Author: staff

“I was picking up some items at a local junkyard when I saw a forklift, but I didn’t give it much thought until a couple months later, while I was carrying heavy items up the stairs to the mezzanine in my shop,” said Jason Reis of Lime Springs in northeast Iowa. He went back for the junkyard forklift to create a lift/elevator.  Reis removed the existing staircase and brought the newly recovered forklift to stand in its place. He welded 4×6-inch tubing to the top of the lift, and welded joist hangers to the tubing, attaching it to the mezzanine…

Kubota has introduced the new Grand L70 Series machines with three model options: premium, deluxe, and cold weather. A redesigned ProCab allows for year-round comfort and a multi-function loader joystick and Intelligent Hydrostatic Transmission (iHST) allow for greater efficiency.“The Grand L70 Series is more than just a new tractor — it’s an innovative leap forward in elevating the operator experience by seamlessly integrating technology,” said Matthew Walker, Kubota senior product operations manager, compact and utility tractors. “Kubota has a long history of listening to customer feedback and innovating machines that not only meet the demands of modern small ranch and…

Western Bloodstock’s absolute dispersal of Teton Ridge Performance Horses delivered the kind of results that get talked about for years, moving elite cutting, barrel, and reined cow horse bloodlines in a single, high-velocity session bringing $28 million. The sale marked the planned conclusion of Teton Ridge’s breeding and sales program. For breeders and show barns, it was a rare chance to buy stock that, by most accounts, was never supposed to hit the open market. “Teton Ridge brought together some of the finest minds, horses, and pedigrees in the business,” said Jeremy Barwick, owner of Western Bloodstock. “This is a…

It goes without saying that farmers care about what happens in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Brooke Rollins had no problem getting the votes necessary to confirm her nomination as USDA secretary back in February. Since then, she’s worked to change the agency and align it with President Donald Trump’s vision. So what is she doing, and is it serving our family farms? Let’s discuss. Who is Brooke Rollins? “Wait, who?” was the general question raised when Rollins’ name was announced for the top spot at the USDA. Rollins was virtually unknown nationally before her nomination, though she does have…

The U.S. government faces a shutdown deadline at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, with lawmakers deadlocked over the extension of health insurance subsidies. If no deal is reached, hundreds of thousands of federal workers could be furloughed or forced to work without pay, while many services grind to a halt. Shutdowns typically close national parks and museums, slow veterans’ services, delay Social Security response times, and suspend data collection at key agencies. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has warned that a shutdown would also overlap with the expiration of some farm bill programs, compounding uncertainty in rural America. Chris Clayton of DTN…

This morning the USDA released the September Grain Stocks report. The USDA report pegged U.S. old-crop corn stocks as of Sept. 1, 2025, at 1.532 billion bushels, down 13% from a year ago but above the average trade expectation of 1.336 billion bushels. For soybeans, the USDA reported old-crop stocks at 316 million bushels, down 8% from Sept. 1, 2024, and below the average trade expectation of 322 million bushels. The USDA said U.S. wheat stocks as of Sept. 1, 2025, were at 2.12 billion bushels, above the average trade expectation of 2.041 billion bushels and up 6% from a…

June is immersed with inspiring celebrations. Yet, with all the celebrations, a holiday in its infancy is emerging from its historical origins out into the world. “[Black filmmaker] Spike Lee and I are going to get together soon and discuss how we push this,” the Rev. Al Sharpton, a CNN correspondent and founder of the National Action Network said on a table chat with his fellow correspondents on a recent Wednesday morning while discussing the Black community’s involvement in politics. “More visibility needs to be on this holiday. … We need to push this.” For those in agriculture who do…

Driving east on Interstate 90 in southern Minnesota was just another Sunday drive, until we spotted the bright yellow fields. A few turns later — and down a gravel road or two — we came upon a sign, “Sunflowers on the Cotter Farm Open to the Public.” I’d seen sunflower fields near central Iowa, but believed them to be relatively small and sought after for family photography sessions. I thought these sunflower fields in Minnesota had to be different; the acres upon acres of flowers had to be production ag fields.  The Transition to Regenerative Ag  Over the past 31…

Imagine a family at their local grocery store checkout, their cart filled with staple food items and fresh produce, but with fewer familiar comfort foods and snack options than before. As their SNAP benefits are scanned, they navigate new restrictions shaping what counts as “eligible” purchases — putting more and more products back on the shelf. They just can’t afford to make those products work in their budget without them being paid for with SNAP. For many low-income and BIPOC households, these evolving rules aren’t just about what’s on the shelves, they’re about access, choice, and dignity in how they…

I’m an avid reader, and so are my boys. We are always looking for new books, and while I have discovered many agriculture-accurate books for my sons, finding books about ag for grown-ups has proven trickier.  Many books I’ve found have been too technical for a nonfarming audience, or for farmers in a different field. I have started a collection of books I’ve found that are about agriculture and written to appeal to farmers and nonfarmers alike. Here are nine books that would be great for any personal library or Little Free Library: “Growing Slow” by Jennifer Dukes Lee shares…