Livestock

LivestockThe 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.

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Relevant Events

Intro to Swine Production

May 8, 2025 : Intro to Swine Production - Ballston Spa
Ballston Spa, NY

May 15, 2025 : Intro to Swine Production - Herkimer
Herkimer, NY

2025 Spring Turn-Out

May 22, 2025
Schoharie, NY

Livestock Fencing 101: The Basics

May 30, 2025
Oneonta , NY

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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

Information on Dung Beetles that are found in New York beef and dairy farms.


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

Article from Pork Checkoff


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

USDA Press Release No. 0034.19


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

Article by  By: Dr. Melanie Hemenway, DVM NYSCHAP Coordinator


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

Intro to Swine Production

May 8, 2025 : Intro to Swine Production - Ballston Spa
Ballston Spa, NY

May 15, 2025 : Intro to Swine Production - Herkimer
Herkimer, NY

Planning for Immigration Enforcement at Your Farm

May 20, 2025

2025 Spring Turn-Out

May 22, 2025
Schoharie, NY

Announcements

Sign Up for Our Weekly E-Newsletter

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)
  • 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.


Spotted Lanternfly

Lycorma delicatula, or Spotted Lanternfly (SLF), is an invasive plant hopper from Asia and is an agricultural pest. In the United States, it was first found in Pennsylvania in 2014. Spotted Lanternfly has been found in New York State on Staten Island, all New York City boroughs, Long Island, Port Jervis, Sloatsburg, Orangeburg, Ithaca, Binghamton, Middletown, Newburgh, Highland, and the Buffalo area. SLF threatens the agriculture and forestry industries, and is also a nuisance pest. The nymphs and adults feed on over 70 different plants, but is especially detrimental to grapes, a black walnut, hops, maple trees and apples. New York State Ag and Markets supported CCE efforts to help bring awareness to communities and we developed this Public Service Announcement and would appreciate you sharing it with your member lists. 



CCE Livestock Program Work Team

See the Livestock Program Work Team website for news, upcoming programs, and NYS Slaughterhouse Map.