Agriculture

Snowpack off to fast start in Northeastern Oregon

A snowy scene along the Marble Creek Pass Road in the Elkhorn Mountains west of Baker City on Nov. 3. Snow-flocked trees along Marble Creek Pass Road frame a view of Baker Valley on Nov. 3. BAKER CITY, Ore. —…

Range-bound market looks for bigger news

Maybe it is just that time of the year. The harvest is about done, we have few weather worries, even with wheat, and grain market analysts are scratching for news bites that are big enough to have to chew. The…

Pile burns planned across Boise National Forest

Piles of vegetation will be burned in the Boise National Forest later this year. Boise National Forest officials plan to burn debris remaining from timber sales and wildfire fuel reduction projects this winter as weather conditions allow and as the…

How to Use Crossbreeding to Improve Cattle Performance

Not many things in the livestock business are free, but heterosis — the bump in performance from crossbreeding — is one of them. Then, why don’t we take full advantage of it in our commercial beef cattle herds? It’s unfair to paint…

Dairy Barn Flooring Is the Foundation for Herd Health

Photo: Karl Burgi, Save Cows® Network Dairy barn flooring is more than a concrete slab. Your dairy barn floor may be impacting your herd much more than you think. While it’s easy to overlook, the barn’s flooring surface can have…

Pa. veteran-owned distilleries serve moonshine and whiskey with a story

Kim McLaughlin stands next to a Marine Corps flag in front of McLaughlin Distillery in Sewickley, Pennsylvania on Oct. 29, 2024. (Liz Partsch photo) SEWICKLEY, Pa. — “Enter here you gorgeous bastard” is the first greeting visitors are met with…

Here’s How Corn Harvest Stacks Up Among Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska

Corn harvest in the country’s top three corn-growing states is nearly complete for 2024. Here’s a look at how farmers are wrapping up this season and preparing for the next, according to data from the latest USDA Crop Progress report…

Retrofit your machinery to increase ROI

Photo: Courtesy of manufacturer Eight years between nearly any two pieces of equipment — whether cars, trucks, combines, or tractors — normally means two completely different machines. Technology changes fast, and manufacturers constantly update what they bring to market.  But…

What Farmers Should Know Ahead of the November WASDE

Photo: Photo credit: Anton Petrus/Getty Images The November World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report is due Friday, Nov. 8. Going into the report, here is some context to know for the corn, soybean, and wheat markets and what…

Animal disease traceability rule set to take effect

EID tags such as these can collect data on an animal’s whereabouts at a specific point in time, which can be traced in the event of an animal disease outbreak. Some tags are readable both visually and electronically. The USDA’s new Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service…