I like to give my dad a hard time that all he had to do was farm the ground and feed the livestock to make a sustainable profit. I say this jokingly, but he recognizes that there is some...
With its continued spread to new regions in 2023 and 2024, African swine fever (ASF) remains a significant threat to the U.S. swine industry. Though greatly needed for preparedness, field-based and practical knowledge are not always readily available online...
A few summers ago, two UMN Extension colleagues and I hit the road with the University’s BEET (Biosecure Entry & Education Trailer) teaching 4-H members and their families the basics of biosecurity. Pig folks had already heard the term,...
In today’s farming economy, understanding your operation by the numbers is crucial. Managing your operation this way removes guesswork from decision-making. Farming, a complex and ever-changing business, requires an annual plan. While adjustments may be necessary throughout the year,...
African swine fever virus (ASFV) continues to spread in Europe with a recent jump to the south in Italy (Calabria) as well as outbreaks in Bosnia-Herzegovina and bordering Croatia. Vector control and measures such as quarantine , biosecurity, animal...
Farming’s Relationship with Nature
“Despite all our accomplishments, we all owe our existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact it rains.”
Farmers hold a unique perspective on the impact of nature. Too much or too little rain can...
I have been pondering this subject for quite some time. I remember not long ago when no one talked about mental health (and especially rural mental health). But, the great news is we are hearing and learning more about...
In 2014, American Farm Bureau Federation led industry roundtable discussions about collection, use, and sharing of agricultural data from farmers. The result of those discussions was the creation of a document called the Privacy and Security Principles for Farm...
The Transport Quality Assurance® (abbreviated as TQA) certification program from the National Pork Board is designed to promote the highest standards of animal welfare and pork quality during transportation. This program focuses on educating and certifying swine transporters, producers,...
Some European producers have elected to formulate relatively low crude protein diets in an effort to reduce environmental nitrogen excretion (pollution). In addition. lowering crude protein is believed to reduce hind gut fermentation of undigested protein that can increase...