Articles

Is anyone anxious to kick off the growing season of 2025? What does Mother Nature have in store for us; will we become flooded like the Ohio Valley or dry like the Plains? After the freeze of winter retreats and the ground thaws; the soils in most fields, yards and Read more

Very soon it will be another crop year and another adventure for farmers in Will County. I suspect that most of us will welcome seeing old-man-winter in our rear-view mirror. How many more false springs will we see before true warmth arrives and our growing season begins? False spring is Read more

Do you like rice? Do you discard food items too quickly? Are you convinced that food prices are too high? Well, let’s digest this topic as we celebrate National Agriculture Week. I still remember my first breakfast with my wife at a Cracker Barrel restaurant about 4 years ago. The Read more

Do you like oatmeal or cake? Once again the bird flu is wreaking havoc on poultry producers. Consumers are feeling the pinch of a shortened supply of shell eggs, and subsequently the increase in price at the grocery stores. Here are a few facts about eggs. Egg consumption has been Read more

Would you purposely destroy paradise? Does your conscience bother you if you do something wrong unintentionally, or intentionally? I was driving home from Chicago today lamenting about how to write part 2 of my article about moving to Hawaii. The motorist in front of me gave me inspiration, and evidence Read more

How many farmers start contemplating their retirement when they are approaching Medicare age? That is my issue now, especially since my wife continues to fantasize about moving to Hawaii. It is probably responsible to do some research before moving. For the second time in 3 years, we visited Hawaii during Read more

What is a tell-tale sign you are old? Here’s my two cents on the topic. First and foremost, a correction. The doctor in my house has pointed out to a glaring error in my article about medications. I referenced calcium blockers instead of calcium channel blockers. Apparently, there is a Read more

Another year has come to an end; do you have any resolutions? I recently learned the term “quitters Friday”, the 2nd Friday of January when most people have already quit their New Years resolutions. With that in mind I will hereby resolve the following: I will quit baling hay and Read more

I have been wanting to write about a very controversial topic for some time. Do not panic; it is not politics or the thermostat wars that some couples endure in the house. It is not apple versus android, or electric versus gas vehicles. This article is about the terminology of Read more

The day after Thanksgiving I talked to my son on the phone and gave him a preview of how I intended to write about my thoughts for a post-Thanksgiving article. He advised me, quite succinctly, “Try not to offend anyone.” Let’s see if I can accomplish that. A few days Read more