I’ve been holding back. I’ve been patiently waiting, not wanting to write about the unusually warm and dry weather the state has experienced in recent months. I understand weather patterns around here. There is no pattern. Our normal weather is the average of two extremes. It is either too wet or too dry. We’ve seen both in the same summer. But this spring even has veteran farmers and ranchers scratching their heads, trying to recall a similar year with similar conditions…

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Most of the lessons I’ve learned on the farm, I have learned the hard way. I still hear the voice of my father, sending out basic bits of wisdom that seemed appropriate in handling almost every unforeseen circumstance. One of his most prized pieces of advice was quite simple. “Always have a plan B,” he would say. In other words, roll with the punches, or, as I like to say, employ strategic flexibility. When we were sorting cattle, he would insist on setting up extra…

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  Over the years, our family has hosted visitors on the farm, selling Christmas trees from our tree fields, inviting customers on the farm for open houses and bus tours. Liability insurance for these enterprises was always something we were aware of, even if we weren’t sure if we had enough coverage. In the December issue of Nebraska Farmer, I had the pleasure of visiting Kreycik Riverview Elk and Buffalo Ranch along the Niobrara River. Chris and Kenard Kreycik host about…

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