Pivotal Issues Blog

By: Laurie Bedord Tucked away under their basement stairs, Bruce and Carol Peterson believed the storm that swept across their family’s Northfield, Minnesota, farm was going to be no big deal. “We could hear what sounded like leaves and branches hitting the house, so we thought there were only going to be a few trees […]

By: Mark McLaughlin My husband and I are 76, farm with our son, own 840 acres debt-free, and just did something we promised we wouldn’t do. We took on debt to buy another 160 acres right next to us. I thought we were done! Our son wanted to buy it, but his balance sheet was […]

By: Successful Farming Staff Alan Krick views his life as a farmer and a father as a glass-half-full proposition. “Oh my gosh, I love farming,” he confesses. “I wake up every morning, even during these times of trade wars, regulations, and environmental challenges, and I feel like it’s another day in paradise. Recently, while exploring […]

By: Terri Queck-Matzie Throughout all segments of agriculture, farmers are finding the key to management today and preparing for tomorrow involves the use of technology. See how agriculture is adopting new advancements to increase productivity and profitability. When Lora Howell of Ohio found herself holding the reigns of the family farm, she quickly realized it […]

By: Raylene Nickel Solar energy, crops, and cattle work together at the University of Massachusetts Crop Research and Education Center. A research trial launched in 2010 suggests that generating solar energy can occur hand in hand with grazing livestock or growing vegetable crops. “The purpose of our work has been to see if we could […]

By: Emma Wilson Dean Foods, American’s largest milk producer, announced today the company is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Due to decades-long drop in U.S. milk consumption with a rise in plant-based milk options, the company said it has been unable to escape the effects of traditional milk’s decline as consumers seek alternatives. “Despite our […]

By: Natalina Sents Farmers will be able to see more information about their Turbo-Max fieldwork with the new Implement Command system from Great Plains. This technology provides data to the cab that can be used to make on-the-go decisions and adjustments to better yields and soil health, the company claims. “The biggest benefit to producers […]

By: Alaina Dismukes Farmers, ag industry leaders, and especially volunteer firefighters need training on grain bin safety and rescue procedures, according to a speaker addressing the recent Mississippi State University Seed Technology Short Course. The two-day event considered all things seed-related, from field to bin, including harvest management, grain bin safety, state seed laws, and much […]

By: DakotaFarmer There is a quick-start instruction manual for farmers who want to start growing cover crops. The Midwest Cover Crops Council (MCCC) is offering free downloadable PDFs explaining how and why to add cover crops to a corn-soybean rotation. Charles Ellis, a University of Missouri Extension field specialist in agricultural engineering who also serves […]

By: Steve Groff Although I try not to pitch cover crops as a magic bullet for cost saving, the truth is that the answer to the question, “Do cover crops pay?” is a resounding “Yes!” Often, we tend to focus on where they pay off in profit with increased yields. But one of the most overlooked […]