Around Farm Progress

Happy New Year! We're wrapping up 2020 with a little look back on some favorite stories or hot topics from last year that could be something to watch in 2021.

First up, Shelley Huguley, Southwest Farm Press, refuses to be held to just one of her favorites, so she picks three. What she shares is fun, informative and heartfelt.

Jennifer Kiel, American Agriculturist, offers a discussion about regenerative agriculture, which started with a story she did in 2020 and expects to keep following this year. She notes that for the idea to succeed regenerative agriculture must offer one feature – profit for the farmer.

And Tom Bechman, Indiana Prairie Farmer, talks agriculture technology. He shares what he learned getting a look at new tools and discusses automation, safety and even some ideas on future university research.

Photos by, from left, Shelley Huguley, Jennifer Kiel and Austin Keating

We catch up on the 2020 favorite stories for three Farm Progress Editors. 

Chris Torres, American Agriculturist, shares a story he did in 2020 focused on a farmer who got COVID-19.

John Hart, Southeast Farm Press, shares the story of a family who weathered a challenge with their newborn son – it turned out well – but from that experience got the idea for a new business that uses some of their cotton.

Holly Spangler, Prairie Farmer, who talks about her in-depth profile of Orion Samuelson, an icon in agriculture.

Photos by, from left, Travis Duffy, John Hart, Wales Hunter, NAFB

We're welcoming new leadership to Farm Progress as new editors take the helm at Wallaces Farmer and Nebraska Farmer. But neither Tyler Harris, nor Curt Arens, are new to the Farm Progress team. They're shifting roles to fill leadership opportunities for the company. And in the latest episode of Around Farm Progress, they share some history and what they see for the future.

Tom Vilsack is coming back as Secretary of Agriculture, provided he is confirmed by the Senate. But how might Vilsack's role change in the new Biden-Harris administration? Jacqui Fatka, policy editor, Farm Progress, offers some insight.

And just how have consumer attitudes about food been changing under the pandemic? We got some insight from Michael Uetz, principal at Midan Marketing, an agency that does a lot of work in the meat industry. The marketing firm has been conducting monthly consumer surveys, and he shares what they've learned.

Photo: Vilsack-Willie Vogt; Survey-aydinynr/Getty Images

So how is your farm's broadband internet? Do you have any? It turns out this country has a long way to go before we can close that digital divide, but we wanted more insight on the issue.

We turned to Jon Conradi, outreach director, Connect Americans Now, a coalition of more than 275 public and private companies and groups focused on this critical issue. He talks about the group, the issues ahead and ways this group is working to close that gap. And that's no easy task.

Listen in as Conradi shares the work of his group and helps define the challenge for rural America.

Photo: solitude72/iStock/Getty Images Plus

There's a lot of talk these days about carbon, extreme weather and potential actions needed in agriculture. What can farmers do?

The conversation around extreme weather is heating up as new opportunities to get paid for carbon become available, but there's more. Regulations could be coming to agriculture, but there's a diverse group of ag-focused interests that have worked hard to have a seat at the table when those talks begin. Jacqui Fatka, policy editor, Farm Futures, has been covering this issue and shares what she's learned about this group and the work they've undertaken.

Photo: hauged/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Based on new data, and rising crop prices, it looks like farmers may be heading back to their local farm equipment dealer to make purchases soon. What might that mean?

Mike Wilson, editor of Farm Futures, discusses the factors surrounding equipment replacement, why a 7-year-old machine may need to be upgraded and some financial considerations for those in the market. And he discusses how automation and technology could make a difference in the future.

Photo: Willie Vogt

In agriculture there are factors that are beyond a farmer's control. Weather is a big challenge and sometimes with it is the lack, or over-abundance of water. Over the past two decades the push to tile more ground to clear field wet spots, has been a boon to productivity. Now there may be another benefit?

More farmers are looking at managed drainage. In effect, this involves installing control structures on a tile system that can shut a tile to keep water in the soil profile, but later be opened to drain. With this approach the producer has better control of crop access to water through the season, and there's a stewardship benefit too.

Curt Arens with Nebraska Farmer and Dakota Farmer recently wrote about the practice working with a South Dakota producer. In this week's episode of Around Farm Progress, he shares how it works and what the installation has meant to that farmer.

Photos: Curt Arens

We went looking for good news this week among the Farm Progress team and we found a couple of interesting storys.

When you can't go to school and your best fund-raising event – a state fair – shuts down, what can an FFA Chapter do? Tom Bechman, editor of Indiana Prairie Farmer shares news on that topic that shows these groups can pivot with the best of them. Check out what he has to say on that topic.

Then we turn to Wisconsin where Fran O'Leary, editor of Wisconsin Agriculturist, shares news of a dairy operation that's producing renewable natural gas from its own methane, and from digester methane trucked in from other dairies. The rising need for low carbon fuel could be a new opportunity for Midwest livestock operations.

Photos: FFA logo – FFA; Renewable natural gas tanks – U.S. Gain

Did you know cow faces are different enough for facial recognition? And just how did they eradicate that Asian giant hornet nest in Washington state?

In this episode of Around Farm Progress, both topics get a deeper look. PJ Griekspoor, editor of Kansas Farmer who shares the story of some new technology for tracking cattle. Using just your smart phone and access to the cloud, researchers have developed a facial recognition tool for cattle. Yep, you heard that right and she shares details of how it works.

Then PJ and podcast host Willie Vogt discuss some big news from out West, the find and eradication of the first Asian giant hornet's nest in the United States. The story of the hunt and eradication effort undertaken by the Washington State Department of Agriculture is very interesting, but it also doesn't mean the end of the Asian giant hornet story.

Photos: Cattle-PJ Griekspoor; Asian giant hornet – Washington State Department of Agriculture