Pork Powerhouses 2023: Sow numbers, pig profits down while productivity up
There is no question: 2023 was a tough year, financially, for the pork industry.
Feature Stories
Exploring issues and innovations through people stories
Collegiate ag club sets out to use biotech to help bees
Genetic Engineering Corps gives members real-world experience using molecular tools to solve big problems in agriculture and beyond.
What to do when soil health practices don't work
Adam Grady was not a stranger to no-till and cover crops when he met consultant Allen Williams in the spring of 2016. He was skeptical, however.
California family creates an ag-centered community in response to urbanization
Lissa Freese remembers the days when seeing a car driving onto Rancho Mission Viejo would have been rare. Today, it’s just part of business on the 23,000-acre operation in Orange County, California.
Pork producer gives consumers a peek behind the curtain through social media
Using GoPro cameras and social media, Sawyer Whisler brings the public behind typically closed doors to see what day-to-day life is like on a modern hog farm.
How Hannah Klitz built a direct to consumer beef business from the ground up
Hannah Klitz started her direct-to-consumer beef business as a college sophomore. Now she sells premium products across the U.S.
Level up on soil health with livestock
Tom Cannon turned to no-till in the late 1990s after watching his wheat dry up and blow away in the harsh Oklahoma wind.
Ranchers raising birds to boost biodiversity
If you step outside into the morning sun but don't hear birds singing, you may have a problem.
For the peach lovers
The McKinish family business took an unexpectedly sweet turn when they became owners of Wind Drift Orchards in Harrah, Oklahoma, last year.
Pork Powerhouses 2022: Sow numbers increase slightly despite high production costs
The 37 largest U.S. pig producers added a total of 99,086 sows for an inventory of more than 4.2 million sows within these operations in 2022.
Beef in the balance
Cattle and wheat fields line the dirt road leading to the Glazier home in central Oklahoma. The nearest town is Loyal, population 79, about 5 miles away. The closest grocery store is 30 minutes. But the family—Kyle, Sheri and their children, Kol, 8, and Gentri, 5—enjoys a fresh supply of home-raised beef.
Carbon market opportunities for ranchers
The past three years have brought more excitement and investment in carbon markets than Debbie Reed saw in her first two decades of working on the concept. She currently serves as executive director for the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium. While ESMC has worked with ranchers since 2019, carbon markets for crop farmers are generally further developed at this point.
Less than a half dozen marketplaces are currently available to ranchers, estimates Chad Ellis, who serves as chair of the ESMC
Less than a half dozen marketplaces are currently available to ranchers, estimates Chad Ellis, who serves as chair of the ESMC
Pork powerhouse began as a small Tennessee family farm
Jimmy Tosh liked to tell people he was a row crop farmer who got into pigs. Now he calls himself a pig farmer with row crops.
He’s not just any pig farmer, though. Tosh, CEO of Tosh Farms in Henry, Tennessee, was ranked 26th among Successful Farming’s exclusive listing of Pork Powerhouses in 2021, with 36,000 sows. Tosh’s operation was one of the 11 out of 37 that expanded last year. The farm is set to grow again, by at least 2,500 sows, by the end of 2022.
Like many pork producers, Tosh is wa
He’s not just any pig farmer, though. Tosh, CEO of Tosh Farms in Henry, Tennessee, was ranked 26th among Successful Farming’s exclusive listing of Pork Powerhouses in 2021, with 36,000 sows. Tosh’s operation was one of the 11 out of 37 that expanded last year. The farm is set to grow again, by at least 2,500 sows, by the end of 2022.
Like many pork producers, Tosh is wa
Carbon market contracts: A legal perspective
Nothing is standardized in the emerging era of carbon markets, so the answers to most practical questions about them are, "It depends," and "Read the contract."
Contracts between landowners and companies promising to pay for carbon are getting a little more “meat on the bones” compared to when Todd Janzen, an agriculture attorney in Indianapolis, first reviewed one for a farmer about four years ago. However, these contracts still have many open-ended terms that ag lawyers and others say produce
Contracts between landowners and companies promising to pay for carbon are getting a little more “meat on the bones” compared to when Todd Janzen, an agriculture attorney in Indianapolis, first reviewed one for a farmer about four years ago. However, these contracts still have many open-ended terms that ag lawyers and others say produce
Tiger tales
Circus tigers with a conservation cause find retirement at Growler Pines
Ryan Easley stands with confidence inside the smallest of several secure, steel-framed tiger habitats that he built at Growler Pines Tiger Preserve. This one is especially for demonstrations.
