Alan Lyons
@alan50.bsky.social
Semi-retired farmer, Mustang collector, cabinet maker, whiskey lover.
The article says $60k for 250 acres in '78. I don't know where in ON you could have found land at that price with a decent dairy barn. I know it wasn't doable in '83, I was looking all over s/w ON.
November 27, 2025 at 2:03 AM
The article says $60k for 250 acres in '78. I don't know where in ON you could have found land at that price with a decent dairy barn. I know it wasn't doable in '83, I was looking all over s/w ON.
Interesting that you say land prices were similar when you started. I bought my 1st Caledon farm in '77 for 2.25x what he was paying. I bought another in Dufferin in '85 for 1.5x his price. Location and timing had a big impact. Northern NY has never seen the current demand or prices of S. ON.
November 26, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Interesting that you say land prices were similar when you started. I bought my 1st Caledon farm in '77 for 2.25x what he was paying. I bought another in Dufferin in '85 for 1.5x his price. Location and timing had a big impact. Northern NY has never seen the current demand or prices of S. ON.
I would say s/m is a relatively small factor in land price escalation in ON. Population growth and thus development, has contributed much more. S/M has had an impact on herd size growth though the question could be raised, which is better for the community, 1-7000 cow operation or 70-100 cow herds?
November 26, 2025 at 6:07 PM
I would say s/m is a relatively small factor in land price escalation in ON. Population growth and thus development, has contributed much more. S/M has had an impact on herd size growth though the question could be raised, which is better for the community, 1-7000 cow operation or 70-100 cow herds?
The stated land prices are 1 area of apparent significant difference between NY and ON.
November 26, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The stated land prices are 1 area of apparent significant difference between NY and ON.
Is there a way to set up groups on Bluesky? Something like "Agsky"
September 6, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Is there a way to set up groups on Bluesky? Something like "Agsky"
Is that change in BD a result of the cover crops or the likelihood of a switch to reduced tillage or no-till in conjunction with implementing cover crops?
The greatest benefits of cover crops are often tied to reducing tillage and maintaining soil cover and living roots year round.
The greatest benefits of cover crops are often tied to reducing tillage and maintaining soil cover and living roots year round.
July 12, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Is that change in BD a result of the cover crops or the likelihood of a switch to reduced tillage or no-till in conjunction with implementing cover crops?
The greatest benefits of cover crops are often tied to reducing tillage and maintaining soil cover and living roots year round.
The greatest benefits of cover crops are often tied to reducing tillage and maintaining soil cover and living roots year round.
The question becomes what is "improvement"?
For each of us it is something slightly different.
Better yield, more profit, less erosion, better weed control, reduced compaction, any or all of these.
Must there be a trade-off?
For each of us it is something slightly different.
Better yield, more profit, less erosion, better weed control, reduced compaction, any or all of these.
Must there be a trade-off?
June 13, 2025 at 1:07 AM
The question becomes what is "improvement"?
For each of us it is something slightly different.
Better yield, more profit, less erosion, better weed control, reduced compaction, any or all of these.
Must there be a trade-off?
For each of us it is something slightly different.
Better yield, more profit, less erosion, better weed control, reduced compaction, any or all of these.
Must there be a trade-off?
The US judiciary are under attack from Trump and his clowns. When they have crops rotting in the fields because there aren't enough tfw's, maybe the rest of the country will wake up. It remains to be seen how the country reacts to the increased prices when the impact of tariffs take full effect.
June 12, 2025 at 1:12 AM
The US judiciary are under attack from Trump and his clowns. When they have crops rotting in the fields because there aren't enough tfw's, maybe the rest of the country will wake up. It remains to be seen how the country reacts to the increased prices when the impact of tariffs take full effect.
Hi Lorne, are the current goings-on in California the run-up to your predicted US civil war? I read today where he is proposing to remove funding for FEMA. Really have to wonder just how far this fiasco will go before the GOP wakes up.
June 11, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Hi Lorne, are the current goings-on in California the run-up to your predicted US civil war? I read today where he is proposing to remove funding for FEMA. Really have to wonder just how far this fiasco will go before the GOP wakes up.
Was the perennial a legume?
June 6, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Was the perennial a legume?
Are you going to seed into that or is it part of your perennial inter-row cover?
May 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Are you going to seed into that or is it part of your perennial inter-row cover?
Trump is right ....for once.😂
April 12, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Trump is right ....for once.😂
That's part of the benefit of covercrops, holding more snow. Our fields hold snow much longer than those that have been worked or are only stubble.
March 18, 2025 at 2:37 AM
That's part of the benefit of covercrops, holding more snow. Our fields hold snow much longer than those that have been worked or are only stubble.
We had very little frost in our fields and our snow melt has been as gradual as I've seen in years. Even the 10' banks on the roadsides are getting away without much ponding.
Is this the result of continuous no-till, cover crops and tile drainage?
Is this the result of continuous no-till, cover crops and tile drainage?
March 17, 2025 at 1:58 AM
We had very little frost in our fields and our snow melt has been as gradual as I've seen in years. Even the 10' banks on the roadsides are getting away without much ponding.
Is this the result of continuous no-till, cover crops and tile drainage?
Is this the result of continuous no-till, cover crops and tile drainage?
Something that needs to be considered along with residue volume is C:N ratio of the residue. With long term covercrop use (25 yr) we see variations in residue breakdown based on previous crop and c/c variety. Higher carbon content (wheat straw) remains after green c-rye and oats.
March 6, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Something that needs to be considered along with residue volume is C:N ratio of the residue. With long term covercrop use (25 yr) we see variations in residue breakdown based on previous crop and c/c variety. Higher carbon content (wheat straw) remains after green c-rye and oats.
Will cop not level out the supply? The old adage "the cure for high prices is high prices" applies. If or as population declines, as long as the standard of living maintains or improves, food demand may change to more meat of all types. That may maintain some demand or move moe land back to pasture.
March 5, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Will cop not level out the supply? The old adage "the cure for high prices is high prices" applies. If or as population declines, as long as the standard of living maintains or improves, food demand may change to more meat of all types. That may maintain some demand or move moe land back to pasture.
Congratulations to your daughter
February 27, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Congratulations to your daughter
Don't have it now but I did see an article commenting on a reduction in snack-food consumption. It didn't mention anything about other foods.
February 16, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Don't have it now but I did see an article commenting on a reduction in snack-food consumption. It didn't mention anything about other foods.
Couldn't let you guys have all the fun over here.
February 16, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Couldn't let you guys have all the fun over here.
Hi Phillip,looks like all the cool guys are moving over here.
February 4, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Hi Phillip,looks like all the cool guys are moving over here.
There’s more than 1 on the list in my bar. Surprisingly nothing from Glen Breton
February 4, 2025 at 3:35 AM
There’s more than 1 on the list in my bar. Surprisingly nothing from Glen Breton