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Strawberry Sweet, Corn Still Sleeping: In celebration of National Strawberry Month, I visited Catesa Farms, where flavor—not shelf life—is the top priority. Meanwhile, back on my own farm, the corn is taking its sweet time to emerge, reminding me that in agriculture, timing is all about temperature—not the calendar.
This time every year, hemming and hawing would rage on at the Nichols Farm. Dad and Uncle Gary would not only agonize over when to plant, but how deep to drop the seeds. From “It’s been awfully dry, we better wait for a rain” to “It still feels a little wet, maybe we should run the field cultivator over it again” (gulp) to my annual favorite: “But If we get a beatin’ rain, those tops will turn into a layer of concrete.” Prompting, “Then we’ll have to rotary hoe.” Ah yes, the rotary hoe. A toolbar affixed with several blades resembling weapons thrown by Ninjas: rotating steel wheels featuring curved teeth. It’s used to break up crusted soils (and in some cases to incorporate herbicide) formed by those beatin’ rains.
Circa late-1990s. I was sitting at Inness Farm Supply, a plate of BBQ on my lap, listening to the Monsanto rep carry on about the advantages of Roundup Ready Corn. After hearing all the benefits, I asked THE question. “Won’t this accelerate weed resistance?” She looked at me like she wanted to summon security. Then she emphatically assured the group that resistance was not a possibility. I just smiled and replied that nature always finds a way. It did. In 2000, resistant horseweed was discovered on the East Coast. Today, 18 weed species across 38 states are resistant to glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup.
Dean’s response was predictable: ‘What in the **** are you thinking, Fred? You never plant beans until May!’ Five months later, that same field produced my highest-yielding soybeans ever. Turns out, planting early isn’t crazy—it might just be the smartest move I’ve made.
The Tradition of Easter Eggs: From Symbolism to Celebration Easter is not only a time for religious reflection, but also a celebration of the season's most iconic symbol: the egg. Did you know Americans purchase 180 million eggs just for Easter? Eggs have long been associated with new life, which makes them the perfect symbol for this holiday. The practice of gifting eggs dates back to early Christianity, when eggs were saved during Lent—a time when fasting meant meat could not be consumed. But eggs, easily preserved without refrigeration, were kept and often given to children on Easter, sometimes painted red to symbolize the blood of Christ. Today, we still celebrate with hard-boiled and decorated eggs, but modern Easter traditions also include the ever-popular chocolate eggs. In fact, over 91 billion chocolate eggs are sold for Easter each year! Another beloved tradition is the Easter Egg Roll, a fun and historic event symbolizing the rolling away of the stone from Christ’s tomb. The White House has hosted an official Egg Roll since 1878, and today, it continues to bring joy to thousands, thanks to the efforts of our First Ladies.
Cherry Blossoms: A Sight to See! Konnichiwa! This Week in Ag comes to you this week from Japan. I’m here for my son’s wedding. My new daughter chose this time of year to align with the famous blooming of the cherry blossoms. These Sakura trees provide amazing backdrops for wedding photos. You may have heard about Japan’s cherry blossoms and perhaps seen pictures online or on travel shows. But let me be clear: these do not do the flowers justice. The sights are awe-inspiring. Gardens, parks, temples, river banks and streets lined with Sakura trees provide spectacularly scenic backdrops. Pedals blow in the wind like gentle snowfall. A unique feature of some Sakura trees is their ability to bloom before leaves emerge, which further emphasizes the flowers.
Fred Nichols, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Huma®, shared his perspective in a recent article on micronutrient technology, published in CropLife. In the article, Fred discusses how advancements in micronutrient formulations are meeting increased demand, improving nutrient availability, and enhancing crop performance. Below are the key topics along with Fred’s insights.
There’s an old saying in farming: “Plant in dust, your bins will bust”. The premise is that dry soils will encourage faster, deeper root growth early in the season, which will lead to more robust root systems and stronger plants throughout the growing season. Conversely, crops planted in ideal moisture conditions may become lazy and their roots remain shallow, causing potential problems later in the season when summer heat and dry conditions often arise. If that old adage is true, then Midwest farmers would be looking at a bumper crop in 2025. Then again, there’s dry, then there’s very dry.
Trust in the mass media has eroded to new lows. A recent Gallup poll reveals that 69% of Americans have very little to no trust in the media. Over the past five decades, the number of people who place a great deal/fair amount of trust in the media has plummeted 40 points. It’s dropped 12 points in the past five years. Fortunately, this is not the case with agricultural media.
Rooted in Hope: The Unshakable Optimism of Farmers Farmers are eternal optimists. They have to be. Their entire existence is based on the hope that the seeds they sow in the spring will bear fruit come fall. Last month, farmer sentiment rose another 11 points, based on the Purdue Ag Economy Barometer. It’s now about as high as it’s been in a decade (save for 2020-21, when commodity prices hit record highs).
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