The Three Rs: How They Keep Our Farm Healthy

R is for resolutions and Ready (my last name) as well as “reduce, reuse, recycle.” Those three Rs are our resolutions for this year and every year on the Ready farm. Not only are they our resolutions, but they also lead to a fourth R, and that is “regenerate.” Reduce: Using technology on our farm […]

Caring for Cattle Through the Seasons

As farmers, we care about our cattle, and their welfare is very important to us. We want our cattle to be healthy so they are productive and aid in our goal of providing high quality beef to tables across the state. The weather is a big factor in how often our cattle require attention. We […]

What to Expect, When You’re Expecting – Sheep Edition

There isn’t a “What to Expect, When You’re Expecting” book for sheep producers, but we have started to create our own book. On our farm, we practice an accelerated lambing program, which means we are lambing every eight months. Since we are lambing more frequently, it is important for us and the welfare of our […]

Food Labels Q & A

My husband, Beau, and I are the fourth generation (raising the fifth) to farm the Klug family’s land in Columbus, Nebraska, where we raise cattle, and crops. My husband works alongside his dad and brother every day to ensure livestock are properly fed, watered and cared for. I play a supportive role on the farm, […]

Celebrating Earth Day 2022

The world is focused on the environment and carbon reduction as never before.  CommonGround volunteers Kelly Witte, Joan Ruskamp, Wendi Emanual, Rene Blauhorn, and I were onsite at Earth Day Omaha in Elmwood Park Saturday, April 23, to meet and greet attendees.  Many organizations representing efforts to reduce the environmental footprint were there, ranging from […]

Animal Housing and Antibiotics Q & A

Have you ever looked out the car window at one of those big white chicken barns or pig barns and thought, “What is going on in there?” My husband Jason and I, with our four children, raise 40,000 chickens in a large barn, and I help my dad raise pigs in a barn on his […]

Food Myths Q & A

 As a farmer, I not only think about purchasing and preparing food but producing it as well. I’m Ruth Ready, and my husband, Sid, farm near Scribner, Nebraska. In addition to farming, Sid is also a high school science teacher. We have four children and four grandchildren. On our farm, we grow corn, soybeans, alfalfa, […]

Facts Not Fear – GMOs

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 of Dodge, Nebraska.  Joan has […]

Conversations

I love talking! Seriously, I know that sounds strange, but I am a person who can talk something to DEATH!  If you don’t believe me, just ask my husband.  Today there are many ways to have a conversation. With Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, you can begin a whole conversation thread with people all across the […]