Three tigers sit on stools behind him. A fourth, 9-year-old Zuri, nestles her head against Ryan’s shoulder as he prepares pink and purple children’s fingerpaint. She patiently lifts her paw when Ryan gives the cue, pressing it into t
Ryan Easley stands with confidence inside the smallest of several secure, steel-framed tiger habitats that he built at Growler Pines Tiger Preserve. This one is especially for demonstrations.
Three tigers sit on stools behind him. A fourth, 9-year-old Zuri, nestles her head against Ryan’s shoulder as he prepares pink and purple children’s fingerpaint. She patiently lifts her paw when Ryan gives the cue, pressing it into t
Must-see Museums
Educational experiences that make the past meaningful and today fun
A trip to the museum can take you anywhere: to the past, to a far-off country, even into the world of your imagination. These five Oklahoma museums are not to be missed when embarking on an educational adventure.
Tips: Complementary guided walk-in tours are offered most afternoons as well as public events throughout the year. Check the museum’s online events calendar for the latest details.
Setting in purposeful alignment wit
A trip to the museum can take you anywhere: to the past, to a far-off country, even into the world of your imagination. These five Oklahoma museums are not to be missed when embarking on an educational adventure.
Tips: Complementary guided walk-in tours are offered most afternoons as well as public events throughout the year. Check the museum’s online events calendar for the latest details.
Setting in purposeful alignment wit
‘Ultimate’ Family Place on Lake Tenkiller
Burnt Cabin Marina and Resort offers full-service fun for families
Growing a Market for Community
Oklahoma's first biodynamic farm is cultivating healthy plants and people.
The Power of a Regenerative Mindset
Regenerative ranchers draw energy from their desire to improve the land and other productive attitudes.
Cowboy Stuttering Camp Grows Confidence
Oklahomans gain resources with stuttering specialist focused on serving rural areas
Breaking Barriers to Regenerative Agriculture
It’s not easy to step out of tradition or begin a new venture. For these farmers and ranchers, improving the long-term health of the land and their finances were worth the challenges.
The Journey
Three Oklahoma ranchers share their regenerative agriculture experiences and best advice for those on the journey.
Blueprint for Progress
Noble Land Stewardship Program Aims to Help Ranchers Put Numbers to the Value They Bring to Society
In Their Veins
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.
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How-To and Web Features
Conveying practical how-to or explanatory information
6 Ways to Help Farmers During Planting
Amid the flurry of spring activities, here are ways FFA members can support local farmers during planting season.
5 Skills Developed Through Parliamentary Procedure
No matter what you do in life, you’ll likely need to work with groups of other people to get things done — whether it’s at your job, in your community or beyond.
Someday, you might join a professional society, your local fair board or a statewide agriculture committee. Chances are, you won’t agree with everyone in your organization or team on every topic or situation.
Disagreement is not necessarily a bad thing in a group setting. However, you’ll need to navigate differences in opinion fairly,
Someday, you might join a professional society, your local fair board or a statewide agriculture committee. Chances are, you won’t agree with everyone in your organization or team on every topic or situation.
Disagreement is not necessarily a bad thing in a group setting. However, you’ll need to navigate differences in opinion fairly,
Member‘s Legacy Offers Official Dress
Nicholas Elizalde’s spot at Walter B. Saul High School, a special admissions agricultural high school in the School District of Philadelphia, was secure.
The 14-year-old was enrolled in a natural resources management course — one of four subject areas including animal science, plant science and food processing — that Saul students rotate through before choosing their focus. The 130-acre school campus includes a working farm and instills leadership skills and an appreciation for agriculture in u
The 14-year-old was enrolled in a natural resources management course — one of four subject areas including animal science, plant science and food processing — that Saul students rotate through before choosing their focus. The 130-acre school campus includes a working farm and instills leadership skills and an appreciation for agriculture in u
Navigate the drone learning curve
Sprayer drones had hit the agricultural market by 2018, but Taylor Moreland was having trouble finding a dealer who understood agriculture in the Midwest.
