The chain of events following colostrogenesis in the cow, to collection, storage, and calf consumption of the colostrum is an important process to manage on the farm. The timing of collecting colostrum, as well as the proper handling and storage, play key roles in the quality of colostrum being delivered to the calf. Furthermore, minimizing bacterial contamination from the cow’s udder, milking equipment, storage vessels, and feeding equipment will help maintain clean colostru

Thunderstorms are the primary source of moisture for our non-irrigated crops in July. While the rain is often needed by our crops this time of year, these powerful convective storms have the potential to do plenty of damage to them under the right conditions.

There are 365 sunrises and sunsets each year and the average farmer sees every one of them. Whether they are up before first light to...

Readers of the Farm Report should have a fair idea of what’s happening at the Institute, in part because of the regular short articles titled “What’s Happening on the Farm”. But recent subscribers (and some long-term ones) may not know how we got here. Following is a summary of the past 100+ years of agricultural activity at what is now the William H. Miner Agricultural Research Institute.

Summer has officially arrived, bringing with it the intense heat and challenges that come with seasonal weather changes. Despite the...

Weaning is ubiquitous in the dairy industry and is not exclusive to only heifer calves but also beef crosses and bulls. In that context...

A recent study published in the Journal of Dairy Science suggests that it might be time to rethink how we feed minerals to dry cows. For years, nutrition guidelines have assumed that cows only need extra minerals late in pregnancy, but this new research shows that cows start needing more minerals much earlier — sometimes as soon as 30 to 40 days after conception.

“What?” “I can’t hear you.” “Come closer.” These were common phrases during recent on-farm tours and workshops at Miner. With warm, humid...

June is a month full of sunshine and summer foods, but most importantly it’s a time to celebrate all things dairy. As we mark National...

Happy National Dairy Month! Despite what seems like constant rainy weather, we were able to take advantage of a few dry days to begin our first cutting of the season. During the last week of May our team successfully completed and covered the first haylage bunk after two long days of chopping.

Increased awareness of the impact of nutrient loading from agricultural activities has driven public and producer interest alike in...

At the end of April I defended my master’s thesis. I spent 18 months collecting data from Northeastern dairy farmers. While my peers at...

The month of May has come and gone, and we still have a good portion of our corn acreage left to plant here at Miner Institute. While we...

Dehorning is a widespread practice on dairy farms, undertaken to remove horns or inhibit their growth. This procedure primarily aims to enhance safety for handlers and prevent injuries among herd animals. Recognizing that dehorning causes pain and discomfort, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) supports the practice yet strongly emphasizes the importance of effective pain management.

Resilience is defined by the Oxford dictionary as “the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties.” As a high school...

Colostrum is one of the most important meals for a newborn calf. Its administration is required to be appropriately timed in the right...

Early in June we had the pleasure of hosting the Cornell-Miner Dairy Nutrition and Management Short Course – a 4-day immersive experience...

In early April, Miner Institute hosted Dan Neenan from the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (www.necasag.org) for a manure pit and confined space safety training for first responders. This training was organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Clinton County and Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County with financial support from DFA, Cargill, Poulin Grain, AgroLiquid, Farm Bureau, Farm Credit East, Foy Agency Insurance, and the Kevin Daniels

Since 2016 Miner Institute has collected edge-of-field surface and tile drainage samples from corn silage fields in Northeastern NY that receive annual applications of dairy manure. The drainage is sampled year-round, including both base flow (shallow groundwater drained by field tiles) and during rain and snowmelt events.

Uruguay is a leading country in South America’s dairy industry, with average farms housing 144 cows and producing over 736,000 liters...