Farming Articles

I can take a joke as well as the next person, but I've always taken offense to the one about the farmer who, when asked what he's going to do with the money he inherited, says he's going to farm 'til it's all gone. Take it from this 4th generation farm gal; I'm not in...

Property rights advocates and government officials continue to spar over land-use rules, even as economic uncertainty has leveled the number of greenfields developed for homes and manufacturers. And while both sides in the debate claim to be protecting land values, an...

Confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are intensely regulated to meet environmental responsibilities. But farmers inadvertently may be causing public health problems downstream because they simply do not know the rules or underestimate the impact of their...

There's not quite like seeing the fruits of your labor. Vegetable gardens and flowerbeds filled with flavors and colors you started from seed; knowing you made it happen is gratifying and something you'll likely want to repeat time and time again. Growing your own...

A severe drought, such as the one that has affected the Midwest, Southwest, Southeast and the Southern and Central Plains regions of the United States last year, can have lasting effects on both the local and national agricultural and farming industry. The National...

Farming is, by nature, a dangerous job. Working with livestock, operating heavy equipment, working out in the elements, using dangerous chemicals, using all sorts of tools, all of these tasks carry with them an above-average risk of getting hurt. Safety, however, is...

Who has the most to gain or lose from the productivity of your farm? You do, of course. So who is the best person to represent your farm when it comes to selling what you produce? You are, of course. Whether it's soybeans or sheep, geraniums or goats you can grow your...

The industrialization of our nation's food industry, and increasingly the world's food industry, has drastically changed the way food is produced, transported to market, bought, and consumed. The idea of a "farmer's market" has become a novelty rather than the norm...

"General Greenhouse Growing Guidelines." That’s a lot of ‘G’ words, isn’t it? But hey, it got your attention, didn’t it? Okay, so now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get down to what you are really interested in; growing healthy, hearty plants in your...

The everyday farming activities of plowing fields and seasonal crop harvests are causing some serious issues underground. The heavy tractors and other farm equipment operating in the fields compress the soil which each pass. Season after season, the sub-surface soil...

A greenhouse is fun. There's just no other way to say it. How could someone NOT enjoy making things grow? It's such a great feeling. But a greenhouse can be an expensive hobby. Greenhouses aren't a one-time expense. So...why not turn your hobby into profitable fun?...

Honey bees are extremely important insects all over the world. These industrious creatures are among the most effective plant pollinating species on the planet. Farmers rely on these insects to pollinate many of their fruit and vegetable crops. Without the assistance...

What are your three favorite things to eat? What is your favorite restaurant? Pretty easy questions, right? Now tell me how many farmers it takes to get those favorites off the plate and into your belly. Can you? Do you know just how vital the agricultural industry is...

For Indiana and Georgia farmers, it's not a matter of who's right and wrong in the debate behind tough new immigration laws that took effect July 1, but of those laws essentially biting the hands that help feed them. While federal judges have blocked key provisions of...

It may be possible for growers to maximize their profits, increase the output of their land, and lower their cost of inputs by using the simple principles of companion planting. Companion planting is an excellent way to introduce and integrate specialty crops into...

Gone are the days when sheep are labeled as born looking for a place to die and sheep farmers are ostracized for their choice of production. Today's sheep producers are smiling all the way to the bank due to the fact that the demand for quality lamb is strong and...

You'd be hard pressed to find anyone who didn't have some sort of unfinished project stuffed in a drawer or in the back of their closet or workshop. Hey, it happens. And the 'danger' is there for this unfinished status to creep into owning a greenhouse if you don't...

As a farmer, you know the time is coming (or has already come) when you'll need to hang up your hat and take life a bit easier. You'll not be quite as quick on your feet, the winter's chill will be harder to shake and your back just won't be able to take those hay...

What Is Permaculture? A New Paradigm Although permaculture has been around for nearly forty years, most people are not familiar with it and those who are often view it as a fad form of gardening. A closer examination of permaculture reveals that it is more than a fad...

Thеrе аrе mаnу builders thаt specialize іn construction оf pole barns (post-frame buildings), аnd еvеn thоugh dіffеrеnt builders uѕе dіffеrеnt techniques, thе idea оf а pole barn іѕ basically thе same. Thе typical pole barn іѕ constructed wіth pressure treated posts...

Rotational grazing is the process of moving livestock from pasture paddock to paddock for the benefit of both the animals and the pastures. The most obvious reason for resting pasture is re-growth. When animals aren't grazing, both the root system and stem can grow...

In all the years I've been representing the agricultural industry at farm shows, fairs, agricultural conferences and the like, I can't count the number of times I've been approached by folks wanting to raise a few sheep to keep their place cleaned up or who've just...

Stinkbugs. Small. Smelly. Costly. In 1996, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys, entered the United States stowed inside a packing crate that arrived in Reading, Pennsylvania from Asia. This particular stinkbug species is commonly found in China, Japan,...

I'm the 4th generation of my family to farm. So I can assure you that the idyllic pictures of farmers in neatly washed and pressed shirts and jeans strolling through fields of hay or corn you often see depicted in magazines are just that idyllic. Trust me-I should...

Mulching is the act of spreading a protective layer of material on top of soil in crop production. The activity offers numerous benefits, including the conservation of soil moisture, the limiting of soil erosion, and the maintenance of an even soil temperature. There...