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Columnists

Reflections on readin’, writin’ and ’rithmetic

Reflections on readin’, writin’ and ’rithmetic

    Some time back I saw a bumper sticker that read, “If you can read this, thank a teacher.” I quietly mumbled, “Amen.”

    ‘Jeepers!’ When words become obsolete

    ‘Jeepers!’ When words become obsolete

      Jeepers Creepers, where’d ya get those peepers?” Now there’s a phrase you probably haven’t heard for a while. Perhaps you’ve never heard it. The line is from a song recorded by Louis Armstrong in the late 1930s.

      Soft words win over foul language during confrontations

      Soft words win over foul language during confrontations

        As a twice-married man and a father, I have been made fully aware of all my faults. One of those faults is my temper. Over the years, I have learned to control that temper… until someone pushes all the right buttons.

        Growing old not for sissies

        Growing old not for sissies

          As a mere lad of 60 years with some semblance of youth, or as some would say “denial,” I wrote about meeting the challenges of growing old in a column entitled “Seven Ways to Grow Old Gracefully.”

          Identify pieces of farm transition puzzle

          Identify pieces of farm transition puzzle

            Fitting the pieces of a farm transition puzzle together can be challenging. Like a puzzle, you need to find the corner pieces first, then the outer straight edges to frame up the foundation.

            Carnival games teach life lesson

            Carnival games teach life lesson

              David and his two grandsons decided to take the afternoon off and go to the county fair.

              Companies charge ahead with baler automation

              Companies charge ahead with baler automation

                Unless the spigot shuts off in July, this ought to be a banner hay season across the upper Midwest.

                Raise the bar on planting performance

                Raise the bar on planting performance

                  If you’re wanting to adopt the latest in planter tech, you can easily shell out $350K for a new 24-row, central-fill machine with all the bells and whistles. But as the price of fresh paint keeps rising, more and more producers are keeping their older planters and opting to install retrofit …

                  Who will own your farm in 20 years?

                  Who will own your farm in 20 years?

                    As the end of the year approaches, we close the books on another production year. There are many lessons to be had this year, but none of them greater than “Cash Flow is King.”

                    Good time to resolve family disputes

                    Good time to resolve family disputes

                      If farm people think the holiday season is a good time to resolve intrafamily conflicts about farm estate matters, they probably are wrong. According to professional farm mediators, family get-togethers over the holidays generate more guardedness and stress among the disputants than warm fee…

                      Goodbye part of the joy of loving someone

                      Goodbye part of the joy of loving someone

                        The world’s most common expression of farewell, “goodbye,” originated in the 16th century as “God be with you.” Through a series of metamorphoses over the next two centuries, it became the contraction we use today — “goodbye.”

                        Farmer takes a walk to save a life

                        Farmer takes a walk to save a life

                          There was an old man who lived on a farm and had a loyal dog. After a busy Thanksgiving, the old man decided that he would go walking every morning in an effort to become more fit. His dog was always happy to accompany him, and they walked in the mornings before the sun came up.

                          Reminiscences of junior high ‘oom-pa-pa’

                          Reminiscences of junior high ‘oom-pa-pa’

                            I am not a big football fan, but on the rare occasions when I have visited a university stadium, I love the halftime performances by the college bands. In particular, I enjoy the sousaphones.

                            Utility vehicle accessories expand skill set

                            Utility vehicle accessories expand skill set

                              No wonder sales of utility vehicles have exploded in the post-pandemic years. No other product family sits so squarely at the intersection of fun and functionality. And along with the massive increase in ATVs and UTVs, there’s been a corresponding eruption in attachments and accessories.

                              Hope during an era of threats

                              Hope during an era of threats

                                This year is testing the endurance of nearly everyone in the U.S. and around much of the world. It’s still too soon to tell how the co-occurring crises in the Ukraine and Gaza will turn out, as well as how challenges to democracy in the U.S. and elsewhere, uncertainty due to climate change a…

                                New zone suggestions to improve the dining out experience

                                New zone suggestions to improve the dining out experience

                                  We non-smokers are tickled that most restaurants are now smoke-free. No longer do restaurant hostesses ask, “Smoking or non-smoking?”

                                  Harvest mishaps in perspective

                                  Harvest mishaps in perspective

                                    Ben believed harvest was always a stressful time, but this year had been different. It had been a good harvest season, and he was excited it was almost over.

                                    Ag tires keep pace with changing farm needs

                                    Ag tires keep pace with changing farm needs

                                      If you think it’s a mind-buster to keep up with the latest in precision farming technology, then you likely haven’t shopped for tires lately. Just as equipment has gotten massive, as crop genetics have spawned rebar-like stalks, and larger, far-flung operations create new demands for speed, …

                                      ’Tis the season for income tax planning

                                      ’Tis the season for income tax planning

                                        As soon as harvest is complete, farm families will turn their attention to the holidays and year-end tax planning. As sure as Thanksgiving dinner or family Christmas, farmers will engage in the annual scramble to reduce the year’s income-tax liability.

                                        Growers take control of NH3 applications, costs

                                        Growers take control of NH3 applications, costs

                                          Harvest is wrapping up throughout the upper Corn Belt, and producers are counting the bushels, blowing off the combine and happy to close the books on this growing season.

                                          Final goodbye can be a learning experience

                                          Final goodbye can be a learning experience

                                            Saying “goodbye” to a loved one who is passing, or who is already deceased, is one of the most emotionally painful experiences we have to go through during our lifetimes. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. We can turn it into a personal growth experience.

                                            Cars sure aren’t what they used to be

                                            Cars sure aren’t what they used to be

                                              My attitude toward cars has changed over the years. These days I’m more concerned with how long my car will last than how fast it will go. More importantly, is it large enough for my 6-foot-7 frame?

                                              Aim for sustainable transition vs. crisis

                                              Aim for sustainable transition vs. crisis

                                                One of the mentors I was lucky to associate with early in my career was my first business trainer. I constantly bombarded him with questions. One day, after I had asked what he said was 100 questions, he refused to answer me.

                                                Strip-till models offer more ways to tackle tough residue

                                                Strip-till models offer more ways to tackle tough residue

                                                  With efficiency and costs top of mind for producers, strip tillage continues to gain traction across the Corn and Bean Belt. In fact, almost 50% of corn, soybean and wheat acreage was in no-till or strip-till at some time over a four-year period, according to a 2021 study of strip-till pract…

                                                  Columnist offers ‘Big Ol’ Country Boy’s’ forecast

                                                  Columnist offers ‘Big Ol’ Country Boy’s’ forecast

                                                    In recent weeks I have overheard folks discuss the Old Farmer’s Almanac and its weather predictions for this winter.

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