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“Free seed can cost a lot of money.” That was dad’s less-than-tactful response to a seed salesman hoping to woo him with a special offer. Was dad exaggerating (as he was notoriously known to do)? Not in this case. Even using today’s financial standards – where seed costs have more than
“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
“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
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
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,
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
“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
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
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