Blog

What does “Farm-to-Table” Mean?

As we get ready to celebrate the Fourth of July, you might be thinking,...

May 15, 2020

BLOG, Corporate Farms, Farm Moms, Farming, Food Prices, Food Safety, Life on the Farm, Local/Organic, Nutrition, Ranching

When considering the phrase “farm-to-table,” what images or words come to mind? Maybe words...

Our Meat Supplies: Coming to Grips with COVID-19 Detours

May 8, 2020

BLOG, Farming, Life on the Farm, Ranching

These signs became familiar sights for many of us in the Midwest after historic...

Mom Guilt, and How to Avoid It When Grocery Shopping!

April 24, 2020

BLOG, Farm Moms, Food Prices, Food Safety, Local/Organic, Nutrition, Sustainablity, Uncategorized

“Mom guilt.” It’s like laundry. No matter how hard you try to wish it...

Freezer Beef for Your Family

April 20, 2020

Beef recipes, BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming, Food Prices, Food Safety, Life on the Farm, Local/Organic

We are all relearning to grocery shop for home cooking and dining far more...

Safety is More Than the Five Second Rule

April 3, 2020

Animal Welfare, Antibiotics, BLOG, Hormones, Nutrition

If your family is anything like mine, you’ve likely heard of the infamous “five-second...

Babies, Babies, Babies………….

March 6, 2020

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Dairy, Farm Moms, Farming, Life on the Farm

There isn’t anything much cuter than a baby calf. Black, white, brown fuzzy little...

Spring Time is Calving Time in Nebraska

March 5, 2020

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Farming, Life on the Farm, Ranching

Calving season is happening right now across much of the state. If you drive...

What is your carbon footprint?

February 7, 2020

Gene Editing: A Key to Tasty, Plentiful and Healthy Foods

Obviously, this is not what is meant by a carbon footprint. There has been...

December 29, 2019

BLOG, Farming, Food Safety, Nutrition

With the new year upon us, I want to reflect on what I am...

Was Great-Grandma’s Food More Nutritious?

December 22, 2019

BLOG, Farming, Food Safety, Local/Organic, Nutrition

How does the nutritional value of food today compare to the past? It’s pretty...

Caring for Dairy Cows in All Sorts of Weather

October 31, 2019

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming, Life on the Farm, Uncategorized

When winter arrives, we aren’t the only ones bundling up to stay warm. As...

Agriculture and the Environment

October 26, 2019

Chocolate Milk for the Kiddos? You Bet!

Talk: Agriculture is bad for the environment. Truth: Agriculture efficiently cleans up greenhouse gases...

It’s Tailgate Season!

September 2, 2019

BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming, Life on the Farm, Uncategorized

The center of the tailgating universe may or may not be in Nebraska, but...

September 2, 2019

BLOG, Nutrition

How often do your kids drink milk? As a dietitian and farmer, I can...

RD Amber Pankonin discusses GMOs

September 2, 2019

BLOG, GMO Foods, Uncategorized

Amber Pankonin, Registered Dietitian discusses all things GMOs.

Chicken Nuggets

July 2, 2019

Animal Welfare, BLOG

Facts and nuggets of wisdom about chickens and the variety of ways they provide...

CommonGround Nebraska hosts second Banquet on the Farm event near Shelton

June 25, 2019

BLOG, CommonGround in the News, Farming

Nebraska CommonGround volunteers invited Nebraska Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) teachers to Shelton for...

Fear Not! The Milk You Drink Contains NO Antibiotics.

May 29, 2019

Antibiotics, BLOG, Farming, Food Safety

We just celebrated National Chocolate Chip Day, and I think we all know that...

Farming after the Flood

May 2, 2019

Farming: More Than a Summer Job

It’s there somewhere, isn’t it? ... Maybe it’s gone…. We had a field there. Sand...

March 1, 2019

Beef—Have it for Dinner—TONIGHT!

