When one of our crop consultant friends gives seminars for farmers, he often points out: “There are two very important people groups you want on your side, not opposing you:  Moms in China, and Moms in America.” Nov. 13, 2017 — You can be thankful this Thanksgiving Day that mothers in both nations, and in every other nation too, are […]

American farmers can capture great export opportunities — if we produce the kind of corn, soybeans and other commodities that overseas buyers really want. Following the money, not whining about TTP’s demise, points the way. Nov. 11, 2017  Opinion By Jerry Carlson — There aren’t many advantages to being an 81-year-old farmer, journalist and Air

  Dozens of participants in the latest UN Climate Summit this week gathered on the final day for a special celebration: Cheering America’s exit from the futile UN “Paris Pact.” These special few did not ride the taxpayers’ gravy train to Dusseldorf; they paid their own ways. They call themselves the Global Warming Skeptics. Nov.

At least three times a day, Grandpa and Grandma (that’s us) taste the rewards of grandson Lane’s venture into beekeeping and producing honey. The taste is more exquisite than any honey we’ve found online or from friends — and we’ve tasted some mighty fine honey!   Nov. 10, 2017   By Jerry Carlson — This

We’re constantly encouraging farmers to explore the latest and best developments in ecologically sound, profitable farming. One of the widest arrays of ideas and talent assembles annually—from all around the world—at the ACRES USA Conference & Trade Show. Nov. 7, 2017 — The 2017 ACRES Conference, “From the Soil UP” is Dec. 5-8 in Columbus,

A new consumer analysis published by the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association shows that retail food consumers will pay almost exactly the same price premium for “Non-GMO Certified” apples as they will for “USDA Organic” apples.  Nov. 7, 2017    By Jerry Carlson — That’s just one highlight of the analysis of the study in which

“The Howard G. Buffett Foundation has captured and summarized the experiences of leading farmers who are integrating cover crops into their rotations. Those reports were published as inserts in Farm Journal with Buffett’s sponsorship. They’re also online in the foundation’s website at this address: http://harvestingthepotential.org. Here, we’ve assembled links to the most recent 14 cover-crop articles which are now online at

Today’s new high-tech information systems could multiply your profits if you apply an old idea: Synergistic, farmer-led research with other farmers. “Practical Farmers of Iowa” pioneered this idea in the ag crisis of the 1980s. PFI has grown and adapted for more than 30 years. Today it’s energized by more than 3,000 enthusiastic farmers of all ages and interests. Here’s

Veteran plant pathologist Dr. Don Huber often comments in his seminars on crop health that “Corn used to be one of the healthiest crops on American farms.”   But now that much of the Midwest sees early corn die-down, is there a way to recapture the 40 to 60 “home stretch” days of corn maturity,