The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets on Friday announced that it has issued an order to ban all live fowl shows and exhibitions to help prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza to the state’s poultry.

Avian flu is a highly contagious disease that afflicts all manner of birds. An outbreak seven years ago was responsible for the death of 50 million birds across the country. 

The Berne Town Board held a public hearing on a new animal-control law this week and received mostly minor suggestions for alteration from a public that seemed largely pleased with the proposed regulations. 

Dairy farmers have until February to enroll in the United States Department of Agriculture’s Dairy Margin Coverage program, which insures farmers against thinning margins by issuing payments whenever the ratio between cost of feed and all milk prices hits a certain threshold. 

KNOX — Gary Kleppel is a sheep farmer who likes coyotes.

He is perpetually aware of the ecological balance of which he is a part.

Every morning, Kleppel and his border collie bring their 30 sheep from barn to pasture and then, every night, return them to the barn.

New sign-up opportunities for relief through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Assistance Program will begin April 5.

Stephen Hadcock, Beginning Farmer Educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension, told The Enterprise that, over the last decade or longer, he’s seen an increase in the number of people who have taken steps to start their own farm. The Enterprise spoke with Hadcock and new Berne farmer Todd Gallup for insight into the process of starting a farm from scratch. 

NEW SCOTLAND — On Aug. 25, the zoning board here took a closer look at the request from Tommell Livestock, LLC to renew a use variance previously granted to the prior owner of the property, Charles Schufelt.

Berne’s latest farmers’ market, initiated as a response to the coronavirus, had its opening on Wednesday, Aug. 5, in what vendor Todd Gallup, of Berne’s Gallup Farms, told The Enterprise was an “extraordinary success.” The market will continue to operate Wednesdays from 3 until 5:30 p.m. at the Berne Town Park with no established end date.