Your Ag Network

As I look around our communities, they are abuzz with spring activities. And while I am a master homebody, ranch hermit, having kids active in these activities forces me to step up.

Like many this wind has me sort of beaten and battered. Personally, I am having a hard time finding the will to work in my garden.

To be honest, I have to admit, it has been a rough few weeks for many farmers and ranchers across the Midwest.

This time of year we are all looking for those classic spring flavors and sides. Asparagus has got to be one of those iconic veggies that I think of this time of year. Long stalks of tender greens grilled on the side of a juice steak. Leftovers thrown into pasta dishes or with other roasted veggies. And who doesn’t like pickled asparagus as a change of pace?

Batters up! I’m not talking baseball but instead next week will be a big week in the beef and cattle industry, with all eyes on Washington DC. We better have some lawmakers and stakeholders prepared to swing for the fences on behalf of rural America!

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

Karina Jones is a real-life ranch wife in the Nebraska Sandhills and one of the most highly sought-after speakers in the cattle industry nationwide!

Just back from the farm in Illinois last week. I always love to plant my feet on that rich soil. It was too wet to plant. Hope we can get that corn and bean seed in the ground soon.

As I said yesterday, we are in the middle of weaning fall calves, so I thought I would explain a little further. We have two herds of cattle that calve at opposite times of year.

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!

Balancing that parent and ranch life this time of year can be challenging. Yesterday was a perfect example. My husband and I were back and forth and all-over weaning fall calves. The girls were on their own to get their own projects done and keep themselves occupied and out of trouble.

Do any other parents of school age children get to this time of year and feel like you are a hamster just trying to stay on the spinning wheel?!?

Many gardeners in the Midwest will hold true to folklore and plant their potatoes today. But in the bigger picture, America’s potato farmers have a big job ahead of them because Americans love their potatoes!

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

You and I all know that drought is only partially to blame for the massive US cowherd liquidation. Lack of profitability is not getting near enough attention. In 2020 –2021 we lost another 1000 cattle feeders, mostly those independent types that set the cash market. This was not due to drought, this was absolutely due to having no more chips to put in the middle, financially they had to fold.

Your Source For The Latest RODEO NEWS Following Heartland PRCA Athletes With Host Monte James. Fast paced, professionally produced, weekly radio show that follows Midwestern PRCA Rodeo Athletes throughout the year & all the way to the National Finals Rodeo!

If you are a gardener, especially in the Midwest, I’m sure you have your seed potatoes ready to go , to put in the ground, tomorrow, on Good Friday! The Farmer’s Almanac has great information on the Good Friday potato lore. Generations have used Good Friday as the right time to plant crops like potatoes and cool season veggies.

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

I want to talk about pigs. Pork farmers throughout the U.S. were shocked in 2018 when California voters passed Proposition 12. It dictates to California pork producers how to produce their pork.

You know that one of the most untapped resources is inside of our local greenhouses and seed stores? THE PEOPLE! The thing about dirt loving, seed starting, flower growing people, it they are an open book and would love to share with you whatever you don’t know. You just have to ask.

I am lucky to live in an area, albeit rural, where I have multiple greenhouses within my county and pretty awesome ones at that. I have come to value these greenhouses as much as the community grocery store or gas station. Infact, I believe they are vital to our communities.

R-CalfUSA CEO Bill Bullard says, “Two new economic studies have revealed that alternative marketing arrangements are the tools that the packers are using to drive cattle prices down and beef prices up.”

This weekend my two youngest and I got to do something that we love, going to our local greenhouse and getting our hands in some dirt! We are blessed to have a greenhouse that offers different classes and we take full advantage.

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