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,

The photos here arrived today from a central Iowa grower who sprayed cornstalks Oct. 17 with a pint per acre of Environoc 501 plus some microbial “starter fluid:” two gallons per acre of calcium chloride. Softer pith in the stalk has already gone dark after slightly more than a week of mild temperatures. By spring, these stalks

Every so often, a major national news story rings with such clarity that I’m not as hesitant to admit that I’m a “used journalist.” National Public Radio’s Dan Charles today posted “Monsanto and the Weed Scientists: Not a Love Story,” which rips off many coverups by the genetic giants pushing the remake of an old herbicide,

A front-page feature in Wall Street Journal today by writer Jacob Bunge describes how Cargill Inc. plans to use a powerful web-linking technology which would allow retail customers to trace their individual Thanksgiving turkey back to the farm that raised it. A participating Texas turkey producer says this kind of capability “opens our doors to the consumer.” Oct. 25,

Our Master Gardeners here at Renewable Farming, Jeanene Carlson and her family, raise delicious tomatoes, veggies and greens all summer. This winter, Grandpa will attempt to extend the productive life of their tomatoes by transferring and transplanting several plants in the two-story greenhouse built into the south side of our home. Oct. 23, 2017    By Jerry