Dog

Regenerative farming and soil health are the focus for pastured-raised animals at Terra Vitae Farms.

Well, it’s dry again and we really could use a good soaking rain. The grass pastures had been growing nice up to about two weeks ago when they started feeling the effects of no rain.

Working as a veterinarian means every day is different — and that’s what Taryn Pfeiffer really enjoys about her career.

Farmers and ranchers are always looking to the future, whether that’s finding ways we can be more innovative and efficient or building up our local communities.

On the family farm, there’s a job for everyone, including our furry, four-legged friends. Farm dogs play an important role on the farm and hold a special place in our hearts.

Five district winners for the Star in Agribusiness award will be honored on the stage of the Illinois FFA State Convention.

The Star in Agriscience award will be presented during the Stars Over Illinois ceremony on Wednesday, June 12.

It looks so far like spring has arrived early this year. Even if we get a last blast of winter, spring has a pretty good head start — so much so that I missed my best opportunity to frost seed some clover.

At the Illinois Lamb and Wool meeting a guy told me that he didn’t know about the wool loan deficiency payments program until he read about it in my article last year. He was able to get more than the 40 cents per pound minimum by having his wool graded.

It’s been great so far this December to do chores without having to break the ice on the energy-free waterers we use here. Pretty much all fieldwork has been done by now around here.

Well, I’ve just returned from the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival and it was entertaining and very informative. On Friday was the Sheep 101 classes and Saturday was the Profit Workshop classes.

Some dogs sprinted like deer into the drafty barn, with its tin roof that rumbled every time the wind gusted — which it did often on a chilly Sunday afternoon.

After hearing about some of the extreme rain events in Illinois and elsewhere the past few weeks, I am very grateful to have been spared those deluges. Here at home the pastures and row crops are faring well so far. And with the cooler temps the animals and I are thankful.

Hello from Graze-N-Grow. By the time you are reading this our pasture broilers will be in the freezer after our friend Tommy at Brummel Poultry Processing does the “dirty job.” I’ve helped there a couple times and it’s too much lifting for this old body.