He wanted to solve a problem for the farmers he serves through his Pioneer seed dealership, Moreland Seed & Soil, in Centralia, Missouri. Many of his customers rely on crop dusters for aerial applications of fungicide, which often leads to yield-reducing delays during busy, but critical, weeks. He thought he would buy a sprayer drone and beco
He wanted to solve a problem for the farmers he serves through his Pioneer seed dealership, Moreland Seed & Soil, in Centralia, Missouri. Many of his customers rely on crop dusters for aerial applications of fungicide, which often leads to yield-reducing delays during busy, but critical, weeks. He thought he would buy a sprayer drone and beco
6-5-4-3: The Fundamental Principles of Regenerative Agriculture and Soil Health
There is no step-by-step process to regenerative agriculture, but there are a few fundamental principles to follow.
Regenerative agriculture is not a prescription. There are no set rules or formulas for you to follow. Instead, regenerative agriculture depends on individual farmers and ranchers applying principles to their specific operations.
These principles help you make management decisions that work with the natural processes taking place in the ecosystem.
Below, we outline the fundamenta
Regenerative agriculture is not a prescription. There are no set rules or formulas for you to follow. Instead, regenerative agriculture depends on individual farmers and ranchers applying principles to their specific operations.
These principles help you make management decisions that work with the natural processes taking place in the ecosystem.
Below, we outline the fundamenta
Sunflowers Make a Bright Community
Not many people see fields of sunflowers in northwestern Iowa, where corn and soybean fields dominate the landscape. This summer, however, travelers along Highway 3 just east of Akron were treated to a bright patch of yellow sunflowers grown by Akron-Westfield FFA member Ben Philips.
Philips, whose family grows crops and raises cattle, decided to do something different for his supervised agricultural experience (SAE) in 2022. During the first week of June, with help from his father, he planted
Philips, whose family grows crops and raises cattle, decided to do something different for his supervised agricultural experience (SAE) in 2022. During the first week of June, with help from his father, he planted
Advisor Ed Terry Delivers Decades of Impact
Ed Terry decided as a 10th grader in the early 1960s that if he could not farm full-time right after high school, he wanted to become an agriculture teacher and FFA advisor. So that’s what he did.
Terry graduated from the University of Minnesota with an agricultural education degree in 1968 and took a job in Farmington, Minn. Six years later, his father retired from farming, creating opportunity for Terry and his brother, David, to farm together on the family land. They took it.
He assumed he
Terry graduated from the University of Minnesota with an agricultural education degree in 1968 and took a job in Farmington, Minn. Six years later, his father retired from farming, creating opportunity for Terry and his brother, David, to farm together on the family land. They took it.
He assumed he
5 Ways to Partner With Your State FFA Foundation
Many of the opportunities FFA members have access to are, in part, through support from state FFA foundations. Foundation staff build relationships with potential supporters and industry connections that can benefit members through sponsorships, scholarships, grants, networking opportunities and more.
State FFA foundations want to help FFA members succeed, now and in the future. Here are some ways you can help contribute to that goal.
Start by visiting your state FFA foundation’s website. Foll
State FFA foundations want to help FFA members succeed, now and in the future. Here are some ways you can help contribute to that goal.
Start by visiting your state FFA foundation’s website. Foll
American Falls FFA Honors Hispanic Heritage
American Falls FFA in Idaho excels at giving its members opportunities to lead, grow and work toward career success. Since 2006, the chapter has been recognized nationally each year for achieving the three-star rating in the National Chapter Award Program.
It’s also a very diverse chapter, with 45 percent of members identifying as Hispanic, 10 percent as Native American and 45 percent as Caucasian. Its diversity reflects that of its community, which is active in both agricultural production (in
It’s also a very diverse chapter, with 45 percent of members identifying as Hispanic, 10 percent as Native American and 45 percent as Caucasian. Its diversity reflects that of its community, which is active in both agricultural production (in
6 Reasons to Join a Collegiate FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter
Your FFA experience does not have to end with high school. Joining a Collegiate FFA Alumni and Supporters chapter can be a great way to stay involved in FFA.
