Roads rarely remain straight and smooth forever. Traffic beats wear into the pavement. Rains wash gravel away. Dead ends leave us backtracking, and crossroads beg timely decisions. In agriculture, some practices feel tried and true — until they don’t. Plateaued yields, failing forage stands and economic uncertainty compound the already challenging task of making ends meet during times of drought, floods, diseases and pests.
Many at the Noble Research Institute raise cattle and are otherwise engaged in production agriculture outside of their full-time jobs. Others grew up on farms and ranches. These are their stories.
When buying land for cattle production, there are some unique characteristics to consider before signing a contract. These characteristics include: stocking rate, forage quality and type, soil type and fertility, terrain and slope of the land, water sources in each pasture, number of pastures and traps, working pen availability and condition, fence condition and type, and other infrastructure (overhead bins, interior roads, etc.) availability and condition.
U.S. farmers produce the world’s most abundant food supply, thanks, in part, to technological advancements. But with shrinking public funds available for agricultural research, new solutions are needed for funding continued innovation. Society depends on it.
Unmanned aerial vehicles and the sensors associated with them have potential as a tool for farmers and ranchers. We’re testing them out.
When it comes to your farm or ranch, nobody knows the operation like you. You know how many acres you’re operating, and you have inventories on all your commodities. Hopefully, you even know what assets and liabilities you have by taking a quick look at your net worth statement. But what steps have you taken when it comes to managing for taxes or assessing legal risks? By reviewing your operation’s business structure, you may find creating a business entity could provide your operation with added benefits.
Raising bees can be an extremely rewarding agricultural enterprise. Interest in beekeeping has increased drastically throughout much of the United States. Several factors have contributed to this increase such as the desire to produce backyard honey, provide pollinator sources and gain an extra source of income.
