One of Monte Bottens’s favorite quotes is “The electric light did not come from the continuous improvement of candles,” courtesy of Oren Harari, a business professor and author of several management books. The quote suggests that innovation is the result of ongoing improvement. Looking at Harari’s q...

The reason for the success of bespoke agricultural tour agency Explorations by Thor can be summed up succinctly by co-owner and co-founder Donna Thor: “Farmers love to talk to other farmers!” she said. “And whether it’s a farmer from across town or halfway around the world, they always like to share...

From the time dairy farm neighbors began to hold informal contests to compare cattle, the goal has been to raise and show the ideal dairy cow that’s profitable for the farm. Today, opinions vary regarding the level of emphasis for conformation, selection and culling strategy. Some believe conformati...

Being able to provide for their community is one reason the DeMasters are passionate about farming. Willow Haven Farm, nestled in New Tripoli, PA, is the home of organic vegetables, pigs, dairy cattle and more. Reuben and Tessa DeMaster have owned the farm for 15 years now, and successfully run the ...

In 2023-24, sizable portions of the U.S. – including the Mid-Atlantic – experienced their longest droughts since the 1950s. Denise Schwab, a beef Extension specialist for Iowa State, is counseling farmers on how best to recover and proceed from these long-term dry spells. “When we talk about pasture...

Part 2: Reducing methane brings opportunity Is it worth farmers’ time and money to work toward reducing methane emissions? Dr. Frank Mitloehner, professor and air quality Extension specialist at UC-Davis and director of the CLEAR Center , collaborates with the animal ag sector to answer questions su...

No matter how well-planned, farm succession is difficult. The “family” concept is often emotion-based, especially regarding the issue of treating children equally. Joy Kirkpatrick, farm succession outreach specialist, University of Wisconsin-Madison, has some tips for making the process smoother. On...

Tom Kilcer’s Advanced Ag Systems newsletter (for October/November) arrived in my inbox on Nov. 10. He’s a Certified Crop Advisor whose cropping wisdom I tap into as needed. I’ve known Tom for over a half century, having met him at a CCE conference in 1977. We were both field crop agents – me in my l...

Purchasing a horse is one expense, but it’s difficult to predict the cost of maintaining a healthy and sound to animal an average expected lifetime of 25 years. While some aspects of horse care can be modified to lower expenses, it doesn’t pay to skimp. Dr. Jorge Colon, DVM, Cornell University, asso...