NH Dept. of Agriculture, Markets & Food

It's Opening Day at the The Big E! Come on down to West Springfield and join us for some fun, food, and agriculture! Today and tomorrow the fairgrounds will be flooded with FFA and 4H members as they compete and showcase their skills. What a great opportunity for our agricultural youth!

The Big E starts Friday! Come see us in the NH Building on the Avenue of States and visit these terrific vendors.

What a beautiful scene. Can anyone tell us where this was taken?

It's Flashback Friday! Anyone recognize these two adorable youngsters?

Beef prices soar to record highs, yet farmers struggle to reap benefits - Michigan Farm News Michigan Farm News

Did you know? It's National Chicken Month! Here are some fun facts to kick off your month-long celebration of all things fowl!

National Chicken Month Whether it's broiled, baked, fried or floating in our soup, we can't seem to get enough.

It's a great weekend to visit a fair! Check out the Hopkinton State Fair (hsfair.org) and the Lancaster Fair (lancasterfair.com). Lots of livestock, youth, exhibits, food and fun!

Americans love their dogs! Big or small, hard working or lazy, canines are our favorite companions. According to the AVMA, nearly 45% of U.S. households include one or more dogs. Post a picture of your four-legged best friend in the comments in honor of National Dog Day!

The Big E is right around the corner! Why not join us in West Springfield, Massachusetts for New England's Great State Fair? The Expo runs from September 13th - 29th and includes lots to see and do. While you're on the fairgrounds, be sure to check out the Avenue of States and visit us in the NH Building! We have special activities planned during the fair, and some great entertainment scheduled for NH Day, September 20th. Hope to see you there!

Despite the hot, dry summer, New Hampshire’s Berry season has flourished!

Madison Hardy, president of the New Hampshire Fruit Growers Association says “Strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries all had excellent crops, producing a long picking season that has extended into August, depending on the variety of berry that was planted. Hot weather can make them ripen faster, but it also makes them grow.”

Jeremy Delisle of UNH Cooperative Extension agreed, “Everything’s doing great. All varieties, early season through late season.” Most farms have benefited from irrigation, which helped them manage the record-high temperatures. Recent heavy rains have been a welcome bonus.

Learn more about NH’s growing season with this link: https://unh.me/3ywoJ9E

Are you worried about your Eastern white pines turning yellow and dropping needles? You're not alone! Many folks in NH have recently noticed this unusual phenomenon.

The damage can be linked to a few species of fungi that infected pine needles during the very wet spring and summer of 2023. These fungi cause “white pine needle disease” or “white pine needlecast” which leads to infected pine needles being shed or “cast” in the spring and summer months instead of in the autumn.
Instead of holding two or three years’ worth of foliage, white pines with severe needlecast hold only one year’s growth of needles. This makes tree crowns look unnaturally thin; however, the disease will not likely lead to long-term tree health problems. Most trees will recover by the end of this summer.
Check out this article for more information: https://unh.me/4dyxbDZ

It's National Tell a Joke Day! Here's one to start your weekend off with a laugh.

From the NH Audubon Society: August marks the beginning of fall in the bird world. Migration starts with an influx of shorebirds and swirls of tree swallows staging for migration. Many birds continue to feed their now-fledged young. Late nesters like American Goldfinch may still be caring for nestlings and early migrants are on the move. Here are a few birding highlights to watch for in August, read the details here: https://www.nhaudubon.org/bird-highlights-to-watch-for.../

Peach season is here! Sharing this info from NH Magazine:

Where to pick your own peaches in NH Peach picking season is short and lasts only a couple of weeks in August, so don't delay!

National Farmers' Market Week is a great time to shop local and support New Hampshire farmers!

