DVM, at the 2025 Kemin Intestinal Health Symposium, a discussion on the direction of current research and a presentation on the state of the broiler industry. “You have to be willing to show up and be okay with disappointment. You have to...

Maine Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry Amanda Beal recently dropped by a classroom of farmers and woodlot owners eager to learn about the challenges and opportunities of agroforestry at the 2026 Agricultural Trades Show at the Augusta Civic Center. She noted that she and her husb...