Country Folks

06/02/2026

📢🐖Calling all youth swine exhibitors!
Join us for the Drive with Purpose Show Pig Clinic on June 28th from 10:00 AM–4:00 PM at the Ontario County Fairgrounds!

This FREE clinic is designed for youth ages 8–18 and will cover:
✅ On-the-spot showmanship feedback
✅ Clipping & fitting
✅ Skin & hair care
✅ Feeds & feeding
✅ Pre-show & show day preparation

We're excited to welcome Aiden Bombgardner, who brings years of experience exhibiting pigs at all levels and now works with show families to help them maximize the success of their projects.

Whether you're brand new to showing pigs or looking to sharpen your skills before fair season, this clinic has something for everyone!

📅 Registration deadline: June 14th
📍 Ontario County Fairgrounds, Canandaigua, NY
🎟️ FREE to attend, but registration is required.
🔗 Register here: newyorkpork.org/events

Please share with your local 4-H and FFA members, swine exhibitors, and show families!

06/01/2026

Murraydale matters: How a family-centered dairy is thriving in a giant-dominated industry

Giant farms dominate the dairy landscape. According to Jon Winsten with the Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC), the last 20 years have seen a 63% decrease in the number of farms, but overall milk production has risen by 28% – with massive farms driven to produce more and more milk per cow.
Read the rest of the story here: tinyurl.com/3w846xtm

05/30/2026

W**d mitigation in soybeans

Herbicide resistance is an increasing problem for soybean growers. Resistance leaves fewer tools for operators to combat weeds.
Read the rest of the story here: tinyurl.com/yeynrath

05/30/2026

Fields & Forests works with landowners in the Southeast to diversify the income from their land by planting loblolly pine trees on open fields. This low-maintenance opportunity provides you with guaranteed annual income ($30/acre/year), professional forestry support, and the profits from any timber harvests you choose to conduct. The program also coordinates and pays for all pine seedlings, land preparation, and planting.

Learn more at tinyurl.com/3jvazvxj.

05/29/2026

Attention NY readers! Brzostek's Real Estate and Auction Service has a great auction coming up May 30th - this weekend - in Williamstown! The real estate and its contents up for sale…don’t miss this one!

Find full details at brzostek.com/UpcomingAuctions?page=1

05/29/2026

Crop Comments: Stagger corn planting times to minimize empty kernels

According to Dan Quinn, Purdue University agronomist, examining corn ears from your fields helps estimate what yield might be. Examining corn ears prior to harvest helps growers visualize how the corn plant was impacted by different factors throughout the growing season, and why their yields may be less than hoped for.
Read the rest of the story here: tinyurl.com/ys9tjvyn

05/27/2026

Good things in smaller packages

A relatively small dairy farm with fewer than 100 cows was the norm not long ago, and it’s working today on Becky and Dave Troop’s farm in Cochranville, PA.
Read the rest of the story here: tinyurl.com/3pbf9bhy

05/27/2026

Some good news for farmers in Central New York:

Farmers can apply for grants in two categories, agritourism and production grants.