Farming the Countryside with Andrew McCrea

As we celebrate Independence Day weekend we take time to celebrate a part of American history. Out trip takes us to the Green River Valley of Wyoming where 200 years ago where a mix of mountain men, supply trains and Native Americans assembled for what were known as the Mountain Man Rendezvous. It’s an interesting piece of American history that speaks to the qualities of freedom, entrepreneurship and survival in the wild west. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You hear the following question asked quite a bit in farm country and beyond – “How do I become a full-time farmer if I didn’t grow up on a farm or inherit a farm?” Matt Adams can help answer that question. While he was no stranger to agriculture, he built his farm from scratch and is today a successful full-time farmer. We talk about how he raised capital, purchased land and found ways to get started in the ag industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us don’t care for pastures the same way most would care for row crops, yet those pastures are growing grasses and legumes that are critical to a cattle herd. So how do you begin to evaluate and renovate your pastures to improve the feed available to cattle? We talk with one farmer that has spent several years renovating his pastures and measuring the feed efficiency of his herd. It’s hands-on advice that could be helpful to many of us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PJ Haynie farms ground in Virginia that his great, great grandfather purchased just after he came out of slavery in 1867. Today, the farm has not only grown in acres and locations farmed, but they are expanding the enterprises they cover, moving to a model that has their products positioned closer to the end user. We discussed how and why they’ve made those decisions to best position their operation for future success.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donnell Brown and the RA Brown Ranch have long been known for their progressive view of the cattle industry. The way we may make genetic advances now and in the future is changing. How could we help create a herd that is more resistant to disease or may handle heat better in certain climates? Plus we discuss a way the ranch is implementing rotational grazing without moving a fence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Agriculture has been ranked last among U.S. industries in technological adoption. That may surprise many of us who feel we use plenty of technology every day in our operation. We take a look at where many of us are lagging and what technology we can adopt to help our bottom line. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine working hard to build your farm and then having the government step in and take everything from you – land, equipment and home. That is what happened to this man and many others in Northeastern Nebraska. The story is from many years ago, but it is a fitting tribute on Memorial Day weekend to look back at a story and a court case that every American should know.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.