Sustainable Ag
Spring Is Here
By: Morgan Wrich Spring is here and our focus has turned to planting crops! This time of year is a busy one on our farm. The hours spent preparing for another season are finally coming to fruition. Part of preparing for another growing season is deciding what crop...
“What do I want to do when I grow up?”
By: Anita Keys "What do I want to do when I grow up?" You may think this is a childhood question, but it also applies to many adults who aren't happy in their current positions or between jobs. It could also be something your neighbor, child or grandchildren are...
A Tale of Two Corns
As the warmer temperatures gradually made their way into February, I found myself in my garden, clearing away excess organic material from the previous year. Among my favorite vegetables to grow are sweet corn, cucumbers, tomatoes and pumpkins. Living in a region...
Living The Life I Love
One comment my husband makes that triggers immediate panic is, “On your way home, can you stop at…”. Despite its apparent simplicity, I have realized over our almost 38 years together that our understanding of geography differs significantly. Whether it is a...
It’s Calving Season
It's currently calving season on our farm, and many other farmers have either begun or are approaching the start of their own calving seasons! Although it involves hard work, this period is exceptionally rewarding for every cow-calf producer. This is the moment we've...
Facing Challenges and Embracing Resilience: The Importance of Crop Insurance
Is anybody else looking forward to putting 2023 in the rearview mirror? The recent farming year posed challenges for us and numerous other farmers in our region. We experienced a severe ongoing drought and summer storms that brought the "great white combine" of the...
CommonGround NE Coordinator | Amanda Fairley
Amanda and her husband Dustin, farm and raise cattle in Southeast Nebraska with their two children, Bo and Ellie. Amanda's agriculture roots run deep. She grew up on a family farm, was involved with 4-H and FFA growing up, to now owning her own business and working...
Nurturing the Land & Livestock on Our Farm
Rotational Grazing: Nurturing the Land & Livestock on Our Farm On the farm, farmers utilize a method of cattle grazing that not only benefits the livestock but also contributes to the long-term health of the land. It's called rotational grazing, a practice...
Carbon Confusion
There is talk about large corporations pledging to become net zero or carbon neutral by a certain year. While this can be confusing, we may be asking ourselves, “what do these commitments mean to me, the consumer?” Nebraska...
Facts not Fear: Meatless Movement
As a registered dietitian and chef, I am often asked about plant-based diets and the rising popularity of the meatless movement. With new meat substitutes now more readily available in grocery stores and the development of public campaigns that discourage meat...