The severe dust storm that occurred on May 1, 2023, along Interstate 55 in Central Illinois should be a wakeup call for all farmers. Tragically, seven people lost their lives, dozens were injured and more than 100 vehicles were damaged.  Many people believe this dust storm was a natural occurrence, but it was not. It […]

An egg produced by a laying hen raised on pasture is a self-contained nutrient powerhouse.  It is hard for any single food to match the nutrient density in a pasture-raised egg.   We all know that egg whites are loaded with protein and essential amino acids, but are you aware of the incredible nutritional value of […]

To understand regenerative agriculture, you must have a working definition.  Regenerative Agriculture is defined as: Farming and ranching in synchrony with nature and the four ecosystem processes to repair, rebuild, restore and revitalize ecosystem function, starting with life beneath the soil and expanding to life above.   This is most effectively accomplished by farmers and ranchers […]

We all know that healthy foods, consumed routinely over our lifetime, bodes well for a lifetime of health.  We read a lot about crude protein, fats, carbohydrates and sugars.  However, what is often left out in the healthy food discussion is the critical topic of phytonutrients.  Healthy, nutritious foods should be comprised of more than […]

A clean, reliable source of drinking water is not only something a society needs to survive, but also something farmers and ranchers bear great responsibility to maintain. Agricultural producers have a greater impact on water quality than people in any other industry. Agriculture consumes and interacts with more total water than any industry, both in […]

Manure slurry is a valuable but difficult resource to manage on dairy farms.  Slurry pits must be emptied to make room for the never-ending stream of manure.  Manure is often not a top priority for most dairies and handling may have to wait until seasonal fieldwork is completed.  That leaves farmers with a fall and […]

Corn isn’t food Nine unpopular facts USDA and Big Ag don’t want you to know By Jason Wisniewski Occasionally, I get to share my understanding of the agricultural industry with farmer-led organizations like this recent seminar held by the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition and the Isaak Walton League. The seminar was a good opportunity for me […]

Soil Health Principles: The Importance of Context By Eric Fuchs, Understanding Ag, LLC Picture this: You just attended a training on regenerative agriculture and you come home excited and motivated for the changes you’re going to implement on your operation. You want to plant a 46-species cover crop mix in your cropping operation, produce grass-finished […]

Is Compost Application an Effective Soil Health Practice? By Chuck Schembre, Understanding Ag Soil organic matter has been one of the fundamental benchmarks and metrics to building healthy, functioning, and resilient soils. Compost is often recommended as an effective amendment to increase soil organic matter (SOM) while providing organic nutrients and added fertility. It has […]