Pivotal Issues Blog

By: Jerry Nelson Farmers often have to defend their crops from pests. While these pests can range from microbes to insects to avians, imagine trying to prevent crop losses when the nuisance in question can tip the scales at 15,000 pounds, might be more than 10 feet tall, and is highly intelligent. This is a […]

By: Jerry Nelson Of all the root crops known to humankind — and I’m including rutabagas and cattail rhizomes here — my favorite is the humble radish. Radishes are a good source of vitamin C, minerals, and bad breath. But their benefits don’t end there. They don’t even begin there. Radishes also provide a fast […]

By: Erin Socha When Mike Moddrell bought 320 acres of land in southwest Douglas County in 2002, it looked very different from the tallgrass prairie it is today. “When I bought it, it had been neglected for a long, long time,” Moddrell said. “It was in pretty bad shape. I kept burning and burning and […]

By: John Schwarz Although relatively new to the legal world compared to other forms of legal entities, Limited Liability Companies (LLC) have by far become the legal entity of choice for businesses. Data suggests that in recent years, more than 90% of new businesses started as an LLC. Some of the largest companies in the […]

By: Heather Lifsey When I was in college at Virginia Tech, my friends and I used to camp out for football tickets. These days, my friends are camping out to get into the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). I recently talked with a farmer who needed to get North Carolina driver’s licenses for her H-2A […]

By: Cassidy Walter Not all is sunny in the countryside when it comes to solar energy and agriculture. While solar energy can provide farmers with a new revenue stream, some are concerned about taking productive ground out of commission. “If it’s marginal ground, fine; it doesn’t produce very good,” said Jon Freeman, a fourth-generation farmer […]

By: Jolene Brown The Problem We’re getting married! Between all the planning and doing, money and future finances have not been a priority conversation. However, several months ago, a friend of ours was killed in a car accident. As we support his wife and two young children, we see a mighty struggle, not only with […]

There are many reasons for a backfiring engine. Troubleshoot them one-by-one. By Successful Farming Staff A backfiring lawn mower can not only be annoying — it can be dangerous. We’re answering a question from Dena in Mississippi. She said, “I have a 2002 John Deere riding lawn mower, and always try to take good care […]

By Jerry Nelson The writer Arthur Brooks recently penned a column about a dinner party he and his wife attended with several other long-married couples. After some requisite social niceties, the hostess posed a question that sparked an evening of fascinating discussion: Have you ever had a major crisis in your marriage? Were you to […]

Here’s how to find the right farm dog for your property. By Karen Weir-Jimerson Tracy Kobberdahl often rises before sunrise to do chores on her South Dakota farm. As she marches from her warm house to her cold barn, her dog, Tom, is often right at her side. Among Tom’s many jobs is helping to […]