Raising grain, livestock, and family – with technology and tradition.

In the Kitchen

December 18, 2015 by Real Farmwife On The County Line in Recipes

It’s very important to me that our family sits down around the table together for our evening meal. That’s not always possible with everything that needs to get done on the farm combined with our kids’ busy activity schedule. However, it’s always our goal.

Time of the Season: Winter Wheat in Early Spring

April 17, 2015 by Taylor Thompson in Grain

After a few seemingly endless months of winter on the Great Plains, the sight of green on the landscape is a beacon of hope that warmer days are just around the corner.

Although a few cool season weeds in my yard almost sneak past my attention undetected, it’s tough to ignore an entire field of winter wheat greening up. It seems to take at least another month for the rest of the countryside to come back to life.

Sold! Front Seat to a Bull Sale

April 13, 2015 by Taylor Thompson in Livestock

Our neighbors hosted their annual bull sale in March. Selecting the right bull for the herd lays the groundwork for raising good cattle. Good genetics in the bull translate into good traits in the next generation of calves.

How Farmers Buy Seed

March 18, 2015 by Taylor Thompson in Grain

One of the first signs of spring is the arrival of a garden catalog in the mailbox. Fantasizing about picking crisp green cucumbers on a warm summer evening is the perfect antidote to a cold, windy day.

Mr. Corn Farmer often reminds me that he’s a bigger and better gardener than I am. It’s true, but selecting seed for our farm is no fantasy. It’s serious stuff.

Nights at the Cow Palace

February 24, 2015 by Taylor Thompson in Livestock

At 12:15 a.m., I know that my husband will wake up to check heifers who are about to calve. Sometimes he lets me sleep; sometimes he takes me along.

I know he’ll get his coveralls and boots on faster than me. I know that the pickup truck will be cold until we get down the road a mile and a half to the calving barn, “The Cow Palace,” and the calving pasture. By the time the truck is warmed up, it’s time to get out. A windy twenty degrees at night is bone chilling.

The Heart of a Little Boy

February 24, 2015 by Taylor Thompson in Stories

A couple years ago, my preschooler came home with a pocket packed full of treasures for Valentine’s Day.

“Mommy! I found all these rocks on the playground for you! They are shaped like hearts!”

Holy cow. They really WERE shaped like hearts! Ok, some were more like triangles…

I’ve kept them ever since. I can’t imagine how long he searched for that many heart-shaped pebbles, but I consider it a grand effort for a little boy. A sweet and thoughtful one too.

Now I’m the kind of mom who always loves a good dandelion bouquet, but heart shaped rocks are forever.

Time of the Season: Calving

February 17, 2015 by Taylor Thompson in Livestock

Is there anything better than watching baby calves kick up their heels in the sunshine? For us, that’s one of the favorite things we see on the farmscape.

There’s no doubt that baby farm animals are just plain cute, but we know that from a herd health standpoint that calves who race around with tails straight up in the air are feeling good. It’s always fun to watch the antics and energy of little ones, but also reassuring that all is well. We breathe a sigh of relief, for we know that treating sick calves can be an uphill battle.

That Favorite Blanket

February 16, 2015 by Taylor Thompson in Stories

The wonderfully awesome amazing six-year-old in my house used to have a constant sidekick in all his adventures.

A blanket named Nan-Nan.

To be fair, I see much less of Nan-Nan these days. Nan-Nan is really good at hiding. Plus, Kindergarteners are just way too big to admit that they still might have a baby blanket somewhere.

Especially if the blanket’s name is Nan-Nan.

Predicament at the Pump

February 07, 2015 by Taylor Thompson in Grain

When I fuel up my vehicle, I use an ethanol blend without any second thoughts. But what if I wasn’t a farmer?

There are two main schools of thought right now on ethanol. While ethanol industry promotes it, the petroleum industry promotes fear of it.

A reduction in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has been proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and some members of Congress. The RFS is legislation that sets targets for blending ethanol with gasoline. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a reduction of 1.4 billion gallons.

Going Green

February 04, 2015 by Taylor Thompson in Grain

“Going Green” on a farm isn’t limited to John Deere tractors. Let’s think about sustainability.

We could say that sustainability encompasses how humans live, how industry and agriculture function, and how ecosystems are affected by this activity.

I realize this is a vast oversimplification, but the main idea is that we replenish any resources that we use, and that we do not cause damage to planet Earth. This challenge is amplified by a rapidly increasing world population.