As temperatures slowly start to rise, the time has come for all Midwestern crop...

February 26, 2019

Beef recipes, BLOG, Nutrition, RECIPES

There is something about February that makes me think about beef. I don’t know...

Conversations

January 7, 2019

BLOG, Farm Moms, Food Safety, GMO Foods, Hormones, Life on the Farm, Local/Organic, Nutrition, Sustainablity

I love talking! Seriously, I know that sounds strange, but I am a person...

rBST FREE!

January 7, 2019

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Food Safety, Hormones

rBST FREE! – This is a new label you may see on many dairy...

Glyphosate in Breakfast Cereal? Seven Things to Know

November 7, 2018

BLOG, Farming, Food Safety, Sustainablity, Uncategorized

Is there glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup® herbicide, hiding in your cereal? Even...

Let’s Talk Turkey!

November 6, 2018

Animal Welfare, Antibiotics, BLOG, Food Safety, Hormones, Uncategorized

Five Facts to Share at Your Thanksgiving Table That old calendar has flipped quickly and...

What I’m grateful for this harvest: The safety and sustainability of GMOs

October 22, 2018

BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming, GMO Foods, Life on the Farm, Sustainablity, Uncategorized

Guest blog written by Debbie Borg, Nebraska farmer and mother of three. Debbie Borg lives...

A Farm Wife’s Harvest Survival Guide

September 25, 2018

How many GMOs are on the market?

As we draw closer to the fall season, women are busy putting out their...

Banquet on the Farm

September 7, 2018

BLOG

Do you remember as a child how anxious you felt before field trips? You...

Friday night lights

September 6, 2018

BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming

Deb Gangwish and her husband Paul have raised five children, row crops and livestock...

July 5, 2018

BLOG, Farm Moms, Food Safety, GMO Foods, Local/Organic, Nutrition

I recently had the opportunity to participate in an event titled “Moo at the...

Yes, All Cattle Eat Grass!

July 5, 2018

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Farming, Life on the Farm, Ranching

A few years ago, I taught beginner piano lessons. Even the youngest students could...

COW 101: Terminology

July 5, 2018

BLOG, Farming, Life on the Farm, Ranching

I recently had the unique opportunity to volunteer at a CommonGround exhibit at Omaha’s...

Cow Calf Pairs Graze on Cover Crops

May 5, 2018

BLOG, Sustainablity

These cow calf pairs are grazing a cover crop of rye, which was planted...

Facts Not Fear—Choices to Make When Feeding Your Family

May 1, 2018

BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming, Food Prices, Food Safety, GMO Foods, Local/Organic, Nutrition, Uncategorized

Being the mother of two boys and now infant twins is no easy task....

Top four things I learned when I moved from Omaha to Palmer

April 12, 2018

BLOG, Corporate Farms, Farm Moms, Farming, Life on the Farm, Ranching

I am relatively new to the world of agriculture. I grew up and lived...

Wondering about the safety of GMOs?

March 29, 2018

BLOG, GMO Foods, Local/Organic, Nutrition

If you’re involved purchasing food for yourself, your family or for your business, you’re...

Wow That Cow

March 29, 2018

Animal Welfare, Antibiotics, BLOG, Hormones, Nutrition

Cattle are amazing creatures with the ability to live all over the world including...

New Calves

March 2, 2018

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming, Life on the Farm, Ranching

While our calves are due each year on February 23, a lot of them...

Celebrating the Month of Love on Blauhorn Farms

February 12, 2018

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming, Life on the Farm, Ranching

Living on a diversified farm brings many seasons. Planting season, irrigating season, harvesting season,...

What to Feed Baby?

January 24, 2018

BLOG, Food Prices, Food Safety, Local/Organic, Nutrition, Uncategorized

Knowing what to feed baby can be confusing. There are more options today than...

Hormones

January 12, 2018

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Hormones, Nutrition

Let’s talk about hormones. A few years ago I put together a little demonstration...

