In the past couple of weeks, I have discussed an issue that all family farms should undergo...

A record-breaking 13,000 runners lined up at the starting point for the annual Boilermaker 15K and 5K Road Race in Utica, NY on July 1. Among them were more than 100 runners representing Team ZIP, a group of beef enthusiasts boasting the zinc...

Last week, I attended a feedlot seminar that focused on summer bunk management, water issues and beef quality. In addition to these topics, I was happily surprised to see that the South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service felt it was important...

“Carcass quality begins at home” was the title of the presentation by Amanda Weaver, South Dakota State University (SDSU) professor of meat science, at a recent feedlot meeting I attended. With a large group of cattle feeders at the meeting...

...

A few weeks ago, I blogged a ...

Farmers and ranchers are the targets of constant scrutiny. The words thrown around about agriculture are greedy and don't describe our industry in the best of light. Words like greed, destruction, cruel, harmful, abusive, wasteful and others are...

In my neck of the woods, an onslaught of rain has flooded out many pastures and hay fields, leaving ranchers scrambling to find adequate resources for both the summer grazing months and winter feeding supplies. Droughts and floods can put...

Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to speak at the 2010 Red, White and You Conference, a teen leadership camp for eighth, ninth and tenth graders. At the opening of my presentation, I asked the kids to tell me a little about themselves...

It's hard to believe that it's July already and Independence Day is right around the corner. I'm hoping the month brings warm, dry weather to my part of South Dakota, ideal for baling hay and growing crops. With the weekend festivities about to...