What's Your Nature?

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Hungry Cows - Animal

Posted by Amanda Carter,
North Country explorer from Dallas, Texas
March 6, 2013

During this visit to the Cornell Cooperative Extension, our primary goal was to learn about the maple syrup production process. However, there was a group of fluffy sheep as well as these friendly cows, who looked up to pose for the camera as they munched on some hay. The contrast between the bleak day and the richly colored hide of the cows inspired me to take this shot. The dairy industry is critical to the Northern New York economy. In recent decades, the number of dairy farms and cows in this region has decreased, shrinking the cheese-making industry and raising costs for farmers who have to haul milk farther distances to remaining buyers. But in 2001, the North Country Dairy Viability Initiative was established, creating a series of committees to research options for long-term stability of the dairy industry. The cows here at the Cornell Cooperative Extension are a testament to these continued efforts.