It's National Farmers' Market Week! Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has proclaimed August 4-10, 2024 as a week for recognizing the vital role farmers' markets across the United States have in providing access to fresh, locally grown produce to millions of Americans. Farmers' markets also support USDA's Food System Transformation framework by helping build a fairer food system that works better for farmers, their families, and their communities. Find farmers' markets in New Hampshire with the help of our online directory: https://www.agriculture.nh.gov/publications-forms/documents/farmers-market-directory.pdf

Did you know that, despite having poor eyesight, bees can recognize human faces? Check out this fascinating article for more information on our tiny winged friends!

Can Bees Recognize Faces? RALEIGH, N.C. -- Can Bees Recognize Faces? The short answer? Yes. But there’s a bit more to the story. Recently David Tarpy, professor of applied...

Check out these larger-than-life monuments to crops and livestock! Road trip, anyone?

The world's largest monuments to crops and livestock | AGDAILY These "world's largest" monuments celebrate various crops' rich heritage and economic importance across different regions.

It's National Chicken Wing Day! Today, folks around the world enjoy this snack, but years ago, the wing was considered one of the least desirable cuts of chicken. Learn how the popular "Buffalo" version came to be: https://www.history.com/news/who-invented-buffalo-wings
Consumption of chicken has increased over the past several decades, and the USDA reports that the United States is the world's number one producer of poultry. Let's hear it for wings!

Who Invented Buffalo Wings? | HISTORY The origin story of spicy, saucy chicken wings has more than one hero.

It's sunflower season! If you're a lover of these cheerful beauties, check out one of the upcoming festivals in the Granite State. Three we've heard of are at Coppal House Farm (Lee), July 27 - August 4; Brookford Farm (Canterbury), August 10 - 18; and Sunfox Farm (Concord), August 10 - 18. Enjoy this opportunity to stroll the fields, pick your own, or just admire these magnificent flowers.

The Deerfield Fair will be here before we know it!

July is rapidly coming to an end, but there's still time to celebrate National Ice Cream month! Raise your hand if you're an "average" American ice cream eater!

Are you a new or aspiring farmer? Consider registering for Extension's New Farmer School! Starting in August and running through November, the New Farmer School consists of eight sessions, with some held on Zoom and others in person. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the production and business skills needed to start a farming career. Participants will learn from experienced farmers and Extension staff and will have opportunities to connect with other agricultural service providers in New Hampshire.

New Farmer School The annual New Farmer School helps grow your agricultural business through this intensive multi-session course, applicable to any new farmer.

Information on a study on pricing accuracy, shared by our Division of Weights and Measures:

National Conference On Weights and Measures organizes national study on pricing accuracy at retail /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The retail trade industry is a significant part of the United States economy, making pricing accuracy critical to consumers and retailers....

Very cool!

Throughout history, the skills honed in the agricultural fields have translated into incredible success on the global stage. Farming teaches resilience, discipline, and dedication—qualities that are mirrored in the relentless pursuit of Olympic dreams. From the dairy farms of Vermont to the vast fields of Georgia, these athlete farmers embody the true spirit of hard work and perseverance.

Read more about it here: https://hubs.la/Q02GCrM40

☀️Don't forget to follow for more Ag news!

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Very interesting!

The audacity of this orchid is off the charts.

The pink lady's slipper (Cypripedium acaule) is quite something. This showy orchid is found across much of the eastern half of the United States and typically blooms between May and July.

Here's the best part about pink lady's slipper - they kidnap bees! Ok, it's more of a bee-nap. Various bee species are the main pollinator of this orchid. The bee is lured in by the bright color of the flower. Ooooo, the bee must think. There must be some delicious nectar inside. WRONG! There is a small opening at the front of the flower petal. Once inside, the bee is trapped, and it can't go back out. And the worst is, there's no sweet nectar reward. It's the ultimate catfish!

There's only one way out for the trapped bee, and that's to go through a small opening at the top of the flower. This is a tight squeeze for the bee and as it exits, it rubs up against the pollen of the flower. After it makes its escape from the catfish orchid, it will fly off covered in its pollen and be lured in again by another pink lady's slipper to help pollinate the next generation.

Photo by Keith Ramos/USFWS