Pivotal Issues Blog

By: Chuck Abbott While U.S. farmers spent several years in the doldrums, agriculture in the rest of the world “appears to be in a sustained period of prosperity dating to the early 2000s,” said agricultural economist Carl Zulauf of Ohio State University. Growers overseas have steadily expanded the amount of land harvested for grains and […]

By: Successful Farming Staff Interest in buying agricultural land has grown since a coronavirus pandemic-induced slowdown blanketed the land market last spring. Farmers are feeling more financially secure as strong commodity prices arrived on top of large government payments in 2020. This is propelling farmers to bid more aggressively for additional land than has been […]

By: Jodi Henke Manage the natural resources on your farm by implementing a conservation plan. The benefits include protecting the soil and productivity, improving water quality, and attracting wildlife. The Natural Resources Conservation Service can help you figure it all out. Julie Falcon is a resource conservation consultant, retired from the NRCS. She says when […]

By: Peter Jaques Renting vs. owning land – which is the better option? This has been a hot-button question in agriculture lately and, while there are many benefits to both sides, the differences between the tax benefits are rarely discussed. Let’s break down the tax-deductible opportunities for both. Read More

By: Megan Schilling Omer Davidi and Itai Kanot founded BeeHero after asking a simple question: Can technology help solve the problems bees face? During their initial research, they stumbled upon a satirical entry about bees in Encyclopedia Dramatica, which underscored how misconceptions can hinder efforts to protect these vital pollinators. Colony collapse disorder, disease, and […]

By: Natalina Sents Farmers carry more tools in their pockets than ever before. These aren’t items that belong in a toolbox. They’re apps on phones and tablets. According to mobile app intelligence company, 42matters, there are 3,492,653 Android apps available on Google Play. The Apple App Store offers 1,821,441 iOS apps. An average of 616 […]

By: Laurie Bedord Endless statistics are involved in baseball. Earned run average, batting average, and runs batted in all fill an important role in evaluating a player’s progress. Like baseball, farming can focus on numbers that, if gathered and used correctly, add understanding to what is seen in the field. “In my 20-plus years in […]

Dave Eckhoff, Southeast Minnesota Sales Manager for Heartland AG Systems says proper application equipment can support your weed management plan. “Today, we have machinery with large tank capacities,” Eckhoff says. Read More

By: Laurie Bedord Greg Setter has climbed the ladder on his grain bins for years, in all types of weather, without incident. With every step taken, the chore has become second nature to the Canadian farmer. As he ascends and descends, Setter also knows it is one of the most dangerous tasks he performs. “In […]

By: Laurie Bedord Zach Hunnicutt doesn’t like going inside a dirty, hot grain bin, but he does – and quite often. At minimum, the Nebraska farmer enters 11 grain bins five times a year to manage stored grain. “That’s at least 55 times a year our friend runs the risk of not coming out alive,” […]