Although he’s been around horses his entire life, Steve Hazen came into the farrier business by accident. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps after graduating from Castleton State College and was sent to Vietnam in 1968.

Mycotoxins are low-molecular weight secondary metabolites primarily synthesized by fungal genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium. They can contaminate feed and when consumed have toxic effects on animals and humans. Mycotoxins can originate from both the field and storage. Mycotoxins can negatively affect feed intake, rumen function, milk production, immune responses, reproduction, and susceptibility to disease. Furthermore, from a food system standpoint, mycotoxins ca

Around this time of year we often mention the importance of proper timing for chopping corn for silage. Farmers have waited over four months since planting the crop, but too many refuse to wait a couple more weeks until the crop reaches at least 32% DM. Harvesting the crop at a range of 32% to 37% whole plant DM is fine in most situations. Any mention in the farm press or other sources of 30% DM as a goal for corn silage should be ignored: The corn plant is adding starch each

In the June and July issues of the Farm Report I discussed the hydrology and nitrogen (N) dynamics from a recent no-till study that was completed at Miner Institute. We’ll finish up the discussion of this study by delving into the impacts of no-till on phosphorus (P) losses from the field.

For decades dairy calf nutrition programs have been built around compromise: to provide enough milk to support calf growth, while restricting milk intake to stimulate early starter feed consumption and rumen development, ultimately for an earlier weaning. This approach has made the calf rearing process relatively predictable and economical, but is it the right answer? Are we missing out on the true biological potential of modern dairy calves?

Hi, I am Juliette Levesque, the new year-long Agricultural Research Intern! I am from Westborough, Massachusetts, and I recently graduated from the University of Vermont with a BS in Animal Science. I originally chose UVM because of their CREAM program, a student-run dairy farm, as I was very excited for the hands-on animal experience. I have been interested in veterinary medicine for as long as I can remember but wasn’t sure what area I wanted to pursue or which animals I w

There is a wide range of milk replacer (MR) macronutrient profiles available on the market. As a producer or nutritionist, the focus is on selecting the right MR to achieve optimal growth rates aligned with the dairy's goals. Most people will usually focus on the fat and protein content within the milk replacer. Another macronutrient that might not be as commonly discussed in this conversation is lactose (energy source). Growth performance alone may not fully capture how MR c

Recently I had the opportunity to attend the New York Dairy Meeting, a two-day event focused on innovative manure management solutions and advancing New York’s dairy conservation legacy. The meeting brought together a remarkably diverse group of stakeholders including dairy farmers, processors, agribusiness representatives, extension personnel, conservationists, lenders, government personnel, and people from watershed-focused organizations and land trusts. The event highlight

In July I attended a field day hosted by the University of Vermont Northwest Crops and Soils Program featuring autonomous weeding robots. These machines, developed by a company called Greenfield Robotics, are designed to fit between 30-inch rows and mow down weeds as they go. The machines can navigate corn rows on their own for several hours before returning to a base location for charging or a battery swap. The goal of the company is to reduce or eliminate chemical herbicid

We‘ve been very busy at Miner Institute this summer! The summer interns have spent a large part of their summer here working with their show heifers to prepare for the Clinton County Fair in Plattsburgh, NY. They spent the last few months training their heifers to lead well on halters and were taught how to best set up their animal for the show ring.