OUR BLOG
No two days are ever the same on our Nebraska farms and ranches. From planting to harvest and all year-round, this is where we share our stories, our challenges and our wins. We invite you into it all.
Latest Blog
By: Amanda Beierman As warmer weather transitions into cooler weather, we naturally crave warmer meals, known as comfort meals. These comfort meals often look like slow-cooker meals, cooked in roaster kettles on the
From Behind the Wheel of the ‘Burban Our ‘Burban has seen in all: With more miles on it than the odometer will admit; with a gas tank you better have filled before heading
Lambing: My favorite time of the year on the farm! I love to watch all the babies frolicking in the corral. On our farm, we are almost through with the first lambing season
Dull as dirt??? Hardly. Dirt – or more accurately, soil – is far from dull. As a farmer, I know soil is the most important part of our farm. Every decision my husband
Have you ever looked out the car window at one of those big white chicken barns and thought, “what is going on in there?” I used to wonder that same thing until three
Meet CommonGround volunteers Karol Swan and Joan Ruskamp. Karol isn’t just a farmer — she also has a background in meat grading and certification through the United States Department of Agriculture. Joan is a
Growing up on a farm as a kid, I was often asked to listen up when the weather was on TV. Today, the conversation centers around the overall climate as much as the
CommonGround volunteers Melisa Konecky and Karah Perdue take you on a tour of Melisa’s dairy and discuss how farmers and ranchers care for their animals. Watch and learn
Some days it seems so long ago and other days, it’s like it was yesterday. I vividly recall getting a phone call asking if I’d be available for an “on the farm” photo
By: Amanda Beierman As warmer weather transitions into cooler weather, we naturally crave warmer meals, known as comfort meals. These comfort meals often look like slow-cooker meals, cooked in roaster kettles on the
By: Cathrine Frerichs Fall is a busy time between back to school, the holidays and a new routine to settle into. This time of year is even busier for the agricultural community, as
By: Katy Wolff When I first met my future husband, three things sealed the deal on our relationship: our mutual love for eating peanut butter out of the jar, Star Wars and a
By: Megan Landes-Murphy It’s the loudest time of year on the ranch—weaning day. Weaning separates the ewes (female sheep) from their lambs (baby sheep). While it may seem harsh, it’s essential for the
Walking up to a meat counter can be a daunting experience, even for the most experienced grocery purchaser. A person could get flustered and starry-eyed quickly between the various types of protein and
Most beef cattle spend their lives grazing on pasture grasses and forages. Regardless of breed, cattle are ruminants, which means they graze on vegetation and store their food in a specialized stomach for
By: Susan Littlefield Imagine two different lambing scenarios. In the first scenario, it’s dark outside, the wind is blowing, and snow is falling. You have to bundle up for the late-night or early-morning
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
By: Molly Aden Prepping for the next growing season has begun! My husband, Jared, and I farm and ranch outside Farnam, Nebraska. One of my jobs on our farm is creating a fertility
By: Jordan Classen We grow both corn and soybeans on our farm in Central Nebraska. Corn typically needs about 20-25 inches of water during its growing season, and adequate rainfall is crucial during
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
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
I’m sure that many of you have sat down to begin creating a meal plan. It can feel overwhelming at first, but once you get into a rhythm, it is a great way
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
When you scoop up a handful of cattle feed normally, you will smell scents of molasses, bread (from the distiller’s grain) and hay. However, during fly season you might smell garlic. Fly season
If people could see one thing about our farm, I wish they could see how much we care. I think about our crops all the time. I think about it at the gas
This past year, the freshman class at Hampton Public School participated in a pilot program about agriculture during National Ag Week from March 18th through 22nd. Students were immersed in agriculture daily through
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
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
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
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
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
Harmony in the Heart of Your Home: Kitchen Organization Tips from My Farm Kitchen to Yours The kitchen is often the heartbeat of a home, especially on a farm where hearty meals and
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
