There are multiple articles that try to explain the difference between price gouging versus supply and demand economics. Now for the reason I bring this up. For the 2nd year in a row, I parked my combine during harvest and traveled to scenic southern Illinois and Shawnee National Forest. Last Read more…
Would you bend over to pick up a penny? How about 2 or 3? Is a penny today worth as much as it was in 1982, my first year of farming? This begs the question, which I will try to answer; How does a corn farmer make money? Another simple Read more…
A change is in the air. It is now officially fall, both meteorologically and astronomically. And, if you like your German beers, it is also the season for Oktoberfest and beer gardens. Not only will the leaves be falling from the trees soon, but the leaves are already falling from Read more…
I currently have a guest from Mexico at my house. Jesus owns two farms in Mexico. Since I have lived my entire life as a farmer, and most of it on the farm, I have a different perspective on life in the country than my wife. Cora grew up in Read more…
When I was a much younger farmer, there were some very difficult years for a row crop farmer to be profitable. Diversification, not putting all your eggs in one basket, was the buzz word. Farmers could diversify by adding new crops or livestock to help spread risk and increase profitability. Read more…
I have writer’s block. I always try to write what I believe is topical to farming and current life in addition to being as humorous and entertaining as I can. I have many ideas, but would anyone find them entertaining, relevant, funny, or interesting? Since I am still waiting for Read more…
I need to finish this article as quickly as possible so I can go pick out my new Lamborghini. Should I go red or white? Have you seen the Clint Eastwood movie called The Mule? My first 13 years out of high school I spent most of my waking hours Read more…
I have 3 quotes about corn that I often repeat for friends that are not astute about farming. Also, mosquito season will start in 3-2-1,,. Will this rainy spell be enough to produce abundant hay crops for the rest of 2023? The severe dry pattern that had plagued the Midwest Read more…
If you like antiques, collectibles, long walks and Frank Lloyd Wright architecture among scenic valleys and farms, I recommend you visit House on the Rock in Wisconsin. A dry spell had parched crops at home, so it was time for a little recreation to the north, the land of cheese Read more…
Drought! This will be the 6th period of severe drought in my 42 years of farming; and if it does not start raining soon it will rank with the serious droughts of 1988 and 2012. Now that I am a lot older and wiser than I was in 1982, I Read more…