Read on for why collegiate alumni membership is a great opportunity to expand your FFA experiences.
Connecting with other FFA members at college can make transitioning to college life easier, says Jon Ramsey, professor of agricultural education at Oklahoma State University (OSU) and the OSU Collegiate FFA Alumni and Supporters advisor. It
Read on for why collegiate alumni membership is a great opportunity to expand your FFA experiences.
Connecting with other FFA members at college can make transitioning to college life easier, says Jon Ramsey, professor of agricultural education at Oklahoma State University (OSU) and the OSU Collegiate FFA Alumni and Supporters advisor. It
8 Tips for First-Year FFA Members
You decided to join your school’s FFA chapter. Now what? There are plenty of opportunities ahead to explore agricultural career paths, develop your leadership skills and start lifelong friendships.
Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your FFA experience.
Say “yes” to as many activities as you can, especially at first. Colton Roy, Missouri FFA president from Trenton, Mo., says he spent his freshman year trying everything he could. Once he discovered he liked public speaking and lea
Here are a few tips to help you make the most of your FFA experience.
Say “yes” to as many activities as you can, especially at first. Colton Roy, Missouri FFA president from Trenton, Mo., says he spent his freshman year trying everything he could. Once he discovered he liked public speaking and lea
6 Things I Learned as a State Officer
Jake Traylor shares six lessons learned as Texas FFA President.
7 Summer Tasks to Enhance Your SAE
Brett Evans, SAE education specialist for the National FFA Organization, says shares seven things you can do this summer to grow an award-worthy SAE.
4 Things to Consider for a Regenerative Agriculture SAE
FFA members gain hands-on experiences with regenerative agriculture.
1945 Recipe: Salisbury Steak
Enjoy a classic beef dinner from the U.S. Navy, based on a recipe used to feed sailors in the year World War II ended and Noble Research Institute began.
What Is the Difference Between Organic and Regenerative Agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture empowers farmers and ranchers to use management principles that improve the overall health of the land.
How to Make the Best Deer Street Tacos
Enjoy the fruits of your land stewardship efforts with a little spice and fiesta.
How to Evaluate Your Soil Right in the Field or Pasture
All you need is a shovel and your senses to get an idea of your soil’s health.
How to Make Yaxin Ge’s Vegetable Egg Rolls
Yaxin Ge, Ph.D., shares her egg roll recipe, a favorite at the Noble Research Institute for more than a decade.
How to Build a Beehive
If you are thinking about becoming a beekeeper, the first step is to find a community of people on the same learning journey. The next is to build a hive — the home for your bees.
How to Grill the Perfect Steak
Becca McMillan taught herself how to cook steak in high school. After years of trial and error, she shares her favorite recipe.
All Beef Is Grass-Fed
One of the meat labels we frequently see is "grass-fed." In reality, all beef comes from cattle that are grass-fed.
Science Articles
Seeking scientific understanding about the world around us
Exploring the Deepest Region of the Oceans
Orange, blue, and white bacteria blanketed rocks and boulders at 7,000 meters (~23,000 feet) deep in the Indian Ocean’s Java Trench. Dr. Alan Jamieson glided past the life-covered geology in a submersible during his first in-person trip to the hadal zone—the deepest region of the sea—after more than a decade of studying it remotely.
Mystery at the bottom of the Baltic sea
Searching for answers to explain the 1994 sinking of the MS Estonia
PhytoVision: Beyond a Simple Measure
A computer-controlled camera system developed by Larry York, Ph.D., uncovers potential plant traits that could benefit forage growers through improved varieties.
Looking Through the Microscope
Advances in technology allow scientists to gain increasingly greater glimpses into how plants function, generating knowledge that can be turned into tools for farmers and ranchers.
A Closer Look at Roots: Searching for Drought Solutions
Roots are the unsung heroes of a plant. Like a behind-the-scenes stage hand, roots set the scene for a productive show of tasty growth that will nourish animals and humans.
Video Scripts
Building the feel-good messages behind the compelling images