Common Sense on High Fructose Corn Syrup

January 4, 2018

BLOG, Nutrition, Sustainablity

Setting health goals for 2018? You’re not alone – especially if consuming less sugar...

A New Year and New Goals for Farmers and Ranchers

January 4, 2018

BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming, Life on the Farm, Sustainablity

New Year’s Day is a day like no other. Many of us take stock...

Christmas for the Cows

December 21, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Life on the Farm, Ranching

Every year our cows get a present from my husband; it’s become a tradition...

Thank You from a Farmer

November 17, 2017

BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming, Food Safety, Life on the Farm

Three things cross my mind when I grocery shop for my family, especially leading...

ARE WE THERE YET?

November 9, 2017

Beautiful Dairy Mornings, Busy Days and Nights

Are we there yet? Are we there YET? Are we THERE YET? ARE WE...

The Welcome Mat

November 6, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Food Safety, Nutrition, Ranching

Welcome, Velkommen, Herzlich, Willkommen, Bienvenido! Every language has a way to say “Welcome!”. When...

November 3, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Farming

Fall is such a great time of the year! Beautiful Nebraska sunrises and sunsets,...

Fall on the Farm

October 31, 2017

BLOG, Farming, Life on the Farm, Sustainablity

Fall. Pumpkins. Flannel. Changing leaves. Changing seasons. As gardens and farmers markets succumb to frost...

What Does a Combine Do?

October 17, 2017

BLOG, Farming, Life on the Farm, Sustainablity

It’s harvest time around the country, which means farmers are busy trying to get...

Test Plots

October 4, 2017

BLOG, Farming, Sustainablity

Harvest has started across the state. This summer was stressful for many farmers in...

Roots

September 20, 2017

BLOG, Corporate Farms, Farming, Life on the Farm

Farming is an industry that's full of hardworking men and women who don't mind...

Early wean

September 12, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Life on the Farm, Ranching

Fall has come early here on the ranch. Most years, we don't wean our...

Why Are Pigs Raised In Barns?

September 11, 2017

Animal Welfare, Antibiotics, BLOG, Food Safety, Nutrition, Uncategorized

U.S. farmers and ranchers who raise livestock are extremely dedicated to the well-being, comfort...

More than food on a stick

August 29, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Farming, Life on the Farm, Uncategorized

For years, the last week of August for my family has always been a...

Corn Progress

August 8, 2017

"Nature's cruel, but we don't have to be"

Before we know it, August will slip away and fall will make its appearance.... This...

August 1, 2017

Animal Welfare, Beef recipes, BLOG, Food Safety, Nutrition

"Nature's cruel, but we don't have to be." is one of my favorite quotes...

Farm Road Rally V - Helps Grocers and R.D.s learn about Agriculture

July 28, 2017

BLOG, GMO Foods, Hormones, Life on the Farm, Nutrition, Sustainablity, Uncategorized

The fifth Farm Road Rally tour took place July 20, 2017 and made three...

New Tool

July 19, 2017

Animal Welfare, Antibiotics, BLOG, Uncategorized

As summer creeps on, the cows continue to graze on pastures. Throughout the summer,...

Out like a lion

June 27, 2017

BLOG, Farming, Life on the Farm, Uncategorized

The last few days of spring were eventful to say the least. A storm swept...

Year One

June 16, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Farming, Life on the Farm

It's been 365 days since Jared and I married. Where the time has gone? I...

How is farming sustainable?

June 14, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Sustainablity, Uncategorized

Have you ever wondered, how is farming sustainable? This was a question that was...

Recent farm projects

June 9, 2017

Ten ways to make running enjoyable

Our new tenants have finally arrived and are making themselves at home. Fifteen baby chicks have...

Summer Pasture

June 6, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Farming, Life on the Farm, Ranching

I wrote this blog from the buddy seat of the planter tractor. Yes, we were...

