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  • 68° Light Rain with Thunder

Columnists

Established farmers advise the next generation

Established farmers advise the next generation

    Editor’s note: This column was originally published on Nov. 1, 2004.

    Human intervention sought in age of AI

    Human intervention sought in age of AI

      I have a confession to make: I do not follow social media, but I do some doomscrolling.

      Non-verbal language a pathway to intimacy

      Non-verbal language a pathway to intimacy

        Editor’s note: This was originally published May 30, 2005.

        Reflections on readin’, writin’ and ’rithmetic

        Reflections on readin’, writin’ and ’rithmetic

          Some time back I saw a bumper sticker that read, “If you can read this, thank a teacher.” I quietly mumbled, “Amen.”

          ‘Jeepers!’ When words become obsolete

          ‘Jeepers!’ When words become obsolete

            Jeepers Creepers, where’d ya get those peepers?” Now there’s a phrase you probably haven’t heard for a while. Perhaps you’ve never heard it. The line is from a song recorded by Louis Armstrong in the late 1930s.

            Soft words win over foul language during confrontations

            Soft words win over foul language during confrontations

              As a twice-married man and a father, I have been made fully aware of all my faults. One of those faults is my temper. Over the years, I have learned to control that temper… until someone pushes all the right buttons.

              Growing old not for sissies

              Growing old not for sissies

                As a mere lad of 60 years with some semblance of youth, or as some would say “denial,” I wrote about meeting the challenges of growing old in a column entitled “Seven Ways to Grow Old Gracefully.”

                Understanding big life changes backwards

                Understanding big life changes backwards

                  Danish theologian and philosopher Søren Kierkegaard observed, “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” I’ve been thinking about that concept all week.

                  New Year’s Eve traditions around the world

                  New Year’s Eve traditions around the world

                    Years ago I thought it was necessary to welcome the new year with a celebration of some sort. At the very least, I thought one should stay up until midnight to usher in the new year.

                    Raise the bar on planting performance

                    Raise the bar on planting performance

                      If you’re wanting to adopt the latest in planter tech, you can easily shell out $350K for a new 24-row, central-fill machine with all the bells and whistles. But as the price of fresh paint keeps rising, more and more producers are keeping their older planters and opting to install retrofit …

                      Who will own your farm in 20 years?

                      Who will own your farm in 20 years?

                        As the end of the year approaches, we close the books on another production year. There are many lessons to be had this year, but none of them greater than “Cash Flow is King.”

                        Good time to resolve family disputes

                        Good time to resolve family disputes

                          If farm people think the holiday season is a good time to resolve intrafamily conflicts about farm estate matters, they probably are wrong. According to professional farm mediators, family get-togethers over the holidays generate more guardedness and stress among the disputants than warm fee…

                          Goodbye part of the joy of loving someone

                          Goodbye part of the joy of loving someone

                            The world’s most common expression of farewell, “goodbye,” originated in the 16th century as “God be with you.” Through a series of metamorphoses over the next two centuries, it became the contraction we use today — “goodbye.”

                            Farmer takes a walk to save a life

                            Farmer takes a walk to save a life

                              There was an old man who lived on a farm and had a loyal dog. After a busy Thanksgiving, the old man decided that he would go walking every morning in an effort to become more fit. His dog was always happy to accompany him, and they walked in the mornings before the sun came up.

                              Reminiscences of junior high ‘oom-pa-pa’

                              Reminiscences of junior high ‘oom-pa-pa’

                                I am not a big football fan, but on the rare occasions when I have visited a university stadium, I love the halftime performances by the college bands. In particular, I enjoy the sousaphones.

                                Utility vehicle accessories expand skill set

                                Utility vehicle accessories expand skill set

                                  No wonder sales of utility vehicles have exploded in the post-pandemic years. No other product family sits so squarely at the intersection of fun and functionality. And along with the massive increase in ATVs and UTVs, there’s been a corresponding eruption in attachments and accessories.

                                  Hope during an era of threats

                                  Hope during an era of threats

                                    This year is testing the endurance of nearly everyone in the U.S. and around much of the world. It’s still too soon to tell how the co-occurring crises in the Ukraine and Gaza will turn out, as well as how challenges to democracy in the U.S. and elsewhere, uncertainty due to climate change a…

                                    New zone suggestions to improve the dining out experience

                                    New zone suggestions to improve the dining out experience

                                      We non-smokers are tickled that most restaurants are now smoke-free. No longer do restaurant hostesses ask, “Smoking or non-smoking?”

                                      Harvest mishaps in perspective

                                      Harvest mishaps in perspective

                                        Ben believed harvest was always a stressful time, but this year had been different. It had been a good harvest season, and he was excited it was almost over.

                                        Ag tires keep pace with changing farm needs

                                        Ag tires keep pace with changing farm needs

                                          If you think it’s a mind-buster to keep up with the latest in precision farming technology, then you likely haven’t shopped for tires lately. Just as equipment has gotten massive, as crop genetics have spawned rebar-like stalks, and larger, far-flung operations create new demands for speed, …

                                          ’Tis the season for income tax planning

                                          ’Tis the season for income tax planning

                                            As soon as harvest is complete, farm families will turn their attention to the holidays and year-end tax planning. As sure as Thanksgiving dinner or family Christmas, farmers will engage in the annual scramble to reduce the year’s income-tax liability.

                                            Growers take control of NH3 applications, costs

                                            Growers take control of NH3 applications, costs

                                              Harvest is wrapping up throughout the upper Corn Belt, and producers are counting the bushels, blowing off the combine and happy to close the books on this growing season.

                                              Final goodbye can be a learning experience

                                              Final goodbye can be a learning experience

                                                Saying “goodbye” to a loved one who is passing, or who is already deceased, is one of the most emotionally painful experiences we have to go through during our lifetimes. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. We can turn it into a personal growth experience.

                                                Cars sure aren’t what they used to be

                                                Cars sure aren’t what they used to be

                                                  My attitude toward cars has changed over the years. These days I’m more concerned with how long my car will last than how fast it will go. More importantly, is it large enough for my 6-foot-7 frame?

                                                  Aim for sustainable transition vs. crisis

                                                  Aim for sustainable transition vs. crisis

                                                    One of the mentors I was lucky to associate with early in my career was my first business trainer. I constantly bombarded him with questions. One day, after I had asked what he said was 100 questions, he refused to answer me.

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