Month: October 2024

Turkey producers are battling a new disease threat that is being blamed for low U.S. inventories of turkey eggs in incubators. According to the National Turkey Federation (NTF), Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) has been seen in every poultry-producing state in the U.S. and will likely impact supplies heading into the holiday season. Meaning consumers could be …

NEW Poultry Disease Outbreak Likely to Raise Prices for Thanksgiving Birds Read More »

While most farmers wouldn’t give up their lifestyle for any amount of money in the world, their chosen occupation often puts them under higher levels of stress than other professions. Sadly, farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, according to the National Rural Health Association.  Interestingly, a new …

Farm Life Takes Mental Toll on Both Men and Women Read More »

John Louis Bragg had made four thousand dollars picking blueberries during his senior year in high school and he never forgot. John attended college and went to law school, but he left law school to go back home in hopes of buying into his Dad and brother’s small sawmill business. Keep in mind, the Bragg …

The Blueberry Billionaire… John Louis Bragg Read More »

Doc Holiday, Wyatt Earp, and his brothers Morgan and Virgil faced off against the Clanton gang in one of the most prolific gunfights in American history back on October 26, 1881. The legendary shootout took place at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona at 3:00pm. Tombstone had become a booming town shortly after silver was …

“I’m Your Huckleberry…” Read More »

Farmers in the U.S. have faced numerous natural disasters this year, although that can really be said about any year. And just like everyone else, farmers must navigate the major illnesses and injuries that life doles out, all while trying to keep time-sensitive operations running. For nearly two decades, Bill Gross and the “Farm Rescue” …

“Farm Rescue” Has Been a Lifeline for Over 1,000 American Farm and Ranch Families Read More »

Illinois is one of the country’s leading agricultural states, including a top producer of soybeans, corn, and livestock. The state is the fifth-highest producing state for agricultural sales (behind California, Iowa, Texas, and Nebraska, and just ahead of Minnesota, Kansas, North Carolina, Wisconsin, and Indiana), with 81% coming from crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, …

What Are They Growing Out There in “Illinois” Read More »

Ranchers in the US spend a lot of time and money building and repairing fences. But this never-ending chore could be a thing of the past with the use of new “virtual fencing” (VF) technology that is finally making its way to the US. Producers can also now get help funding VF projects via a …

NEW “Virtual Fencing” Read More »

Organic corn and feed grade wheat markets have reached record low prices this year, with organic soybeans at a three-year low price for the start of the 2024-25 crop year, according to the latest update from Argus. Despite improved crop yields and generally lower operating costs, low organic commodity prices have shrunk net returns for …

Organic Crop Premiums Aren’t What They Used to Be Read More »

Wisconsin is known as “America’s Dairyland” and is responsible for about a quarter of the country’s cheese production. While farmers in the state also grow a good amount of corn and soybeans, the state’s top crops are a little more unusual – cranberries and ginseng.Cranberries – Wild cranberries are native to the marshlands of central …

What Are They Growing Out There in “Wisconsin” Read More »

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) spent nearly a year collecting responses from members regarding the importance of key provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), which is set to expire at the end of 2025. Around 99% of respondents identify their operation as family-owned, regardless of legal structure, and 64% are …

NCBA Survey Highlights Need for Tax Relief to Protect Family-Owned Cattle Operations Read More »