“They’re on 30s, we’re on 36s.” The cultural practice of row width is often as defining to a farm as the color of tractors they drive. Row width speaks to how far apart you plant your rows. This can vary greatly depending on the crop, geography, agronomic challenges and what the farmer wants to achieve. Here’s a look
“It won’t grow in the bag.” Grandpa never minced words. And that’s how he responded (in frustration) to my dad and uncle whenever they pondered dropping the planter. His philosophy was simple: the moment you can plant, you plant. There’s only so much heat and sunlight Mother Nature offers, so you better take her up on
Yesterday was the 110th birthday of the greatest agriculturalist of all time, Norman Borlaug. The Cresco, Iowa, native’s ground-breaking work to prevent hunger is said to have “saved more lives than any other person who ever lived.” That would be more than one billion lives, according to estimates.
“What are you planting this year?” That may not sound like a trick question, considering it’s already mid-March. But ask any farmer south of the Mason-Dixon line that question and you’ll likely see their shoulders shrug. You see, unlike in the West, where permanent crops and processor contracts make planting decisions more straight-forward, or in the
We’re all a wee bit Irish come Sunday, even if your family tree has no roots in the Emerald Isle. And no holiday is more linked to a particular plant than St. Patrick’s Day is to the shamrock (which is actually a white clover). The relationship’s origins trace back 16 centuries ago, when the future Patron Saint
While farmer sentiment may be down, their appetite for new information is not. Initial estimates had last week’s Commodity Classic drawing record crowds, with projections of 11,000 attending the event in Houston.
Farmers love to kick tires, share stories, and due to their curious nature, are always looking to pick up tips for their trade. It’s no wonder the agricultural industry is rife with trade shows. Perhaps the most influential show is Commodity Classic, where the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Wheat Growers Association
“They’re not making any more of it” has long been a popular response among farmers justifying a land purchase (or in the case of retirees or heirs, for holding on to it). But now it seems, they’re making less of it. A lot less. Like 20 million acres less. That’s about the size of Maine.
What are farmers doing during these cold winter days? If they farm in the Midwest, they may be laying tile. I realize this may be a foreign concept to my friends in the west, but in many areas of the Corn Belt, you must often move water out of your fields. In heavier soils, excessive rainwater can remain
Back in the mid-1980s, this then-high school student attended a farmer meeting with dad. One of the speakers was a commodities advisor. He playfully asked the attendees what their target price was for their crops. He further inquired, “How many of you are still holding out for the return of $12 soybeans?” The sheepish looks
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