In Iowa, where the price of a few acres of land could buy you a brand spanking new pickup truck, the Nieman’s fatten around 2,500 head of cattle and manage their risk with the help of National Farmers. Corn is king in Iowa. According to the USDA, 12 to 14 million acres are dedicated to corn in the state each year. However, on Nieman land, you might say cattle are king. Justin Nieman, along with…

National Farmers ongoing efforts to modify the Dairy Margin Coverage Program has gained traction in ag publications in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic U.S. Tom Crosby, a Wisconsin dairy producer and National Farmers Midwest Regional Dairy Director, wrote an article about making the Dairy Margin Coverage program work for smaller dairy operations. So far, the letter has appeared in…

Challenges within the dairy industry have touched every dairy family. The future of small dairies lies in a simple truth: Meet the challenges or exit the industry. Getting down to the nitty-gritty, the economics must be sustainable. If we can count on anything within the agriculture industry, it’s that producers find creative solutions to tough problems. Family dairies have thrived for centuries in…

The Johnsons were organic before organics were cool. Their organic crops were among the first sold by National Farmers through its NForganics program. “I can’t imagine marketing my grain alone. Working with National Farmers gives me peace of mind,” Aaron Johnson of Madison, South Dakota, said. The Johnsons have been growing…

National Farmers’ annual farm business meeting is set for the third week of March in the Quad Cities. The Isle Casino Hotel will host the two-day event. It’s located off Interstate 74 in downtown Bettendorf, just minutes from Interstates 80 and 88 and about 10 minutes from Quad Cities International Airport in Moline, Illinois. Attendees can choose a deluxe king room for…

Calves and kids are started right in Minnesota. Ken and Linda Glicszinski of New Prague will tell you the “right way” means the family is all in for their county fair.
While their children — Scott, Elizabeth and Sara — were young, the two weeks at the end of July were the highlight…