The family automobile is not the only piece of equipment that requires routine upkeep to ensure it is operating properly. Life on a farm can come to a screeching halt if farm equipment is not properly maintained. Farmers invest hundreds of thousands of dollars on agricultural equipment, such as tractors, tillers, hoppers, and dozers. Adhering to maintenance schedules can … [Read more...]
Agriculture and the economy
Though it’s easy to look at the tech industry and think this increasingly influential sector is what makes the world go round, something closer to the very core of the Earth may be what’s driving your economy. The agricultural sector plays a strategic role in a nation’s economic development and prosperity. From the earliest days, agriculture has been heralded as playing a … [Read more...]
Facts and figures on farm safety
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, agriculture is among the most hazardous industries. Fatal and nonfatal injuries pose a significant threat to farmers, including the many young people who work on farms. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, in an effort to promote productive and safe workplaces, supports programs that conduct … [Read more...]
MPCA and MDA emphasize proper manure management during a wet fall application season
After crops are harvested, Minnesota livestock producers will be applying billions of gallons or pounds of stored manure to cropland. Wet weather is complicating the harvest, but it also plays a role in proper manure management. To get the most value from manure as fertilizer and to avoid manure runoff that could pollute nearby lakes and streams, the Minnesota Pollution … [Read more...]
Explore a career in agriculture
The agricultural industry provides a variety of opportunities to professionals interested in this often misunderstood field. According to the employment resource AGCareers.com, more than 250 career profiles are available to people interested in a career in agriculture. And while jobs in agriculture may not be as prevalent as they were a few centuries ago, when 72% of the … [Read more...]
How to safety share the road with farm equipment
By Tyler Waugh www.rearviewsafety.com I’m going back to Kansas for my cousin’s wedding this weekend and I couldn’t be more excited. I get to see my entire family and spend one last time in my childhood home before my parents sell it and move to a bigger city. I’m also very pumped for the open road. As I’ll be driving a lot on rural roads, here are some tips from the Farm … [Read more...]
Grants available for updates to livestock operations Applications accepted through December 18, 2019
ST. PAUL, MN – Minnesota livestock farmers and ranchers seeking to improve their livestock operations are encouraged to apply for the Agricultural Growth, Research and Innovation (AGRI) Livestock Investment Grant program. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) anticipates awarding up to $768,000 using a competitive review process. The AGRI Program’s Livestock … [Read more...]
Sunnyslope Angus LLC ranked sixth in Angus registrations for Minnesota during 2019
Sunnyslope Angus LLC, Lanesboro, ranked as sixth largest in registering the most Angus beef cattle in Minnesota with the American Angus Association® during fiscal year 2019, which ended September 30, according to Mark McCully, Association chief executive officer. Angus breeders across the nation in 2019 registered 304,577 head of Angus cattle. “Despite a challenging year, … [Read more...]
After barn collapse, North-Creek Dairy has hope for the future
“It was the first time in 116 years we weren’t milking a cow,” Corey Hoffman of North-Creek Dairy said. After the blizzard in late February 2019, Corey, a fourth generation farmer, and his family thought they were going to have to shut down their dairy farm near Chatfield for good. “I was heartbroken,” he said. It started at about 1 a.m. on February 24. An 80’x100’ section … [Read more...]
Preventing suicide in ag communities training available Free half-day safeTALK sessions planned throughout Minnesota
ST. PAUL, MN – Farmers and others who work in agriculture are used to helping neighbors, clients, family and friends do chores or make repairs, but they may not know how to help someone having thoughts of suicide. A free, half-day safeTALK training sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will be offered in six … [Read more...]