Breeding Season

May 19, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Farming, Life on the Farm

My dad has me booked every Tuesday and Friday this month. These days are...

May 15, 2017

BLOG, Nutrition

There it is – another picture on Facebook of a person your age standing...

Why are growth hormones used in beef cattle? Are they safe?

May 8, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Hormones, Uncategorized

CommonGround volunteer Joan Ruskamp visits with Moms Everyday about hormones in beef production.

Round Two

April 29, 2017

BLOG, Farming, Life on the Farm, Sustainablity, Uncategorized

Corn planting has only just began and - to no surprise - has already...

Round One

April 22, 2017

BLOG, Life on the Farm, Sustainablity, Uncategorized

I write this while sitting on the floor at the foot of my bed,...

Innovation

April 9, 2017

BLOG, Farming, Sustainablity, Uncategorized

There's a long-standing joke that there are three ways to get into farming: through...

Eggs-citing April

April 4, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Farming, RECIPES, Sides, Uncategorized

Easter is upon us, as is the end of the Lenten season. This year, Jared...

KHAS - interview with CommonGround volunteer Diane Karr

March 30, 2017

BLOG, Farming, Food Prices, Food Safety, Press Releases, Uncategorized

CommonGround volunteer visits with KHAS Reporter Brandon Peoples about the importance of Agriculture, the...

March Madness

March 28, 2017

BLOG, Farming, Food Prices, Life on the Farm, Sustainablity

As the drama of March Madness tournament continues to heat up, so does the...

Unlucky Clovers

March 16, 2017

BLOG, Farming, Sustainablity, Uncategorized

March is going as quickly as it came. Ever since I graduated college, time...

Little Giant

March 16, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Life on the Farm, Ranching, Uncategorized

Calving is quickly starting to slow down. We are down to our last 40...

Thanks to the Ag Consumer

March 9, 2017

BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming, Food Prices, Nutrition

As farmers, we see the production side of agriculture. We know all about...

Spring Has Sprung!

March 9, 2017

BLOG, Farming, Life on the Farm, Sustainablity

March has only just begun and it already feels like spring is in the...

The First Days

March 7, 2017

Animal Welfare, Antibiotics, BLOG, Ranching, Uncategorized

Can you believe it's already March?! Spring is in sight and I can't wait...

Water bottle planters DIY

March 1, 2017

BLOG, Farming, Uncategorized

How to make your own: 1. Find a plastic bottle (standard water bottle is what...

Baby Boom

February 22, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Farming, Life on the Farm, Ranching

February is about over and this week we're finally going to hit halfway through...

What Is the Difference Between Plant Breeding and GMOs?

February 8, 2017

BLOG, GMO Foods

Guest Post by Amber Pankonin, RD and Blogger at StirList.com As I drove up to...

Valentine's Day Meal for Two

February 8, 2017

Animal Welfare, Beef recipes, BLOG, Life on the Farm, RECIPES

You may be seeing a trend in my favorite recipes...but Jared and I have...

Keeping Record

January 31, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Corporate Farms, Farming, Life on the Farm, Ranching

Record keeping in the cattle and farming industry has always been important. Tracking genetic...

The VFD and YOU

January 27, 2017

Animal Welfare, Antibiotics, BLOG, Uncategorized

There’s a new sheriff in town and his name is VFD. Do you know...

Busting Beef Myths

January 20, 2017

Beef recipes, BLOG, Nutrition

Many of us often set goals to improve our health through exercise and weight...

Ice Ice Babies

January 20, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Life on the Farm

Things are just starting to heat up here at the farm....and I don't mean...

Thrown Into The Fire

January 17, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Corporate Farms, Farming, Life on the Farm

BOY have a lot of things changed since my last post! Farming and ranching can...

A Few of my Favorite Things

January 12, 2017

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Corporate Farms

If you've ever watched "The Sound of Music" then you know there is a...

