The annual Des Moines Register’s Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI) is just around the corner and this year riders can learn about Iowa agriculture through a series of podcasts, coined “Iowa Agcasts“. “The beauty and fertility of Iowa’s land is very evident this time of year and these podcasts will highlight the importance and diversity of Iowa agriculture as …
Farmer Appreciates Crowds, Support on CTIC Tour
Good crowds from around the area and many parts of the country turned out for last week’s Conservation Technology Information Center tour in Livingston County, Ill., and that was appreciated by the local farmers. “Today we had a lot of people here. When you go to all that work, and you put these plots in, and you try to figure …
CTIC: Using Cover Crops to Boost Yields
Getting the most out of what you’ve got is a goal that most producers have, and during last week’s Conservation Technology Information Center tour in Livingston County, Ill., the value of using cover crops to boost a bottom line was shown. Mike Plumer is a retired University of Illinois Extension educator in agriculture and natural resources and currently a consultant …
Two Chicks From the Sticks
Boehringer Ingelhiem held a Swine Link networking event in Des Moines, Iowa this weekend, for women from around the country working in the swine industry. During the first day, the group hung out at Meredith Publishing, the home of the famous test kitchens. While there the ladies were treated with a cooking demonstration from one of the authors of the cookbook, …
Communication Key to Cooperation in CTIC Tour
Cooperation is key for successful conservation practices in agriculture, and the key to that cooperation is good communication among all the players. That was the message attendees of the recent Conservation Technology Information Center tour in Livingston County, Ill., heard. “If you want to go back to a simple recipe for success, cooperation among many industries, many individuals and many …
CTIC Panel Addresses Soil Quality, Nitrate Levels
One of the best parts about the Conservation Technology Information Center tour is the conversations that come up, either through formal panels or just informal talks. On the more formal side, local Livingston County, Ill., farmer Marcus Maier (pictured seated, holding the microphone) sat on a panel during the tour that addressed soil health and the issue of nitrate runoff …
Conservation Work Helps Farmers Avoid Regulations
Getting caught up in government regulations and red tape is something any farmer wants to avoid, and attendees of the recent Conservation Technology Information Center tour in Livingston County, Ill., heard how they can avoid more of that with voluntary programs, such as the one on display on the tour. Marcia Willhite, the Chief of the Bureau of Water with …
Culvers Says Thank You Farmers
Culvers is grateful to farmers so their showing their support. So eat a butter burger and support FFA! Culver’s has depended on family farms since opening its first restaurant in 1984. From the cattle ranches of the Great Plains to the dairy farms of Wisconsin, Culver’s remains committed to sourcing the finest ingredients America’s family growers have to offer. And …
SwineLink – A Great Network for Women
I spent much of this weekend participating in a SwineLink network event in Des Moines, Iowa, an event for women in the swine industry that was sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. I was surrounded by women, several who were swine vets and others working in other facets of the business, learning about how to succeed in a male dominated industry, tips …
CTIC: Soil Health Key to Crop Health
Attendees of the recent Conservation Technology Information Center tour in Livingston County, Ill., heard about the importance of soil health and how it can pay big dividends back to producers … and the consequences of not taking care of the soil. “We have really degraded our soils in the Midwest,” explained Hans Kok (on the right, pointing to his demonstration …