Family Farming
Down on the Farm
November 5 2009
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the Renewable Fuels Association, Wal-Mart Stores, Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.
And now for today’s commentary—
I was on the farm last week. It is so exciting to drive that combine and watch that big machine, like magic, sort out the kernels of corn from the trash. That golden grain flowing out of…
Hans Block (1959-2009)
August 14 2009
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the Renewable Fuels Association, Wal-Mart Stores, Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.
And now for today’s commentary—
I’m back on the farm.
It wasn’t a visit of choice. On Friday, July 31, 2009, my son and farming partner for more than 20 years was killed in a traffic accident as he was returning home for dinner.
Down on the Farm
July 9 2009
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the Renewable Fuels Association, Wal-Mart Stores, Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.
And now for today’s commentary—
Down on the farm in Illinois. That’s where I was this week. We celebrated the 4th of July with a cake decorated like an American flag and watched the fireworks show. That was only…
Down on the Farm
May 14 2009
Hello everybody out there in farm country. This radio commentary is brought to you by the Renewable Fuels Association, Wal-Mart Stores, Monsanto, and John Deere. They are all friends, supporters, and allies of a healthy farm economy and prosperous rural America. Thank you.
And now for today’s commentary—
I’m talking to you today from the farm in Illinois. Here it is the 2nd week of May and we’re just getting started planting our corn. We are usually finished by this date. Some say…
On The Farm
September 5 2007
Hello everybody out there in farm country.
I spent some time last week in Illinois -- at the Farm Progress Show and at our farm up near Galesburg.
The optimism in farm country is "off the chart." Not that we ain't complaining about a lot of things. Of course, we are. "Look how expensive anhydrous is going to be this fall -- $550 per ton. Production expenses for the 2008 crop will be up at least 10%." It does seem that the minute we get some profit margin it starts to leak away. The crowds…
Farming in 2003
January 6 2003
Closing out the books on 2002 and starting to focus on the New Year. What will it bring? Will the Congress cut our farm bill supports? Will the long sough after 2002 disaster relief that wasn't in the Christmas stocking yet appear? Will we suffer draught or floods or another chicken embargo? I guess if we knew all ofthese answers, we wouldn't have to work.
I realize some farming regions struggled with devastating drought last year. Still, I doubt that the congress will find very much…
Best of Times, Worst of Times
September 26 2000
I pick up a big city newspaper and read the criticism of the generous support for farmers in this election year. Okay, I'll admit the support is generous. But to provide some balance to this evaluation of the situation, it might be worth taking inventory of other conditions working against the farmer.
Is your diesel fuel much more expensive? What about the LP gas drying your com? Just wait 'til you see the price tag for nitrogen fertilizer. The simple fact is the higher energy prices will…