Around Farm Progress

Beef price transparency is getting more attention these days because of two major events, a fire in 2019 and the pandemic. Industry groups and lawmakers are taking action.

To get some perspective about what's a play here, we connected with Jacqui Fatka, policy editor for Feedstuffs and Farm Futures to learn more. She shares some history on the issues, how regional differences impact the beef market and looks at a two-track plan in the works, one voluntary and the other mandatory.

Then she turns her attention to the railroad industry. Consolidation in the industry, and a pandemic, have impacted how freight moves in this country. She sat in on a hearing recently and learned plenty, which she shares in the podcast. About 25% of the grain raised in the United States still moves to market by rail.

Photos: Beef – Steve Oehlenschlager; Railroad – BCFC – iStock/Getty Images Plus

There's been plenty of buzz about new technology in agriculture, but what has that wrought?

In this week's episode of Around Farm Progress Mindy Ward, editor of Missouri Ruralist, shares the story of one startup that has opened a new headquarters and is working with farmers across the country to bring its tools to market. She talked with one farmer who has planted new high-oleic soybeans and shares what she learned.

Mindy then quizzes the podcast host about a recent trip he took to visit a significant new startup in agriculture just before it's full-size manufacturing plant goes online. Willie Vogt has followed Anuvia since 2016 and offers insight into this innovative fertilizer technology that adds carbon back into the soil and provides a new way to put waste to work on the farm.

Photo: Willie Vogt

It's time to focus on one topic for the farm – and that's farm safety, but more importantly keeping our kids safe on the farm.

In this week's episode of Around Farm Progress we're taking a little different approach and focusing on one topic – farm safety. But stick with us we're not aiming to preach but to inform and the focus is on how can we keep our kids safe. With many now having more time to help, given changing pandemic school schedules, it's worth discussing.

We turned to Holly Spangler, editor of Prairie Farmer, who has some personal experience related to keeping her kids safe. She shares those stories, but also insights she's picked up on this important topic. She has written two relevant items, one offering tips on ways to keep your children safe; and the other about her personal experience (hence the bubble wrap).

And check out the Farm Progress Virtual Experience breakout on grain bin safety for more tips.

Photo: Holly Spangler

In this episode of Around Farm Progress, Tom Bechman, editor, Indiana Prairie Farmer, got a new way to look at equipment during production of the Farm Progress Virtual Experience. For the first time in years, he was able to spend quality cab time in many new machines to catch up on the tech. He offers his perspective on the new machines.

 

Over in Kansas, there's a growing interest in protecting watersheds, and cover crops may be the answer, but is flying them on the only way? Turns out, there's another way and the state is providing it with new machines hard at work using drop tubes and an onboard air seeder. P.J. Griekspoor, editor, Kansas Farmer is covering the development and you can see more coverage in her story, which includes video.

Image: Combine cab – Chad Colby; cover crop seeder – P.J. Griekspoor

Each week the Around Farm Progress podcast connects with editorial staff around the country to discuss a range of topics. This week we start by welcoming a new team member – Ginger Rowsey, as a new staff writer for the Delta Farm Press team. She talks about her experience and why she decided to join the team.

 

Brad Haire, editor, Southeast Farm Press, is covering the hurricane damage sweeping the South, but with a little help from an important resource – County Extension. He discusses the damage and more in this week's episode.

 

We wrap up with Shelley Huguley, editor, Southwest Farm Press, who shares the story of the Gaona family and how it got its start in farming. This is an immigrant story worth checking out.

 

Image: Rowsey – Tory Salvador, UT; flooded peanuts – Libbie Johnson; Richard Gaona – Shelley E. Huguley

Increasing focus on extreme weather is combining with growing interest of the role of carbon in the atmosphere. Could that be an opportunity for your farm?

 

Mike Wilson, editor of Farm Futures, has found that this is a very complicated topic, one that can't be written in one story. So far, he's written six. It started with Will farmers get paid to save the planet? And he's expanded from there. We wanted to know more so we asked him to join us.

 

One tactic that could be part of what farms do to boost carbon storage in the soil is to use cover crops. There are concerns that they're an added cost, but the latest National Cover Crop Survey shows some different results. We dig into the survey with Fran O'Leary, editor, Wisconsin Agriculturist.

 

Image: carbon credit-Visual Generation/iStock; cover crop-Willie Vogt

What are the major party presidential candidates' positions on critical farm issues? Good question, in fact 10 good questions asked by two Farm Progress staffers to get more insight ahead of the November election.

 

Holly Spangler, editor, Prairie Farmer, and Jacqui Fatka, policy editor for Farm Futures and Feedstuffs, share a look behind the curtain at creating a major feature by connecting with the campaign staffs of both Trump and Biden. The result is, posted Friday, Sept. 11 is Trump and Biden: What solutions do they bring to ag?

 

The feature offers insight on key policy issues of importance to farmers. Holly and Jacqui discuss some of the interesting details of the process of working with the candidates' staffs. And they offer some added perspective on what they learned.

In early August, a derecho – essentially a land hurricane – roared across 700 miles of the Midwest, covered in a recent episode. Yet just two weeks later, two hurricanes took aim at the Gulf Coast and while one brought mainly heavy rains, the second roared ashore as a Category 4 monster. But Laura wasn't the first big storm to hit the region.

 

This week we talk Hanna, Laura and the farm with two editors from the Farm Press team. Shelley Huguley, editor of Southwest Farm Press discusses the weather. From the crop-crunching drought north of the hurricane swamped coast, to the soggy fields to her south.

 

Then Alaina Dismukes with Delta Farm Press discusses what she's learned talking to farmers in Louisiana and Arkansas where Hurricane Laura brought plenty of rain, but also roared in with hit, or miss, winds and damage to farms across the region.

Photo: Joe Readle/Getty Images News

In this episode of Around Farm Progress, we talk with Mindy Ward, editor, Missouri Ruralist who has been working on a unique project geared toward helping all exhibitors bring their information to life in the new virtual show.

 

And Matt Jungmann, events manager, Farm Progress, shares just how his team is working to recreate – as close as possible – the field demonstration experience farmers have come to know and love. And he offers a sneak peek at a unique piece of equipment that will be on hand for a special ride and drive experience.

Photo: Computer: HAKINMHAN/iStock/Getty Images Plus

From county fairs to consumers connecting with farmers, the pandemic has brought about a lot of new ideas for agriculture. For those state and county get-togethers, we get some insight not only about how they changed this year, but how some additions for these fairs may not go away in the future. That insight comes from Fran O'Leary, editor of Wisconsin Agriculturist.

 

Then we take a closer look at the opportunities for selling direct from farm to consumer with Curt Arens, field editor for Nebraska Farmer. He shares insights on how this trend is helping farmers and may have added benefits for bringing in the next generation.