How much is one coyote worth? Forty years ago when I trapped a few coyotes each winter they were worth about $15-$30 each. I am not sure if they have value now even with today’s inflation, but I know at least one is costing me money. My chicken coop has Read more…
Does everyone know who Warren Buffet is? How about Howard Buffet, his son? I have contemplated many different ways to take this weeks article while I sprayed my corn with herbicides. Where will my overactive mind take us? Howard Graham Buffet, Warren Buffet’s son, farms in Illinois. He wrote the Read more…
He was an amazing man, and he had an amazing life and wife. Last week this paper ran the obituary of Robert George “Bob” Fitzer. It was an honor to have known him. Bob passed many stories of his life as a farmer on to me in the 30 plus Read more…
I have had an underlying dilemma that has come full circle. Horses may possibly be the dominant livestock in Will County. For those who have never taken care of a horse there is one issue that can be overwhelming, manure. Horses cannot be potty trained; the manure never ends. Here Read more…
I am hopeful that by the time this article is in your hands farmers like myself will be busy in the fields. As April ends, most farmers want to be busy planting and performing many other tasks in the field and not be “outstanding” in the field looking for Mother Read more…
Imagine John Kiefner as a special agent licensed to kill. What would my agent name be? Would the members of Spectre: Dr. No, Blofeld or Jaws and Goldfinger be in danger? Would I have to drink vodka martinis? That is enough fantasy for now; I am going to finish this Read more…
Do you celebrate April Fool’s Day? Do you ever wonder if you are a fool? I suspect I have been a fool many times. But, I must clearly state, I will always have fond thoughts of that day coveted by jokesters, April 1. I am not an environmental activist. However, Read more…
I am back, and just in time to celebrate the 10th anniversary of my writing for this paper. Thanks to left shoulder arthroscopy with debridement of the superior labrum, glenoid cartilage, humeral head cartilage, interval capsule and subacromial space combined with open bicep tenodesis I missed 8 weeks of writing. Read more…
What should be outstanding in the field this time of year? When I was young, it was a common practice to use fencing made of wire and wooden pickets to create a temporary snow fence. If you are over 50 and lived in northern Illinois, you should remember the snowstorms Read more…
The year is over and many may be looking forward to 2022. I wonder if many farmers are happy to see 2021 in the rearview mirror or are they dreading the New Year. Despite some stories claiming that inflation is not much of a concern, I think many of us Read more…