Yes, this is an unusual thing to be blogging about. In recent months, I've gone to funerals of two farm friends, and came away from both thought-filled and inspired. That's as it should be. Like most of you, I'm not fond of funerals. I don't even want to attend my own! But a funeral or wake can be a wake-up call with redeeming value. That's why I'm writing this. I was reminded of a few things, none of which the preachers preached. The "few things"…

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It's hugely important that we, the people of agriculture, understand – and meet – the biotech challenge coming at us head-on. Anti-GMO activists want to ban or at limit biotech's most important tool – genetically-engineered ingredients or genetically-modified organisms. GMO'ers didn't just crawl away after California's Proposition 37 died. They regrouped and focused on Washington, D.C. And in April, legislation to require GMO labeling of whole…

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I'm betting that you don't munch down Corn Flakes or Post Toasties for breakfast as much as you used to. So you or your family's chief food shopper may just might be a 'cereal killer". As a farm kid, I grew up in the Corn Flakes era. And in my first Animal Science class at college, my animal nutrition professor said: "Breakfast is your most important meal. That's true for animals, too." Too many of today's generation (farm and non farm…

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At peak cherry blossom time in Washington, D.C., I risked life, limb and vehicle damage to venture into our nation's capital city. Making it unscathed to the National Mall, I breathed a long sigh of relief. I looked forward to revisiting the wonderfully familiar monuments and records of our great heritage. The cherry and tulip trees were in full bloom, posing for multitudes of camera-toters. After wheeling into one of the few-remaining public parking lots deep beneath the Holiday…

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 Last week's blog highlighted some of the coming farm changes that I shared recently with a farmers club. This is the exciting sequel, and the reason I'd love to be farming over the next 10 years. Soon, 300-bushel corn numbers are likely to pop up on your combine yield monitors. And, you're going to discover new ways to make those numbers pop up more and more frequently. Here are five farm technologies that'll make that once mythical high-yield mark a whole lot…

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At a recent farmers' club, I confessed that I sold our family farm to my cousin. So credential-wise, I was a former farmer – but still a wanna-be. My proudest accomplishment was in 1989, when we had a whole farm average corn yield of 209 bushels an acre. While it was on only 190 acres, it was one of Iowa's highest whole farm averages. And there were solid agronomic reasons for it. Our management scheme was simple: My cousin did all the work. And, I helped him manage the…

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This week, the Web was awash with news releases thanking America's farmers for feeding the world. It was only fitting as we celebrated Ag Day and Ag Week. Trouble is, most of the appreciation came from within – ag organizations and ag trade groups – the choir, so to speak. I didn't spot even one grain of gratitude coming from environmentalists or those critical of "industrial ag", "big farma", "corporate agriculture" or other derogatory…

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No. the change in the air has nothing to do with spring, although it's almost here, too. It has certainly nothing to do with President Obama's recycled campaign theme. The fresh whiff of prosperity is drawing more and more young, energized wanna-bes back into farming. In the past year, I've seen exciting signs that Northeast agriculture is being revitalized by enterprising young men and women. Record grain and forage prices no doubt bolster ag attractiveness. New ag…

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Going into last week's New York Farm Show, I was totally unprepared for the onslaught of rural vehemence to the state's new Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act. The law does nothing to secure citizen safety, and, in fact, threatens it. The silent scratching of Governor Andrew "Quick Draw" Cuomo's approval pen on the NY SAFE Act awoke an angry giant – a pro-gun force that would kill his presidential aspirations with high-caliber common sense…

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I’ve been swamped by letters, emails and blog responses to my earlier blog, raise-gun-controls-spirit-within and magazine editorial. I loved every single response, even from those who think nobody but law enforcement and military should have guns. It’s easy to understand the anger and fear of those who’ve had their lives blown to bits figuratively or literally by wrongful use of powerful weapons by criminals or persons short of a full load. And the anti-gun lobby uses…

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