Scissors Cuts 5/30/2023
Dry Weather, Slow Changes: Grasses and mixed stands are past prime dairy quality this week. Legumes are arriving at peak quality and will likely pass prime this week as well. All fields are at target quality for growing yearlings and lactating beef cows. Producers looking for forage for mature dry beef cows should wait at least another week.
Grass fiber content changed at a more normal pace this week, advancing about ¾ point per day, legume fiber increased more slowly. Fiber digestibility (NDFD) continued a steady pace downward decreasing another 4½ points during the week.
Scissors Cut Report 5/23/2023
Still Dairy Prime – Grass quality is at prime quality, and mixed hay was still in the target zone for dairy quality at sampling this week, although we would expect it to advance past prime next week. Legume quality is reaching dairy quality stage and will be ready to harvest this week as well. It is also go time for harvesting hay for growing beef. Producers looking for forage for mature beef cows, lactating or dry, should wait at least another week.
Scissors Cut Report 5/16/2023
Off to the Races – But Beef Can Wait With a string of beautiful weather hay harvest started this week. Hay grew well this week, with both grasses and legumes gaining about 5 inches. With cool temperatures fiber increased more slowly than average, with NDF increasing...
Scissors Cut Report 5/9/2023
Be Prepared Hay grew steadily this week; grasses height averaged 16 inches, growing about 4 inches, and legumes averaged 12 inches, growing about 2 inches. Heights remain at about average compared to previous scissor cut years. Forage quality measures are holding...
Scissor Cut Results 5/2/2023
The Countdown Begins May 2, 2023 Welcome to the first Scissors Cut sampling report for 2023. We will be tracking hay growth and quality each week at 43 sites across our region on all sorts of fields at a range of elevations. You should find several sites that are...
CCE Delaware Welcomes New Executive Director
The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County Board of Directors is proud to welcome Dr. Mandeep Virk-Baker as the association’s new Executive Director. Dr. Mandeep Virk-Baker brings with her extensive public health research and administration experience and...
Round 2 of Delaware County Farm Enhancement Grants Program Announced
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County invites applications from eligible Delaware County farm businesses for financial assistance to implement eligible projects that will improve viability of farm operations through strategic investment in farm...
Delaware County Farm Enhancement Grants Program Applications Requested
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County invites applications from eligible Delaware County farm businesses for financial assistance to implement eligible projects that will improve viability of farm operations through strategic investment in farm...
Interim Executive Director Appointed
Jack Salo will be acting as interim Executive Director. Jack is a rural advocate and non-profit executive who has worked in South Central New York State for the past 35 years. Jack’s experience includes leading health, human service, and youth development...
Dairy Farm “Cost of Days Open”
Recently, I got the chance to ride along with a fellow educator to take feed samples. While sampling the bag, reproductive success got brought up in relation to nutrition management. April and I got to delight in our shared knowledge of “cost of days open” and I...