Many people enjoy the tropical taste of passionfruit but are unaware there is another fruit in the same genus that can be grown closer to home. Maypop ( P assiflora incarnata) is a perennial vine that’s native to North America. It’s valued for its tropical fruit flavor, adaptability and resilience t...

An assortment of specialized tendons, ligaments and bones in the arms and hands allows humans to perform amazing work. Farmers’ daily tasks often lead to pain and weakness that can result in dangerous work conditions and accidents. Dr. Patricia Siegel, certified hand therapist and associate professo...

When a farmer is already working with razor-thin margins, a profit boost of even a few cents per acre can mean a lot. That’s especially true when the domestic market for a specific crop – like asparagus – has shrunk dramatically over the past decade. Asparagus production in Michigan has surpassed th...

There’s more to building a farm than obtaining acreage, lumber, fencing and equipment. Some of the first steps for new and beginning farmers include gathering information and obtaining a loan. “First is your state’s land grant Extension service,” said Chris Laughton, director of knowledge exchange, ...

Human resources may seem like a department or set of duties for a business far different from your farm; however, it’s important to perform these tasks legally and consistently, both to protect your farm and to train new people correctly. Jess Skellie works for a small group of dairy farms. She rece...

Happy International Year of the Woman Farmer, farm family! If someone had told me a decade ago that there would be an International Year of the Woman Farmer, I likely would have said something to the effect of, “Well, that’s the most unnecessary, gender-discriminatory thing I’ve ever heard of.” Some...