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
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 of 2021. It is a busy time, but we enjoy this season. While there is much work
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 and I make about our farm’s soil has to answer “yes” to the question, “will this make our
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 years ago when we became chicken farmers and got our first flock of pullets (young female hens).
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 farmer, a licensed veterinary technician and a CommonGround volunteer. She raises beef cattle with her husband outside
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 local daily weather. How can we make a meaningful impact when caring for our climate? This is
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 shoot and video interview and “something, but they weren’t sure what” would ensue from that. Now, we
COVID-19 certainly turned our world upside down. CommonGround Nebraska volunteers love to meet you in person and visit with you about how food is grown and raised. But during this time of uncertainty, we have needed to adapt and find new ways to connect with you! The volunteers have been
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 many days and nights for farmers are spent harvesting. The fall is also busy for those who
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 passion for livestock. In fact, my grand marriage proposal was in the lambing barn on a cold
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 plan for our crop acres. I enjoy learning something new every year about each field by reviewing
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 key growth stages like pollination. On the other hand, soybeans require roughly 15-20 inches of water and
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 varieties to
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 blessed with the opportunity to enjoy fresh garden
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 to provide a tasty meal, help with your budget and make the best use of your pantry
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 that has become a cornerstone in sustainable farming. In this article,
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 their four core classes: English, math, science and history. In geography, they explored where different plants are
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 pondering.
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 been eagerly anticipating – the time when
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 reflection of his schooling or his career path
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 blessed with the opportunity to enjoy fresh garden
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 sky – hail. In our area,
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 culinary adventures are a daily affair. Organization is key to making the most of your kitchen. It
