Cattle: The Ultimate Upcyclers
I have had a love for animals and a desire to live on a farm since I was a child. Little did I know my adult life would be spent caring for animals on a farm as I raised a family with my husband. For the past 41 years I went from knowing very little […]
Hailed Crops and Dad’s Advice
The older I get, the more I realize how smart my parents are. My dad has always had little tidbits of wisdom that he periodically sprinkles into conversations, and it is absolutely amazing to me how many times he is right. Recently we had a horrible hail storm here in eastern Nebraska that struck most […]
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, […]
Planting Tomatoes for a Bountiful Harvest
As gardening time approaches, here are a few tips for getting the most from your tomato planting experience. Seed selection is the first decision. Look on the seed packet or the plant container for the variety. It should also tell if it is determinate. That means the plant grows in a more compact area, like […]
Prescribed Burning: Why Farmers Do It
Prescribed burning. It may sound like an oxymoron, but a prescribed burn is a valuable tool for farmers and ranchers as they manage grass and rangeland for grazing. By definition, a prescribed burn is a planned fire; it is also sometimes called a “controlled burn” or “prescribed fire,” and is used to meet management objectives. Prairie […]
High-tech Chicken Barns? You Bet!
While most of us are aware of the latest and greatest technologies available for our homes, such as Wi-Fi thermostats and video doorbells, would you believe that a lot of this same technology is available in modern livestock barns? When we decided in 2016 to build a pullet barn and begin raising baby chicks from […]
What the New “Bioengineered” Label Tells You about Food
Labels: we use them to organize and identify what is in a container. Sometimes we cut them out of the neckline of a shirt because they are itchy. In math or science class, it is important to put the label with your answer to a problem. There are so many types of labels all around […]
Marching Towards Planting Season
March is one of my favorite months. First, March reminds us spring is just around the corner. Second, I get to celebrate another birthday! With a birthday at the end of the month, I have enjoyed many celebrations with spring-like weather, but I have had celebrations with snow and cold, too. With the transition of […]
Upcycling: Cows Do It!
“Upcycling.” Most often we think of this word in connection with home furnishings or clothing. On our farm we think of upcycling whenever we get our cow herd out on cornstalk fields after harvest. As soon as possible after our corn is harvested, we put up temporary fences and move water tanks so our cows […]
Needed – All Farms, Great and Small
Although I am not a life-long farmer, I am fortunate to have had intimate experiences with where my food comes from. I spent most of my childhood on an acreage outside of Lincoln, Nebraska. I remember issues of Mother Earth News being devoured by my parents, so my dream to be self-sustainable was an interesting […]
