Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Americana
Despite a slight rebound from October’s five‑year low, Creighton University’s latest Rural Mainstreet Index report shows the Midwest & Northern Rockies heartland still mired below growth neutral, with weak grain prices, soft ag land values, and cautious rural bankers keeping recession risks elevated. November’s RMI: Off the Floor, Still in the Red The Rural Mainstreet […]
By Bob Shepard County Fair Memories in Rural Michigan I remember the Shiawassee County Free Fair as a great gathering of rural folks with many youth bringing the culmination of their 4-H projects to be judged, whether they were of blue, red, or white ribbon caliber or even grand champion worthy. The county fair had […]
Soil is essential to environmental sustainability. Soil is one of the most valuable natural resources in rural communities, yet it is often overlooked in planning and policy discussions. Conventional tillage methods contribute to soil erosion, water runoff, and declining fertility—threatening both agricultural productivity and local ecosystems. No-till farming offers a solution, reducing soil disturbance while […]
Rural communities rely on agriculture—not just as an economic driver, but as a foundation for long-term stability and environmental sustainability. However, land degradation, climate change, and shifting market conditions are forcing many communities to rethink how they support local agriculture. Sustainable agriculture offers a way forward, but it requires more than just individual farmers adopting […]
Diary of Orrin Brown, Goldsboro, North Carolina Tuesday–Apr. 4th We have had a very warm day I was on drill this AM and Battalion drill and dress parad again this PM. We drew 3 days rations of Hardtack 5 of Coffee and Sugar, 2 of Salt Poark one of Codfish one of Beans and some […]
It used to be that at the very least you could count on the trains running on time. Not anymore. The Red River Farm Network out of Grand Forks, ND, has great coverage of agricultural issues across the northern Great Plains of Minnesota, the Dakotas and somewhat into Montana. In this week’s news digest, they […]
From Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack: Secretary’s Column: Census of Agriculture Results Tell Story of Unlimited Potential in Rural America USDA released preliminary data from the 2012 Census of Agriculture that provides a snapshot of a rural America that remains stable in the face of difficult economic times. While the data do not paint a […]
Preliminary results are in on the 2012 Census of Agriculture. Following the long-term trend, USDA counted fewer larger farms, much fewer in some states like Minnesota, and actually a few more in others like Wyoming. And farmers are getting older. Full figures due in May. The USDA Press Release gives the details: Value of Sales […]
Minnesota is the top turkey producer in the United States, counting over 18 million birds in 2007’s Census of Agriculture. Will the gopher state hold the title in the next go ’round? Here’s some PR from USDA on the topic: WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 2012 – Nearly four centuries after the very first Thanksgiving feast, Americans […]
Hearing a lot about drought this year? Through the end of July, 80% of the contiguous United States was considered at least abnormally dry. The National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln compiles the weekly US Drought Monitor, ” a synthesis of multiple indices and impacts, that represents a consensus of federal and academic scientists.” […]
