On Life and Land

In a little more than a mile of the Columbia-Snake River System, you'll find a wide range of activities, including transportation, recreation, power generation, and agricultural irrigation. Join field editor Steve Werblow for an up-close look at this critical waterway and the people who use it, maintain it, and depend on it. And be sure to check out Steve's story and the accompanying video series at JohnDeereFurrow.com.

A view from space can tell a farmer a lot about the state of the crop. Join us for our interview with Zara Khan, product marketing manager with Planet, one of the premier providers of satellite imagery for agricultural, industrial, and research applications.

As one of the first social-media superstars of farming, Dairy Carrie helped show agriculture the power of blogging, of Facebook, and of sharing real stories of farm life. Today, she's still very active on social media. We sat with Carrie to get her thoughts on how well ag is...or is not...communicating its message to the public, and on how she's using the medium these days.

As African Swine Fever (ASF) threatens the global pork supply, producers and animal health experts around the world are scrambling to contain the threat. In this "breaking news" episode, field editor Lorne McClinton speaks with Dr. Jaspinder Komal, Chief Veterinary Officer for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, about this potentially devastating swine disease and how producers and consumers can help prevent its spread.

For more information, visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency web site at inspection.gc.ca, or in the U.S., the National Pork Producers Council at nppc.org.

It's a dream so many of us have had...living on an island, isolated from the aggravations of city life in our own little slice of Heaven. But how does the dream match up to the reality of living according to a ferry schedule, and having to plan every trip to the grocery store or doctor's office? Find out first-hand as our Canadian field editor Lorne McClinton interviews residents of the Discovery Islands, a small chain off the coast of British Columbia. And make sure to check out our video series, "Rhythm of the Ferries," available at JohnDeereFurrow.com and JohnDeereHomestead.com.

A group of farmers in California is working to pull excess carbon out of the atmosphere and put it where it can do some good...into their soil. Learn more about the Marin County Carbon Project...and hear their success story...in this week's episode.

In this episode, we chronicle the growth and success of The Local Pig, a butcher shop and restaurant, and their relationship with Campo Lindo Farms, a poultry operation that sells direct to local restaurants and grocers. With appearances on Food Network and a contract with Whole Foods, this chef/farmer pair illustrates how they've connected farmers with eaters, and why it's not so outrageous to think that first-time farmers can accomplish the same. Read more at TheLocalPig.com and CampoLindoFarms.com.

How do we decide what technology to adopt? Is it pure dollars and sense? How do we decide what technology to trust...and what to trust it with? Join us for a deeper dive into the psychology of tech with our four guests: former U.S. Navy pilot Dr. Missy Cummings, now of Duke University; Dr. Julian Sanchez of John Deere; and farmers Larry Reichenberger and Dean Houghton.

Ten years ago, Jason and Colleen Gerke left corporate jobs to pursue their dreams of wine-making. Today, Jowler Creek Winery is one of western Missouri's premier wine destinations, with weekend events, music, and of course, plenty of wines for tasting and pairing. Along with way, the Gerkes' focus on sustainable production methods earned them multiple awards, including Platte County Farm Family of the Year and the Missouri Young Farmers and Ranchers Achievement Award. Learn more about how they did it in this episode of "On Life and Land."

As one of the nation's most beloved brands, Deere & Company has an extensive collection of historical documents, equipment, literature, and memorabilia. Join us for an interview with Deere & Company archivist Neil Dahlstrom as we talk about the history of the company and of The Furrow magazine, how he decides what to keep and what to throw away, and some of the more notable items currently stored in the collection.