Your Ag Network

If anyone thinks that life on the ranch slows down and becomes a beautiful western, romantic novel during the summer months, they are actually reading a dystopian fiction novel!

The word of the week shall be “hydration”! Thanks for tuning in to Ranch Raised! It seems like most of the midwest from from a cool spring to squelching summer, in a hurry!

Welcome to fun, fact Friday! As spring gardens perk up and cool season crops roll in, how could we not focus on the bright pink, radiant radish! It is a garden staple in back yard gardens and a definite attention getter in any produce section.

It has been fascinating to me to watch certain ag media and economists throwing a party over these fat cattle prices. I guess when that is your job, to report markets, it could be exciting. But, let’s get back to the real world.

This weekend when you are grilling some steaks throw a couple of extra steaks on, like I do. It makes a great start to week night meal on those busy nights. This week I made BBQ steak flat bread pizza and it was amazing!

THEE Hot Barn Report! Heard ONLY on American radio stations across the nation and online at hotbarnreport.com!

When you calve in April and May, that means June is the time to pair out and take the ole girls to their summer staycation destinations. This is a process that seems to drag on and on. We take pairs that have heifer calves on them to certain pastures and then the steer calf pairs go to other pastures.

THEE Hot Barn Report! Heard ONLY on American radio stations across the nation and online at hotbarnreport.com!

It’s as American as apple pie in most communities! Summer brings the annual tradition of Vacation Bible School at churches and communities across the land.

I’m watching kids compete hard in the rodeo arena looking to punch their ticket to the national high school and jr high finals. Some are humbled in that arena dirt and others have lived another month to compete for their dreams.

THEE Hot Barn Report! Heard ONLY on American radio stations across the nation and online at hotbarnreport.com!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture made a really, really big announcement this week. The USDA has announced details of a framework to transform the food system to benefit consumers, producers and rural communities by providing more options, increasing access, and creating new, more, and better markets for small and mid-size producers.

Welcome to fun, fact Friday! As spring gardens perk up and cool season crops roll in, how could we not focus on the bright pink, radiant radish! It is a garden staple in back yard gardens and a definite attention getter in any produce section.

You have heard me talk about the Your Ag Network Beef Month promotion. Well, I wanted to let you know that we have rolled the fun right into June, steak month!

THEE Hot Barn Report! Heard ONLY on American radio stations across the nation and online at hotbarnreport.com!

THEE Hot Barn Report! Heard ONLY on American radio stations across the nation and online at hotbarnreport.com!

It has done my soul a lot of good to see the upper midwest get the moisture they have been longing for. Unfortunately, some of these storms have packed a powerful punch recently with damaging winds and hail. The wheat in western Nebraska, that was within 6-8 weeks of harvest has been knocked into the dirt. Tender corn and soybeans have been brutally beaten before it even had much of a chance.

Without volunteers we would be a nation without a soul! After talking about our awesome experience at a cattle show we recently attended and with so many livestock shows and rodeos going on this summer it got me thinking more about how we can show our appreciation to the volunteers and committees that spend hours of their time, energy, and own resources pouring into events to entertain people and...

THEE Hot Barn Report! Heard ONLY on American radio stations across the nation and online at hotbarnreport.com!

I just have to tell you about all of the great things I witnessed this weekend. Of course, it involved kids and livestock, how did you guess?? It was the 60th Annual Nebraska State Junior Hereford Show.

Spring brings lots of cool season veggies, but around our place it also brings more eggs! My little motley crew barnyard flock really kicks it in to gear laying eggs as they are out foraging and enjoying the creepy crawlies and greenery this time of year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture made a really, really big announcement this week. The USDA has announced details of a framework to transform the food system to benefit consumers, producers and rural communities by providing more options, increasing access, and creating new, more, and better markets for small and mid-size producers.

Just last Monday we celebrated Memorial Day honoring our fighting men and women that have given their lives to protect our country and keep us safe. Then the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas was hanging over us. I don’t have the words to express the level of sadness as they bury those children and two teachers. They are all in our prayers.

I’m just going to be quite honest today and admit that I do not have all of my garden planted. Infact, I really only have my cool season crops in. We are in for another mild week of temps here, so I planted my second round of radishes and beets yesterday.

Welcome to June! The word of the season seems to be “transition.” In ranching it seems like we are always in a constant state of transition.