I couldn't fit into our livestock scales designed for pigs and sheep, or I would have. The first three animals we weighed the other day all weighed 170 pounds, and they all looked bigger than that. "Weigh yourself, dad," my daughter said,. "You weigh more than 170 pounds. We'll know if it's working or not." Thanks a lot Kayla. If I could have fit inside it, I would have, because by then I figured out likely something was wrong, and it would be nice to say I weighed 170 pounds again on a scale…

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In the last issue of Indiana Prairie Farmer we promised an update on 4-H pig and lamb farrowings in the Web Exclusive once the February issue reaches mailboxes around Feb 1. You will still see that exclusive. Some have found lambs slow to arrive- the heat last summer didn’t make for efficient cycling and breeding. Several pigs have been pulled in 4-H herds- that’s nothing new with the heavier muscling most judges seek in gilts today. Yet one judge placed a gilt last in a show last…

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I have been the silent and minor partner with a friend for three years now in raising 4-H pigs, after giving up my own small farrowing operation because of space and too many neighbors. I figured it was time to quit before they complained, not after. Besides, when I found myself sweating one hot afternoon scooping manure with no kids in sight, I questioned why I was doing what I'm doing. Now it's become therapeutic for me, although I question sometimes if I don't need a different kind of…

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"Dad, make me an appointment to go to the doctor. I can leave school early if necessary. I'm so afraid it's the swine flu everyone is talking about."   Everyone indeed, from national and international media to local media, have been talking and talking about swine flu for the past week. Not knowing exactly what they're talking about didn't seem to stop anyone from talking. A radio program on WIBC out of Indianapolis early in the week contained an interview with a health official. Some…

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