Farming Ahead

December 31, 2016

BLOG, Life on the Farm

You've seen the posts and read the blogs, 2016 was a terrible year and...

The Ultimate Farmer & Rancher Gift Guide

December 21, 2016

BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming, Life on the Farm, Uncategorized

Farmers and ranchers are hard to buy for. Why? They need something, they buy...

Switching Gears

December 12, 2016

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Life on the Farm, Uncategorized

The grain bins are full, the combine is put away and harvest is officially...

The Family Farm: Our Lifestyle, Our Passion, Our Legacy

November 26, 2016

BLOG, Corporate Farms, Farming, Life on the Farm

"We come and go but the land is always here. And the people who...

Easy Four Ingredient Soft Caramels

November 23, 2016

BLOG, Dessert, Farming, Life on the Farm, RECIPES, Uncategorized

Hello my name is Jenny Wiese and I live and breathe agriculture. I’m a...

What's going on inside that monster machine?

October 27, 2016

Immersion in Agricultural Innovation - an experience for Registered Dietitians

My high school-aged daughter once got stuck with her friend behind a slow moving...

When it Rains, it Pours

October 9, 2016

BLOG, Corporate Farms, Farming, Food Safety, irrigation, Life on the Farm

The old adage, “When it rains, it pours,” often applies more to life experiences...

October 6, 2016

Animal Welfare, Antibiotics, BLOG, Food Safety, Hormones, Nutrition, Uncategorized

“Farmer's Daughter” is a title I feel honored to have been blessed with. I'm...

Irrigation

August 25, 2016

BLOG, Farming, irrigation, Life on the Farm

It’s sprinkling outside. Normally that is not a very exciting topic to blog about,...

What is the difference between plant breeding and GMOs?

August 14, 2016

BLOG, GMO Foods, Life on the Farm, Uncategorized

Guest Post by Amber Pankonin, RD and Blogger at StirList.com As I drove up to...

Farming, It's More Than a Feeling

August 8, 2016

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Farming, GMO Foods

My farming experiences were limited when I was growing up. I had extended family...

County Fair - Making Memories and Making a Difference

July 19, 2016

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Farm Moms

The local county fair is always a highlight of summer for our family. Nestled...

Do I need to worry about antibiotics in my food?

June 16, 2016

Animal Welfare, Antibiotics, BLOG

Guest Post by Amber Pankonin, RD and Blogger at StirList.com A few weeks ago I...

What Inspires You?

May 19, 2016

Earth Day on a Nebraska Farm

Farmers and ranchers occasionally need inspiration. They may be looking for a new...

April 22, 2016

There is "not a latte" to be concerned about when it comes to pesticides.

April 22nd is Earth Day. Having lived on a farm nearly all of my...

March 18, 2016

BLOG, Uncategorized

Sometimes the word "pesticide" can be kind of scary and we don't really know...

Who Put the Hormones in my Corned Beef and Cabbage

March 16, 2016

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Hormones

A few years ago I put together a demonstration showing the levels of estrogen...

What You Need to Know about Antibiotic-Free Meat

March 4, 2016

Animal Welfare, Antibiotics, BLOG

When one of my boys is sick, my "mom" instincts kick in and I do...

Dust In My Coffee

February 23, 2016

Antibiotics, BLOG, Corporate Farms, Farm Moms, Farming, GMO Foods, Hormones, Life on the Farm, Uncategorized

Several years ago I became aware of the public conversation about how food is...

Saving a Newborn Calf

February 12, 2016

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Farm Moms, Life on the Farm

I’d bet the big bucks that the only time “Mr. Corn Farmer” has used...

Footballs and Fajitas

February 7, 2016

Beef recipes, BLOG, Farm Moms, RECIPES

Football is one of my favorite sports to watch. Did you know Super Bowl...

How We Care for Cows in a Blizzard

February 2, 2016

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Life on the Farm

The weather models were right this time and my farm is located near the...

