Because many modern consumers are beginning to demand organic produce and humanely raised meat, even the largest farms are looking for ways to cut down on usage of traditional pesticides and herbicides. It is more difficult, however, for large farms to forgo the use of these chemicals than it is for smaller growing operations because they are growing and raising food in huge volumes. Although most corporate farms are still using traditional farming methods that require the use of herbicides and pesticides, research have developed some techniques that allow them to use less chemicals Continue Reading »

The concern of it mutating to a form that can attack people has caused much concern by the government and media. A farmer has to worry about a potential outbreak and also the mass hysteria that is reported in the media. Whenever there is an outbreak, poultry and egg consumption goes down.

For a farmer to ensure that their chickens are safe from the virus, they must use common sense biosecurity measures. Biosecurity is the measures used by farmers to prevent the contamination and spread of a sickness, disease, Continue Reading »

The United States Government pays out approximately 20 billion in farm subsidies annually. The direct subsidy program does not take into account the financial need of the farmer. There are various reasons for the subsidies one of which is cost control. Inventory control is essential in controlling consumer costs. Farmers in some cases are asked not to raise a particular product. This is considered unfair, so the subsidies are paid out to compensate.

Agriculture and the definition of farming have changed since the subsidies acts where passed in the 1920′s and 30′s. Today virtually, any Continue Reading »

People have been shearing sheep for hundreds of years and the methods and tools used have changed quit a bit. In the early 1800′s people washed their sheep in creeks before shearing. Then just before the 1900′s they realized that it was easier to wash the wool after the sheep was sheared. They also found that they could use hotter water to clean the wool more thoroughly.
There are 2 ways to shear your sheep. One is to use blade shears which are more like Continue Reading »

Farmers corn feed both cattle and chicken for many reasons. Corn fed cattle and chicken are the animals that are used for food that are fed on a strictly corn diet. Farmers prefer to feed their animals corn because it is affordable food and it benefits their business and well as their consumers.
Corns fed cattle are more cost effective to produce and benefit consumers because corn fed cattle gain weight more quickly than grass Continue Reading »

Modern farms are works of art, they’ve all got 4-wheel drive vehicles and directstarTV but what about the farms of old? Some of them are still preserved around the country and here are a few of the ones we think are worth visiting.
Ardenwood Historic Farm: If you’re interested in the history, head to Ardenwood. There’s a lot to learn at this Freemont, CA plantation and it’s a great place for kids to explore, Continue Reading »

Milk is definitely, in demand, and farmers are constantly raising the bar to deliver quality milk to our society. Through the years a lot of questions have been been asked, concerning the process that is required to deliver milk from the farm, to our households. Well, we now have the answers.

The journey of milk delivery to our homes, is quite interesting. The dairy farmers feed the female cows a mixed diet of hay, corn, grass, and water. Which causes the cows to produce the fresh, pure milk. The dairy farmers dip the cows into iodine to kill Continue Reading »

Inefficient dairy farms soon fail. With profit margins hovering at 1 there is always room for improvement. Research points to new methods, and long established practices can be enhanced.

Embryo transplant methods advance yearly. Super-ovulation (by hormone therapy) of prime genetic cows produces several embryos. Transplanting to less valuable cows multiplies genetic herd quality.

Every dairy farmer will recall a day when something went wrong. The milking herd gets agitated ” production goes down. New developments have made improvements in old methods.

Udder washers have proven viable and hygienic. Regularity of the wash phase, Continue Reading »

The farming of agricultural products or livestock has fed the masses for centuries. Without farming produce the human race would simply shrivel up and perish. Farming is a way of life for thousands of hard working adults and has seen drastic changes over time. Gone are the back breaking days of harvesting crops with a pitchfork and sickle. Today’s’ modern methods of farming are more about mass production to feed an ever growing population.

Artificial chemicals ensure that the soil can produce harvest after harvest of plentiful produce. Getting the food from the field to the table has become easier Continue Reading »

For farmers of the past, and even some farmers today who live in remote parts of the nation, horse power for farming was the only way to get certain kinds of farm work completed. Today, with the increases in modern technology, and the ability to use electronic devices to do farmwork, the uses of horse power has pretty much been abolished in the larger farms in the country.

The main difference between horse power and modern farming machinery, is the workload which can be completed, and the time which modern machinery can save farmers. Modern machines are much more powerful, Continue Reading »