Livestock
The livestock industry in New York totals $2.4 billion. For livestock marketing, New York ranks 39th for cattle and calf production, 20th for egg production, 24th for chicken production excluding broilers, 30th for hog and pig production, and 25th for sheep and lamb production. Relevant Event
Livestock Fencing 101: The Basics
May 30, 2025
Oneonta , NY
Dung Beetles of New York State
Erik Smith, Area Field Crop Specialist/Team Leader
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
Last Modified: March 3, 2025
Five Tips for Winter Cow Feeding
Ashley McFarland, Area Livestock Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
Last Modified: February 7, 2020
Get PQA Certified
Ashley McFarland, Area Livestock Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
Last Modified: February 7, 2020
Reduce Lamb Loss article
Ashley McFarland, Area Livestock Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
Last Modified: February 7, 2020
African Swine Fever: What You Need to Know
Ashley McFarland, Area Livestock Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
Last Modified: April 16, 2019
Mandatory Ear Tags for Beef Cattle and Swine for 2020
Ashley McFarland, Area Livestock Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
Last Modified: April 16, 2019
Sheep and Goat Scrapies Eradication Program
Ashley McFarland, Area Livestock Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
Last Modified: April 16, 2019
USDA Continues to Prevent African Swine Fever from Entering the U.S.
Ashley McFarland, Area Livestock Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
Last Modified: April 16, 2019
Flushing ewes prior to fall breeding season
Ashley McFarland, Area Livestock Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
Last Modified: April 15, 2019
Breeding ewes for fall lambing is becoming more common in our seedstock operations, however large commercial operations have been using this method for many years.
Johne's Disease in Beef Herds
Ashley McFarland, Area Livestock Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
Last Modified: April 15, 2019
Late gestation requirements for ewes prior to lambing
Ashley McFarland, Area Livestock Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
Last Modified: April 15, 2019
Quite often producers tend to forget about the nutrition requirements their ewes need to maintain themselves, as well as their fetus. Approximately 80 percent of fetal growth occurs in the last 4-6 weeks of gestation.
Why is early castration on bull calves important?
Ashley McFarland, Area Livestock Specialist
Central New York Dairy and Field Crops
Last Modified: April 15, 2019
This topic has come up regularly over the past few months. There are many opinions on this specific topic, however there are more pros than cons of castrating bull calves earlier in life. There has been quite a lot of research done by universities, across the country in the past few years on this topic. They have indicated there is a slight increase of weight seen in steers at the end vs. bull calves, they have also been able to identify that calves castrated in the first 30 days tend to have higher quality carcasses, than calves castrated at 6 months of age.
- Ashley McFarland,- Livestock Specialist- Central New York Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Regional Team
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Upcoming Events
Livestock Fencing 101: The Basics
May 30, 2025
Oneonta , NY
Agricultural Co-Ops for Small Farmers
June 11, 2025
Announcements
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We send out a bi-weekly e-newsletter that has announcements, upcoming programs, and opportunities for you! Registration is quick, easy, and free. Click here to sign up today!Document and Share Storm Damage
Mother nature has really been difficult over the last few days. Significant damage has been seen throughout NYS. Please let us know what types of damage your farm may have sustained during this time. This could be in the form of property damage, lost power, milk dump due to lost power, loss of livestock, loss of stored feed or growing crops.Farms are encouraged to DOCUMENT AND SHARE any impacts the weather may have had on their home or business. This could include structure damage, crop loss, inventory loss due to power outages, damage to equipment or fencing, and more.
If your farm experienced any sort of damage, please reach out to any of the folks listed below (or all of them). The more impact information that is collected, the greater the likelihood of a disaster declaration which can bring vital emergency support and awareness. The CNYDLFC Team will continue to collect detail and submit to NYSDAM and the EDEN network.
Reporting Weather Related Impacts (For your home or farm business)
- First, ensure that all the people and animals on your farm are safe, and that there aren't any unsafe working conditions created because of the weather (check your structures!). If there's an emergency, call 911 - don't try to manage it all on your own.
- Second, document all negative weather impacts for your farm and their estimated financial cost. Take photos, make estimates, and put it all in a safe place.
- Reach out to your insurance providers - farm, vehicle, crop, etc. to initiate the claim process as needed.
- Then, share your farm's damage with any (or all) of the ag support agencies listed below. We all work together to collect storm damage information and funnel it up to Ag and Markets which can initiate a natural disaster declaration.
Your local Cornell Cooperative Extension Association Office.
- Chenango: 607-334-5841
- Fulton/Montgomery: 518-853-2135
- Herkimer: 315-866-7920
- Madison: 315-684-3001
- Otsego: 607-547-2536
- Schoharie: 518-234-4303
- Saratoga: 518-885-8995
Any of our CNYDLFC Team members (calls/emails/texts/site visit requests all ok)
Your county USDA/FSA service center.
Your county farm bureau manager
Please let us know how we can help you.
- Erik Smith: 315-219-7786
- Daniela Gonzalez: 315-749-3486
- Ashley McFarland- 315-604-2156
Your county USDA/FSA service center.
- Chenango: 607-334-3231
- Fulton/Montgomery: 518-853-4015
- Herkimer: 315-866-2520
- Madison:315-824-9076
- Otsego: 607-547-8131
- Schoharie: 518-295-8600
- Saratoga: 518-692-9940
Your county farm bureau manager
- Region 3: Bailey Coon: 518-937-0566
- Region 5: John Wagner: 315-761-9770
- Region 6: Natally Batiston: 518-937-0269
- Region 7: Todd Heyn: 518-431-9338
Please let us know how we can help you.
Cash Rent and Custom Harvest Survey
To date, there is limited information available about rental rates and fees for crop harvesting. Farms can use this valuable information for their farm business planning to help improve decision making and profitability.The data that is collected, and the subsequent reports/findings/resources will be helpful for all of us to answer that call of "What's the average rental rate in my area?" and "How much do people charge to combine oats?"
Farmers Can Join MeatSuite For Free!
MeatSuite.com is a free resource provided by Cornell University where NY meat farmers can create a farm profile and list their bulk (wholes, halves, quarters) and bundled (i.e. Grilling Bundle) meat products.Why should farmers join?
1. It's free and easy!
2. Connect with more local customers. In the past year the MeatSuite.com farm directory had 8,300 visits from New York consumers. Farm profiles get as many as 25 views per month from potential local customers. We also spotlight MeatSuite farms on social media and bring attention and purchases to farms through highlights and giveaways.
How do I join?
Farmers can visit https://www.meatsuite.com/farmers/ to create a free farm profile. You must list at least one product for your farm's profile to go live. You'll also have access to Cornell's free Meat Price Calculator, a helpful tool for pricing your meat to make a profit.
While you're on MeatSuite, check out the "Creating Consumer-Friendly Bulk Meats" publication on the log-in page. It has tips on how to create bulk meat products that are easier for first-time buyers to say "yes" to.
If you have any questions as you create your farm profile or products, we're here to help! Please email Matt LeRoux at mnl28@cornell.edu.