My Farm, Your Table, and a Trip to Washington D.C.

January 25, 2016

BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming, Food Safety

First, I want to give a big virtual hug to all of my friends...

Pots Boiling Over – The Joy of Lambing Season in Surprise

January 15, 2016

Animal Welfare, BLOG, Farm Moms, Life on the Farm

The sound is faint at first then annoying enough to force me to I...

Shopping for Beef with Karol Swan

January 8, 2016

Beef recipes, BLOG, Nutrition

Guest post by Amber Pankonin of Stirlist.com As a registered dietitian and culinary student, I...

WINTER WORK ON THE FARM

December 15, 2015

Animal Welfare, BLOG

Are farmers busy in the winter? Yes. We may be outside of the growing...

The Art of Making Hay

October 7, 2015

BLOG

I remember a conversation from last summer. “Honey, do you want to be my “Rake...

Eight Steps to Growing a Corn Tortilla

September 17, 2015

Sold! Front Seat to a Bull Sale

Whether it’s Taco Tuesday or Fajita Friday, have you ever considered where the corn for your...

May 13, 2015

My Q & A with David Loberg from the movie Farmland

Our neighbors hosted their annual bull sale in March. Selecting the right bull for...

How Farmers Buy Seed

March 18, 2015

BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming

One of the first signs of spring is the arrival of a garden catalog...

March 9, 2015

BLOG, Farming, Life on the Farm, Nutrition

RD Amber from Stirlist, a registered dietitian passionate about food, health and nutrition, recently...

Are GMOs A-OK?

January 20, 2015

BLOG, GMO Foods

There’s a little acronym floating around: G-M-O. Many people have heard of it and many...

Water - Making Every Drop Count

January 20, 2015

BLOG

Can you remember back to when you were a kid on those long, sultry...

October 23, 2014

BLOG, CommonGround in the News, Farm Moms

We are seeking Nebraska farm women who are interested in sharing the message of where...

Walking beans

October 15, 2014

Animal Welfare, BLOG, GMO Foods

Have you ever walked beans? Have you ever heard of walking beans? I smile as I...

Silk-Free Sweet Corn Trick - CommonGround Nebraska on KOLN

July 3, 2014

BLOG, CommonGround in the News, Farm Moms, Farming, Life on the Farm, RECIPES, Sides

The Fourth of July is a great time to celebrate with friends...

Green Bean Casserole Recipe

November 22, 2013

BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming, Life on the Farm, RECIPES, Sides

This is an important time of year. A time for family, food, and fun....

Calico Beans Recipe

August 29, 2013

BLOG, Farm Moms, Life on the Farm, RECIPES

It’s hard to believe, but the summer is almost over. Soon, the long hot...

How do cattle in a feedlot stay cool?

July 27, 2012

Animal Welfare, BLOG

In my feedlot, we use misters - much like you would find at a...

Life is so full of choices

July 26, 2012

BLOG, Farm Moms

Life is so full of choices…from “What’s for supper?” to “What am I going...

Life is so full of choices

July 26, 2012

BLOG, Farm Moms

Life is so full of choices…from “What’s for supper?” to “What am I going...

July 23, 2012

BLOG, Farm Moms, Farming, Food Prices, GMO Foods

CommonGround Nebraska volunteer Diane Becker talking with grocery store managers at the CommonGround BBQ...

Talk about pig comfort!

July 20, 2012

Animal Welfare, Antibiotics, BLOG, Corporate Farms, Food Safety

Our family hosted an open house of our newly constructed wean to finish swine...

Speak Up: Rising Food Prices?

July 19, 2012

BLOG, Food Prices

Speak Up is a series of blogs where CommonGround volunteers from all over the...

And you think kids grow fast…

July 17, 2012

BLOG, Farm Moms, Life on the Farm

A few weeks ago, I took pictures of the kids running up and down...

Time of Season: Wheat Harvest

July 12, 2012