Fall Alfalfa Harvest Guides per Jerry Cherney, NYS Forage Agronomist
With a shortage of good forage, should farmers be trying to get 4 cuts of alfalfa/grass this year? There may be enough moisture to consider 4 cuts, there is some risk to the stand. The attached article has two methods of estimating the risk.
1. Table 1, Fig. 1 & 2. Our long time recommendation of 500 GDD (C) between the last 2 cuts. The time interval can be from 5 to 8 weeks (Table 1), depending on when the last cut is made. The graphs show you the 30-year historic weather data window (shaded area) where you should not be cutting, to accumulate 500 GDD between 3rd cut (y-axis) and final cut (x-axis). The red line represents GDD accumulation in an average year.
2. The other option (Fig. 5 & 6) is to make sure you either accumulate more than 500 GDD OR less than 200 GDD after the final cut. Accumulating more than 500 GDD assumes you have recharged root reserves, accumulating less than 200 GDD assumes you have not depleted root reserves significantly.
So for a mid-August 3rd cut and a late Sept. final cut, both methods agree that this should present a minimum risk. Where the methods deviate is if you are cutting around the first of Sept. The first method says that is fine, as long as you have accumulated 500 GDD before that cut. The second method says that cutting around the first of Sept. is the worst possible time to cut, where you have essentially zero chance of either accumulating less than 200 GDD or more than 500 GDD after that last cut.
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Beef Quality Assurance - Training Day
November 15, 2025 : Beef Quality Assurance - Training Day
Labor Road Show IX
December 1, 2025
The Roadshow delivers essential updates on labor law, regulations, and workforce best practices—tailored for farm owners, managers, and ag service providers. Sessions also focus on practical strategies to boost communication, strengthen retention, and build a positive workplace culture.
Winter Bale Grazing Pasture Walk
January 10, 2026
Truxton, NY
Join us for the second Bale Grazing Winter Pasture Walk!
Have you heard about or seen bale grazing and wondered if it would work for you?
Do you want to learn the nuances and logistical context for implementing this regenerative practice?
Are you interested in seeing the impacts of bale grazing on land and animals from a practicing farmer?
If you answered Yes to any question, The Northeast Region National Grazing Lands Coalition, the Cornell Cooperative Extension Hillside Farms are teaming up to showcase our Second Bale Grazing Winter Pasture Walk!
Announcements
USDA Contract Freezes and Terminations: Legal Action Steps for Farmers
For Farmers with Signed EQIP and CSP ContractsThis resource is written for farmers and ranchers nationwide who have a signed contract with USDA NRCS under the EQIP or CSP program for environmental improvements but have concerns that their contract is frozen, under review, or terminated, and who are uncertain of their rights to receive reimbursement as well as their ongoing obligations under the signed contract.
Version: 1.0
Issue date: Feb 28, 2025
A downloadable factsheet is available at our BUSINESS tab on the top of our webpage.
Additional Information: www.farmcommons.org
USDA Contract Freezes: Filing an NAD Appeal or Demand Letter
This resource is written for farmers and ranchers nationwide who have a signed contract with USDA NRCS under the EQIP or CSP program for environmental improvements and want more information on the mechanics of filing a National Appeals Division (NAD) appeal. This resource includes sample letters.
USDA NAD Appeal https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/general-information/staff-offices/office-hearings-and-appeals/national-appeals-division/nad-appeals
Farm Participants Needed for Bale Grazing Grant!
Information on the Project:- Approximately 10 acres total needed to bale graze two different bale densities
- "Core" farms will graze two winters, "Demo" farms will graze one winter.
- Payments for both "Core" farms and "Demo" farms
- Baseline soil sampling by bale grazing team
- Forage measurements in early season by bale grazing team
- Late season clipping if residual not trampled down by farm
Cornell Cow Convos - New Podcast
On-going podcast, New episodes released on the last Thursday of the month.Guest speakers, CCE Dairy Specialists.
Housed on Soundcloud Channel is CCE Dairy Educators
- Preventative healthcare for cows
- The trend of beef on dairy
- What to look forward to in the new year for dairy
- Socially grouping or pair-housing calves
2018 Drug Residue Prevention Manual
For more than 30 years, the U.S. dairy industry has focused educational efforts on the judicious use of antibiotics through the annual publication of a Best Practices Manual. The 2018 edition of the National Dairy FARM Program: Farmers Assuring Responsible Management? Milk and Dairy Beef Drug Residue Prevention Manual is the primary educational tool for dairy farm managers throughout the country on the judicious and responsible use of antibiotics, including avoidance of drug residues in milk and meat.The manual is a quick resource to review those antibiotics approved for dairy animals and can also be used as an educational tool and resource for farm managers as they develop on-farm best management practices necessary to avoid milk and meat residues. Visit the Manual and Form Library to download copies of this important tool!
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NYSERDA Agriculture Energy Audit Program
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